Era News Template Design Contest
 

We're going to bring back Era News, and we need a new template image, and this is where you come in.

We are holding a contest to see who can create the best image template. The template must meet this requirements:

• Must be an IMAGE (PNG or GIF), we can convert it for you if you win
• The image can be no larger than 750x750, and no smaller than 500x500
• You should have at least two spots for articles, and two spots for images or advertisements
• You should create only one page.
• There should be some kind of headline at the top with "Era News" on it, and a place for issue number and date.

If you win, you must be willing to create more images for additional templates for different layouts (same basic format, but some images or articles moved around, for example). You will need to create two more. You may also be asked to make more than this, and be paid a commission.

If you do win, your prize will be $25,000 and free newspapers for life ;).

Here are some examples:
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3446/eranewsvt7.png
http://forums.graalonline.com/forums...6&d=1233876432

The winner will be picked by Era staff and/or Era News staff based on how well we like the image. If you feel that you must break the requirements to win (or make it look nicer), then you can do so.

The winning template will be chosen two weeks from now, on June 13th, 2009.

Post your submissions in this thread.

I am working on one. Hopefully, I will be the winner. Also, will the Era News car have any advantages or will it just have an awesome look?

Also, When will Era News be released?

Cool look I suppose, I just came up with the idea because the prize sounds lame otherwise.

Released date is probably a month or so, I'll start working on the system now, but we need the image before we can release it of course.

Ok.

One question. Must the template include something? Like, MUST it include like graal players in the background? I am sketching it right now. I'll maybe post my progress right now.

No. If you aren't sure, you can always post it here and I'll tell you if it's okay.

It might not be possible, but why not have a sign (LED style) on the top of the car that has headlines from the current issue of Era News scrolling across?

Technically possible, but probably not worth the time it'd take.

I think that I will try working on a template.

Edit:

Here is my attempt:

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/6...nnewspaper.png

Why is it in like latin? O.o

werd..

hope this works.

Jesus, the articles gave me a good laugh.

So you agree, I win?

that lorem ipsum thing.... i found something strangely similar lmao weird coincidence (or is it?)

http://www.cleo.net.uk/index.php?category_id=317

and people dont believe me when I tell them how long ive been playing *looks at join date*

and thats not even the begining xD

Lorem Ipsum is used as a place holder when the text of a work doesn't matter, but rather, the layout and appearance. Lots of people use it. That's like saying it's a coincidence that we both not only subscribe to Graal's forums, but post there. Duh.

not yet im still making mine! lmao

i found it funny because i was randomely searching on the internet and saw those words like 15 seconds after reading that little tidbit of info here... lmao

DOUBLE POSTER, lol jk I used to double poser until some ********* told on me :(.

Just out of curiosity, what did you use to design/layout/create that (program)?

This isn't my entry but just a quick sketch to show what i think the first page could look like:

Edit: made it a atachment as it was huge on graal

Paint / Photoshop, It isn't that hard if you know how to use these progams.

I really love that one, It looks great o.o

I created mine with InDesign ;)

http://backstagejobs.com/patrick/1up.jpg

Do newspapers cost money?

30 bucks.

Though Era News doesnt get the money from the newspapers sold xD.

Wtf? Why not?

It's quite weird that they don't, but I didn't set up the system, so I have no idea. They're not making any newspapers for a while anyway, but when the new things are done, I'll be sure they get they get the money.

Daz removed the safe because he says that Era News writers should write for fun, (not writing to be paid)

Hello, this is my entry.

when making the template I took into consideration several thing rather than just the organization of things. I emphasized heavily on typography, using several styles that matched around the page in order to make it more pleasant to the eye as well as aesthetically appealing. Also, the way it's organized is mostly a standard around several newspapers around the world. Lastly, the job was made using photoshop and, even if it doesn't add anything of importance to the final work, it will make the editing a lot easier, considering that it was saved in a heavily organized ".psd" file which will allow the page to be easily reorganized and edited to create different styles or simply add and edit content.

I welcome any feedback.

One thing I'd like to mention is that you need to be really careful with typography. We'll only be able to use a few fonts ... Arial, Tahoma, Verdana, Times (thanks Stephen); otherwise, fonts would render too different on different platforms, and it would be nearly impossible to create the newspaper because each platform would show something different.

-.-' I didn't take into consideration that it was going to be scripted.. In that case I will have to make a few changes in order to make it cross-platform compatible.

edit: Not as appealing but it should look the (almost) same across all operating systems... here it is...

Photoshop.

Word wrap also isn't going to work very well, if at all ;)

Besides that, I really like it. The stroke on your pictures is ridiculous, newspapers as a standard have no stroke or a 1/2 pica stroke (at least from what my journalism teacher says).

I don't see the problem. GuiBitmapCtrl with children scrollboxes and such... sounds simple enough, unless you're looking for variable layouts.

There's a layout builder that the Era News staff will use, so it wouldn't really be possible to do that.

the stroke is part of the place holder.. i wasn't really going to add it to any images.. it was simply to mark the area... I will work on a simpler version...

edit: once again... here's my entry... I don't really know how your system will work so I don't know what would be the best layout... maybe you can give me some sort of hint..

That's better, but I don't like the tall picture. 99percent of Graal screenshots are going to be horizontal and small.

okay I will change that...

edit: okay, I made 2 of them this time.. I am not sure which one is more practical.. so here are both of them...

You'd like it if I did, but I never been a people pleaser :D.

Anywho, I'm not sure why Daz took away their income, but maybe you should find that out before jumping the gun and undoing what he did... (Seeing as its his job) o.O?

Are papers just grabs or is it like you need certain minerals?

Edit: Should have 2 pages atleast because newspapers don't use their coverpage for every page

Considering the above comment... I made a second page example.. it's easily edited so I can make many different layouts..