design
Latest
Nerf the naughty
This idea from Terra Nova would certainly help clean up Barrens chat: nerfing characters as a penalty for bad behaviour in-game. If you use an alt to misbehave, then they'll all lose a level every time you break the bounds of decency.Key problems with this idea include inconsistency between GMs (we've already seen the trouble one slightly misguided GM can cause) and the systematic targeting of players; if you really want to hurt someone, get everyone you know to report them and suddenly they'll be back at level 0.As Terra Nova's commenters observe, social pressure and access control (making the players ashamed to misbehave, and banning them) are the most effective ways to control behaviour at the moment. However, if you lost a little bit of xp every time you called someone "gay" in general chat, you might well be less inclined to bigotry in public--the idea's got some potential.
Lara and GTA: British design icons?
When you think of British cultural and design icons, there are some images that automatically spring to mind: red phone boxes, double-decker buses and the London Underground map (which you need a Ph.D in topology to fully understand). However, there are some new faces shortlisted for the "Great British Design Quest", including none other than Tomb Raider and Grand Theft Auto. Interestingly, while other technological designs are deemed aesthetically pleasing--the British-born World Wide Web, and Verdana typeface, among others--no television or film icons have made the shortlist.A vote will tell whether the public considers videogame icons as influential as other great design motifs--but the cultural and international appeal of Lara and GTA may help them wing their way to the top.[via Edge Online]
Jonathan Ive Awarded CBE Award
Every year, Britain awards influential Britons Orders of the British Empire, such as Knight, Commander, and Officer. The highest order is Knight, but also well-known and prestigious is the Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or CBE.Jonathan Ive, Apple's creative designer behind many of its revolutionary products such as the families of iMacs, and the iPod, has become a CBE on this year's New Years Honours List.Thanks to all those who sent in this news item.
11 Xbox 360 mistakes to consider
Another day, another list of things that are wrong with the Xbox 360. This one's from Firing Squad, and enumerates eleven different "mistakes" present in the 360. Most of them seem like fairly minor niggles that don't have much impact--the lack of DivX playback, for example, is annoying but nowhere near a showstopper. Similarly, the lack of a bundled web browser isn't going to make us take our consoles back to the store and demand a refund. It seems that when one has to look so closely for errors, maybe Microsoft got the overall design just right.[via /.]
Freeway 4 Express/Pro - a new take on web design
If you've been looking for a new take on web design apps with a new, unique UI, Freeway 4 Express and Pro might be right up your alley. Freeway 4 sports features like a new dynamic property inspector, a birds-eye site panel, "master pages" for site templates and repeating objects, rich media, actions for automating tasks with simple clicks such as creating button rollovers, .Mac uploading and a whole lot more. The $249 Pro version edges ahead of the $89 Express with features like a link map for site-wide link management, importing Illustrator and Photoshop content and enhanced graphic effects. Check out the full list of Pro-only features to see everything that the extra $160 gets you, or fill out a form (lame, I know) to pick up full-featured demos of either version of Express or any other Softpress Systems Ltd. products.
