The Game Name Game

[PaulModz]

I’m currently working on a Space 4X game built on top of a realistic simulation of gravity (movie links and discussion in this thread (http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?t=7041)) and I’ve come to the point where I need to start thinking seriously about the name of the title.

Since this is my inaugural indie effort, anybody care to share the one thing you wish you had known BEFORE naming your first your first title? This title is anything but casual, so this decision will be with me for quite a while.

I’ve been using the placeholder Gravity Well up to this point. Here are a few of my initial candidates for a collective gut reaction:

Pale Blue Dot – I love the Sagan inference, and since the game pays serious attention to the science of spaceflight, it seems suitable. Most people may miss the reference, but it may speak to my target audience.

Newton’s Revenge, Avenging Newton, Isaac’s Revenge, etc… There are a lot of potential names along this theme. Not sure I like it, but they might be more attractive to the general public, for what that’s worth.

Since gravity and mass are central to the game, there must be at least one clever “Weapons of MASS Destruction” type pun that isn’t too campy, but I haven’t come up with it yet.

[terin]

Not to derail this too far, but I had dinner with Carl Sagan before he died. Sad to say I was only two years old so I think most of the discussion was lost on me.

What about "Unified Field" or "Unity Field" in relation to Nikola Tessla's Unified Field Theory (unifying gravity and electromagnetics)

I think it is a more 'zippy' name for empire building and still has that 'hardcore science lover' approach.

I get naming rights! That's at least a 2% royalty... muahaha

However, you can have it for free if you buy me a beer at the next con...

-Joe

[cliffski]

Isaacs revenge sounds good.
I think two things worth thinking about are:

can you get the .com
and
is it memorable?

Most memorable names are single words:

Microsoft
Doom
Amazon
Google

Doom and amazon are better because they are known words anyway (ok amazon is a place but whatever).
Thats how I chose 'Democracy' and 'Kudos'. Its the total opposite of the modern trend in crap game names:

Nemesis Reborn : Forgotten Realms IV (Redemption)

For example (I made that one up, but wouldnt be suprised...)

[PaulModz]

Dude, derail away.

I have two questions for you. What was the situation, and did you get a picture with you and Sagan in the same frame?

As far as the name goes, I guess one man's "Pale Blue Dot" is another mans "Unified Field" ;)

I'll give it a little time to marinate and hope something comes to me. You can't schedule an epiphany.

[mot]

Sometimes I get ideas for game names... and forget them! This probably won't help you directly but maybe something similar to my "Band name exchange" page is in order? (http://krasnej.net/bne)

[Fost]

I was always surprised that nobody had made a game called 'Event Horizon'. Although there was a software company of the same name.



Gravitation
Starfall
Space/Star Crush

[cliffski]

why not just call it gravity?

[PaulModz]

why not just call it gravity?

Interesting. What about Terrific (or Prolific) Gravity as a play on the term "specific gravity"?

FYI, I ordered a secondhand copy of Iain Banks' "The Algebraist" (from the UK) today.

[bignobody]

... 'Event Horizon'. Although there was a software company of the same name.


It's a movie as well: http://imdb.com/title/tt0119081/


why not just call it gravity?

Wouldn't this make it hard to find with search engines?


I'm about to release my first game too. I'll let you know how I make out with a game name that is very close to a rude word :D

[Christian]

Use something that people interested in the theme will get them interested in your game, something they allready know so they will say "ooh! a game about this thing that interests me! im going to give it a try!". In short, make the name meaningfull to your specific audience.

Also, i think that repeating vocals is a good idea to make the name easy to spell like: Narnya (two "a", two "n"), robocop (3 "o"), the thing is that the mouth makes the less effort.

[Davaris]

You don't want to get stuck with a crap name. A good name will stick in a players mind, so make it meaningful and short. Long names are bad because people abbreviate them when they discuss your game.

What does the player do in your game?
What is the setting?
Who are the bad guys?
Who are the good guys?

Being brutally honest here (not intending to be mean):

Gravity Well, Pale Blue Dot, Newton’s Revenge, Avenging Newton, Isaac’s Revenge.

These are all weak names.

On the other hand Gravity isn't a bad name. Can't get any shorter than one word. I should ask Cliffski to name my games. :)

Also you could change the Gravity word a little and make it your own. Graviteer, Gravimetrix, Gravitron, etc..

Unity Field

I'd cut this down to Unity. Perhaps you can tie the story in with this name as well.

Or you could call it U.F. instead of Unity Field.

[cliffski]

no no no.

Gravity.

seriously. People won't forget it. much better than "graviton, Gravi-max" Garvi-mania" or whatever.

A simple google for "gravity game" will do the trick. I did ok with a game called Democracy.

or if you want to be like everyone else:

Gravity max: Newtons nemesis (redemption unleashed).

[Teq]

no no no.

Gravity.

seriously. People won't forget it. much better than "graviton, Gravi-max" Garvi-mania" or whatever.

A simple google for "gravity game" will do the trick. I did ok with a game called Democracy.

or if you want to be like everyone else:

Gravity max: Newtons nemesis (redemption unleashed).

As long as Gravity (the game) doesn't get confused with "Gravity Games"

[Fost]

It's a movie as well: http://imdb.com/title/tt0119081/
Yeah, that's why I was surprised there was no game of the same name. Pre-existing film name wouldn't stop me if there wasn't a game for it. It's a different field after all, and in this case it's using a generic term, so I'd be happy to go with it.

I have to say though, 'Gravity' is the best name, and I'm in complete agreement that it shouldn't be further embellished.

[mahlzeit]

Aren't there already a thousand games called Gravity (especially Lunar Lander-type games)? It's not a bad name, but it doesn't really stand out either.

Oh, and a google for "Event Horizon game" finds several games with that name too. ;)

[Gilzu]

a bit corny, but how about "Set Course!" ?

[mahlzeit]

Or... Gravity Quest. :)

[Fost]

Oh, and a google for "Event Horizon game" finds several games with that name too. ;)
Ha, flash and unfinished open-source games? There's always flash and freeware games knocking about for just about every game, still wouldn't bother me.
Not that I'm suggesting it be used, but I don't see anything that would stop me personally from using it.

[terin]

I actually don't know if my parents have a picture. If I recall the whole story, he and my dad knew eachother from before Carl was REALLY famous. I recall there was some event that lead him close to our hometown in Pennsylvania and my dad heard about it and gave him a call. They got together for one last time before he would die some years later.

I don't have much else to tell about that story. Sadly I was much too young to appreciate having dinner with a guy like that. In fact, I didn't even learn I had dinner with him till I was watching an old rerun of Cosmos on PBS and my Mom got all excited to see him... what a dorky family I have :)

Cliff may be right about the name... but make sure your name doesn't get you lost in the clutter either. If the word is too broad (gravity... that's cutting it close) then you may run into people simply not able to find your game.

Pale Blue Dot is a crappy name compared to Unity Field! One suggests the unification of an empire... the other suggests your game was created with FULL EGA SUPPORT! :) haha

-Joe

[amaranth]

I think the name needs to be catchy. Gravity, Unity Field, Pale Blue Dot don't sound very interesting to me. I liked Newton's Revenge... it sounds intriguing and it catches the eye.

[Tom Gilleland]

I think there are a couple of ways to go, depending on how you are going to market the game. If you are mostly selling it via the net then pick a name that will be successful in search engines.

A name could be a bit unique, so that if it is Googled it will end up with you game site on the top of the list. "Gravity" is too common and you will probably not be able to get your site very high on the Google list. An example is "Bejeweled", it Googles at number one.

Cliffski is right about single word names being easily remembered, like Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Doom, but these guys have a fair bit of marketing money to build up these brands. Of course if you Google "Democracy Game" you do get Cliffski's title right up there at the top! So you could use the format "gameName Game" and Google that to see if you have a chance to get to number one. (Have I inadvertantly stumbled upon Cliffski's reason of success? ;) )

Tom

[Bachus]

I'd cut this down to Unity. Perhaps you can tie the story in with this name as well.

There are already several games, a game company, and a game engine that go by Unity (http://www.google.com/search?q=Unity+game). I'd avoid that like the plague.

I like Pale Blue Dot, but I agree it's a poor name to the masses (plus the whole Google deal). Gravity and Newton's Revenge are also quite good.

[Kai Backman]

I'm slightly biased but I'd go for something that isn't a proper word, but maybe a play or a combination of words. In that sense Microsoft and Google are best picks from that list (over Doom and Amazon). If you search on Google (http://www.google.com/search?q=ShortHike) for Shorthike most of the top links are somehow related. More interestingly, the fact that ShortHike has nothing to do with the space station game (http://www.google.com/search?q=space%20station%20game) category probably helps to differentiate it from it's competition.

[bignobody]

One more vote for Newton's Revenge. "Newton" has the gravity connection and "Revenge" has the excitement and intrigue. Together they morph into something good and memorable.

Regards,

[GnadeGames]

As long as Gravity (the game) doesn't get confused with "Gravity Games"

I like gravitron because it was a carnival ride that I rode as a kid where you got in a UFO and it spun till you starting stickin to the walls of the UFO. It was a good ride and dealt with Gravity so I vote Gravitron.

[Rebrehc's Industries]

There is already a game called Gravity available at Big Fish Games (http://www.bigfishgames.com/downloads/gravity/index.html?src=bfg12y09engsgrav&gclid=CJPwno7ZyYUCFSV2NAodEyX_3g), among other places.

How about Gravitationally Challenged?

[PaulModz]

Thanks for all the input, guys.

Cliff, Gravity is short, easy to spell, and rolls off the tounge. It may be a bit too generic, and overlap with the Gravity Games (Extreme dude crap) might be a problem, but I'm not ruling it out. Kai, your suggestion is basically what I've been trying to do, but it's easier said than done.

Here are a few more semi-random names:

Gravity 101
Gravity('s) Forge
Isaac's Intent

[Davaris]

Gravatix

Gravattica

[Mark Sheeky]

"Gravity" was a game in the 8-bit days so searching for your game might clash with that one.

Gravitor
Gravitator
Vragity
Accelerated Mass
The Fourth Force
Continuum (I bet that's been used).

I once had "When You Kill Upon a Star" as a prospective title :)

Mark