NAVA Needs a Logo

[digitalpress]

Hi folks,
local or not, you're probably well aware of the monthly gamer gatherings in NJ that began back in the early 90's at Mike Etler's Video Game Connections store in Howell, NJ and have been running since 2005 at the Digital Press Videogames store in Clifton, NJ.

The event has continued to grow over the years to the point where I think we need some kind of "signature" - artwork, logos, etc. to distinguish the event. I've had several offers to create a nice banner like the one you see at the bottom of this page (and all forum pages here on the Roundtable) but no one has come through with it yet. Now that CGE 2010 is over it's time to get this done.

Something simple but relevant, like the PAX East (http://www.paxsite.com/paxeast/) logo is what I'm looking for. One interested artist suggested multiple hands rising up with various controllers as artwork around the NAVA text, which also sounds nice but I haven't seen so much as a simple sketch.

NAVA (http://www.digitpress.com/images/store/)stands for "North Atlantic Videogame Aficionados", and that should probably be in small text somewhere to explain the acronym, but other than that there are no requirements. I'd like a logo to use in a banner to use on the NAVA website (http://www.digitpress.com/nava.htm) and on any printed material used at these events.

If there are no volunteers over the next week or so I'll make a contest out of it, but thought I'd test the waters to see if anyone in this talented community was interested in stamping their signature on a very time-honored event for simply the reward of taking credit for being the person who did it. Money (or games) talk though, I understand!

Post comments here, I'd prefer to follow-up publicly. Thanks for reading and your consideration!

[Dangerboy]

Any specific colors? I'm assuming red, black and white? Dimension requirements?

Curious...

[TonyTheTiger]

How complex do you want it? Here's something fairly simple. I'm no Photoshop wiz, of course.

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/4219/navan.jpg

[digitalpress]

Any specific colors? I'm assuming red, black and white? Dimension requirements?

Curious...

Yes, I'd prefer to stick with the standard DP red/black/white color scheme, but note that white takes precedence over black in the "real life world" of DP vs. the online world. And of course if you have a great design that requires different colors, I'd certainly consider that as well.


How complex do you want it? Here's something fairly simple. I'm no Photoshop wiz, of course.

That looks really nice, Mike! I'd like to try doing this without any possible copyright issues though. Still, you've got the idea. The logo itself should be simple like that - the wider banner used on websites and advertising can have some more graphic elements to either side of the logo.

[Vectorman0]

I would like to try my hand at this. I'm going to be away for the next few days, but this upcoming Sunday I should have some time to try a few things.

[Vectorman0]

http://vectorman.net/digitalpress/nava-1.png

[TonyTheTiger]

That looks really nice, Mike! I'd like to try doing this without any possible copyright issues though.

Yeah, I wasn't sure about that either. Here's one that's much "safer."

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/7186/nava2.jpg

I like Mickey's too. Has the same bubbly character as the DP logo.

[portnoyd]

Mickey's bandground is required no matter what logo is chosen.

[Greg2600]

Will now we be required to have a tattoo of this logo to gain entry Joe?

[GrandAmChandler]

Mickey's bandground is required no matter what logo is chosen.

Hells yeah, I want to sign everyone's shirt over Delaware, k thnx.

-GAC-

[HurricaneAndrew]

Are we allowed to submit multiple designs?

[ryborg]

PAY ME

http://i37.tinypic.com/2edrua1.jpg

[digitalpress]

Are we allowed to submit multiple designs?

It's not a contest, I just need a logo! Submit as many as you'd like.

Thanks!

[HurricaneAndrew]

First design, on black:

http://gametechmods.com/uploads/images/43890NAVA_Halo_black.png

Same, with some alteration for the white background:

http://gametechmods.com/uploads/images/28294NAVA_Halo_white.png


Another, on black:

http://gametechmods.com/uploads/images/14033NAVA_Sega_Black.png

Same, again, with alterations:

http://gametechmods.com/uploads/images/21943NAVA_Sega_white.png

[TonyTheTiger]

My last one looked way too much like a coupon so here's another.

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/6966/nava3.jpg

[HurricaneAndrew]

Shit!

I made a spelling error, apparently...

[TonyTheTiger]

Don't feel too bad. You have any idea how many times I needed to check to make sure I was spelling it right?

[Dangerboy]

So I tried making my own font for the first time..not sure I succeeded.

http://www.game-rave.com/nava_rough.jpg

Was trying for something just a little retro and a little modern. This is just a starting point / rough, trying to figure out how to sneak in a game reference.

[Berserker]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogo01.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogoarc.png

[digitalpress]

These all look GREAT but the final product should make you aware that this is a videogaming event even without having to read what NAVA stands for. In that regard, TonyTheTiger's first entry with the Atari fuji symbol or even the one with the Pac-Man-like "A" get closest. The recent one where the letters appear to be on buttons is getting warm too.

I know this is tough when I have absolutely no guidance to offer other than the letters and the color scheme, but how about this: can you arrange the letters so they appear to be on a controller, or on an arcade machine? One of my staff's original concepts was to have hands holding controllers on both sides of "NAVA" and I liked that idea as well.

Thanks to everyone who's trying this out, I truly appreciate it! More please :)

[TonyTheTiger]

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/9260/nava4.jpg

I can't draw for shit so this is like a crash course in Photoshop for me.

[Gameguy]

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/6984/810237436main.jpg

[Greg2600]

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/9260/nava4.jpg

I can't draw for shit so this is like a crash course in Photoshop for me.
Don't know if that's clear of copyrights, but that's really good Mike.

[emceelokey]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/emceelokey/TopBMP.jpg


New Logo
New Slogan

Link to it on my deviantart page.
http://fav.me/d2vst4z

I think this is a winner.

[TonyTheTiger]

Here's another.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9083/nava5.jpg

[Berserker]

Here's another.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9083/nava5.jpg

Great work, Tony. It's surprisingly hard trying to figure out a way to integrate something video game-related into the logo, in a way that makes sense, and without stepping on any copyrights.

After wracking my brain a bit last night, here's what I came up with:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogojoy8.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogojoyblack6.png

[TonyTheTiger]

I like it.

And, yeah, trying to juggle a lot of different, seemingly mutually exclusive goals. Make it gaming related without using logos, which in itself is hard considering that just leaves us with generic things like d-pads and buttons. And since the letters don't include a "t" or "x" it's hard to incorporate those details into the font. And the more we try to add those things in, the less simple the design ends up being. We've already strayed a bit from the original red, white, black restriction.

[Rob2600]

http://paunchstevenson.com/nava-controller-logo-small.jpg

[pseudonym]

http://paunchstevenson.com/nava-controller-logo-small.jpg

/thread :cheers:

[TonyTheTiger]

Here's another. Don't think I like this one though.

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7135/nava6.jpg

[Oobgarm]

Great work, Tony. It's surprisingly hard trying to figure out a way to integrate something video game-related into the logo, in a way that makes sense, and without stepping on any copyrights.

After wracking my brain a bit last night, here's what I came up with:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogojoy8.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogojoyblack6.png

THIS IS THE WINNER.

[digitalpress]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogojoyblack6.png

Wow! So many great designs... I wish I had that kind of artistic talent!

THIS one is my favorite so far. Can we take a little more artistic license and make the stick BE the letter V instead of wedged into it? YES, you'll probably have to make the stick red in the process.

Thanks again to everyone who's put any thought into this at all. Best. Community. Ever.

[c2000]

THIS IS THE WINNER.

Agreed, that's a very strong and clean design.

[GrandAmChandler]

Berserker wins, fatality.

[gum_drops]

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4623/navajpg.jpg

[Sothy]

http://img576.imageshack.us/img576/7186/nava2.jpg

[sniperCCJVQ]

Extra points for Sothy ! LOL

[digitalpress]

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4623/navajpg.jpg

OH WOW! This is awesome! I think we've got a winner. I'll give everyone else until the weekend to top it.

GREAT JOB.

[Nescollector]

Great work, Tony. It's surprisingly hard trying to figure out a way to integrate something video game-related into the logo, in a way that makes sense, and without stepping on any copyrights.

After wracking my brain a bit last night, here's what I came up with:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogojoy8.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogojoyblack6.png

Man you guys are talented. This one looks awesome, you know right away what it's associated with. gum_drops looks good but reminded me of laundry detergent right away, or
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51sECRqPmeL.jpg

[Berserker]

Thanks for the comments, guys!


Can we take a little more artistic license and make the stick BE the letter V instead of wedged into it? YES, you'll probably have to make the stick red in the process.

Here's what I've got so far:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogo-8.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogo-8b.png

I've sharpened the corners on the joystick so that it blends in better with the rest of the logo. I've also squished the letters slightly so that the angles line up more with the joystick.

[Greg2600]

Is the atari joystick image copyrighted?

[Flack]

Wocka wocka wocka!

http://www.robohara.com/pix/junk/nava.jpg

[digitalpress]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogo-8b.png

You just took over first place again. AMAZING. This is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. LOVE the flag-looking design by gum_drops too... Quite a luxury having to choose from all of this quality work - and neither of you guys have ever even been to a NAVA, right?!

Flack, diggin' your design too. Competition is fierce!

[Emuaust]

+1 for Sothy

[HappehLemons]

Thanks for the comments, guys!



Here's what I've got so far:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogo-8.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogo-8b.png

I've sharpened the corners on the joystick so that it blends in better with the rest of the logo. I've also squished the letters slightly so that the angles line up more with the joystick.


Awesome job man that looks fantastic!

[digitalpress]

+1 for Sothy

Indeed. Both Liz and I LOL'ed. I don't usually do LOL. But definitely did so this time.

[Berserker]

Quite a luxury having to choose from all of this quality work - and neither of you guys have ever even been to a NAVA, right?!

Nope, not yet! I'm also digging gum_drop and Flack's submissions.

Minor update to the logo - mainly just some tweaks to the joystick/"V". I can't think of much else I could do to it without breaking the scalable vectory goodness, so this should be the final iteration...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogo-10.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogo-10b.png

[slapdash]

http://paunchstevenson.com/nava-controller-logo-small.jpg

Sounds like it's not in the running, but I quite dig this one. :-)

[digitalpress]

Sounds like it's not in the running, but I quite dig this one. :-)

It's REALLY good but actually TOO detailed. Don't ask me to explain what that means, but consider that this image will be stretched, super-imposed, overlaid, reproduced, and minimized to a single color in my perfect world where the logo can exist on any possible product.

A brilliant design though.

[HurricaneAndrew]

... this should be the final iteration...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogo-10.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogo-10b.png

Just a suggestion...

Make the beginning and end of "North Atlantic Videogame Aficianados" line up with the ends of the actual logo itself. It would just be more pleasing to the eyes.

[zektor]

Going simple and looking like you know what! (click for full)

[NoahsMyBro]

I liked the sketch of the arm, with the slogan about gaming strong. (I like the flag banner too.)

For the arm sketch though, I'd suggest (because I've got no artistic talent or skill to do it myself!) replacing the closed fist with a hand gripping a controller, probably the iconic joystick.

[gum_drops]

There are some great designs posted here. Never been to a NAVA meeting unfortunately.

Couple variations, slightly simpler lettering with no skewing.


http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/4589/navabanner.jpg

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/4750/navaorig.jpg

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/5999/navainverse.jpg

[Berserker]

Just a suggestion...

Make the beginning and end of "North Atlantic Videogame Aficianados" line up with the ends of the actual logo itself. It would just be more pleasing to the eyes.

Thanks for the suggestion! I got so wrapped up with the more intricate details that I nearly forgot about the subtext...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogo-final2.png

I've also clarified the V a bit so that it reads better at smaller sizes.

[TonyTheTiger]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the original wider text was better. If you look, it forms the triangle which is the basic shape the whole logo seems to be based on.

[Berserker]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the original wider text was better. If you look, it forms the triangle which is the basic shape the whole logo seems to be based on.

That's a valid point, but I actually like it this way a little better. I'm no expert when it comes to composition, but I like how the angles it creates kind of vaguely follow the angles on the joystick.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogo-angles.png

As you can see, I've also been playing around with a somewhat simplified design for the joystick. So much for "final iteration"! But at least now I can break it down to the original three solid colors:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogo-simp.png

[Rob2600]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogo-angles.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogo-simp.png

I like both of these versions the best. The solid colors and angles work really well. The black and white version is awesome! Nice job!



http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/4750/navaorig.jpg

This one is good too, but the angled base of the joystick bothers me. Make the base flat, make the red background a rectangle, not a trapezoid, and fix the first angle of the "N" so it isn't squished.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Thanks for the suggestion! I got so wrapped up with the more intricate details that I nearly forgot about the subtext...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogo-final2.png

I've also clarified the V a bit so that it reads better at smaller sizes.

This absolutely has my vote.

I'd love a shirt with this logo.

[digitalpress]

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/4589/navabanner.jpg

This is really SO good that it doesn't seem fair to call it "second place". I like the little bit of chaos in the design. I saw a suggestion to straighten things out, but what I like most about this one is that it seems to be IN ACTION. The original flag-like logo was great, this one is a little calmer but I wouldn't calm it down one bit more or it loses its original appeal. Keep the weird angles.

I'm gonna run gum_drop's and Berserker's designs past a few trusted "eyes". I'm even going to print these two for the next NAVA and see if there's a clear favorite among attendees (who might get a kick out of being the judging party on the permanent event logo). There are a lot of great designs on these pages, MUCH more than I expected and I hope no one is offended if they're not chosen.

Thanks so much for your time!

[Rob2600]

This is really SO good that it doesn't seem fair to call it "second place". I like the little bit of chaos in the design. I saw a suggestion to straighten things out, but what I like most about this one is that it seems to be IN ACTION. The original flag-like logo was great, this one is a little calmer but I wouldn't calm it down one bit more or it loses its original appeal. Keep the weird angles.

Joe, you're right. This version is better than the one I pointed out in my previous post. The only thing I'd change is to make the first part of the "N" the proper angle...otherwise, this is a great logo, too!

It's up to you though. :)

[slapdash]

http://paunchstevenson.com/nava-controller-logo-small.jpg


Sounds like it's not in the running, but I quite dig this one. :-)



It's REALLY good but actually TOO detailed. Don't ask me to explain what that means, but consider that this image will be stretched, super-imposed, overlaid, reproduced, and minimized to a single color in my perfect world where the logo can exist on any possible product.

No, I get you... I could see how it wouldn't work so well in certain situations.


A brilliant design though.

Agreed, though I would actually swap the Wii controller with the SNES controller, then the SNES again with the 3DO, to give the "V" straight sides left and right, and to make the "A"s just a little more similar to each other...

[Rob2600]

http://paunchstevenson.com/nava-controller-logo-small.jpg

Sounds like it's not in the running, but I quite dig this one. :-)


It's REALLY good but actually TOO detailed. ... A brilliant design though.

Yeah, I knew it was too detailed to be practical as a logo. I was hoping someone would take my idea and improve upon it...maybe create simplified vector versions of the controllers that would scale to fill a large banner, but still be recognizable used as letterhead.

Thanks for the compliments though! :)

[TonyTheTiger]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogo-simp.png

This is the best one, I think. I'm very partial to basic colors in logos. I tend to dislike gradients outside of some special circumstances.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/4589/navabanner.jpg


Not sure what the front runner is right now, but if this turns out to be the winner it should be re-done without such obvious rastering around the joystick ball and elsewhere, especially if it's going to be produced on anything like a shirt, hat, etc.

If you're using a program like Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, be sure to antil-alias.

While not my personal favorite it certainly does pop, and as Joe said it's a very fun design.

[Vectorman0]

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/4750/navaorig.jpg

If the separation of the N-A and V-A didn't stop halfway down those pairs of letters, I would like this one more. I also think the "North Atlantic Videogame Aficionados" text should go somewhere. I think if those things were changed I would like this one equally as Berserker's. It might not be as polished as his, but it seems "friendlier" to me.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogo-final2.png

This is my favorite so far.

[portnoyd]

Remove the black background and superimpose it over the map like Vec did for his first submission and you're done.

[c2000]

If the separation of the N-A and V-A didn't stop halfway down those pairs of letters, I would like this one more.


That.

BTW I thought I was looking at a ball bouncing off a paddle (yeah yeah, it's slanted), actually. (Arkanoid style). That would be pretty sweet for an 'animated intro' logo if that was ever used. A horizontal moving paddle, the ball incoming and then a stop 'mid-motion' on the current frame, maybe with some kind of glow added afterwards. But I digress..

[TonyTheTiger]

The final version of any logo should be done in Illustrator or some other program that handles vector illustrations. That way you can scale them easily without any quality loss. I think Berserker's is already done that way and looks to be the only one so far. Photoshop is good to design the concept but for a true "final" version it really should be done in Illustrator.

[Greg2600]

The one with the arcade stick looks like a bowling ball or a car's stick shift. Definitely need more contrast from the letters.

[Berserker]

This is the best one, I think. I'm very partial to basic colors in logos. I tend to dislike gradients outside of some special circumstances.

Thanks. I like gradients in some cases if the effect is subtle, and I still think I prefer it for the version with the more detailed joystick, but in this case I decided the importance should be more on letting the shapes stand on their own.

[NeoTechni]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/navalogojoyblack6.png

Damn. We have a winner

[digitalpress]

Thanks to everyone who participated, even if it was just to throw opinions at some of the designs in progress!

I wanted to wrap this up by the weekend so I chose Berserker's final "simplified/non-gradient" version of the NAVA logo. It's already in two places, at the bottom of this page (where you'll find a quickie banner that I again invite anyone with some artistic talent to improve upon) and on the actual NAVA page itself.

I'm attaching the hi-res versions of the logos (max within our forum limitations) for anyone who wants to tinker with the banner - but do NOT tinker with the logo!

Thanks again and hopefully I'll see some of you at a future NAVA event!