Strategy Informer  

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Hm ok that's one big no :) but SI is a name that doesn't tell what we're doing. Who ever is new on SI always first things we only cover Strategy games. Then it looks weird when they figure we don't. Why not Roderick?

You have to see things from our point of view - Strategy Informer just doesn't fit what we do anymore.

It's also not the easiest brand to market. Sure if we were still just strategy games, or even PC games maybe, but we want to be multi-platform AND multi-genre, and our name holds us back more than you know sometimes.

lol Roderick :)

I personally don't mind a different name it's just a name. True, it would take a bit of getting used to but what matters the most is the substance. The content, the crowd...
I would be much more against a drastic visual change of the site than just a different name.

Considering the meaning of the name, true the current one kinda implies that the site specializes in strategy games, it was how i discoverd the site myself back in the day when that was actually true.

The core users wont leave just beacuse of a name change. There's a certain big anime site where i'm a member and they also changed their name to something else after a decade, i dont remember people leaving cause of that. As long as the reason for visiting the site remains people will stay.

But then again like it was said, people find this site cause it kinda stands out even if the reason is only an apperance. I think the name GameWatcher doesnt quite have that kind of quality. So you might lose a few hits cause of that.

But on yet another hand, as long people google for reviews they'll also find this site since it's relevant enough

You could have a poll where you'd ask people how they first discovered the site, that way you could get some feeling on how important the current name actually is. Maybe even make a competition out of it to generate as many responses as possible, like a few respondents have a chance of winning something.

It's a tough one, none of us can quite help here, it's your call and your risk.

Ok so the name itself isn't too good IYO. I've been making a list of potential names we could buy. What you think?

Gameology.com
GamingXtreme.com
GamesDaily.com
Gamesnetwork.com
Gamingology.com
MajorGamer.com
Gametaker.com
Gametropolis.com
Todaygames.com
Gamewriters.com
PrimaryGamer.com
Gameshere.com
Gamewatcher.com

I'd personally choose one out of these (a list i got after removing the definite negatives):
-GamingXtreme, MajorGamer, PrimaryGamer, GameWatcher

MajorGamer and PrimaryGamer kinda feeling the most similar to the current name, while GamingXtreme feels just a bit lame.

I'm getting more and more ok with GameWatcher considering the rest of the list :).

These would be kinda ok, but they have a strong generic feel to them:
-GamesDaily, Todaygames, Gamesnetwork

If i had a power of a veto, these names would totaly get hit by it:
-Gameology, , Gamingology, Gametaker, Gametropolis, Gamewriters, Gameshere.

It's also important if there are already any sites with a similar name and a similar content.

There already are MajorGamers and PrimaryGames, i don't know how prolific they are they seem to be smaller sites and they aren't review sites either.

GamesWatcher sounds good even if SI still stands out more.

None of the other names stand out nearly as much as SI either, so i don't see a need to really push for them.

This came up a while ago, and I objected to the name change at the time.
However, SI really doesn't fit the site anymore and is quite limiting for anyone who has never heard of it before. "SI" - ie. a site dedicated to Strategy Games. Just doesn't work.
I'm all for a name change, and "GameWatcher" is quite good. Could always have a competition for the best title.

Yeah I forgot to check if there are any similarities between those names and some sites.

I'm not 100% sure of any of those names I guess. Though there are some interesting ones. Those are all premium domains and don't come cheap. So we need the right one!

Yeah that's the point Herod.

GamingXtreme doesn't sound bad Nocutis. Looks good too. Hmmmm

And yeah ok noted on those definite negatives. You can be sure we wont pick those! I was just collecting names on quick. Added any that sounded remotely interesting.

I've added it over the SI logo area on this sample: www.strategyinformer.com/tests/gamingxtreme.jpg So as if it was called that... Though of course this name is far from picked for the new name yet.

Though the URL doesn't really look right... Damn it!
gamingxtreme.com < looks weird a bit

hmmm GamingX SOMETHING ? Hm. I like that X :p looks good in a logo...

Ok now that you made that nice picture it actually does look good. Quite convincing :)

Yeah looks great with X. Almost anything does! I'm doing brain storm over X combinations:

gamingX247.com
gamingXcape.com
gamingXtreme.com
gamingXodus.com
gamingXact.com
gamingXclusive.com
gamingXecutors.com (hehehe)
gamingXiled.com
gamingXile.com

Well not sure yet. Just got those... Feel free to jump in with suggestions. To see if we can do something with gamingX[something]. Dunno for now, it's an option for sure.

Meh looks strange > www.strategyinformer.com/tests/gamingxclusive.jpg

Not sure we're on the right path with that...

The logo really looks great, the more i look at it the better it looks.

So right now for me it's between GamingXtreme and GameWatcher, with advantage to GamingXtreme.
I guess i spoke against it too soon, now that that name went trough my head a few more times it doesnt sound to bad at all. I'm just naturally a bit biased against anything extreme, ultimate or stuff like that.

But unfortunately there's already a similar site gamesxtreme that seems like a full fledged gaming site
.

@ouch at those 73 new messages :)

i was still talking about the first one

It would seem i actually like these X names as i'm not really against the GamingXclusive either.
The others not so much.

It's really easy to criticize :) but i cant quite think of anythig usefull right now. GamingXenophobia :)

That would take too long to type but thanks for the suggestion :) It does sound good though.

Aight so these are the two candidates so far:
http://www.strategyinformer.com/tests/GamingExtreme.jpg
http://www.strategyinformer.com/tests/GameWatcher.jpg

Yeah I sometimes read the message in the email so it stays unread. But yeah don't always manage to reply to all messages.

Bummer yeah that http://www.gamesxtreme.com site looks well established :(

GameWatcher. Hmmm....
I've thought a bit about that, Kres and might it not be a little too close to "Gamespy"?
Then in addition it will join a plethora of others:
Game
Games Radar
Gamespot
Gamespro
YouGamers
Aussie Gamer
Games Addict
Gamers Hub

Not to be a Devil's Advocate, but I'd hate to see it get lost in the mix.
Is there something else we could work with that doesn't have "Game" in it at all?

"Total Informer"...just a thought.

...a play on "Total War".

Another thought, place "Game/er/ing" as the second word:
"Total Gamer".

im still wondering how they didnt name it: Good porn gaming xDXDXD :P

To be honest, anything with 'Game' in the title is going to be generic, but GameWatcher is least generic of the bunch, so that gets my vote. We have a logo for it and everything.

I'm glad we're not following hte GamingXtreme path, as I'm firmly against anything that has 'Xtreme' in the name :P

Yeah Simon also voted against gamingxtreme. I'm not really into naming it GW. GameWatcher seems a bit weak. Dunno something about it is not brutal enough.

YouPornSIGaming.com deathbringer? x)

"Total Gamer".
More I think about it, more I like it.

I thought having a competition might, as it normally does bring in quite a number of new "members" just for the comp, bso I'm sure we'd get a tonne of fresh ideas from the 'outside' as it were. If not, "Game Watcher" would be the best of the names listed by everyone else, for me.

What's most annoying about these name change discussions that we seem to ocasionally have is that a lot of names are already taken. Such as http://totalgamer.com/ so we need to think of a good name, and then not find a site on it heh.

But guys, we probably wont be changing the name at this time. No good candidates, and I'm not really in mood in seeing up to 50% of our traffic to go to waste...

SI has personality even if it doesn't completely represent the current situation, so unless you really feel the name is in the way i'd just keep this one :).
Not because i'm attached to the name but because it kinda stands out fom the crowd.

Game Watcher would be generic as said guys. Agreed that Strategy Informer doesn't make sense anymore because this is no longer a strategy discussion platform but I really don't think the name should be changed unless it is something more appealing that SI. Now how do you say, "We are a site which is related to and promotes technology based, user - interactive entertainment, generically known as gaming" without using the word 'game' in the title?

Any name that comes up in my mind invariably employs the word game in one form or the other.

Anyways, my two cents worth.

GameFactor
Interactor (cause gaming is basically interaction)
GameplayInformer (?)
InteractiveMediaNetwork (I.M.N.)
Virtutainment (Virtual Entertainment)
PlayInformer

And I think someone already suggested Game Informer up there. If you asked me, given no other choice, Game Watcher would be fine. But if the name had 'informer' in it, it would make a lot of sense because the site provides information to gamers, it doesn't 'watch' gaming.

Hmmmmmmm...
A name change, Eh!
Well, I vote for Game Watcher.
And there's a site called Game Informer already. :(

I must admit that I am kinda used to SI at this stage, and there is a lot of memories for me connected to SI, but I also do agree.

The name doesn't fit what we do, and change at times is very good. So I support the decision on changing SI to Game Watcher.

Just keep us up to date Kres! ;)

How about just StrategicInformer.

I'm gueassing that you are strategic about your informing :)

Consider my "Noooo....ooo!" an expression of sentimentality :)

Honestly, the world won't end if you do. I think....I've been wrong on that before.

Why Not Game Informer? Or Strat.G. Informer? Kindah join Strategy Game Informer with the punctuation :s

Gaminformer is already taken and Strategy game informer was already the original name which they shortened to SI. Apparently the strategy part of the name is unwanted and a completely different name is what they want.

why need to change a name when it already has one.....i mean its pointless it doesnt make sense.....if a game is named like example: fallout 3 it stays but the website.....well it cant....its strangeryinformer and always will be.....

While I would really miss Stratetegy Informer as unique as it is, it is the people behind and visitors and the good feeling that makes it worth visiting. GameWatchers however sounds like a diet club for overweight gamers...

I think should have a two way competition, let users send in names and winners get something, then a big vote for the three or four best ideas including the staff's own. Of course the staff would have to veto out names to close to competitors and unvalid ones (no domain available etc...)

Well, thanks guys but yeah we wont be changing it. It just never gets to the point where we would actually do it, due to the lack of a good domain name, and other potential hazards that it could cause.

Potential hazards? You mean like a 40-some comment post about everyone arguing about the name change? ;)
Ah well, I like the name it has. Nothing wrong with it.
Besides, you guys have changed so much already that if you change the name too, I'll probably start to forget where I'm at! Lol
Anyway, glad you decided not to change it after all.
Now don't ever bring this name change subject up again! :P

I prefer the current name as well, it might not describe what the site does very well anymore but at least the name has some personality.

Yeah guys sorry for bringing this topic again without a conclusion. Sounds totally unserious and a bit gay. So yeah thanks for all your thoughts. I guess we can be behind SI and live with it. Didn't really had major problems due to it.

Again, you have to see things from our point of view. I know you guys love the name, hell, I'm even fond of it myself. But you say the name "strategy informer" to someone who's never heard of us and there's an instant assumption.

Like I said, it makes us harder (but not impossible) to market, both to new readers and to potential business partners.

It sucks, but we want to grow as a site and as a business, and that requires us to think about things like this.

Personally, as much as I'm fond of it, I think in the long run the name Strategy Informer will limit our potential growth, which is something we will have to deal with eventually. I could be wrong though, just depends on how we manage getting the true 'essence' of who we are into the minds of others.

Well said Joe.

If it needs to be done then that's that, not much point in debating it.

You don't like a girl for her name, same with the site.

Interesting analogy nocutius. Anyway, there will be no name changes at this time.

"SPUNK!"
Punchy, sexy, manly....nothing to do with gaming, but I'd bet gamers would check it out just to see what it's all about.
I mean "Juice" has nothing to do with music.

The instant assumption is a good thing! Keeps the rabble away :P

Boobs and bits!
That will get people flocking ;)
OK - seriously - if you want to grow I understand it and the name really isn't the biggest issue. Just make sure you switch to a name that sin't yet another one of those sites kinda name. Game Watcher or something like that just isn't going to cut it these days. Strategy Informer will give you at least a huh? An even better name may bring you a lot more attention - so take your time and pick a good one. I will still be around giving you my (sometimes unwanted opinions ;) )

Go out, interview game studios face to face, get Exclusive sorties that will make the other sites drool. If that won't bring out the true essence of Strategy Informer, then nothing will.
As for the "Strategy" part of the name, well just get someone to write up a strategy article about certain games every once in awhile.
Heck, if my punctuation was even Half decent I might offer to do it for you. Lol

....or have a strategy-themed motto below the title in latin.
eg. In Omnibus Princeps ("In Everything First"), then explain that the site takes a strategic view on the videogaming industry and it's products.
Probably sounds like nonsense, but hey....I'm tired:(

Or like Victory loves preparations? ;)