Client
Activision® Studios
Timeline
2 Weeks
WARZONE
Call of Duty:
WARZONE
Call of Duty:
WARZONE
Call of Duty:
WARZONE
Call of Duty® Warzone Pacific
Matthew Penkala, headshot (black & white)

MATTHEW  T.  PENKALA

Senior Motion Designer  /  Motion Design Artist

With a focus on design & IP consistency, Activision's tight release of Call of Duty®: Warzone™ left no room for missteps. Delivering a spot for Pacific Horizon Air that transitions into a first look at the gaming experience of the new map: "Caldera," was no easy task.

Vis-à-vis:
Narrative

Challenge

The challenge of this project was to overcome several key obstacles. Merging the real-world context of Pacific Horizon Airlines with the virtual world of Call of Duty®: Warzone™ Pacific required careful planning and execution. Balancing the aesthetics and tone of a commercial with the fast-paced action and intensity of a video game presented a unique creative challenge. Additionally, capturing the essence of Caldera, the new Warzone™ Pacific map, and effectively communicating its vibrant and alive environment posed a technical challenge. Ensuring that the visuals accurately portrayed the scale and beauty of the map while maintaining a smooth transition from the commercial to the gameplay footage required meticulous attention to detail and technical expertise. Of course, generating excitement and anticipation among gamers for the release of Call of Duty®: Warzone™ Pacific - Vanguard Season One was a significant challenge. The project had to convey the unique features of the new map and emphasize the value of exclusive play access to Vanguard owners to build anticipation and drive engagement.

Goal

The primary goal of this project was twofold. Firstly, it aimed to seamlessly merge the real-world context with the virtual gameplay, creating a cohesive and immersive experience for viewers. This goal entailed ensuring a smooth transition from the tranquil commercial to the intense virtual battlefield, capturing the attention and interest of the target audience. Secondly, the project sought to generate excitement and anticipation for the release of Call of Duty®: Warzone™ Pacific - Vanguard Season One. By showcasing the visually stunning and action-packed world of Caldera, the goal was to captivate the gaming community and drive engagement among players. Emphasizing the exclusive play access to Vanguard pre-owners was crucial in building anticipation and incentivizing early adoption. By successfully achieving these goals, the project aimed to set a new benchmark for showcasing gaming experiences and generate a significant impact within the gaming community.

Solution

To tackle this challenge and achieve the set goals, I utilized my authoritative expertise in motion design, particularly in (but not limited to) Adobe After Effects + 3rd-party plugins, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Leveraging the power of the Call of Duty® game redner engine, we created visually captivating animations and graphics that brought the vibrant environment of Caldera to life. Using my skills in motion graphics, I seamlessly integrated the Pacific Horizon Airlines commercial with gameplay footage from Call of Duty®: Warzone™ Pacific. Through careful editing, I ensured a smooth transition from the real world to the virtual battlefield. This involved implementing dynamic camera movements, synchronized animations, and photorealistic visual effects to create a seamless fusion of the two 'worlds'. In the commercial segment, I used 2D & pseudo-3D (2.5D) animations to enhance the aesthetics and convey the tranquil atmosphere of Pacific Horizon Airlines. I incorporated visually appealing text overlays, captivating transitions, and subtle animations to effectively communicate the allure of the airline while maintaining a cohesive visual style.

As the commercial transitions into the gameplay segment, I utilized motion graphics to amplify the intensity and excitement of the virtual experience. I implemented dynamic text animations to highlight key features and exclusive play access, emphasizing the 24-hour early access granted to Vanguard owners. These visual elements were designed to build anticipation, showcase the value of being an early adopter, and create a sense of urgency among viewers. The motion graphics work, including the careful selection of effects, animations, and visual enhancements, played a pivotal role in creating a compelling and immersive experience for viewers. By seamlessly integrating the real-world context with the virtual gameplay, the project achieved its goals of captivating the audience, generating excitement, and setting a new benchmark for showcasing gaming experiences. Overall, my expertise in motion graphics, along with the mastery of advanced software tools I hold allowed me to deliver a visually captivating and immersive showcase for Call of Duty®: Warzone™ Pacific | Vanguard Season One - 'Visit Caldera'.

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