Another Logo Contest, but for a new Sony PSP this time!

[Phil Steinmeyer]

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[edit - Note, as of Friday, Aug 12, I have about 41 entries from about 15 people. Some of them are quite good, so I just want to forewarn people that there is a lot of competition for the prize - don't blow your weekend making a logo thinking that will guarantee you the prize. You might win, but the odds are a bit longer than you might think, and I don't want people to feel misused. As a result of the high number of entries already, I've restored the deadline to the original time - noon Aug 18]
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OK, I liked Mike's logo contest, and I thought a number of the responses were quite clever. So, following the norm for this industry, I'm going to borrow his idea and enhance it a bit :)

My company name is 'New Crayon'
Design the best logo for it, and you'll win a brand new Sony PSP (value $250)
Feel free to submit more than one if you like (within reason).

The rules:
1) Deadline is August 18, noon EST. [edit - restored the original deadline]

2) Logo should read 'New Crayon' or 'New Crayon Games' (if the latter, then 'games' should likely be smaller than the main logo - like PopCap's logo, which has a large PopCap, and a small Games). I'm undecided as to whether 'Games ' should be in the name/logo or not, so surprise me.

3) To win the prize, the winner will have have to sign some kind of release stating that the work is original, they're giving/selling all rights in it to me, etc. Any losing entries revert back to the submitters.

4) E-mail me your entries to [deleted]. Keep your file size <200KB. Any format that Photoshop can open is fine. However, I will want the winner to provide me either a scalable version or a large (~800 x 800 pixel version) - so do your original large, then send me a smaller version and hang on to the big one in case you win.

5) Style-wise, I'm pretty much wide open. My first game is a word game, a bit like Bookworm, but with more of a classic 'fairy tale' look. That said, I want a logo that's not TOO tailored towards any one particular game style. In particular, it shouldn't be overly 'kiddie', as my games will target all ages. Playful with a bit of childlike whimsy is fine - just not something you'd see on Nickolodeon.

6) If you're outside of the U.S. in a location where it's difficult/expensive/prohibited to ship a PSP to, I reserve the right to send the equivalent value ($250) in cash/check.

7) I'll try to answer any further questions here (public forum).

8) If the winner is U.S. based, I'll need them to fill out a W-9 (it's a simple 1 page form, but I've got to report all payments, including in-kind, to U.S. contractors)

9) While I'll likely post the entries here for all to comment on, I will make the final decision on the winner. There will be one and only one winner. I'll award the prize even if I don't end up using the logo - but I liked a bunch of the entries in Mike's competition, and if this contest draws similar quality entries, I'm sure I'll end up using the winner. That said, logos that worked for 'Retro 64' may not necessarily work for 'New Crayon'

[soniCron]

Are you going to handle the return for dead pixels? ;) Seriously though, are you more bent on something tailored toward on-line usage (lots of color/shading) or something suitable for print work (<=4 colors, easily devolved to black and white)?

[Phil Steinmeyer]

On-line and in-game usage is more important than print, although it will likely be used in print occasionally.

So colors are fine, but as with any logo, it's always a bonus if it can work in monochrome, and/or on both light or dark backgrounds.

But the primary use will probably be on PC screens in one form or another, against white backgrounds.

[Ricardo C]

Does the company have a motto that could be incorporated into the logo?

[Phil Steinmeyer]

no motto...

[Christian]

Hello Phil, here are my questions:

What is you company?
What kind of games do you make?
For what kind of people? How old are your players?
How is your relation with your players, customers?
In What countries do you want to sell your products?
What makes you different from other companies?
How many people are in your company?
How do you work?
Where do you work?
From where you get your inspiration to make your games?

Thats all for now... (try to be as detailed as possible please)

[Phil Steinmeyer]

>>What is you company?

New Crayon (Games)

>>What kind of games do you make?
Casual Games company (downloadable puzzle games and the like). Some possibility of other styles of games in the future. The first game is a word game, loosely in the style of PopCap's Bookworm (i.e. find words within a letter grid)

Platforms are PC and Mac initially, with a web-playable version, too (Java). Exploring mobile, handheld, and X-Box Live possibilities for follow-up.

>>For what kind of people? How old are your players?
Like the typical demographic for the casual games industry - ~70% female, median age ~35. But a fairly broad spread from there, including teens.

Given this audience, I don't think an overly 'techie' approach for the logo is likely the right way to go, but I'll look at anything...

>>How is your relation with your players, customers?

I will focus on release downloadable games through the major portals. Customers will initially see the logo centered on the game's loading screen and/or in the corner of the title screen. Hopefully some will find their way to my website, where the logo will likely be upper left corner, as it is for many web sites. Will probably line up a publisher for a retail jewel-case version which would presumably have a tiny logo on the back. Will also use logo for letterhead, biz cards and the like.

>>In What countries do you want to sell your products?

U.S. is currently 70% of the casual market. Will also target Western Europe and Australia. Asia is not much of a market (too hard to sell to/customize for)

>>What makes you different from other companies?

Hopefully... Very high quality games appealing to very casual gamers (i.e. gamers who don't read game magazines or frequent game-oriented web sites, other than the Portals)

>>How many people are in your company?

Just me - I'm using a contractor for art and will hire one shortly for music. I don't plan to grow the company big (been there, done that :), but perhaps could hire one or two people in the next year.

>>How do you work?

I don't understand this question...

>>Where do you work?

At home, in my office.

>>From where you get your inspiration to make your games?

Other games, both casual and non-casual, plus non-computer game sources like card and board games.

[Christian]

>>How do you work?

I don't understand this question...

I mean, how do you start a project, for example, you first download a few demos to see how the market is going, you decide wich one is the most popular, later you analize how is the most popular game, you see what things can be changed, you design a new theme for it, and so on.

Another one, What are your planes for the future? You are exploring to make games for consoles and things like that, is a sure thing to expand to those proportions?.

Do you have a website or a demo of your game?.
Have you thought on the posibility of having a mascot for your logo or company?
To what portals do you want to be known? (i need to see with who you will be in competition)
Why did you choose to make games?
why the name "new crayon"?
Is "hig quality" the only recognizable feature of your games? (in comparison to other companies)

[Phil Steinmeyer]

>> I mean, how do you start a project, for example, you first download a few demos to see how the market is going, you decide wich one is the most popular, later you analize how is the most popular game, you see what things can be changed, you design a new theme for it, and so on.

Well, for my current game, I had been playing and enjoying a number of casual games in the months before starting it (not necessarily planning to do a casual game of my own at first, but the idea grew as I played others).

I especially liked word games - both BookWorm and Scrabble (downloadable version), but saw a lot of room for improvement in both of them. I started with the idea of a word game, but the design details changed greatly from first plan to current implementation.


>> Another one, What are your planes for the future? You are exploring to make games for consoles and things like that, is a sure thing to expand to those proportions?.

Not full-blown consoles (X-Box, PS2/3), but rather, handhelds (GBA DS), and the X-Box Live Arcade platform (which basically publishes casual games like Bejewelled to X-Box Live owners). I have neither the resources nor the inclination to make full blown, big budget console games. And even the console platforms that I am interested in are secondary markets that I will license into if my game is a success, not primary targets.

>> Do you have a website or a demo of your game?.
I have a blog (www.philsteinmeyer.com), but no real information on my game there yet. I was playing around with a template for a full-blown web site here (http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/dreamweaver_test/) - the illustration in the upper right is from the game. BTW, the pseudo-logo there is terrible, which is one reason I'm having this contest :)

I have a demo, but am not disclosing it publicly at this time.

>> Have you thought on the posibility of having a mascot for your logo or company?
I'm not inherently opposed to that, but I'm not sure it's really necessary.

>>To what portals do you want to be known? (i need to see with who you will be in competition)
All the main ones - Yahoo, Pogo, MSN Games, RealArcade, Shockwave, Big Fish, etc.

>>Why did you choose to make games?
Been making them since 1993 - I love it - it's the best form of programming, with a lot of design and creative expression. As pro athletes sometimes say, I'd do it even if I weren't getting paid for it.

>>why the name "new crayon"?
Short, memorable, playful, and the URL was available (you'd be surprised how hard it is to find a short name with an available URL)


>>Is "hig quality" the only recognizable feature of your games? (in comparison to other companies)
Well, compared to many others, my games will probably be more mass-market and female-friendly. Warm 2D artwork instead of (sometimes cold) 3D, though a 3D logo can also be done that feels warm and friendly. Initial games will be puzzle oriented, but that may not hold up in the long term. It's hard to say what directions I will go when my first game under the new company banner is not even complete...

[astrospoon]

Let me know when to pick up the PSP :-D. (j/k)

http://www.classicgaming.com/blackeyesoftware/astrospoon/newcrayonlogo.gif

seriously, I hope you like this, and if there is anyone else in need of a (non-free) logo, let me know... I'm a toy/package/graphic designer at my day job, and would be more than happy to do a few little projects on the side to buy uh.... more stuff :)

-Andy

[DayDream]

astrospoon - at least I want to give you a run for the money [ or the psp in this case ] :)

This is my entry:
http://www.spriteattack.com/images/newcrayon_logo1a.jpg

[Christian]

Dear Mr. Phil:
Not so long time ago, i enstimated a correct procedure to send you an electronic mail with a isotype designed by me, i hereby communicate you my concern that you havent recieved such electronic mail...did you recieve it? :p

[Phil Steinmeyer]

Yes - you sent 1 logo as CH, correct? I got it.

[Bmc]

astrospoon - at least I want to give you a run for the money [ or the psp in this case ] :)

This is my entry:
http://www.spriteattack.com/images/newcrayon_logo1a.jpg

nice work!

[Christian]

Yeah well, im going to retouch my logo, and ill try to send you the "name part" of it too, the one i sent you was only the main idea.
So, you have nothing to say about my logo? is it perfect?

[Phil Steinmeyer]

I'm trying not to comment on specific logos until the contest is over.

[Phil Steinmeyer]

Just a quick note - there are a lot of entries already (41), and quite a few of them are rather good, IMO. While the prize is nice, it isn't THAT nice, and I don't want people to spend too much time on this, especially when most won't win. So I've restored the original deadline (back to Aug 18 - still 6 days off, so there's plenty of notice), and I want people to be aware that they should be entering for fun and an off-chance of winning, but don't neglect your weekend leisure or your day job for this - the latter probably pays better :)

And to those who've already entered - thanks for the entries. I will post them all (without names) when done, so everyone can check them out. There's alot of creativity here and a lot of stuff I'd have never thought of...

That's all...

[cheese_phantom]

astrospoon - at least I want to give you a run for the money [ or the psp in this case ] :)

This is my entry:
http://www.spriteattack.com/images/newcrayon_logo1a.jpg


I think this one is really appealing. It feels minimal but also fresh/dynamic and creative. It gives the indie (small company) feeling, but you can also feel the talent behind it. Best is, there is no noise: Neat and clear.

One concern: Maybe you could use something more game-related instead of the marker (I suppose it is a marker, right?) Then it would be perfect IMHO.

Anyway, really nice.

[Christian]

Since it appears im the one bothering you most, i want to say that im doing logos for fun, the price is nice, but since i am an almost-pro graphic designer i want to aquire experience making logos, working close with my client :) thats why i was asking so many question, but its ok, i understand its a competition...ill continue making you some logos, since im having fun :)

Here are 2 new logos, comments and critiques welcome :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/Christian223/ncrayon3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/Christian223/ncrayon4.jpg

[Phil Steinmeyer]

Since it appears im the one bothering you most, i want to say that im doing logos for fun, the price is nice, but since i am an almost-pro graphic designer i want to aquire experience making logos, working close with my client :) thats why i was asking so many question, but its ok, i understand its a competition...ill continue making you some logos, since im having fun :)

That's fine - that was sort of what I was hoping - that people would do this for fun, perhaps experience, and a shot at a nice prize. I did get a couple of e-mails along the lines of '...when I win the prize...'. On the off chance that these people were serious, I wanted it to be clear that it's a tough competition that should be entered primarily for fun and experience.

[Phil Steinmeyer]

I showed the entries so far to my wife. The two that she likes best, I don't like at all, and vice versa. This might turn out like all the other logo contests - everybody likes some, but nobody likes the same ones...

That said, we were reasonably in agreement on our 4th and 5th favorites...

[Christian]

Ehem!, just let me remind you...

Like the typical demographic for the casual games industry - ~70% female

Us, men, will not like logos that are for women, and vice-versa, and since most of the market you are aming to is made of women, i would advice you to pay close attention to her preferences, otherwise you may end choosing a logo that dislikes women, and loose the majority of your possible clients! :eek:

[Mike Wiering]

And here is my entry: http://www.wieringsoftware.nl/temp/NewCrayon.png

[Omega]

I've spent 2 months after school on an art contest entry once. I guess I was doing it because it would give me access to art supplies I could never afford to have at home. Such as, anything other than scissors ;) I ended up using #2 pencils to sketch, colored pencils for some things, maybe even markers, crayons as well, paints, and definitely glitter. It never occurred to me to stay in one medium, since all of them were acceptable!

As time was expiring, I even worked on it during art class instead of what my peers were doing. I made a huge mistake once, and had to learn what white-out was. Then I made another huge mistake. However, the third or fourth mistake was a huge one--I was outlining things with a black marker to add contrast between colors, and i made a huge black line on the side of the drawing. No white-out would save it, and I didn't really care. I made a 2-inch wide border around the whole entry in the theme of a wooden frame. I made that dark spot into a rotting element in the frame. Not only that, but I purposely added a lot of other rotting elements into other areas of the frame! So, the frame was an accident, and not only did my mistake cause a frame, but I repeated the mistake on purpose because it worked so well! It was just something fun to do for me. Turns out a lot of people noticed that and liked it, as if I had added it on purpose.

Then, I finished it at the last minute. The problem was that I thought there were 2 extra weeks left, and it turned out that it was due that day! My teacher dropped my entry off at the post office about 20 minutes before it closed up, the day it was due. Well, I won :D So, yes, you should slave away your weekend. I know I will! ;x

[svero]

Here's my entry...

[DayDream]

One concern: Maybe you could use something more game-related instead of the marker (I suppose it is a marker, right?) Then it would be perfect IMHO.

It's a crayon - new crayon - not a marker... :)

[cheese_phantom]

Ah ok, that's funny. I thought a crayon looks more like a piece of wax or chalk. So I perceived this one like a marker - a new marker. :rolleyes:

Anyway, as a design I like it.

[cheese_phantom]

But it's not me who gives away a PSP. :D

[Phil Steinmeyer]

It's fine to post entries here to show to everyone, but to enter them in the contest, please e-mail them to me as well, as a <200KB attachment - it helps me keep track of them all.

[deleted my e-mail address]

[Phil Steinmeyer]

Just a reminder - the deadline for this contest is tomorrow - (Thursday, August 18, 2005), at noon Eastern time.

I'll likely post the entries shortly thereafter for comments.

Thanks to all who've entered.

Phil