Well done.

P.S. Those wondering what the video is about, read below for the chronology, excerpted from the YouTube video’s info section.

May, 18, 2009 : Super PSTW Action RPG is released by Rhete
February, 3, 2010 : Axman13 reviews Super PSTW
February, 4, 2010 : Dot Dot Dot (narration of Axman’s review) by D-Mac-Double
January, 6, 2011 : Ricepirate animates Dot Dot Dot

In an age where the anonymous reviewer is held to no general standard of grammar or spelling, an intelligible trolling rant is a common and often eye-rolling occurrence. And when a game is meant as a parody of its genre, and a player playing it doesn’t quite get the joke … well, magic happens.

But the real triumph, is when an epic voice actor decides to perform a run-of-the-mill game review rant … committing to all it’s grammatical belligerence…

The original Newgrounds review:
—————————————-­————
i reley dont wan to say this, but i have to now.
this game is so esey. i mean, all you do is hit the spacebar. thats it! how is this an RPG anyway? you cant contrail anything but what it says on the screen! what if i didnt want to buy the potion? what apout quests? all you can upgrade is stranth? there is no way you can lose to the boss at the end! this game is crap! its not even an RPG at all! i mean look at it! in what way is this supposed to be an RPG if you can do quests and stuff? all you do is press one butten the entier time! explain to me! the athore coments al totol lies! is it supposed to be stick dudes? i dont even know how this damn game got the daily 3rd prize, or a rating of 4.26!
pepole think this review is worthles.
go ahead! say it! i dont care! im just trying to make a point here!
blam this piece of crap!!!!

P.S the only reson im giving this a 1 is beacuase the voices where pretty good. but thats it!

Directed by Diego Maclean. Poem by Billy Collins.

The Website of Y.B. Senator Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon.

The U.S. White House Website

No doubt we been busy. And since returning back into Draftfcb KL, I’ve asked a lot if some of the processes we undertook was done well enough and if not, how to make them better.

What struck hard was how some things worked well on it’s own, but not with others. And even more, that some items were very much done the way traditional advertising agencies do. In a traditional world. With traditional tools. Like any traditional agency would.

But ‘traditional’ we’re not. We are in a state where most our campaigns will be centered around Digital. Or at least, have a digital component to it. So let’s move forward. Let’s take a step up. Because as much as we would like our clients to have the brevity to jump into digital, we as an agency should play the vanguard and be trailblazers in this world. Especially in the areas of ideas, tools and services.

Let’s face it. If we are to conceptualise digital solutions for clients, we should first be proponents of them. Why preach the merits of social media and power of the hive if we ourselves have not gotten wet with online collaboration tools and how these trigger user behaviours? I’ve faith some of you are using them already. But some is not enough. I’d like all of you to use it.

So in 2010, we will change how we do things. We will now be the hive. And leverage off the power of the others to create, conceptualise, ideate, design, produce, track, manage and deliver projects better.

Here are the online collaboration tools that I recommend you to use now on.

Your own Blog. Just like this one; brainiacsatwork.com

A blog does not have to be complex. It can be as simple as a image based portfolio site. As a digital creative, it would show the exact opposite of how good you are if your book is in the outdated portfolio case. A blog also shows that you are passionate about digital. You and I will never be a top notch blogger with millions of visitors. But having one shows that you understand how the basic ecosystem of social media works. It does not have to be self-hosted. There are many blog services out there. Blogger, Posterous and Tumblr are some top options.

Wordpress

There are many blog engines out there. I recommend Wordpress. It works for the most basic to the most advanced user. It can be a simple one image per page photo gallery (a portfolio site) or the media giants like CNN. Thousands of modules expand wordpress into a powerful social media engine. It connects to everything your digital content will ever need. Alternatives are MovableType, Joomla and Drupal.

Shared Online Calendar

This is a must for everyone in the team to use. Simple, easy and fast way to update staff movement and availability. So for team members not already subscribed to it, please do so.

ActiveCollab

So far, the best self-hosted Project Management and Tracking tool. This will be installed on the upcoming draftfcb.com.my website and will be central to all of our project creation, tracking and delivery activities. Clients will also be given access so all change requests can be listed and added on as tasks. Alternative to this is 37Signals Basecamp.

Box.net

Must use for file sharing between group members. One of the best and most simplest free file sharing services accessible via online or mobile. Each user get a free 2gb shared drive which probably won’t be used up if managed smartly. Folders can be private or shared and sharing can be control to groups or individuals. Group members can also collaborate in the management and file synchronisation. A log screen shows the activities that has taken place in files or folders. Alternative to this is dropbox.

DimDim

Web meeting and conferencing made easy and free. With screen and/or presentation sharing. As good as Skype with benefit that it does not require an account. Not a must but strongly recommended for virtual meetings.

Skype

Without doubt, the best web to web conferencing software. Now also with screen sharing so presentations can be shared to entire group. Drawback is that it requires a unique Skype login and some clients do not have these. However, this is a must for internal staff and members. Alternative is Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo Messenger.

TickSpot

Bonus! This is more reporting than collaboration. TickSpot is a very good way to update and enter your timesheets. Free for individuals. You create an account and enter from anywhere. When ready, export them into CSV format so these can be inserted into the Excel timesheet entry sheets. It’s the enter from anywhere that makes TickSpot a service that I use often.

Conclusion

So there you go. A full set of online and web services that can be immediately used to make 2010 a more productive year through better collaboration and ways to share ideas. In no way are the above services we will use from now onwards are the best in class but they are all hand-selected after comparing and using many of the alternative and or complementary options.

CNN

Twitter

Yahoo

WordPress

The White House

MSN

Network Solutions

Reuters

XBOX

ESPN

Posted via web from drnoor’s posterous

Previous post starts below.

GIG Finder | InBev | Free | Review | Download

The free application promises to keep music fans informed and for those simply in need of a night out a chance to see what’s on both locally and across the UK

Puma Index | Puma | Free | Review | Download

The PUMA Index is a global stock ticker with a twist. When the market goes down, our models’ clothes come off – right down to their PUMA Bodywear. So if you lose your shirt, at least they do, too

Parra Plays | Incase | Free | Review | Download

Poppers [like a touch screen version of "Whac-A-Mole." Touch the clouds before they pop!], Parrot [Loosely based on "Simon Says," but with a twist] & Pairs [Similar to the classic "Memory" card game]

Barclaycard Waterslide | Dare Digital | Free | Review | Download

In what’s clearly a lesson of how to get it right as far as apps that advertise go, Barclaycard’s “waterslide” iPhone game has seen 3 million downloads in just 13 days

Reebok iSprint | ustwo™ > Inside Mobile | Free | Review | Download

A neat little app that has you running the 100m with your fingers – basically flick running – to get the fastest time you can

BEN10 Mouthoff | ustwo™ | £1.19 | Review | Download

BEN10 MouthOff combines the Cartoon Network’s smash series with MouthOff’s portability to provide nine new selections to transform yourself into

R.Racing GTI | ndWare | Free | Review | Download

Turn your iPhone sideways and peel out! The 2010 Real Racing Game, “R. Racing GT” gives the player a graphically spectacular experience

iDraft | Samuel Vermett | Free | Review | Download

Be the newest member of Daft Punk with iDaft. This simple 4×4 soundboard has samples from the hit single “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” provided by Daft Punk themselves

iPint | Toby Carling | Free | Review | Download

The object of the game is to navigate a pint down the bar into the waiting hands of an eager punter, whilst dodging bowls of bar snacks, bottles and other pub paraphernalia

Jamie Oliver | Zolmo | £4.99 | Review | Download

A self-contained digital mini-cookbook that sets the bar really, really high

Stanley Works | The Stanley Works | Free | Review | Download

The Stanley Level brings you the accuracy and reliability of real-world Stanley tools in virtual form

MyPantone | X-Rite, incporporated | £5.99 | Review | Download

This app allows designers to use their creativity in the field, easily cross-referencing color palettes on the go

(via: Inspired Magazine)

Logitech

PUMA

Virgin

Opera Software

Burger King Corporation

orange

NIVEA

Cisco Systems, Inc.

Emirates Airline

Siemens AG

Gateway

GlaxoSmithKline

SAP

Xbox

Lexus

Unilever

Vaseline

Dunkin’ Donuts
Coffee

ASUSTeK Computer Inc.

Philips

Reckitt Benckiser
Group plc

(via: Six Revisions)

TheFwa.com

Smashing Magazine

Unmatched Style

CSS Import

Web Designer Wall

Fuel Your Creativity

CSSiPhone

We Love WP

Certainly not new to the scene but new(ish) to a lot of you… maybe… Carsonified spends a week each year to work on one of their apps, and they do it semi-live so we can all follow along. One of the more interesting things I’ve followed in a while, truly. This is a twitter based app for finding like-minded people at an event. It seems pretty fun, i’ll have to try next time I catch a FOWA or FOWD. The design is very open feeling and the colors are very subdued. I like the solar system graphic behind the main posts on the home page and the mouse over action on each person’s pic is well done. The most intriguing part is the sing up, I like how it takes me through the steps without really realizing what i’m doing. Very cleverly done.

(via: Unmatched Style)

Are you looking for colourful wallpapers?
To Download click to COLOURlovers Website (link below).
Colourful Wallpapers Roundup | 50 Colorful Wallpapers: Full Spectrum Love.

“Adobe® Flash® Catalyst™ is a new professional interaction design tool for rapidly creating user interfaces without coding.”

This is the new tool for coolest presentation and Flash web building and for all the designers we can forget about the Power Point already! This is next amazing software from Adobe® for Flash.

Do check the demo video here to see the Adobe® Flash® Catalyst™ in action!

First, I’d like our designers to be inspired and challenged to do great form designs, and

Second, I’d like our product managers to know the stuff out there, and challenge our designers to produce these beauties.

1. Alexandru Cohaniuc

2. Tea Round App

3. Grooveshark

4. Substrakt

5. Matt

6. Pixelight Creative

7. Ballpark

8. MAQUINA studio

9. nclud

10. MonAssoc

11. Komodo Media

12. AllDevJobs.com

13. Connect

14. TVI

15. Webgrapes

16. Headscape

17. Digg

18. Graphik.fi

19. CollabFinder

20. Digitalmash

21. Kontain

22. SocialSnack

23. Mint

24. BBC

25. Media Temple

(via: SixRevisions)

“Number of product roll-outs does not equate to product innovations. Most times, it works the opposite” [link]

And today I found this website, still in beta, in my RSS streams – FootyTube, as if to prove a point regarding the above. FootyTube is an aggregator site with an engine that trawls the open web and gathers football related content in the form of videos and articles and republishes them into, yes, FootyTube. Better yet, the value of FootyTube is the categorisation and channels it creates out of the jumbled up, perhaps noisy search data that gets returned form these searches.

I’m pretty impressed by what FootyTube has done in terms of organising these disparate, mixed up data and turning them in visual-information gems.

Website is in beta. You’d need to be a registered member to view videos. (I registered) Here are some screenshots. And my annotations/review.

First off. Page is long. REALLY long. That’s undeniable. Yet, it’s a joy to scroll through it.

There are many schools of thoughts here – which is better? shorter or longer page. There’s no proof to either one and opinions differ.

My simple answer to this is… USABILITY.

How user friendly can a site be by being short or long? By forcing a page to be short, will it force content to be cramped? Thereby leading to confusing multiple nested navigation? Or by making it long, will it lead to overpopulation of content? Plus never judge a website’s usability by looking at the entire screenshot of a page. The user WILL NEVER see the entire page. Instead, the user will see snapshots of the page. The size of the snapshot depends on screen resolution. The larger the browser window, the larger the snapshot. However it is, it’s still a snapshot. What’s important in usability is getting content right within each snapshot.

In the case of FootyTube, although it is long, having large image thumbnails and large typography makes the site visually enticing as well.

Video view page. Data visualisations. And of course content.

This is the the truth now with the web – how well can information be linked and how well can they be presented? Beyond content (which is a given since that is the first purpose of any website), what is the value-add that this website has? It’s data visualisation. Check out the match statistics and opinions. Smarter still… check out the disclaimer below their video panel.

More data visualisations in Channel page below.

Notice the last line  of the screenshot – “From Google News using Query: “Manchester+United+Football”.

Ideas perhaps for our future video channels?

Their “What’s Popular” page. Simple, uncluttered and to the point. May not appeal to some of you but it’s very usable.

Oh look. No “we recommend this” items either. Insight being… If these are already popular content, why need to recommend other things that does not fit the the popular category?

Mostly in Photoshop and OmniGraffle stencils (which can be extracted into EPS or Illustrator formats), these frameworks are quite useful when planning some sort of product schematic and features.

Advice for non-designers: One way I can recommend how these can be used is by exporting individual UI items into transparent PNG so that you can drag and drop them into your favourite compositing software (like Powerpoint) to do fast, quick visualisations. UI designers as usual, have the luxury of using these frameworks any way warranted to achieve the goal.

I may also have missed many more framework links. If so, please feel free to comment in. I’ll update soon as I get them.

iPhone User Interface Frameworks

iPhone GUI #1 (source: Teehanlax)

iPhone GUI #2 (source: SwissMiss)

Graffletopia iPhone GUI stencils for OmniGraffle (source: Graffletopia)

Ultimate iPhone Stencil for OmniGraffle (source: Graffletopia)

The Ultimate iPhone User Interface Gallery (source: Engadget)

Mobile Phones User Interface Framework

General Mobile Stencils for OmniGraffle (source: Graffletopia)

Mobile Device Wireframe for OmniGraffle (source: Graffletopia)

Google Code Mobile iUI (source: Google Code)

Steal This Template UI framework (source: Little Springs Design)

There isn’t much to explain why this is an especially important share. But for colleagues not already in the loop, music is integral in our product portfolio. We run 8 radio websites, music charts are key parts of these portals, song downloads will be available if not already, mobile music is the defacto keyword in Asian music distribution, and lastly, entertainment is big in our digital product plays.

Again, I have broken it up into 2 parts – Most Beautiful 5, and the rest of the other 25. Beauty = function and aesthetics.

The Top 5

Last.fm

Gigotron

just hear !t

LyricSift

iLike

The Other 25

Mx3

midomi.com

Apple – iTunes

Deezer

evelMerch

Virb

Mugasha

Songbird

14 tracks

Bandize.com

Champion Sound

Lasttweet.com

Echodio

Dorble.com

Jamseed

Taste Kid

NYLVI

Pitchfork

Twisten.FM

Sellaband

Slicethepie

Tunerec

Songza

Better Than The Van

audiolife

• Large image headers are a key part of the the design. Like LARGE.
• Image headers state clearly that one item that the company do. ONE.
• There is always a product showcase, demo or a walk through of a product or products.
• Large typography is in trend.
• Dark is in.

Know of any more beautiful corporate website designs? Please do share or join the discussion.

(Source: WebDesignerDepot)

The Top 5

The Other 45

Are your photoshop cs4 colours different when u save documents as web?

If so, here’s a solution and some reasons behind this.

STEP BY STEP SOLUTION: (for those who don’t wanna know why)
http://www.usabilitypost.com/2008/07/30/photoshop-color-profiles-for-web-images/

Have a read on this if ur curious instead:
http://www.viget.com/inspire/the-mysterious-save-for-web-color-shift/

Have a good day designing with synchronized photoshop > web browsers colours.
Choose your colours wisely friends (:

Accidents often produce the best solutions… only you can recognize the difference between an accident and your original intent.

— Jennifer Morla

Good design must be defined by appropriateness to audience and goals, and by its effectiveness, not by its adherence to Swiss design or the number of awards it wins.

— Drew Davies

A well-defined problem is half solved.

— Michael Osborne

For me, design is like choosing what I’m going to wear for the day – only much more complicated and not really the same at all.

— Robynne Raye

P.S. This has been circulated via emailed yesterday, and has received several responses positive and negative. Thought I put it up here for posterity anyway.

Bring Down IE 6: a campaign by .net magazine:

The premise is simple: Internet Explorer 6 is antiquated, doesn’t support key web standards, and should be phased out. This isn’t about being anti-Microsoft, it’s about Microsoft’s lack of development in the browser market. With IE7/8 not available for Windows 2000, IE6 accounts for up to 20% of web usage, primarily via business users. Clients pressure designers to ‘force’ sites to work in IE6, and designers, not wanting to lose business, comply, using hacks and workarounds. This wastes time and money. Microsoft needs to fix this, designers need to unite, and we all need to move on.

(Via StopDesign.)