Name problem (or, damn that Ragnar Thornquist)

[GarageGothic]

I'd like your opinion on this. I've just read an E3 preview of Dreamfall (The Longest Journey 2), and I learned that the player character is named Zoe. Well, the thing is, one of the main characters in Shadowplay (though not the player character) is called Zoe as well. I thought it was a cute and sort-of original name for a game character, but well, no longer it seems.

Do you think I should rename my character? Obviously it's not a totally new name like Guybrush or Indiana, but still, won't people associate it with Dreamfall now? And won't that distract from my game?

[Gilbert]

Actually in my opinion you need not change the character's name, as long as you think it's cool to use it. Unless you're really for original names, but then you may need to think of REAL wacky names, as existing names are bound to be used somewhere anyways.


BTW Twinsun's wife in the LBA games was named Zoe already.

[Layabout]

Gilbert is correct, there are many games that have similar or the same names for their characters.

How about a variation on the name. I knew a girl called Zia. I think that name is quite interesting and sexy. But just a suggestion.

[modgeulator]

I don't see any reason to change it. I didn't think Zoe was all that of an unusual name anyway. I've met a few Zoes.

[Peter Thomas]

I like zoe. But I like zia more, now that Jack's mentioned it.

[modgeulator]

I think you should change her name to April Ryan.

[Kweepa]

It's always struck me as an Ozzy/Kiwi name.

Stick with it.
The players of Dreamfall will just think Ragnar ripped off Shadowplay.

[SSH]

Is Ragnar using Zöe or Zoe? If he's using the umlaut then don't use it in yours, and vice-versa.

Zia is OK too, but don't use Tia... I feel sorry for David Duchovny's wife, who sounds like "Auntie Lion" to Spanish people...

[m0ds]

I don't think there will be a clash using the name Zoe. It's a common, popular name so there's no reason not to use it!

[Migs]

I know a poodle named Zoe.

[GarageGothic]

Thanks for your input guys. I'll stick with Zoe then. Unless I come up with something better (the name has a symbolic meaning, so it's not interchangeable with just anything).