We'll be launching a new social networking site Occult Nation very soon at www.occult-nation.com and I'm posting the new site's design template for your feedback and review. This is actually a second draft and I don't mind creating the third one if it what it takes to get it right (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Please do comment and give your honest critic of the design below:
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Althought it won't be as advanced as myspace, facebook or multiply (oh! we're on a shoestring budget!), you can do pretty much the same with Occult Nation where you can add and find friends, free blogs, albums (photo & video), create and join groups, create and share events, and live chat. If it gets popular, we may add additional features such as a marketplace and whatever you want to be available there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bigwink.gif)
Launch is schedulled by the end of March 2008, or even faster than that hopefully.

EDIT:
Latest Draft below >>>
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Occult Nation (BETA) is ready to use:
Please register here:
http://occult-nation.com/
Works perfectly in FireFox, but there is alignment problem with IE, Opera & Safari we're still trying to fix without success.
Anyone can help please pm me.

The design is good, smooth and consistent. However, I don't like whatever that red smear (brush/smudge?) that you have going on at the top of the page under the header and above the footer. The start and end of your content box is what I'm talking about. Other than that, I like it.

I'll see what I can do on the smudge thingy, I'll tidy it up in a moment.
Here's a variation with side backgrounds (for screens above 1024 resolutions):
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Does it look any better than the first?

Updated:
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The star next to occult nation should be a pentagram (just lines) instead of a filled in star. It might just be me but the filled in star looks vaguely communist...

I noticed that too when going over the previus templates today.

You (kinjo) werent just online when i was so didnt have a change yet to say it heh (IMG:style_emoticons/default/oops.gif) .

Looking good now anyway (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clapping.gif) i am glad some of my ideas was used.

Agreed.

Don't meant to be a communist (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Pentagram design lines doesn't look good btw so I have to come up with a new logo.
Here's the revision for the logo:
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How does it look now? What else can be improved?

Work on the footer a bit, I think it needs to match the header a bit more (but still stay unique from it) if you know what I mean. It just seems so flat with the footer so plain.

What came to my mind was the promo star used in those commercials by the US Army. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I like the layout so far though. It compliments the theme design of this site and looks professional. It doesn't look cheesy or something. I would go with the pentagram design if you find one that works ok though.

Pentagram lines doesn't look very good in small sizes. Here's my final draft, and if everyone is happy, I'll have it converted by this monday.

[attachment=743:attachment]

I actually like the old design with both the star and lettering. Not sure how the star could evoke communism...perhaps I'm not old enough to really care about the cold war?

The new design though, is better artwise, but not so much brand wise. What I mean is, the first design could be emblazoned on a T-Shirt, or Mug. For the second design to have the same marketability, the gold would need to be brightened just a bit more to stand out more and be noticed, otherwise it is perfect.

I will note too, that the first emblem denotes more "fun", while the second is more of a "serious" vibe. I believe a balance could be reached by brightening the gold somewhat, allowing it to retain the mystic quality.

I love the fade light around the eye! Also, you'll probably need to purchase the www.occultnation.com domain and have it forward traffic to your chosen domain, if you haven't already.

Fantastic idea brother! Pushing the envelope! Looking at you reminds me to stay focused on my own projects, A+ my man, A+ ! God bless you man.

~Journey (Need to change the name when I have some more time)

This post has been edited by Frater F.A.M.E.: Mar 21 2008, 11:51 PM

Nice feedback brother! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Your'e quite right, the first one was designed for direct branding, the reason why I designed it more simpler in bolder colors. It is more "fun" and easier to market with various merchandise media lol. The current logo design may more attract more mature audience and I'll see if I can do some minor variation with it for use with other media. Occultnation.com is owned by someone else for adverts purposes only and I don't think I will be able to acquire that domain in the short term.

so are there any new updates?

Yes, it's ready to use at http://www.occult-nation.com/[/url]
Was busy doing something else, and we'll move the address to index so it can be accessed from occult-nation.com

So what are the joining requirements?

I tried signing up but since I don't have an invitation code I couldn't registor.

Ups, forgot to disable some things (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
Now everyone can sign up. Here's the sign up link:
http://occult-nation.com/

Please note that this is still in beta. There is still a few errors we still need to work on for example, compatibility problem with firefox. Works fine with IE. "may" displayed correctly on opera & safari. We will work on these during this week.