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Hey guys and well, mostly just guys,

The main reason Kemo Coliseum caught my attention is due to it being a full-length, furry-based game with ambitious goals for quality, moreso than it being adult or gay. There are so few unabashedly furry games out there, fewer still of professional quality. So I was surprised to find this project on Steam Greenlight through FurAffinity:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=118625631

This game, titled (un)Lucky7, is supposed to be a furry-based sci-fi horror game. They are trying to get it Greenlighted so it can be developed and offered on Steam. Go check out the project, watch the trailer, and read the description, then vote if you want to see it happen. Although there's no sex or gay in the game, they are trying to create a high-quality furry game, just like Dudedle is, so if you like furries, sci-fi horror or pixelart puzzle games, go take a look.

Tonight was a good night. Barack Obama won re-election, and if there are any Republicans here, I'm not in any way sorry that Mitt Romney lost. Because there could only have been one undesirable alternative.

In Washington State, my home state, it looks like same-sex marriage will pass, supported by the voice of the People. The same appears to have happened in Maine and Maryland. Minnesota rejected a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Wisconsin elected the first openly gay candidate to the U.S. Senate. The times, they are a changin'.

I hope we have a reptile character in Kemo Coliseum.
Like Wild Wolf said, I want to have some interactions between a reptile and main characters.
You can't go wrong with alligators, but what about snakes...?

Snakes might be a little tricky.  If they were to be incorporated into the game as wild animals which also serve as a food supply in the world of Kemo Coliseum, that would seem like the most appropriate interpretation for their role.  (At least to me, anyway.)     If we want to be a bit more creative, there could be a race of snake-like beings called "Naga" (humanoid reptiles with the body of a snake, but possessing forearms and an intellect to boot).
These Nagas could come from a culture with a complex background involving assassination, foreboding rituals, and a hard-knock lifestyle.  This upbringing would make for prized assassins in the eyes of influential politicians who want to eliminate their enemies discreetly or for wealthy slave merchants/owners who want to make an example out of slaves who are disobedient or keep them in line.  (I'm thinking this idea should be used as the monkey master's way of ensuring that Tharsix follows his orders in case Tharsix ever gets the idea of running away during the tournament festivities.)  The role of the assassin could also be played by a rat.  I find that to be more preferable to the Naga option.    
I'm not a fan of anthropomorphic snakes because their body make-up is drastically different from that of other animals, but take from this what you will.  I'm not going to judge anyone who would want this to be in the game.

Why not lizard men and dragon men? They got body armor for legs. If more avians try Crow. If water voyage then Fishmen.

Dragons are sexy. Supple, leathery wings, rippling muscle and sinew underneath a sea of iridescent scales and a thick, sturdy tail.

That being said, looking at sub-characters and races, how much "world building" is there going to be? Obviously, the richer the world, the more difficult it's going to be to build.

Luc reminds me from suikoden game. He's also an apprentice and he does do judgement and  got a very  strong magic.



BTW the panther. You can see him drooling in his pic.  I wonder why he drool. It's not like he's drooling on his weapon. Maybe drooling how his opponent be naked. ^^; He's a wild fighter alright.

I've never even heard of that game before. Is it popular? I know mainstream in the US isn't the same as mainstream elsewhere. I guess if you are afraid of people thinking of Luc from Suikoden then we don't have to shorten the name.

Anyways, this is the name suggestion thread. Let's at least try to stay on topic. Talking about what we want to see in relationships can maybe go in its own thread or in the general discussion thread, instead of being buried here.

Also, Wanfang, are you not going to add my suggestions to the list on the front page? They can't be THAT bad, right?

Coming to a consensus on names seems like it will be difficult. The only one we've reached consensus on is Tharsix for the bear...still nine more to go....

[Husky]

I haven't been able to think or post about much here recently since I've had to work on applications for school, but I have a few thoughts.

Thoughts

Husky: One of my concerns over 'Vlad,' 'Vladislav,' or 'Vladimir' is the fact that I immediately think of the vampire champion Vladimir from League of Legends. I know some people don't play LoL, but a lot of people do, and they may think of this too. Also, I don't think the meaning fits that well.

Cat: I like the name Bartholomew, though he was born a prince, so it would seem unlikely his given name would mean 'son of a farmer.' Though since he's on the run, maybe he'd adopt a name that's more befitting of a common man. However, Bart reminds me of Bart Simpson, a cartoon character well known around the world. I would prefer Barthol or even Tholomew as the shortened version of the name.

Panther: Kafeel appears to be Arabic in origin. Interesting. I don't really have much more to say on it, though. Barbas reminds me of 'barbarous,' like a barbarian. Some may view that as commentary on his heritage (Native American? Aztec? Inca? Something?), which would not be good.

Fox: I still don't like Salvatore due to its origin. It only fits if we force the fox's backstory to fit. Viktor is a somewhat mundane name, and there is also a LoL champion with the same name.

Suggestion

Rabbit: I still can't help but pay attention to the light and dark theme this guy has, as well as the scale he is holding. So I was thinking something like Lucatrum or Lucater, which mean 'light and dark' in Latin. It can also be shortened to Luc. Also, why does this guy have a crown?

To Phageling:

I hope we don't put too much focus on the origin of the name matching the "nationality" of the character (partially my fault for talking about etymology so much). For some it is an obvious match, like the bull or tanuki, but for others it ends up a little bit harder, like the fox or the rabbit. It probably wouldn't be bad for some of the characters to have more generic names in terms of language of origin. I think as long as there is a reason behind the name, whether it's based on the character ("He's slave number thirty-six, so Tharsix"), phonetics ("The name sounds like a growl, which is perfect for this guy") or word roots ("It means 'courageous heart' in language X"), it should be fine.

In terms of connections between names, people project what they know and feel about one object onto another of the same name. The stronger the feelings, the greater the projection. The following is going to be an extreme example and doesn't reflect at all what I suggest, but just as a thought exercise let's say we name the lion Hitler. The name 'Hitler' means 'one who lives in a hut,' so the meaning isn't inherently sinister. Now, from what I know, the lion is a skilled and valiant fighter with a strong sense of justice, which are admirable qualities. But just from the name, people are going to think of Adolf Hitler, which will color their impression of the lion, even if the two don't have a single thing in common. The immediate impression most people will get of the lion is negative because of the connection between the names, and from there it is an uphill battle to erase that first impression.

Now, would other names create such a strong impression? Likely not, since Hitler is a man bitterly hated by a large number of people. But still, there's just no need for unrelated things to be connected. Name the rabbit "Astaroth," and I'm thinking about a giant, evil, axe-wielding golem from Soul Calibur. That's not necessary.

To Wanfang:

I totally remember D&D Shadow of Mystara. Especially how elf and dwarf were classes. Good times.

In terms of the rabbit, I know he's a magic user, but there are a lot of things to note about his costume. He definitely looked sinister in the draft version, decked out in black and red. As it stands now, the outside of his costume is white while the inside is black and red, kind of like a yin/yang effect. He also possesses the scales, which suggest a balance as well (perhaps between good and evil). His cape also creates what looks like a maw, which with the red, floating daggers makes him look sinister despite the white. Interesting design, but I don't know for sure what to think. Perhaps we'll get some info from Punipen about him.

[Fox]

Fox: I'm not sold on Salvatore, which is Italian for "savior." It brings up questions we can't answer. Is the fox Italian or Italian-based? What did he save to be granted the name of 'savior?'

Rabbit: How much do we actually know about him? Is he good? Is he evil? Both? What role does he serve?

Lion: I'd shy away from Alcatraz. Regardless of the original meaning, reading that name almost instantaneously brings me to think about arguably the most notorious prison in United States history. Nothing in the lion's character seems to draw parallels to any of that fear or infamy surrounding Alcatraz the prison, so it is an entirely unrelated connection between the two that people are immediately forced into making.

Tanuki: I like Oomori. From what I can tell with almost no knowledge of Japanese, it means "large forest," which seems fitting. It also sounds mighty fine.

Well, why does the name literally have to be seen as "hunting eagles"?  Maybe it can be a sexual euphemism >:3 like, He who hunts eagles(finds another eagle and has sex with it)

For one, the guy looks like a lethal hunter. Hunting is (probably) his job, and he's good at it. So between his look and his name, he would probably be seen as one who kills eagles. Something in his back story would have to convey how his name is not literal.

Say this eagle is a vigilante, who hunts down and apprehends members of his tribe or other tribes who have broken their code of morals (so criminals, basically). When conflict arises and the threat of war looms, he uses his tracking and stealth skills to capture the enemy chieftain. But what makes him so remarkable is after capture, all of his targets are convinced to see the errors of their ways, very readily renouncing past actions and conflicts and seeking peace and redemption. How is he so convincing? Well, after a night of the wildest pleasure imaginable at the hands of the hunter, it's hard not to be convinced. For his legendary dedication to rooting out wrongdoers and preserving peace, his people have bestowed upon him the name "Makya," the hunter of eagles.

Is this back story probable? Maybe. Is it contrived and ridiculous? Maybe. It sounds like he's brainwashing people through sex. The biggest problem here is the name forces the creation of a back story. We don't really know what direction Dudedle wants to take their characters in, especially the ones with little existing back story, so we probably shouldn't look for anything that could conflict with their artistic vision of how certain characters should be like.

Eagle: From a quick Google search, it appears the Hopi tribe kills golden eagle chicks as part of their religion. Thus, the name "Makya" would mean 'someone who hunts eagles.' I don't think the name will work anymore, unless this eagle is hunting himself or other members of his species.

[Bear]

Just telling ya what's the confirmed or liked names they've chosen

Previous forum named a lot
Bear : Tharsix - it means 36 on his tatoo as a nickname.
Cat : Cyrus - is derived from either the Persian word "kurush," which may relate to the sun, or "kuru", which relates to throne.
Eagle : Makya - Native American Hopi name meaning "eagle hunter."

In this forum Talk
Lion : Rex (Reminds me of Generator Rex)
Tanuki : Almond - Clumsy nutty name

Bear: Ooo, that's clever. I didn't catch that.

Eagle: Does that word mean "someone who hunts eagles" or "an eagle who hunts?" Or does it mean either one? If it was exclusively the former, that would be a problem.

Lion: Rex sounds like something I would name my dog. Let's try to expand or vary that name.

Tanuki: It sounds like Almond isn't going to work anymore.

As Reiga mentioned already, given how the tanuki's name has a strict requirement now, what kinds of guidelines are we looking at for the others?

I'm glad this thread has some life in it again, but hopefully we can get more than six posters in here. There has to be some creativity out there, just waiting to be tapped.

Well, there you go. The tanuki's name is going to be Japanese.

I don't have anything against naming people after food, but that often reflects the whimsical nature of the character or the anime. If it fits, that's great. Maybe Almond fits the tanuki because he's fatty, nutty, and wholesome. Regardless, it looks like it's no longer on the table.

With any name, there are two things to consider (more than that, but most of the rest are minor): sound and meaning. Sounding appropriate is the most important, since a cool sounding name with no particular meaning is far better than one that means something but sounds terrible. So I agree: sound > meaning. But piecing together names is much easier with meanings than sounds, so that is where I started.

'Aureus' has three syllables, while 'saurus' has two, so they should sound different. I wonder if a large number of people think of dinosaurs when reading that name. You're the first to mention it, but there may be more.

Tanuki: I was merely responding to the assertion that since tanukis are Japanese, we can't use a Native American name. English names are not Japanese either. Can we not use those either? Where do we draw the line? It's easier to just say, "I don't like Meeka. I like Almond better." And that's fine. Name suggestions are exactly that--suggestions.

Lion: I suppose I can see why you think the name sounds like a dinosaur's, but that could just be a side effect of the Latin which is used for scientific categorization. 'Rex' is in the name Tyrannosaurus Rex because of its meaning, while '-aureus' is similar to the '-saurus' suffix on many dinosaur names. I would like to point out 'aureus' means golden while 'saurus' means lizard, and the 'e' in 'aureus' makes it phonetically different. Still, when naming it's generally wise to stay away from names people connect to unrelated things, so it is a concern.

If we're looking to stay with Latin, its an easy problem to resolve. Just changing it to something like "Rexanimus," which means "courage of kings," would probably solve that phonetic problem. If we want to abandon Latin altogether, that's not a problem either. Looking at word etymology is just one of the easier places to start when thinking up names.

Bull: The name Damocles isn't inherently tied to punishment. Damocles, in the court of King Dionysius II, proclaimed it must be a great fortune to be in such a position of power. The king offered to switch places with Damocles, to which the latter agreed. And so Damocles took the throne, but Dionysius hung a sword above, held by a single horse tail hair, symbolizing the constant fear of those in power. Damocles ended up wishing to switch back, as he no longer wanted to bear such a burden. So I guess the name is more tied to a constant fear of punishment rather than punishment itself, but I do agree a different name should be better.

Lion: When I say 'king,' I don't mean it literally. I know he is not the guy holding the tournament and granting wishes. 'King of the arena' simply means he is at the top of the arena ladder, having bested all others with superior strength and skill. Also, 'rex' simply means king, without any additional context. It could refer to lions being known as "kings of the jungle," or "kings of beasts."

Fox: I don't know about the fox's ancestry, but keep in mind it is not impossible to adopt a name other than the one given at birth. Especially if there is some sort of magical order to which alchemists belong, as I can definitely see members adopting a special name when being inducted into such an order of great mystical power.

Cat: Cyrus is fine. It's just a relatively common name nowadays, whereas Cyril is less common and more archaic, which fits the medieval sort of theme for the game. Also, which phonetics aren't everything, I do like to consider them.

Tanuki: In Native American culture, raccoons also have legends and mystical powers. But I suppose if you want to keep him Japanese, I know 'mika' means something else entirely, which would make it no longer a fitting name. But if he's Japanese and we shouldn't use Native American names because those aren't Japanese, does that mean Almond, Puck, and Charming Wind are out the window? Those are English names which don't preserve a Japanese flavor.

Well, there's probably a long time until the game is ready, so probably no need to rush to selecting names yet.

I have a few suggestions and random musings on the names and naming in general.

THOUGHTS

Husky: I actually like the name Remos from the list. The 'r' at the beginning makes the name sound like a growl or a roar. It's intimidating, which seems perfect for a skilled warrior like the husky.

Bull: Seeing Damacles on the list is kind of interesting, since the "sword of Damacles" hanging over everyone's head is the prospect of losing and being raped in front of a large crowd. I don't know if it's the name I would pick, but it makes me think of this.

SUGGESTIONS

Lion: Rexaureus (from Latin Rex-king, aureus-golden), the golden king. He is essentially the "king" of the arena, being the champion of a previous tournament, and he has a beautiful coat of golden fur. The 'r' roar/growl sound is a bonus.

Fox: Alchilon, Alchivul, Vullerick, Vuldrane. All of these use one or both of the Latin roots Alchimia-alchemy, vulpes-fox. I felt a more elaborate name would be fitting for an alchemist and tried to reflect that in these names. Also, we really don't know much of the fox's back story, besides he's an alchemist and a fox.

Cat: Cyril, from Greek Kyrillos-lordly or masterful. I know some of you are partial to the name 'Cyrus' already, but I have two reasons for suggesting this slight variation. First, there are many characters named Cyrus already (like that guy in Chrono Trigger or the boss of Team Galactic in Pokemon 4th gen), so people might end up making mental associations (whether consciously or subconsciously) between the cat and other unrelated characters. Second, the cat is one of the softer looking fighters, so changing the harsher -us sound to the softer -il sound would reflect this better.

Tanuki: Meeka. From the Native American Osage language, Mika literally means raccoon. I just like the 'ee' better than 'i.'

--

That's all I have for now. Sorry for being wordy, but I like to be thorough when thinking about things, and like to offer reasons for my conclusions. Whether you like the names or not, I hope at least it wasn't too boring to read through my methodology.