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Good Names for a new publisher

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Anonymous

anybody have any good names for a new game publisher...

right now the best I have come up with is:

Grape Ape Games, but it spells GAG... I kinda like the idea of a purple gorilla for a logo

jwarrend
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Good Names for a new publisher

The only thoughts I have on this subject are that you probably want to make sure your company name in some way reflects the kind of games you publish, or at the least, doesn't jar with the kind of games you publish. For example: "Hee-Haw Games, publisher of detailed historical military simulations", or "Creeping Death Games, publisher of light children's games" just don't work. "Grape Ape" games, to me, connotes light, whimsical card games. Not sure if that's what you're looking to publish, or whether it would really matter if you weren't; it's just what the name says to me.

I recall having a "Grape Ape" juice glass when I was a little kid; apparently I was a big Grape Ape fan or something. You will probably need to get permission to use a picture of Grape Ape in your logo, and maybe the name as well, but that would be a question for the lawyers. Also, be aware that there's a publisher called A.P.E. (Advanced Primate Entertainment), so that may factor into your choice, or not.

Good luck with your company! I'm sure many of us here would be very interested in hearing about the process of starting a new company -- choosing games, securing funds, getting the games printed, generating buzz, etc. Do keep us informed with what you learn along the way!

-Jeff

Chip
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Re: Good Names for a new publisher

DrMayhem wrote:

Grape Ape Games, but it spells GAG... I kinda like the idea of a purple gorilla for a logo

GAG - might get some flack like God Awful Games or something.

Aside from this, I'd concur with Jeff about the name being a reflection of either the type of games you'll likely produce/promote or perhaps something that has personal meaning or is a reflection of you. In my case, I didn't want to box myself in with respect to the type of games I would create. Thus I took a sort of generic approach and chose the name Big E Toys. My last name happens to start with E and I'm 6'8" tall. I also deliberately chose "Toys" in the company name because I didn't want to limit my product scope to games. That being said, some people get a little confused at the moment with "Toys" because games and toys tend to be psychologically separate ideas in the industry. I knew this when I chose the name though and was willing to deal with it.

Chip

Anonymous
Good Names for a new publisher

very helpful... while I personally like Grape Ape games, I don't think it will work out well.

I came up with some other ideas however:

GameForge - Like that Darke?
MLMGames - mlm are my initials
I also like the follwoing names, but they convey biblical games

sword of truth and light of truth.

or maybe combine some:

Light Forge Games

DSfan
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Good Names for a new publisher

Here's a couple idea's:

  • Half-Baked Games
Or here's two with exactly the same meaning
  • Forerunner Games
  • Harbringer Games
The logo could be something with a 1, and your slogan could be: Leading the way for games of the future (A Little Long though)

Hope those help,
-Justin

[/][/]
Hamumu
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Good Names for a new publisher

one problem... MLM is the well-known acronym for Multi-Level Marketing, AKA pyramid scheme. Not a good association for your business!

On that note, I wonder how you can work pyramid schemes into a game design... the way the early goers get the deal and later people get screwed seems nicely gamey!

DSfan
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Good Names for a new publisher

Hamumu wrote:
On that note, I wonder how you can work pyramid schemes into a game design... the way the early goers get the deal and later people get screwed seems nicely gamey!

How about SYNG (Screw Your Neighbor Games)

:lol:
-Justin

Anonymous
Good Names for a new publisher

Michael,

I've actually had a good deal of experience naming companies and brand products being a designer in a brand agency. Here are tips and tricks that I have found that would work well for a gaming company.

- Firstly, have fun. Coming up with a name is a fun project that can be overanalyzed to death. I've seen this happen countless times. After going back and forth and back and forth they finally land on the "right" name that they don't really like. Note: there is no "right names". Only very bad (sounds, looks or feels like someone or something that it shouldn't), middle of the road, and great names that happen to resonate with many people.

- When you've picked something, don't ask to many people what they think. It's like asking someone what they think about what you are thinking for a baby name. The answers you'll get will generally be somewhat random and will only serve to confuse.

- Type it up in a browser. Hopefully, it's not taken. If it's a porn site, I'd steer clear – even if you use a qualifying word or symbol to separate the two: xyzgames.com instead of xyz.com. These to are too similar and people could confuse the two. Always nice if you have a clean transition from name to url.

- Avoid names that seem like something else. Grape Ape is a property owned by someone. I'd stay away. Try something evokative of what you are trying to do here.

- Allow chance and randomness to happen. I can't emphasize this enough as almost always people tend to go with things that are very logical and consequently expected and boring. Sometimes it's fun to have a name that people ask "interesting, I wonder what it means?" This also can create buzz value.

- Such randomness can be favorite things that you or your wife like: favorite color, favorite animal, etc. How about Blue Zebra. It's fun, makes no sense, it's memorable. I can imagine what people might have said if they were told: "I'm starting a company named Google or Blau Punkt (Blue Dot) or a product named iPod, or ..."

- Avoid names that seemed to stale. NP Games is boring. GWX Fun is boring. Fun Games is boring. I'm not a fan of these contractions as this is where the world went in the '90s and has been in industrial companies for years. KFC, etc, etc.

- If you are clearly a game company, you don't need that as your name. It takes up valuable space to say what you clearly are to a consumer buying or looking for your games. You can always use a qualifier under the name with the same effect.

- In the end a name is just a name. The brand and the products and services that stand behind it make a name good or bad. For better or worse, McDonalds is a good name because it is tied up with a heritage that we all relate to. Nike is a good name partially bc it is (reference to the Greek God of safe speedy travel), but also mostly because of the fantastic brand that stands behind it.

- When trying to determine if a name is bad, look at it's overall connagtation. Grape Ape is pretty abstract in itself, so for what it was it is fine (though not for you as it is taken). On the other hand, Cute Chicken is weird – it connogtates something that is confusing as to the company's intention.

Good luck and have fun with this!

Anonymous
Good Names for a new publisher

thanks for the advice eyecandy, all of what you have said seems intuitive, but things that are intuitive are easier to see when they are pointed out to you.

Right now I am most leaning towards Light Forge or Light Forge Games.

interesting, goes well with games, once you realize it is a game company, doesn't seem to be taken (although there is a blue forge games), certainly no negative connotations asociated with the name, meaningful to myself and my wife. of course better names may come along, but we like light forge right now

Anonymous
Good Names for a new publisher

Quote:
...but it spells GAG...

Sometimes it works out well, Live Oak Games shortens to LOG!

If you like the idea of a purple ape for a logo, why not use a more generic name like "Big Monkey Games" and have a purple ape as a logo image. Just be sure you use an image that looks nothing like the trademark Grape Ape. Just having a purple ape isn't enough to cause branding confusion (NOTE: I am not a lawyer, this is not legal advice, seek out a qualified lawyer who is competent in these areas of law before making any final decisions).

The "forge" part of the name suggestions sounded familiar, so I did a quick search on google. There is a company called "Games Forge" that produces java games. There are a few companies called "Light Forge," though they look more like lighting designers or something like that.

Anonymous
Good Names for a new publisher

SiskNY wrote:
The "forge" part of the name suggestions sounded familiar, so I did a quick search on google. There is a company called "Games Forge" that produces java games. There are a few companies called "Light Forge," though they look more like lighting designers or something like that.

Yep, I am on the search for a new name for the publishing company. Trying some random stuff, came up with:

Illuminated Ice (too long I think)
Bright Ice
I.C.E.

Anonymous
Good Names for a new publisher

weird post, was just a big quote.... whoops

sedjtroll
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Good Names for a new publisher

This might not be legal and all, but what do you think of "Wookie Win Games" ... as in "Let the wookie win."

- Seth

Anonymous
Good Names for a new publisher

I imagine Let the Wookie Win won't work.... but of course that would be great for me.

jwarrend
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Good Names for a new publisher

DrMayhem wrote:

Illuminated Ice (too long I think)
Bright Ice
I.C.E.

I.C.E. = "Iron Crown Enterprises", so that's a no-go.

Bright Ice isn't the best; I'm not a big fan of assonance, though.

Illuminated Ice is ok; how about "Incandescent Ice"? Instead of focusing on "light" synonyms, you could use "heat" synonyms, focusing on the fire-ice dichotomy. Also, another good "ice" synonym might be glacier/glacial.

But as Chip says, this might be overanalyzing things a bit. Just go with something that sounds good!

-J

Anonymous
Good Names for a new publisher

jwarrend wrote:
DrMayhem wrote:

Illuminated Ice (too long I think)
Bright Ice
I.C.E.

I.C.E. = "Iron Crown Enterprises", so that's a no-go.

Bright Ice isn't the best; I'm not a big fan of assonance, though.

Illuminated Ice is ok; how about "Incandescent Ice"? Instead of focusing on "light" synonyms, you could use "heat" synonyms, focusing on the fire-ice dichotomy. Also, another good "ice" synonym might be glacier/glacial.

But as Chip says, this might be overanalyzing things a bit. Just go with something that sounds good!

-J

Incandescent me be a little too big of a word for some people to understand.

Burning Ice
Ice Melt
for some reason I am on a kick to have ice in the name.

Ice Light
Ice bulb
ice flower
ice-t
ice cube
ice cream (this would be a good name for a white rapper)
Ice Cubed
Ice to the third power
Icecicle
Ice Lense
Ice Forge
Ice Hammer
Ice Sky
Charred Ice

if you didn't catch it yet, I am trying to be random and let something just happen

Ice Mouse
Ice Keyboard
ice board
icetastic
ice ice baby
ice pick
ice proof
ice man
ice monster
ice cubed (I like this, but problems will prolly arise)
ice play
ice in luck
ice flight
ice crystal
ice bound
ice prison
live ice
ice pan

ok sorry for all of that.... got carried away

DSfan
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Good Names for a new publisher

What about something like:

  • Hoar-Frost Games (May be complicated)
  • Sub-Zero Games
  • Icy Sea's Games
  • Below 32 Games (or 32 Below)
  • Iced Ocean Games
  • Absolutely Ice Games
Theirs a few with Ice in the name. Hope those Help
-Justin

[/]
sedjtroll
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Good Names for a new publisher

Why "ice" exactly? I don't see how it applies at all. I suppose it might sound cool (hehe, sounds "cool")

Here are some more ideas:
Player Vs Player
PVP Games
Versus or Versus Games or VS or VS Games
Play By Play or Play By Play Games

- Seth

jwarrend
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Good Names for a new publisher

I like "Ice Bulb" as the best of the bunch.

phpbbadmin
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Good Names for a new publisher

Hmmm. How about Black Ice games?

Or Icebreaker?

-D

Anonymous
Good Names for a new publisher

HA! Icebreaker... that is good.... TAKE THAT SETH! Ice...

sedjtroll
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Good Names for a new publisher

DrMayhem wrote:
HA! Icebreaker... that is good.... TAKE THAT SETH! Ice...

Ok, you got me. Icebreaker is quite a good name. Too bad it's taken.

LOL, ho about AP Games (after Analysis Paralysis, or maybe Advanced Placement)? :)
Or Attention Deficit Games, after yourself ;)

Anonymous
Good Names for a new publisher

How about Starlight Games?

hmmm maybe too hippy.

Star Forge
Starburst games
Supernova Games
Venus Star

sedjtroll
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Good Names for a new publisher

First ice, now stars... what eler has nothing to do with games, game publishing, companies, or even you? Here's some more like that...

Magnificent Moose
Carnivore
One Left Shoe (or One Red Shoe)
etc.

You could go for "literary" references, like
42 Games
Tastey Minstrel Games ("When danger reared it's ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled. Brave, brave Sir Robin...")

Anonymous
Good Names for a new publisher

tastey minstrel games! woo hoo

sedjtroll
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Good Names for a new publisher

DrMayhem wrote:
tastey minstrel games! woo hoo

Thought you might like that one.

Anonymous
Good Names for a new publisher

DSfan wrote:

[*]Below 32 Games (or 32 Below)

-Justin

When you're talking about water and freezing (you know, Ice) think of one word:

Kelvin.

Imagine the people impressed by something referencing Kelvin's freezing point of 273.15

273.15 Games

Problem.
Solution.

I expect a 10% cut of your first one (1) million in net profits.

Anonymous
Good Names for a new publisher

I can imagine the following for a logo for the publisher

Tasty Minstrel Games
"and there was much rejoicing."

slam
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Good Names for a new publisher

How about some mild positive reinforcement?

Pretty Good Games

Hamumu
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Good Names for a new publisher

Pretty Good Games is treading pretty heavily on the toes of Thomas Warfield over at www.goodsol.com ... it's not his company name, but he's pretty famous for Pretty Good Solitaire and Pretty Good Mahjong. I don't know what legal significance that has, but I wouldn't do it anyway.

sedjtroll
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Good Names for a new publisher

If it were me, I wouldn't name my company "Pretty Good" anything. "Really Great Games" would be better than that, and it sounds prety bad too. The point is, "Pretty Good" isn't all that good, and therefore it's more of a negative connotation than a positive one.

In any case, DrMayhem seems to be going with Tastey Minstrel, andhe had an idea for a logo... what do you guys think of the following ideas:

Direct: A dragon with a minstrel's leg sticking out of his mouth, or a little more subtle: A comic dragon picking his teeth with a lyre or banjo. Or POSSIBLY even a bit disturbing: a table of people enjoying a meal, with colorful cloths and musical instruments piled on the floor next to the table.

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