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[Seiseki]

Scrapnauts.

- What's the first thought that comes into your mind?

- What kind of gameplay do you think the game has?

- Is it easy to mix up with other -naut games like Psychonauts and Scribblenauts?


So, obviously choosing a title for your game is important. It's usually the first things a potential player sees or hears about.
The name Scrapnauts was picked because it was quite unique, google search results were very few, also the -naut suffix is kinda playful and ties in with the theme of the game.
It also relates to astronaut, and the suffix actually means traveler.
Since our game is about collecting scrap in space, it's a perfect match, right?

It's just that now I'm worried what people actually think when they hear it.
Because myself and the guys on the team might be a bit biased.

I had a friend who thought it was a bit lame to try and leech of great titles like Psychonauts and
Scribblenauts. Although that wasn't a conscious decision, I personally love both those titles but I still don't want our game to be mixed up and people getting the wrong idea.
Because I'm sure those games use the -naut prefix for the same reason as us, it's playful and it gives players the expectations that the game isn't all that serious.

My worst fear is actually people thinking "Scrapnauts? Is that like Scribblenauts but scrapbooking?"
Or people just thinking "Oh it's that game where you combine words right?"
Scr-ibble-nauts Scr-ap-nauts..


And what are the options if the name proves to be less than optimal?
Use a subtitle? Change it?

So, I'll be thankful for any kind of input you might have!
And also any related thoughts or insight into picking names for games.

Edit: wow, can't believe I just realized this now. But if our game turns out to be really bad, we'll ultimately be stuck with people calling it Crapnauts..
Which I actually find hilarious.

Edit2: This might not be the right board for this thread. I thought this was feedback in general. If a mod feels like this would fit in better somewhere else, feel free to move it! (thanks)

[surt]

I don't know didley-squat about Greek, ancient or modern, but from the real *naut words such as argonaut, astronaut and cosmonaut it looks like you need to lead into the naut with an "o". Even if that technically isn't necessary I think it would at least help it feel more correct.

"Salvager" comes to mind but there's already a game hereabouts called "The Salvage".

[Seiseki]

Yeah, I agree that it doesn't flow that well because scrap doesn't end with a vowel..
But I'm willing to overlook that because I still think Scrapnauts sounds good.
While adding an 'O' making it Scrap-o-Nauts just sounds kinda goofy.
The options would be junknaut, trashnaut, wastenaut, but none of those end with a vowel(-sound) either and scrap is really the word with the best associations like scrapheap, scrapmetal, scrapyard.
While trash is more associated with smaller pieces of garbage made of plastic, paper or food.

Space Waste and Space Junk were two other names that were considered, but games using those names already exist.

It's also an 2D action spacship arena multiplayer game. And the pilots are called Scrapnauts, so the title also refers to the characters in the game and their "profession".

We have pretty much settled for the name, but I thought it would be a good idea to get early feedback on how people perceive the name. So the chances of the name changing still exist but it's a last option thing and only if the feedback would be mainly negative.

[VortexCortex]

Well, the first thing that came to my mind was Junkyard Wars in Space, but I then traveled the suffix trail and wound up dealing with a Door to Door Junk Salesman who's business briefly resembled Howl's Moving Castle until it was obliterated by a giant piecemeal robot ala Armored Core which began sorting through the smoldering parts and attaching them to herself while laughing maniacally then blasted into orbit.  I'm left wondering if my home-owner's insurance would cover such events...

Great name.  It's not too confusing with Psychonauts and Scribblenauts -- That those two games exist should give you the greenlight in terms of fear over mixups.

[Gainsworthy]

Scribblenauts.

Even after I read it correctly, I keep interpreting it as Scribblenauts. Sorry. It's certainly a nicer name than "Space Waste" or "Space Junk", they sound like pretty drab options.

I wouldn't go the subtitle route, and I agree - *nauts is pretty cute. Maybe you could play with it further? I think a large part of the problem lies in the Sc*nauts nature of the name. Could you do something like Junkonauts or Rubblenauts or Debrinauts or Jetsanauts?

[Udderdude]

Scribblenauts.

Yep, too similar to this.

I'd go with something silly like Orbital Janitors >_>

[VortexCortex]

Word to the wise: Consider the source...  Sure, we all know tons of names of existing games.  Poll some random folks if you want a more accurate reading.

[Seiseki]

Word to the wise: Consider the source...  Sure, we all know tons of names of existing games.  Poll some random folks if you want a more accurate reading.

Yeah, but the target audience will be gamers

So either we switch to another name, or risk getting mixed up with scribblenauts..
It's just that I'm quite fond of the name and the spaceship pilots will still be referred to as such..
Decisions, decision.. -.-

Another option would be attaching something infront or after 'Scrapnauts'..
League of Scrapnauts, Scrapnauts of Doom, The Amazing Scrapnauts.. (yeah, maybe not..)

[Lynx]

There's a Japanese anime about astronauts who run a space debris collection service...

Not suggesting you call your game Planetes or anything, but I figure there might be some interesting background bits that might make sense to appropriate.

[Seiseki]

There's a Japanese anime about astronauts who run a space debris collection service...

Not suggesting you call your game Planetes or anything, but I figure there might be some interesting background bits that might make sense to appropriate.

Actually, I watched that anime after we came up with the scrap collecting idea.
Really great series! :D

[Sir Raptor]

When I hear Scrapnauts, I think about scraps of paper or fabric. That's just me, but I definitely don't think about garbage.

The official term for garbage in space is Space Junk. You could work off of that.

[JWK5]

A synonym for scrap (in it's "a piece broken from the whole" definition") is fragment, you could change the title to "Fragmenaut" which isn't entirely effective in blatantly describing things but does have a sort of rhythmic ring to it. It also can be interpreted as "frag me not" which could be kind of funny if the game has any kind of battles or conflict going on.

[VortexCortex]

The official term for garbage in space is Space Junk. You could work off of that.

Almost... You misspelled the term, it's missing three 'A's: Spaaaace Junk!
Just like memory limits, AKA: Spaaaace Budgets! -or- Orbital Brew, AKA: Spaaaace Beer!
Oh, and you need an exclamation, always.  Seriously, it's one of those things you mispronounce until you hear others say it in common speech (complete with booming echo... No one knows where that comes from). 

I think the game idea is awesome.  Saw some pics in the mockups (or somewhere).  I think it has a good premise.  Hope a name can be arrived at.

Personally, I think Scrapnauts is far enough away from other games.  Folks aren't going to confuse it.  My previous comment about folks like us knowing lots of game names to make comparisons with still stands: We aren't your average gamers...  The people well versed in games won't be confused, it's a matter of pride.  The ones less versed in games probably won't be confused either, they likely won't make the connection of similarity unless you specifically point it out.  Ask around IRL to see.  Being too close to a problem is a thing.

Also: Planetes, <3

Hmm... "Scrap Wars"?  you could do it up like the Star Wars font?

[Graham.]

Just pick the right name for your game. Having an appropriate name is a million times more important than not sounding like another game's name. If you have a name that doesn't suit your game and sounds like another name, then you've got a problem. Names are reference points for buyers. It symbolizes the experience of playing your game in their heads. The most important thing is that it represents that experience accurately. If it does so, that connection will be far stronger than the one it has with something similar sounding.

Just make your game and the answer will come.