People Are Turning Real Life Into Fake Video Games And It Actually Looks Cool

IRL video game menus are a social media trend where people, friends, and pets are turned into custom interfaces for games that do not exist. The style draws inspiration from action-focused main menus that rapidly switch between near-frozen 3D character poses and scenes, similar to Batman: Arkham City, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, and God of War’s 2018 reboot. Creating one involves recording a short video of the subject, ideally in slow motion, and using a vertical 9:16 format. The subject should be positioned to leave space for text, typically with a character on the right and logo and text on the left. Two to three shots over about 10 seconds are recommended, along with impactful color choices and phone editing tools.

"One of the main things you'll want to do with this trend is have a short video of your subject, preferably in slow-motion. Depending on the aspect ratio--we're going to assume you're going for a 9:16 format that suits Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. One of the things you'll want to be wary of is the positioning of your subject, as you'll want enough room to position the text next to them. Ideally, you'll want to break this up with a character on the right of the screen and text on the left."

"Keep your custom game logo on the left as well, but make it big enough while also ensuring that it doesn't distract from your video. Two to three shots over 10 seconds appears to be the go-to formula, and the music used is Worry (Ultra Slowed) by Lonown. Color is also essential, and if you're shooting with a predominant color, that also helps to make an impact."

"Video game menus have a tough job, as they're designed to grab your attention for a brief moment in time. They're an art form to successfully pull off, and on social media, people are taking notice of them. One of the new trends emerging currently is IRL video game menus, as people are turning themselves, friends, and cats into stars for custom-made interfaces for games that sadly don't exist."

"They embody some of the coolest designs seen over the years, with games like Batman: Arkham City, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, and God of War's 2018 reboot serving as inspiration. Those games--and many others--all have a similar main-menu vibe, as they constantly switch between 3D models that are barely frozen in time, highlighting several action-packed scenes and poses."

Read at GameSpot