ZoomConcept Reviews
Positive Feature on videobattles2.jpg 1 I love the tilt. It suggests motion which video games are all about. The jagged lines give it a very retro feel. Excellent! New Idea on videobattles2.jpg 1 Try experimenting with different video games icons. It's great that you have gone for something that is not instantly obvious (e.g. something like Mario's Coins and Mushrooms or Sonic's gold rings would spoil the effect). Summary:
I love the second logo. It captures the style and essence of classic video games but also has a modern twist to it.
Video games players are a bit like detectives - they are very good at picking up clues. The hearts work brilliantly as a video game player will instantly identify it as being from a Mario-like game. It aludes to video games without being over the top or too obvious. They player will feel clever for working it out.
The second logo doesn't work as it is too obvious. There is nothing work out: It just presents everything directly. It's also far too busy, so the name gets lost.
Go with the second logo you have done a good job on it.
Summary:
I'm sorry but this is an image and two words with a specific font. Did you make that font yourself?
If you did, than it will qualify more as a logo. But if not than anyone who bought that font will be able to make the logo.
Dont get me wrong. The image on the left looks nice. Although you are using 2 characters that are probably trade marked. The image on the right is cool looking as well. The 3 hearts and the tilt. The colours. But both are not a logo. Think of the M from McDonalds, the red cross from first aid or the star from Converse. Those are logo's.
You logo is lacking a the "image" that you can use when space is tight or that is truly unique. Those 3 hearts are a start :)-
Michael Gunner commented:I think you're wrong Jan. This isn't a multi-national corporate company that needs a strong motif, it's a website for enthusiasts. It doesn't need brand recognition, it just needs an identity. This idea you present that just because they are text and lack a motif (which they don't) therefore don't qualify as "logos" is mis-informed. You cite McDonalds, but there are countless dozens of identifiable brands who's logos are entirely 100% typography with no motif whatsoever.
What about the most recognisable logo in the world - Coca-Cola? Microsoft? IBM? Yahoo? Fed Ex? Google? Absolut? None of those brands use motifs whatsoever, it's all in the typography.
In their case, and the case of this design, the typography is interesting and eye-catching enough to essentially BE the motif. If you combined stylized typography and a motif you end up with a very messy logo.
Also, may I add, anyone can download the font for Coca-Cola and make the logo themselves, and millions of logos use Helvetica, so I'm not sure what your point is there.
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Jan Hoos commented:When you put it that way I suppose you're right. Its just that I have seen this font used a lot more for purposes like this. If you visit a few gameblogs like I do you'r bound to see this font being used a lot.
Coca Cola, Google, Yahoo and Fed Ex I'm sure all developed a font for that logo. The reason you can dowload those fonts are because people copied it.
And the companies who use helvetica as a logo will probably never be named in lists like: Best logo's of 2011 on design blogs. I mean to say that: Sure it works, but it wont qualify as a strong logo I guess. I have no sources to back this up. Purely my intuition.
But you'r right that in this case they don't have to go through all that effort. I took it to far. So stand corrected :)
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S. Preston Chuhon commented:Thanks guys. Both your comments are great and food for thought. I rarely create logos, and this is all part of the learning process for me.
To add to the discussion. I'm a big fan of typography. I don't like to over complicate a message. IMO branding is not about graphics - branding is about a promise. That being said, I was hoping to show that this website (oh yeah, this is a website logo, not a corporate logo) is going to be fun, and edgy.
Frankly the rainbow, street fighter logo was just for fun, because i grew up in the atari 2600 age, and I remember the gawdy graphics from that time. I believe the client will go for the mono-spaced pixel font 3d text.
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Michael Gunner commented:
Skype uses Helvetica :P
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Jan Hoos commented:
@Preston: Thats what I like about this website. There can be discussions like these and those really can help you out.
@Micheal: haha lol! Well stand corrected again ^_^
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Minor Problem on videobattles2.jpg 1 Flush Right - make treatment more readable Critical Problem on videobattles1.jpg 1 Doesn't work Positive Feature on videobattles2.jpg 1 Nicely done Summary:
S. Preston,
Sorry to be blunt, but only the issue with the second version has promise, but:
- skewing the logo will make it less readable (that treatment only really works for large signage on store-fronts)
- if you scale this logo smaller it begins to fall appear visually. Example: "morgan crossing" will not be readable
- Not sure I get the hearts add anything to this logo... Try it without the hearts (they competes with the word Battles).
Check these logos out for some inspiration (click here)
I hope this helps.
MichaelR
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S. Preston Chuhon commented:
Thanks. First logo is a fail! LOL Isn't it always the case where the second attempt works better?
I'll try a few different skews. Straight on looks too cheesey. Angle gives it excitement! I think???
Morgan Crossing has been removed since. But I get where you're going.
If you ever played old school video games (Wonderboy, Pitfall, TMNT) heath bars were hearts, so if you run out of hearts, you die. So for those that get it, it adds to the "battle" concept.
Minor Problem on videobattles2.jpg 1 I like how these hearts make me think of the amount of lifes left. If this was your intent: consider making one a bit lighter so it looks like you lost one already. It could make it more recognizable. -
S. Preston Chuhon commented:
Great idea! LOL
Serious Problem on videobattles2.jpg 1 This text has a very odd position, try aligning it to the right. It also floats in a weird way. If you stick with the 3D-effect then try using grey instead of orange for sharper depth. Summary:
I don't like the first one. It looks very cluttered and is probably very hard to read when downscaled.
The second one is much better. I would get rid of the 3D effect though. It doesn't match with the old school game concept that has this cool 2D-style.
Good luck with it.
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Minor Problem on videobattles2.jpg 1 Oh yes, this is soooooo coool. I dunno if it's old school, it looks quite modern, but it's awesome! Def. better then the other one. The other one just doesn't cut it, but this one - OMG. BUT needs some polish fo sho. Minor Problem on videobattles1.jpg 1 You're using four fonts in this logo. Serious Problem on videobattles1.jpg 1 This color palette isn't doing it for me. Consider starting again with an orange but use some color theory when selecting additional colors. Here is the first decent link I saw on Google. Take from it whatever you'd like. http://www.colorsontheweb.com/combiningcolors.asp 2 Old school! Well, super nintendo old school. Perhaps your client meant 8bit not 16bit? Check out some Mike Tyson punch out. That fits with your battle theme. http://x0b.xanga.com/018c9a3275737181892769/z139152865.jpg Positive Feature on videobattles1.jpg 1 Good work! Summary:
Overall good work. I have a few comments for your consideration.
Thanks,
William Angler
Minor Problem Size
Not sure this logo is going to size well. It looks OK in the large image you've presented here, but if shrunk some details like the colored border, and pixalated text will disappear.Fonts
There are too many fonts and text. What is the most important text?I like this logo better. The text is a consistent size that will scale better. On the other hand, it doesn't seem very "edgy". Summary:
goes against street fighter copyrights in the 1st image, and the 2nd image reminds me alot of AXN video game show
Minor Problem logo
the lettering is very bad is not attractive, and that should be with another colours, that this way is too agressiveSerious Problem The design need sharpness (hearts especially) Positive Feature Nice visuals I'm wondering if the lisibility of "Morgan Crossing" is enough for the first design. Other I'm wondering if 3 colors are needed for the logo with hearts, considering that hearts could be orange. Summary:
Nice visual, very expressive and straight to the point.
It's not perfect, you could add some sharpeness and maybe improve a bit lisibility. I'm wondering why you chose this shape in the first design (it's not a critic though).
Good luck !
Minor Problem on videobattles2.jpg 1 Like this one better, but I don't like the colours. Try expermenting with more standout colours (think 80s games, rather than halloween) 2 Agree with other reviews - try some other iconic video game icons, mushroom, coin, maybe even a small representation of some characters (ie mario or sonic) 3 What is this? Summary:
The logo is called video battles, but the icons are hearts .. how about using some icons which were battle related?
