Game Publishing/Business

Re: Where did you get your company name and what does it mean?

SmudgedCat — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:29:58 GMT

I have a cat called Smudge,... maybe I should have put more thought into my company name.

Dave

Re: Where did you get your company name and what does it mean?

The Shape of Games to Come — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:14:44 GMT

I originally wanted to release games under the name Curmudgeon Games, but a Google search turned up too many similar names and URLS already being in use. After that, I tried to come up with something about story and narrative, so I considered things combining adjectives describing stories with words like "software" or "games", but anything I could come up with was already in use. I realised I needed something really unusual so that it would be easy to remember and not in use by anyone else. I'm a big music geek, so I started going through my favourite albums, trying to see if I could change up the titles to sound like the name of a game developer. Most of the albums I went through wouldn't have worked. Then I came across The Shape of Punk to Come. That was easy enough, just change the word "punk" to the word "games". So the name is a combination of an homage to a fantastic album, and something I went with out of desperation when nothing else seemed to still be available.

In retrospect, I'd actually like to use the name Great Apes Games now, which is much simpler and sounds kind of funny, but I've already changed my account name once (from my real name to my company name), so it doesn't seem like a good idea to try to get it changed again.

Re: Where did you get your company name and what does it mean?

Sir Cmpwn — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 03:43:00 GMT

My "company" has gone through several iterations.
I started as a hobbyist, with nothing special, really. Later, I met someone interested in programming and introduced him to games. I can't remember his name, but we combined initials to SDFD Games. He eventually dropped out, so I changed it to DCD Games (just my initials). Then I made it Can It Games. It didn't ring too well with me, so I went unnamed for a while. I picked up a few more helpers, and today I have settled on Burning Phoenix Entertainment (it sounds cool) for about 2 years now. But only recently have I done anything important http://burningphoenix.pbworks.com/, so don't bother searching for any of the first ones.

Re: Where did you get your company name and what does it mean?

jamel glenn — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:46:20 GMT

hmm i guess i just choose the best word that described me and i cam up with a name that represented me so far

"Untamed Games" <--- i like the result tho but it makes me think im weird if thats how i describe myself

Re: Where did you get your company name and what does it mean?

Kris Steele — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:32:09 GMT

I've considered retro/pixel somewhere in a game title, but I'm thinking I might do some other more modern games too (my current game is pretty old school as are my other three ideas for my next game, but I would like to try an X-Wing/Tie Fighter type 3D game too, which isn't really retro or pixelly).

I think I'm just too picky... one day I have a name I like, the next, I'm onto something else (or excited about a new name I thought of that is subsequently taken by someone else).

Re: Where did you get your company name and what does it mean?

Matt Sams — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:12:10 GMT

Mine, The Dead Pixel Society (thedeadpixelsociety.com, WIP) came about from what I decided I wanted my path in game dev to be. Bringing back old school gameplay in fresh new ways. Playing with 'dead pixels', really. Plus I feel its unique and different enough to be noticeable. And I don't have to throw the word 'Studio' in there anywhere. :P

- Matt

Re: Where did you get your company name and what does it mean?

Joopsy — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:09:18 GMT

I have had the domain name eclios.com for ages.

No idea where I thought of it from. (to be honest I am not even sure if people can guess how to say it!)

I quite like it though, a kind of classical feel.

J.

Re: Where did you get your company name and what does it mean?

Centurion Games — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:21:35 GMT

Centurion Games was initially created when we had first started up business, and were working on an actual card and map game similar in ways to Battletech, but which was very Greek and Roman influenced and more battle suit oriented. Never the less this project was put on hold after some time, but the company name stayed.

Re: Where did you get your company name and what does it mean?

MonsuneMoon — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:48:54 GMT

MonsuneMoon means "Monsoon Moon" from the Mighty Boosh. I had to spell it like that because the real spelling was taken.

"I rain down the pain, I’m Monsoon Moon, I’m coming atcha like a beam, like a ray, like a laser, don’t try and stop me I’m quick. Like lightning. I’m frightening. Oowww! Chika-chika!Yeah? You want a piece of me now? You got nothing!"

Re: Where did you get your company name and what does it mean?

Daniel Hanson — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:14:44 GMT

The name "Jade Vault Games" (not in existence yet, but hopefully some time this year) originally started several years ago when I was toying around with the idea of starting up my own game review/hosting website for RPG Maker games (this is where the "vault" part of the name comes from). It was a fleeting idea, though, and nothing ever came of it, but the name sort of stuck.

Re: Where did you get your company name and what does it mean?

Social Loner Studios — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:45:35 GMT

I liked the idea of two contradictory words being used together, 'Social Loner' was one of the first ones we thought of. A lot of the decision came down to domain name availability, if the name wasn't available it was quickly crossed off the list. Go for something simple and easy to pronounce, keep in mind that it will be seen worldwide.

Re: Where did you get your company name and what does it mean?

VengantMjolnir — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:29:36 GMT

My game company is Rogue Eyebrow, and I own the domain Rogue-Eyebrow.com

I created the name during my time at Art Institute( hate that school btw, a rant for a different time though ) as a team name for my first team project. It was inspired by one of my teachers named Scott Swanson( who has a rogue eyebrow... look at his facebook picture ) and also because I have long eyebrows as well. They can measure as long as 3 inches, and if I gel them I can have the whole Jack Nicholson thing going on.

Good enough reason? My webpage's tagline is 'Rogue-Eyebrow, because who wants a normal eyebrow?'

As a side note, my username is my XboxLive gamertag and has been around since Xbox Live launched. With that in mind, its based on the fact that Mjolnir is the name of Thor's hammer( and the Master Chief's armor. ) Vengant is a loose latin word for vengeful. So you get 'The vengeful hammer of god.'

Re: Where did you get your company name and what does it mean?

CoderSys — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:09:03 GMT

Well my son is only 5 months old so currently calls me Brrrr, Waw, Dribble, Smile, crap nappy sounds. None of which was suitable for a company name :-) Although "Crap Nappy Games" could be funny!!!

We settled on RetroCoders, as we program Retro style games/code and www.RetroCoders.co.uk was un-used too.

As it was tho, xbox uses your UserName (oops) so our games Retro One and RetroOne - Part 2 came out under "CoderSys". CoderSys being an abreviation of our old company "CoderSystems" when we build PCs and had a shop on ebay and stuff like that selling games and DVDs.

So we have RetroCoders as a company, with a developer team called CoderSys.

Now I think about it tho, "Crap Nappy Games" sounds ace :-)

Re: Where did you get your company name and what does it mean?

Luhar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:17:20 GMT

dadoo Games:
My son called me "dadoo" instead of daddy when he was learning to speak. I didn't consider the marketing side of things when coming up with a name, I just picked a name that I liked...

Heh... that's interesting. My son called my "ka" instead of daddy until he was 5 or so. Nobody could ever figure out where he got that word. I don't think I'll be using it in a company name, though. Too close to "kaka". lol

Re: Where did you get your company name and what does it mean?

dadoo Games — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:42:34 GMT

My son called me "dadoo" instead of daddy when he was learning to speak. I didn't consider the marketing side of things when coming up with a name, I just picked a name that I liked.

I think that most company/brand names can be made to work given enough marketing dollars. Since I just spent my marketing budget on coffee I'm not going to worry about it too much.