Lazy, Unimaginative Console Naming?

Collapse

Recommended Videos

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Silverstring
    Pro
    • Feb 2003
    • 739

    #1

    Lazy, Unimaginative Console Naming?

    Is anyone else starting to dislike this trend? PS3? XBox 2/Next? I mean come on, a first year marketing student could come up with better names than that. Not to mention the names of the current consoles suck. PS2 speaks for its own suckiness(The Second Playstation!), while the Xbox is the worst name, by far, ever given to a console(just incredibly generic. "See we have this console, which can do lots of cool things, but it is kinda shaped like a box. Well, it is about seven years past the whole "X"treme craze, lets use that! We'll call it Xbox!" Horrendous.) I'm no Sega loyalist, but "Dreamcast"(Best console name ever), "Genesis", "Saturn", even "Master System" are all great names. "Gamecube" and "Gameboy" are good too. THAT'S how you name a console.

    Oh, and don't give me that consumers are too brain dead to realize that the next Sony product, for example, NEEDS to be called "Playstation- Blank" so that people realize it is the next in the line(although thats what these companies seem to think, and are unfortunately following Sony's lead). Any buzz around the launch of a new console or a simple commercial would easily take care of that, in addition to the leading Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo name(hate to contradict myself here, but I think the "N5" is actually a great name. Not too specific, and actually used by a company that has the history and prestige of five consoles, not 2 or 3, to pull it off. I doubt it will be called the N5 in the end though.)

    Anyone else have any thoughts?

    Disclaimer: No, I do not base my console buying habits on name conventions. I have an Xbox now and love it. You could call something the "Game Playing Machine(GPM) from the Acme Company", and if, it had good features/software/exclusives, I would buy it. That goes without saying. The purpose of the thread is simply to discuss these names, and possibly banter about what some of our favorite console names of all time are. I outline this intention here to avoid posts of "I will buy it(PS3, Xbox2, etc.), as long as it's good! Who cares what the name is?" Thanks.
    I drive a 2005 Toyota Prius Gas/Electric Hybrid. My last tank was 53.6 miles/gallon. Gas prices fear me!

    Oversimplification is the escape of men who want to avoid the duty demanded by true understanding.
  • BatsareBugs
    LVP
    • Feb 2003
    • 12553

    #2
    Re: Lazy, Unimaginative Console Naming?

    Playstation was a good name until they went 2 and 3. I agree, I think they're getting lazy and unimaginaitve with the console naming nowadays.

    Comment

    • BatsareBugs
      LVP
      • Feb 2003
      • 12553

      #3
      Re: Lazy, Unimaginative Console Naming?

      Playstation was a good name until they went 2 and 3. I agree, I think they're getting lazy and unimaginaitve with the console naming nowadays.

      Comment

      • BatsareBugs
        LVP
        • Feb 2003
        • 12553

        #4
        Re: Lazy, Unimaginative Console Naming?

        Playstation was a good name until they went 2 and 3. I agree, I think they're getting lazy and unimaginaitve with the console naming nowadays.

        Comment

        • JohnDoe8865
          Hall of Fame
          • Jul 2002
          • 9607

          #5
          Re: Lazy, Unimaginative Console Naming?

          I don't really see how Gamecube is a good name at all. It is a cube shaped console that plays games.
          Favorite Sports Teams

          NFL - Carolina Panthers
          NBA - Charlotte Hornets
          MLB - Cincinnati Reds
          College Basketball - Wake Forest
          NCAA Football - Appalachian State

          Comment

          • JohnDoe8865
            Hall of Fame
            • Jul 2002
            • 9607

            #6
            Re: Lazy, Unimaginative Console Naming?

            I don't really see how Gamecube is a good name at all. It is a cube shaped console that plays games.
            Favorite Sports Teams

            NFL - Carolina Panthers
            NBA - Charlotte Hornets
            MLB - Cincinnati Reds
            College Basketball - Wake Forest
            NCAA Football - Appalachian State

            Comment

            • JohnDoe8865
              Hall of Fame
              • Jul 2002
              • 9607

              #7
              Re: Lazy, Unimaginative Console Naming?

              I don't really see how Gamecube is a good name at all. It is a cube shaped console that plays games.
              Favorite Sports Teams

              NFL - Carolina Panthers
              NBA - Charlotte Hornets
              MLB - Cincinnati Reds
              College Basketball - Wake Forest
              NCAA Football - Appalachian State

              Comment

              • jmood88
                Sean Payton: Retribution
                • Jul 2003
                • 34639

                #8
                Re: Lazy, Unimaginative Console Naming?

                </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
                JohnDoe8865 said:
                I don't really see how Gamecube is a good name at all. It is a cube shaped console that plays games.

                <hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

                Me neither. And they've used the gameboy name for a long time.
                Originally posted by Blzer
                Let me assure you that I am a huge proponent of size, and it greatly matters. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

                If I went any bigger, it would not have properly fit with my equipment, so I had to optimize. I'm okay with it, but I also know what I'm missing with those five inches. :)

                Comment

                • jmood88
                  Sean Payton: Retribution
                  • Jul 2003
                  • 34639

                  #9
                  Re: Lazy, Unimaginative Console Naming?

                  </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
                  JohnDoe8865 said:
                  I don't really see how Gamecube is a good name at all. It is a cube shaped console that plays games.

                  <hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

                  Me neither. And they've used the gameboy name for a long time.
                  Originally posted by Blzer
                  Let me assure you that I am a huge proponent of size, and it greatly matters. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

                  If I went any bigger, it would not have properly fit with my equipment, so I had to optimize. I'm okay with it, but I also know what I'm missing with those five inches. :)

                  Comment

                  • jmood88
                    Sean Payton: Retribution
                    • Jul 2003
                    • 34639

                    #10
                    Re: Lazy, Unimaginative Console Naming?

                    </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
                    JohnDoe8865 said:
                    I don't really see how Gamecube is a good name at all. It is a cube shaped console that plays games.

                    <hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

                    Me neither. And they've used the gameboy name for a long time.
                    Originally posted by Blzer
                    Let me assure you that I am a huge proponent of size, and it greatly matters. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

                    If I went any bigger, it would not have properly fit with my equipment, so I had to optimize. I'm okay with it, but I also know what I'm missing with those five inches. :)

                    Comment

                    • Silverstring
                      Pro
                      • Feb 2003
                      • 739

                      #11
                      Re: Lazy, Unimaginative Console Naming?

                      Perhaps I am too influenced by my marketing training. I think "Gamecube" is good because it is a non-dictionary, distinctive word that immediately conjures up an immediate image in your head. I think the synergy between the form and function of the unit(as you said, a cube that plays games) and the name "Gamecube" is an asset. Another strong point is its simple syllabic structure through the combination of two actual words into one(Play-Station:the first name was good, and Dream-Cast are other good examples of this). XBox recalls nothing, where as adding a number to the end of a name(or, for that matter a "Super" in front of it) conjures up no image or at least a poor image. If you took someone off a desert island, and asked them what an Xbox might do, even in the simplest terms, they would not come close to anything even close, because, inherently, the term means nothing. "Dreamcast" makes you think of an object or device that creates and broadcasts "dreams"(in this case the "dreams" are the fictional worlds of the videogame universe), "Play Station" is an object, device or location where people can converge to "play"(which is exactly what they do), and, as you said, GameCube is a Cube that plays games. "Genesis" recalls creation and imagination, "Saturn" inspires wonder(celestial association), even GameBoy recalls a smaller version of a "grown-up" Game or game machine, which fits it's small, portable profile and function. Thats why these are good names, in my opinion of course.
                      I drive a 2005 Toyota Prius Gas/Electric Hybrid. My last tank was 53.6 miles/gallon. Gas prices fear me!

                      Oversimplification is the escape of men who want to avoid the duty demanded by true understanding.

                      Comment

                      • Silverstring
                        Pro
                        • Feb 2003
                        • 739

                        #12
                        Re: Lazy, Unimaginative Console Naming?

                        Perhaps I am too influenced by my marketing training. I think "Gamecube" is good because it is a non-dictionary, distinctive word that immediately conjures up an immediate image in your head. I think the synergy between the form and function of the unit(as you said, a cube that plays games) and the name "Gamecube" is an asset. Another strong point is its simple syllabic structure through the combination of two actual words into one(Play-Station:the first name was good, and Dream-Cast are other good examples of this). XBox recalls nothing, where as adding a number to the end of a name(or, for that matter a "Super" in front of it) conjures up no image or at least a poor image. If you took someone off a desert island, and asked them what an Xbox might do, even in the simplest terms, they would not come close to anything even close, because, inherently, the term means nothing. "Dreamcast" makes you think of an object or device that creates and broadcasts "dreams"(in this case the "dreams" are the fictional worlds of the videogame universe), "Play Station" is an object, device or location where people can converge to "play"(which is exactly what they do), and, as you said, GameCube is a Cube that plays games. "Genesis" recalls creation and imagination, "Saturn" inspires wonder(celestial association), even GameBoy recalls a smaller version of a "grown-up" Game or game machine, which fits it's small, portable profile and function. Thats why these are good names, in my opinion of course.
                        I drive a 2005 Toyota Prius Gas/Electric Hybrid. My last tank was 53.6 miles/gallon. Gas prices fear me!

                        Oversimplification is the escape of men who want to avoid the duty demanded by true understanding.

                        Comment

                        • Silverstring
                          Pro
                          • Feb 2003
                          • 739

                          #13
                          Re: Lazy, Unimaginative Console Naming?

                          Perhaps I am too influenced by my marketing training. I think "Gamecube" is good because it is a non-dictionary, distinctive word that immediately conjures up an immediate image in your head. I think the synergy between the form and function of the unit(as you said, a cube that plays games) and the name "Gamecube" is an asset. Another strong point is its simple syllabic structure through the combination of two actual words into one(Play-Station:the first name was good, and Dream-Cast are other good examples of this). XBox recalls nothing, where as adding a number to the end of a name(or, for that matter a "Super" in front of it) conjures up no image or at least a poor image. If you took someone off a desert island, and asked them what an Xbox might do, even in the simplest terms, they would not come close to anything even close, because, inherently, the term means nothing. "Dreamcast" makes you think of an object or device that creates and broadcasts "dreams"(in this case the "dreams" are the fictional worlds of the videogame universe), "Play Station" is an object, device or location where people can converge to "play"(which is exactly what they do), and, as you said, GameCube is a Cube that plays games. "Genesis" recalls creation and imagination, "Saturn" inspires wonder(celestial association), even GameBoy recalls a smaller version of a "grown-up" Game or game machine, which fits it's small, portable profile and function. Thats why these are good names, in my opinion of course.
                          I drive a 2005 Toyota Prius Gas/Electric Hybrid. My last tank was 53.6 miles/gallon. Gas prices fear me!

                          Oversimplification is the escape of men who want to avoid the duty demanded by true understanding.

                          Comment

                          • Silverstring
                            Pro
                            • Feb 2003
                            • 739

                            #14
                            Re: Lazy, Unimaginative Console Naming?

                            </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
                            jmood88 said:
                            </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
                            JohnDoe8865 said:
                            I don't really see how Gamecube is a good name at all. It is a cube shaped console that plays games.

                            <hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

                            Me neither. And they've used the gameboy name for a long time.

                            <hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

                            Well the "gameboy" name, in and of itself, is good, just as "playstation" is. It is actually the recycling of the names that I don't advocate( ex. Nintendo/Super Nintendo, GameBoy/Gameboy Color/Gameboy Advance/Gameboy Advance SP). I think the Xbox is the only name I feel has NOTHING redeeming about it(originally), and they're using it again! The DS(Dual Screen) and PSX are also terrible.
                            I drive a 2005 Toyota Prius Gas/Electric Hybrid. My last tank was 53.6 miles/gallon. Gas prices fear me!

                            Oversimplification is the escape of men who want to avoid the duty demanded by true understanding.

                            Comment

                            • Silverstring
                              Pro
                              • Feb 2003
                              • 739

                              #15
                              Re: Lazy, Unimaginative Console Naming?

                              </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
                              jmood88 said:
                              </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
                              JohnDoe8865 said:
                              I don't really see how Gamecube is a good name at all. It is a cube shaped console that plays games.

                              <hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

                              Me neither. And they've used the gameboy name for a long time.

                              <hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

                              Well the "gameboy" name, in and of itself, is good, just as "playstation" is. It is actually the recycling of the names that I don't advocate( ex. Nintendo/Super Nintendo, GameBoy/Gameboy Color/Gameboy Advance/Gameboy Advance SP). I think the Xbox is the only name I feel has NOTHING redeeming about it(originally), and they're using it again! The DS(Dual Screen) and PSX are also terrible.
                              I drive a 2005 Toyota Prius Gas/Electric Hybrid. My last tank was 53.6 miles/gallon. Gas prices fear me!

                              Oversimplification is the escape of men who want to avoid the duty demanded by true understanding.

                              Comment

                              Working...