Social media networking is huge and everyone knows it. People are also starting to realize that the ability to stand apart from everyone else in the social media sea is the most important step when creating an online identity. One great place for your online individuality is your blog. Blogs serve as a place entirely your own filled with articles, tips, resources, thoughts, or anything you want. Your blog also serves as a launch pad to the social media networks you participate in. Take a look at any blog and you’ll find that all of them have icons linking out to things like Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Flickr and more.

Smashing Magazine

Smashing Magazine was founded in fall of 2006 and prides itself on delivering useful and innovative information to Web designers and developers. Smashing’s goal is always to inform their readers about the latest trends and techniques in web development. Since they are always focused on quality you can be sure that all social media icon sets the deliver here are only the best of the best.

Design Reviver

Design Reviver always strives to give web designers, developers, and almost anyone the best of information when it comes to resources. At Design Reviver you’ll find free downloads for social media icon sets and even social media backgrounds for your Twitter and Myspace pages.

Web Design Ledger

The Web Design Ledger is a publication written by web designers for web designers. The primary purpose of this site is to act as a platform for sharing web design related knowledge and resources. Topics range from design inspiration to tips and tutorials and everything in between. They realease large sets of social media icons from around the web as well as detailed icons for your PC or Mac’s desktop.

The Design Cubicle

The Design Cubicle is the creation of the graphic designer known as Brian Hoff. His blog focuses on providing though provoking articles about print design, web design, logo design, branding and more. He also releases design tips and resources such as large icon sets from across the web.

Dry Icons

Dry Icons is an independent company founded and run by four individuals. The Dry Icon project was originally created by Rabotilnica Doo, a small creative studio working in the creative design and web development industry. The group at Dry Icons wanted to create a place to provide free, high quality icons for the public thinking that it was unfair to charge high prices for such little things. Dry Icons features a wide array of social media and desktop icons to help you stand out against the crowd.

While these websites offer their own default icons to link to their websites, it’s important to take this as an opportunity to stand apart. So instead of spending hours and hours trolling the internet for social media icons that fit your blog or website, just take a look at the great resources we’ve gathered below. Happy icon hunting!

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Despite the fact that video games, online communities, sound design, theater, and the classical arts are what I spent four years studying at Parsons School of Design, rarely do I touch the subject on Megalongcat.  But having a best friend who is a “game critic” I’ve decided to make an end of the year gaming post encompassing everything about video gaming in my life this year.  I’ve grown up on video games.  From the NES to my Playstation 3, I’ve never spend any part of my life without a gaming system.  In 2008, despite the so called great games that came out, I barely felt the inclination to play any games at all unless I was completely bored.  This year however, I couldn’t resist the gaming fire in my soul that burned for a challenge, amazing plot, great dialogue, and all around good fun.  So in chronological order I present to you the list of video games I actually took the time to play in 2009.

Final Fantasy IX

-The game didn’t come out this year, a lot on my list didn’t.  But of all of the Final Fantasy games, starting from Final Fantasy 1, it’s the only one I find with replay value worth my time.  Great dialogue, character’s aren’t based on snippets of emotions pieced together in 8, 10, 12, and 13 (my issues with them will come at a later time).  All in all, it was a solid RPG worth the replay and I loved every minute of it.

Wipeout HD

-Ever played Jet Motto? If not you shouldn’t have ever deserved to own the original playstation.  Wipeout HD was a graphic rush that required just the right amount of reflexive skill that high paced racing video games should have.  It was a sweet blend of Kinetica, Bumper cars, and Grand Turismo all rolled up nicely into a 250mph blur.  The game also offered a great feature of taking HD screenshots at any point during a match. A feature I wish was offered in every game now.  It’s a simple game, but fun at it’s core and twenty bucks it was a steal.

Crimson Gem Saga

-Best dialogue I’ve seen in a JRPG in ages.  It’s funny, full of witty humour and amazing characters.  I wish more of my friends had listened to me when I talked about how great the game was.

Resident Evil 5

As an African American, I was told the game was racist.  As an African American, I’m also privy to the knowledge that most of the world is racist so why would I expect anything better from a video game.  Completely ignoring the racism comments from my friends about the game, I played it and loved it.  Co-Op games are hard to do.  So hard that every seems to be retarded when making them on PS3 and Xbox360.  RE5 was the first co-op of the year where me and my best friend could truly enjoy an experience where we had to help each other.  I pick some games solely for Co-op play, and this was one of them and well worth the money.

Uncharted 2

The hype about the game being the best thing since sliced bread this year was a complete lie, but that didn’t stop me from enjoy the gameplay.  Yes, the gameplay. The dialogue was alright, the graphics were great if you never took a lighting animation class and want to nitpick at the exposure levels on each character’s eyes.  But once you get past all the little mistakes, the game is completely solid as well as it’s multiplayer platform. The story makes sense, the gameplay matches the story as it unfolds, and it’s fun.

Tekken 6

Fighting games anyone?  Tekken 6, easily the worst Tekken since 4, is still a fun game no matter how you cut it.  The new characters actually have different move sets instead of simply being based off older character models and the fact that they incoporated air combos into the command list is a big step up from old Tekken games where you had to figure it out on your own

Borderlands

Best gaming intro if the year, as well as the best co-op experience (moreso than Resident evil 5).  The characters are hilarious, dialogue is great. Bad guy’s actually run when you shoot them because they don’t want to die.  The game is completely wonky in both gameplay and story which meshes well and doesn’t ever make you feel like there’s an awkward disconnect between playing the game and understanding the story.  It was, and still is a fun game with plenty of content.

Demon’s Souls

“It’s just God of War with different tactics” Is easily the worst way to describe the best gaming experience of the year.  Demon’s Souls is the only PS3 game this year that took gamers out of their Devil May Cry comfort zone and dragged them to the chopping block.   Its difficulty level forces a gamer to explore every possibility and playstyle imaginable to survive.  The game is not for the light of heart or mediocre gamers and that’s why I couldn’t resist playing it.

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Disclaimer: This is a paper I wrote two years ago when I first heard about vista.  I was interested in online communities and was fiddling around with different platforms to create one which is where this idea came from.

VSPACE

Introduction:

Virtual words have become one of the largest growing and most profitable franchises not only in regards to the gaming industry, but also social networking.  These digital worlds are becoming a common part of our daily lives and could soon very well replace our “cafes, coffee shops, bookstores, bars, hair salons, and hangouts”[1].  Though these digital worlds cannot yet be considered to be one of the Great Places as Raymond Oldenburg suggests, it is safe to assume that virtual worlds have made a significant impact on a large enough population around the world that they should always be considered as alternate forms of communication and congregation.  These virtual worlds become part of a larger mediascape[2] which allows a flow of information and ideas across a wide variety of people and places which does not happen as easily in the real world where we still have to travel and meet in person occasionally to discuss ideas.  Virtual worlds tend to have two modes of distribution; either the content for the world is downloaded as a stand-alone program (FLYFF, Lineage, World of Warcraft) or they are browser based engines which you can run while being online (Puzzle Pirates, Pogo Games).   In order to make a game that is widely available, with little effort to acquire the game, I propose a virtual world in the form of a Microsoft Windows Vista Gadget; a virtual world created within the restraints of a gadget could automatically and easily be integrated into a large system of computers.  The world would be called VSpace.

Background:

I would like to start with the current state of virtual worlds, and MMOG’s; though very similar I’m going to use the former to describe communities based around social networking, and the latter to describe the videogame oriented online worlds.  Currently the largest virtual world based around social networking is Facebook with “has more than 69 million active users worldwide.”[3] Facebook is a web based social community which allows to create public or private profiles to connect within college, job, and town networks.  Other major virtual worlds for social networking are communities like MySpace and Friendster (also web based communities where users create profiles to connect with other people), and then social communities based around animated avatars within a self contained graphical world such as Habbo Hotel and IMVU (both of which allow you to create graphical representations of the user’s liking to interact with other avatars).  All of these examples have been targeted at various social groups.  MySpace was originally intended to attract young adults just as Facebook originally targeted only college audiences.

All of these virtual worlds and MMO communities are only available to a person if they log onto their respective websites, or are referred to by a friend as an incentive to join these networks.   My proposal however, would be a part of the many features that Windows Vista already offers thus immediately eliminating the effort it takes to find these social communities and it has an already established niche; those that own computers running Vista (all Dell and HP computers have Vista as their standard OS before shipping).  This would allow a mass distribution of the virtual world (the product) with less of a need for startup advertising, thus allowing money to be saved for other enterprises.  The virtual world I am proposing will incorporate the creation of both profiles/avatars with not only an avatar based interaction system, but also a web based community for when users aren’t logged onto their avatars.

Description:

VSpace would be a virtual world based within the context of a Windows Vista Gadget application.  When a person buys a computer with Vista as the OS, they go through a series of setup options where you register your product, name your computer, and establish what sort of internet connection.  After the establishment of an internet connection, a person would immediately be prompted to create an avatar to represent themselves.  Before being fully able to create their avatar, a person would have to agree to the usual terms of service which apply to most all online communities; afterwards a user would be able to create an avatar that physically resembles them or their imagined personalities.

(Picture from google images, no source to image)

To run Windows Vista properly, 2gigs of ram are needed which should theoretically cover the amount of computer power that it takes to run a widget such as this.  The purpose of this concept is so that Windows Vista users can interact with each other the moment they log onto their new computers for the first time.  If they’re not used to the new Vista system, they can find other users through the virtual world to ask about these questions if they’re not sure about the information offered in an online FAQ.  Though ‘googling’ for answers has become widely popular, many people still prefer asking other people the answers for questions.  Gameplay would be focused around the avatar that you create; the avatar would be able to walk into the environments of other people using the gadget and challenge them to games or make an attempt at conversation.   Each Character would have its own customizable environment within the gadget where users would have to pay for items if they wanted unique rooms for their avatars.

(Picture from http://www.viviannesart.us/Images/vivgallery/waLL4.jpg)

Key Features:

-Easy installation and character creation: The installation of the virtual world would be part of the setup when you first launch your computer with easy and simple instructions.

-Large community to interact with: considering the large volume of computers which automatically come with Vista, with millions of computers sold each day it would make it easy for this virtual world to get off the ground with a large community.

-No Monthly Subscription: you only need to pay for the items you want!: The gadget would be free to download and install, however to customize your personal environment you would need to page a specified amount of money for credit.  With credit you could then buy the items you like.

-Ability to take interactive experience to the next level by challenging your VSPACE friends to games on the Microsoft Gaming Network: Users would be able to move into other environments of VSPACE users where they could either chat or challenge them to games offered by the Microsoft Gaming Network

-Continue talking to your friends on our web based network using Windows Live Space:  Windows Live Space would allow integration with your regular profile and the avatar that you create.

-Virtually no lag with recommended Vista system requirements: To run properly, computers that come with Windows Vista more often than naught have at least 2 gigs of ram and a decent processer, graphics card, and motherboard to support the extensive 3D options that Vista uses.

Community Features:

Windows Vista sidebar gadgets tend to automatically obtain your area code so VSPACE would be able to determine a list of ten users within a certain radius of your zip code.  Your avatar would then be able to either abruptly walk onto the screen of another VSPACE user, or send for an invite to join them within their environment for conversation, gaming, or whatever the user wishes to interact for.  The community would allow a buddy list system where you can automatically ‘warp’ to rooms that you have been in previously.  I would also propose text based chat with the option of VOIP.  The actual gadget size would more than likely not be able to support a system where large amounts of text are visible, so voice chat would be the best alternative for a means of communication.

VSPACE would be intergraded with the Windows Live Spaces where you would not only have your own profile, but a picture of yourself and your avatar.  There would be a series of privacy options which would determine how much information you would allow to be visible to other users of VSPACE or Windows Live Spaces at any given time.  The framework that I have proposed for this game to operate in “provides the foundation to explore different sections of the demographic [of VSPACE users] that are motivated differently, and whether certain motivations are more highly correlated with”[4] different types of users.  VSPACE features such as the ability to integrate with not only immersive environments, but also a large gaming community to appeal to a large demographic.

Genre:

The genre that this virtual world would fall under would be that of a Metaverse; “a fictional virtual world, where humans, as avatars, interact with each other and software agents, in a three-dimensional space that uses the metaphor of the real world.”[5] A Metaverse would be useful for my earlier description of VSPACE because this simulated world would allow a system that would make users feel connected in a world that closely resembles their own.  Avatars would be simple 3D polygon models with humanistic features and environment options which closely resemble modern day cities, suburbs, and countries.  VSPACE would also follow the “Open World” mode of a game where users would be allowed to do as they pleased within the boundaries of the actual virtual world.

[2] “Modernity at Large” Arjun Appadurai

[3] ^{a b c} Statistics. Facebook.

[4] “The Psychology of Massively Multi-User OnlineRole-Playing Games: Motivations, Emotional Investment, Relationships and Problematic Usage” Nick Yee.  PG 12.

[5] “Metaverse”   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaverse

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Orange is by far my favorite color, but sadly I can’t use it on every project that’s placed in front of me. So instead of trying to work the color orange into my own logo design work, I’ve collected 18 logos using the color orange from across the web for your viewing pleasure. All of these logos would look great on orange themed trade show giveaways as well as creative business cards. Enjoy!

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A Record Of Life from Owen Gatley and Luke Jinks on Vimeo.

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Chromeo – Fancy Footwork / MUSIC from AVIVA Communications on Vimeo.

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“Never Wanted To Dance” Music Video from Mindless Self Indulgence on Vimeo.

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Arras theme

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FX Mag

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Folio Elements

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WPESP Portfolio

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http://demo.wpesp.com/portfolio/

Inuitypes

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Rock Solid

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http://forthelose.org/themes/rocksolid/

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Of course, I should say that I started my search with providers NOT with the phones themselves.  I didn’t want to end up like those who bought the iphone and expected ATnT’s call quality to miraculously improve.  Playing it safe, I went with Verizon and after treking through store after store, and one authorized retail after another, I found out why I was having so much trouble picking a phone.  I hate touch screen phones.

When I saw the sleek Nokia 725 Intrigue I knew it was the phone for me.  It’s surface has touch responsive LED’s that show you the time, charge life of your battery, music controls. and your text messages, but it still isn’t a full color touch screen and it isn’t a necessary component of the phone (which means if it beaks I can still use it).  The buttons, even though they’re flat, still have dividers between them so I can close my eyes and still dial a number without looking or having to press and hold some slide bar to use it.  Though the phone is small and sleek, it retains a level of maniless (the phone comes in two trims: male and female) giving the cell phone a level of personality that others lack.  The call quality and camera quality are superb in the NJ/NY area and the video recorder is decent, but that’s why I have a real video camera.   Over all,this is one of the most so lid flip-phones I’ve ever had the chance to own and I plan on enjoying it till it dies (or my contact is up).

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Basheskia snd Edward EQ AIM music video from Enis Cisic on Vimeo.

About 15 seconds in I’m already knee deep in an unconscious plot that my own brain started to form around the visual scenery. There is no implicit plot, the narrative is left up for you to decide, but the motion graphics sent me into a visual overload that rarely occurs. Surreal, beautiful, and horrifying: this video will give you something worth watching.

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