21 replies to this topic

[Devon Peak]

I don't have a game development team and I don't know if I need a name for my company. I could use my name but, I thought of a name for a company and I don't know if its good. The name I thought of is "dumbfounded"

[Legendre]

I don't have a game development team and I don't know if I need a name for my company. I could use my name but, I thought of a name for a company and I don't know if its good. The name I thought of is "dumbfounded"

Hmmm...not sure if younger audiences will ridicule the word "dumb" in your company name.

[teutonicus]

Being introduced as 'the Dumbfounded guys' at a show or something is probably not ideal.

[Devon Peak]

Dumbfounded is greatly astonished and amazed. I want my audience to be dumbfounded when they play my games. And I don't think anyone will introduce me as 'the dumbfounded guy'.

[PyroDragn]

Dumbfounded is greatly astonished and amazed. I want my audience to be dumbfounded when they play my games. And I don't think anyone will introduce me as 'the dumbfounded guy'.

The name of your studio is usually either emblematic, unrelated, or describing the attributes of the studio (and its games). Epic Games make epic games. Codemasters are masters of code.

Calling your studio "Dumbfounded" says "We are dumbfounded" not "You will be dumbfounded."

You could maybe add a prefix ('Be Dumbfounded'?) but it probably wouldn't have the same ring to it as you expect.

Of course, you're free to call your studio whatever you like.

[Devon Peak]

I was thinking 'dumbfounded?' but, that's probably worse.

[Brobot9k]

Have you tried using other words that have a similar meaning or are in some way related to it?

Thunderstruck is pretty awesome.

Other words that have some form of relation to it are:
Stupified
Perplexing
Confused
Awestruck
Perplexed
Speechless
Surprised
Amazed
Amazement
Ingenious
Genius

[way2lazy2care]

And I don't think anyone will introduce me as 'the dumbfounded guy'.

They definitely will.

edit: I think the problem is that dumbfounded has a negative connotation. There are some ones with positive connotations in your list, but they all sound really generic to me.

[Paul Franzen]

I kinda like the "dumbfounded" name (stylistically uncapitalized, too, just like that) because it implies a certain amount of humbleness and self-depreciation that I find more more appealing in indie devs than blustering self-confidence...

...but it sounds like that's not actually what you're going for. Also, you would definitely forever be "the dumbfounded guy."

[Devon Peak]

I kinda like the "dumbfounded" name (stylistically uncapitalized, too, just like that) because it implies a certain amount of humbleness and self-depreciation that I find more more appealing in indie devs than blustering self-confidence...

...but it sounds like that's not actually what you're going for. Also, you would definitely forever be "the dumbfounded guy."

Thanks for commenting and sorry for not replying, my topic isn't on the game design forum. And that's kinda what I was going for. I don't want all capital letters. And I really don't want to be "The Dumbfounded Guy"... I want my audience to be dumbfounded.

[daneteeter]

Go with "dumbfounder", not sure if it's a word, but then again it doesn't have to be. =) Plus being the "dumbfounded guy" isn't really a curse. Any publicity is good publicity. If your name sticks than at least you're remembered. Thats more than most game designers can say. Think CliffyB. I personally think it's a goofy nickname, reminiscent of when my brother went a summer going by Ben "Jammin'", but it stuck and now it's signiture.

[Bacterius]

Have you tried using other words that have a similar meaning or are in some way related to it?

Thunderstruck is pretty awesome.

Other words that have some form of relation to it are:
Stupified
Perplexing
Confused
Awestruck
Perplexed
Speechless
Surprised
Amazed
Amazement
Ingenious
Genius

I agree, Thunderstruck/Awestruck have nice rings to them and are memorable. There are some cool company names here too, you may find one that you like (Digital Melon Interactive is a pretty cool one for instance). Remember company names don't have to mean anything. Many companies are named after various everyday things or plays on words, but these work because it sounds random in a funny kind of way. In fact, pick any two words, piece them together, and you have a potentially awesome name for your company. It is that easy.

Edited by Bacterius, 28 April 2012 - 02:23 AM.

[Devon Peak]

Have you tried using other words that have a similar meaning or are in some way related to it?

Thunderstruck is pretty awesome.

Other words that have some form of relation to it are:
Stupified
Perplexing
Confused
Awestruck
Perplexed
Speechless
Surprised
Amazed
Amazement
Ingenious
Genius

I agree, Thunderstruck/Awestruck have nice rings to them and are memorable. There are some cool company names here too, you may find one that you like (Digital Melon Interactive is a pretty cool one for instance). Remember company names don't have to mean anything. Many companies are named after various everyday things or plays on words, but these work because it sounds random in a funny kind of way. In fact, pick any two words, piece them together, and you have a potentially awesome name for your company. It is that easy.

I want my company name to mean something.

[Bacterius]

I want my company name to mean something.

Then, uh, in my honest opinion dumbfounded isn't a great name and will be misunderstood by a lot of people. But go ahead if you really want to, of course.

Note that "dumbfounding" would be significantly better while still meaning the same thing (and conveys the message better IMO). Like "Dumbfounding Games" or something. People would immediately get the right idea.

[Devon Peak]

I think i'm going to use my name. I don't need a name for a company because I don't have a team.

[Platinum314]

Out of your list I really like 'Awestruck'. For now concentrate on getting an actual indie project done.

[Devon Peak]

I'm working on a game now and I started a different project earlier this year but I need more money for software.

[lithos]

After spending soo much time on a project it should be pretty easy to come up with a name your team finds hilarous and makes for a fun story.

[Paul Franzen]

I think i'm going to use my name. I don't need a name for a company because I don't have a team.

I think that sounds like a good plan! If you want to stick with the "dumbfound" theme I think daneteeter's idea of "dumbfounder" might be the best--because, as was said earlier, "dumbfounded" makes it sound like YOU'RE the one who's dumbfounded, not your players.

But, the problem with "dumbfounder" (and the general premise behind this name) is that I think it makes you sound too arrogant; you really have to be able to back it up if you're going to call your group that, otherwise it'll come across as a bit impotent.

EDIT: Something else I just thought of, too. If you parse out the two words in "dumbfounded"--i.e., "dumb" and "founded"--it makes it sound like your company was founded dumb. ...Maybe nobody but me would ever see it that way, though.

Edited by Paul Franzen, 01 May 2012 - 07:18 AM.

[Devon Peak]

I'm using my name and I made a website and twitter about my art and game development. I'm not trying to spam but, If you're interested you can follow me.

www.twitter.com/_devonpeak
and my website is
http://www.devonpeak.tk/