Spy Hunter Brought Back as a Pontiac? No...

Pontiac's new G8 commercial brings back memories of playing the old game Spy Hunter on Nintendo. While I appreciate the classic 80's videogame reference, I never envisioned my spy-driven armed sports car to be a plastic-clad Pontiac.

If I had to imagine a modern-day car that would fit the role in Spy Hunter, it would be more along the lines of a Nissan GT-R or Acura NSX. These cars were designed by the guys obsessively playing Spy Hunter in their youth.

Helping Mom Enter The World of Blogging

That's right. Last night I helped my mother launch her own blog: NY Piano Expert

My brother and I have encouraged Mom to create a blog for some time now. Over the years, she's mastered the consultative approach to selling pianos. Mom is quick to strike up conversation about pianos -- with absolute strangers -- at dinner, in a store, or practically any public place. So of course, that had us thinking; "what better candidate to enter the world of blogging?"

UBIQ's Fresh New Site

UBIQ has got a nice new site. I'm feeling the product browse functionality right on the homepage. While the intro build is sweet, I find that it takes a little too long. But thankfully it doesn't have to re-build every time you hit the homepage.

Great photography and an overall smooth look and feel. Props to the web design veterans at The Chopping Block for pulling this together.

Honda Goes Green with Online Playground

I think the new Honda Problem Playground site one of my most favorite new sites. It offers a unique means of navigation by following a road map and dragging the screen to move about.

Another example of this site's quirkiness is that before users can play the video to see the new FCX car in action, they are required to first assemble a simple puzzle (of the video's first frame) beforehand. Not to mention the entire experience is helped along by tiny little people who lift, move and pull the pieces of content along.

And it's sure nice to see how Honda is harnessing hydrogen power for mass market (proposed) automobile production.

Lame Pepsi Monster Invades Times Square

After skimming Ad Age's article this morning about a Pepsi Monster in Times Square (idea hatched by BBDO), I figured I'd stroll outside the office to see if I could locate the creature.

Well, low and behold -- a lame, giant, inflatable, ugly-looking thing awaited just outside our doors. I walked over to take a closer look and capture a few photos, but the below-freezing temps resulted in some quick snapshots and a speedy retreat back inside.

(However, not before I managed to walk away with this freebie.)

Adobe's Wild Imagination Grows

Curious with Adobe's simple yet intriguing new rich media web banner, my attention was piqued with a welcoming slider bar within their new ad. Sliding the bar within the interactive ad was very rewarding, as new creatures, wildlife and organic growth emerge from behind the controls. Bravo, Adobe!

I posted a short demo here of my own interaction with the ad late last week. (sorry, play controls are all the way at bottom of screen)

Wii Remote Strap Replacement

I received an email this evening from Nintendo, indicating that my Wii remote may be in need of a replacement wrist strap. They've assured me that by wearing the wrist strap (I suppose both new or old), it will prevent me from "accidentally dropping or throwing the remote during game play which could damage the remote or surrounding objects, or cause injury to other people."

My wife can attest to the damage I've already caused with my Wii remote. I've managed to hack/scuff the frames on our living room walls, and on several occasions narrowly miss her face as I swing my tennis backhand -- all with wrist strap firmly secured, mind you.

But by the looks of this photo, I'm not sure what sort of wrist strap improvement I should expect from Nintendo in the mail. I can't tell much of a difference in quality between the new and original.

Letting Users Accurately Resize Text

Increasingly web designers are developing a compassion for users who would like to read their content. What a novel idea. A List Apart provides an interesting analysis of addressing website typography in CSS (found here), comparing line heights, pixels vs. ems, body size by percent, etc.

An interesting debate and worth a read.