Viking 360
Working on the Viking 360 project was both a challenge and a pleasure. The client needed a vibrant identity that appealed to serious Xbox enthusiasts. Let’s take a closer look at each step of this process:
- About “The Viking”
- Building the Identity
- Illustration
- Product Packaging
- The Software Interface
- E-Commerce Website
About “The Viking”
The new controller released in 2010 is named simply, “The Viking”. Accompanied by never before seen software, The Viking offers gamers the ability to record and playback macros. Once saved, macros can be downloaded to a computer and edited. Every move can be fine tune to perfection. Some skeptics call this cheating, but I like to look at it as an amazing feat of creativity and engineering from the Viking 360 team.
Building the Identity
The “V” logo was inspired by childhood memories of Transformers and gaming with friends. What I avoided with this approach is the cliches that come to mind when hearing the name Viking — horned helmets, battle axes, and shields have been left by the wayside. The divergence from stereotypes and a touch of simplicity allow the “V” to deliver a cool factor without sacrificing professionalism. Red was used to add an agressive edge to a product made for the serious video game player. Purple was an atypical choice, and brings an element of fun to the table.
Illustration
I had the pleasure of illustrating Xbox 360 controllers for use throughout the project. While I started with a white and black controller, more exciting designs have been introduced in the months following the launch of the new product and website.
Product Packaging
The product packaging is minimalistic. Done only in white, red, and purple, the box displays the product logo prominently on the front. On the back is the viking “V wings” in red. Upon opening the side of the box, customers are greeted with the text “Put the power back in your hands”. The packaging was a great success with customers. Some enthusiasts who recorded un-boxing videos of the product were thoroughly impressed with the design.
The Software Interface
The design for the software interface is bold and straight-forward. There are are a few screens used to manage the macros on the controller. The home screen displays the users controller. The assigned macros appear in the boxes pointing to each button on the controller. When clicking a button, a navigation wheel appears that gives the user options for macro assignment. Syncing to the controller is done by clicking the large buttons at the bottom of the screen.
The second screen allows users to edit macros using a timeline. Each button on the controller is listed down the left side. Time increments can be adjusted horizontally.
Users can also export their moves and upload them to the Viking 360 website, which features a growing macro library.
E-Commerce Website
The Viking 360 website is an e-commerce solution as well as a hub for customer downloads and support. The home page puts the product immediately on display. A quick drop-down menu lets visitors switch between the different shell designs with a live preview update of the product they are interested in. The shopping cart solution is customized and fully integrated into the website — from the point of sale all the way to product ticketing and support.
Conclusion
Viking 360 has been a true pleasure to work with. Get ready for future awesomeness from their team as the industry evolves. They are on the cutting edge of XBox controller modding, smoking the competition with a multitude of quality product features and great design.