The game industry is highly competitive, and being ahead of the curve and creating trends can determine the fate of a company. Therefore, to make a new game successful it is important to give it a unique name. In this article we will give some tips on Finding the right name for your game.
For this reason, deciding on a name is one of the most important things a developer thinks about while creating a game, and deciding on a name is one of the first things you want to get right. The name allows people to associate your game with you and remember it later when they see or discuss your game.
It’s a good idea to consider these various factors when deciding on a title for your game. Some of the aspects of a game title include its uniqueness, meaning, catchiness, and how it translates.
This guide is intended for game developers who are looking for a name for their new game. Choosing the right name is an essential part of developing a game and running a successful business, as well as some considerations to take into account when coming up with a choice. We will also give you some examples of successful games names from the past, so you will have a good idea of where to start looking.
Finding the right name for your game Table of contents
…To make your name unique
Before deciding on a name for your game, it is important to make sure that the name you choose is not already in use in the real world. You can find out if the name you want is already in use by searching the Internet, playing games, or simply checking social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, but you may be surprised.
If you do come up with another name, choose one that does not have more negative connotations than the positive connotations of the current name. When it comes to searchability, the new name may be better than the original one.
Think also in terms of Internet domains and that you will probably need to register a domain name to point to your web page. So, look into a domain name registration service like mydomain or godaddy what top level domains are free for you to use.
… But not too unique.
Choosing and using a unique name that is easy to remember is valid. However, using special characters can make it difficult to find or type in search engines. Also, some people may not find it helpful to pronounce your name.
When deciding on a name for your game, you need to make sure that the name is easy to pronounce and remember.
… Name Translation and Localization
Before deciding whether the name of the game is correct or not, proper and detailed research needs to be done on how it will be translated and localized in different languages.
While spelling of words and proper terminology were sometimes difficult to deal with, one of the biggest problems was the language difference. As a result, we had some trouble with Google Maps. If we hadn’t had problems with the game name and proper terminology, we would have had much more serious localization problems.
Similarly, when localizing, it is important to pay attention to what the translated names mean. For example, you may want to call a faction “INVENTED NAME” (an example). It is important to make sure that there are no undesirable translations in case someone uses that name in a translator or forum, and that could even resulting offensive in the country.
There are a lot of examples about bad naming examples in different sectors of activity as this isn’t a problem specific to the videogames industry.
Although not specifically related, but with some similarities, beware when associating a name to a logo, as the graphics can have similar problems than words, and some times some types of images, could have different meanings in different cultures.
… Why you need to use subtitles
Game subtitles can be used to make a game stand out more in the eyes of gamers.
Take a look at Call of Duty example,and how they use the subtitle to understand how the player can move forward in the game. The name used usually implies where the game is set, or what kind of situations he will be facing.
The subtitle of a game may tempt the player to look it up.
When writing the title of your game, think about what kind of words you want your game to appear on the top page of your favorite search engine, such as Google or Amazon.com. Subtitles can enhance searchability because they provide more detailed information about your game.
… Registering the chosen name
Once you have chosen a name for your game, it is important to claim the rights to it immediately. If someone else tries to take over the name later on, it could cause problems. It is a good idea to claim your domain name, Facebook page, Twitter account, etc. as soon as it becomes feasible.
It is best to choose a website/page name that will help potential players find your website. If you are marketing your own game or service, it is especially important to include important details.
If your game is a mod or indie game, you can also make a profile on two different websites. On the first site, you can show your game to as many players as possible; on the second site, you can create a profile page that other players can see. Both will help you establish your game.
If you want to be able to reach a larger audience to display your game on popular websites, IndieDB, itch.io are two good solutions that you can use.
You can also wordpress.com to create mini website with a partially defined name as a subdomain of wordpress.com.
Until you have a name for your game and no one else with the same name has already claimed it, you are under no legal obligation to bother claiming your name. However, even if you are lucky enough to have your unique game name chosen from among quite a few options, don’t expect your game to be released when it is actually published. If you have an existing web page and don’t want to publish it until your game is ready, create a unique URL name and separate it with a dash like “name-composed” (http://name-composed.xxx).
… Actually thinking of a name
The previous paragraphs were focused in putting some guidelines on to think about the name your game, and how to make it visible to your potential audience, but what about actually coming up with a name? It’s good to remember that if you have a catchy name, people will immediately know what the game is about.
However, when it comes to actually deciding on a name, there are a few tips that can help.
- Think about what your game is about. Does it have a story with a unique theme? Can you integrate it into the name or subtitle of your game? For example, “Dark Souls” features “Dark” as an important ongoing theme throughout the game.
- Is your story or game still not fully fleshed out? Try using a random name generator such as Word Mixer, or behindthename. This generator will help you come up with a distinctive name.
- Is it possible to use a generic name based on the main theme of the game and then use a unique subtitle to support it? For example, Pocket alone could refer to a number of different games, such as Pocket Racer, which could be related to casual mobile games.
- These are all ways to help you come up with a name for your game, but it doesn’t hurt to take a little time before deciding on a final name for your game.
Conclusion
Deciding on a name for your game is an important task for you. Make sure you come up with the right thing, because it will not only help your game for a long future, but it can also save you a lot of headaches later on. You want people to be a part of this new game and to play it, so your game needs to be catchy. Use words that the audience will agree with as this will help you keep a good first impression.
