What sounds best?

AndersM · Sun 15/02/2004 22:17:52

What sounds most 'dark and futuristic', if the characters in my game only is known by their last name, so even co-workers and friends call eachother names like Mr Murdoch, Ms Connor, and Mr Smith, or if the characters have realy odd names like Orion, Mira, Rigel, Altair, Spica, Deneb, Algol, Libra, Castor, and Pollux (Names of stars and constellations) I like the second concept a little better, but maybee I'm odd. But if anyone else likes the second concept, What would the hero be called? He goes under the working-name John, but that's a little boring...

Chicky · Sun 15/02/2004 22:39:13

i like the second name idea, very sinister ... like the matrix.

well thats my opinion

-nath

Tarison · Mon 16/02/2004 01:34:32

I'm of the opposite opinion, there, and think the last names will sound matrix-y, but that it would be a bad thing if you weren't making a matrix game. You'd probably be better off with something that stands out for your theme, rather than one that makes it look like another.

There are many options open to you, and it really depends on you. I don't know your whole idea, but perhaps names are illegal for a certain bunch of people, who are only assigned numbers, colors, or arbitary words, or are allocated names on a hotmail basis (Masse32?

) Perhaps names in general are phased out, as a way to dilute the notion of 'self' and identity, so people go along with the flow, and a group of rebels adopt names of their own.

The really rich/important people could have lavish names, if there's been a nuclear war, people could name themselves after the random items that weren't destroyed, and are lying around the ruined cities. "Hi, I'm Main Street" (okay, that was a bit much).

Anyway, that's just my take on your question, though it's a little indirect. My advice is don't settle for something you're not 100% sure of, but be ready to move on past the issue if you can't find anything yet.

LordHart · Mon 16/02/2004 01:58:04

Every aussie is should be named Bruce, and every welshman should have the last name of Jones...

Tarison · Mon 16/02/2004 01:59:22

Quote from: Os Ãšltimo QuÃ£o Queijo ^_^ on Mon 16/02/2004 01:58:04
Every aussie is should be named Bruce, and every welshman should have the last name of Jones...

haha, reminds me of a Hale and Pace sketch I saw years ago.

LordHart · Mon 16/02/2004 02:04:41

Yeah, except it was Monty Python... british humour rocks.

Tarison · Mon 16/02/2004 02:13:06

Quote from: Os Ãšltimo QuÃ£o Queijo ^_^ on Mon 16/02/2004 02:04:41
Yeah, except it was Monty Python... british humour rocks.

The one where the whole town has the same name? My memory is failing me

LordHart · Mon 16/02/2004 02:24:08

Yeah, thats the one. I swear, the only american that has done that idea well was Mel Brooks in Blazing Saddles...

Olleh Mr Johnson...

Las Naranjas · Mon 16/02/2004 02:26:23

If you're trying for "Dark and Futuristically" a good bet would be to look at Cyberpunk customs, since it's Cyberpunk imagry which is favoured in todays future dystopias, whether or not they're actually strictly cyberpunk.

With that in mind, stylistically the Cyberpunk authors borrowed heavily from Noir imagry and conventions, and that would favour the former concept, of being known by last names.

It also gives a better feel of pseudonym. Having a name like Orion is good for anonymity on AIM or MSN, but really sounds daft in real life, even if it is the future.
Adopting a name like Smith, gives a feel of pseudonym and the desire to keep anonymity in a Noirish society where you don't trust others enough to give them your name.

This would probably be done well with Tarison's idea, provided of course the street names aren't absurd for the purpose like his example.

It really depends if you want the names to make the characters seem somewhat sinister and shadowy, or whether you want them to seem like 12 year old script kiddies trying to look tough.

MillsJROSS · Mon 16/02/2004 06:11:17

I'd go with last names, just because whenever you use someone last names it's a sign of formality, and unfamiliarity with a person. Which I think leans better towards a darker atmosphere.

-MillsJROSS

TheYak · Tue 17/02/2004 07:05:52

I vote for the lastname bit as well, but without the prefix. It also adds some military atmosphere. Many space-borne sci-fi novels show that even civilians tend to have a military (often Navy-ish) influenced vocabulary, probably due to the method of their migration. If you look at some popular sci-fi staples: NeuroMancer - Often uses last name. Sometimes uses pseudonyms but not for the serious characters. Bladerunner - Decker comes to mind. John Shirley's "Eclipse" novels also tend to heavy usage of last names.

AndersM · Tue 17/02/2004 19:51:39

Thanx for all your replies. I have changed my mind, sort of, and think I wil go fro the lastname bit, but i think I'll need the Mr/Ms, so people (you that plays the game) might get a hint of who the other characters mean, but maybee not. On the other hand, maybee I'll use rank? or not. Hmmm.. better think about this twice....