What is in a name? - Help me!

[RayB]

I'm in a bind.... I'm a perfectionist. I need a good name for my cab. I don't want "Mame" in the name, and I don't want it some cheesy thing like "Ray's Fun Zone", or "Raycade". I don't need to make it "personal" if you know what I mean. I want it on the generic side without getting too generic. :-D

Frankly, I like "Ultracade", but I don't know if I should be using a commercial trademark like that.

Other options:

Game Station
Retro Zone
Game Zone
Amusement 360 (that was the name of the arcade I went to in my teens)
Super-cade

My cab's artwork will be very similar to Atari cabs of the 70's, or Universal "Lady Bug", but instead of those browns, reds and oranges, it will be shades of blue and purple (on white).

~Ray B.
 

[Witchboard]

Retro Zone.  I think that would look good in a 70's style.

[whammoed]

blue and purple (on white).

The Bruiser  

[Flinkly]

amusement 360.  not only is it the best name in your line-up, but it's got nostalgic value too.  i'd go with that hands down.

too many mame cabs called "blank" zone or "blank" station or "blank"-cade.  if you want to go for something that could possibly be a real arcade game, and thats what it sounds like you want, amusement 360 is perfect.  good luck with that perfectionist thing too, i've got the same problem.

[Stingray]

I agree that the best names for MAME cabs don't give any hint that the thing is anything other than a genuine arcade machine, albeit one that no one has actually heard of.

You might think about it the way I did. What are some of your other interest besides video games? I'm really into classic British cars, so my cab was given a name that's a tip of the hat to my other hobby. The cab is called Mini Mayhem, and features a vector drawing of my '74 Austin Mini.



Obviously Galaga was a strong influence on the artwork.

-S

[Granger]

how about the super-ultra-retro-amusement-game-zone-station 360

[NoOne=NBA=]

I've always been fond of Flashback.

I personally went with an Unreal Tournament theme because I play on several ladder teams for it, and am pretty sure there aren't too many UT cabs out there--if any others, at all.

[jerschwab]

I know you don't want MAME in the name, but I thought of The MAME Attraction (kind of like The Main Attraction)... could be done in a movie style or whatever.  Just thought I'd throw that out there.

[DrewKaree]

The cab is called Mini Mayhem, and features a vector drawing of my '74 Austin Mini.

That just flat out sucks


























That you could vectorize that picture and have it look so friggen cool it pains me to think that what I thought I did was cool, but upon looking at your pic, isn't.  How long did it take you to trace, and how did you go about adding the colors into it, just eyedropper-ing it seems to give a "flat" color.  Tell us more.

Thanks.  Thanks a lot.  Knob

[shmokes]

I don't think I'm going to name mine.  I've got some great artwork for the Marquee and I'm leaning more and more toward leaving it nameless.  I guess I've seen so many of these posts where people were trying to come up with something clever.  For some unknown reason people seem stuck on having a two-word, flashy, yet clever name for their cab:

FlashLand
GizmoSmash
KillerCade
UltraMame
Arcade Fever
MameCrazy
OldCade
ChildMolester
CrazyTime
BlitzMaster

I don't know.  Sorry for the insult to just about everybody on this board, but I pretty much hate all of those (though I like Stingray's idea of just giving it a name that represents a single, fictional game).  I tinkered for a while giving it a name like a pet.  Like naming it Samantha or Manny.  If I decide to name it that's what I'll do.  But, like I said, I'll probably not name it at all.

[Witchboard]

ChildMolester

 

[mjrsting]

The arcade I grew up in and spent MANY dollars at was called "Two-Bit Operation".  I think that would be pretty cool for a MAME machine.

sting

[locash]

How about TimeSink, MoneyPit or CollegeFund?

[paigeoliver]

The name Mame really does suck, in every possible way, which is why I will never put that word on any of my cabinets. I don't even let the word into my frontend setups if I can help it.

I always tend to just put real (or repro) marquees for actual games on my machines.

[RayB]

How about TimeSink, MoneyPit or CollegeFund?

HA HA    You've inspired me! I found a name based on my early years spending all my cash in arcades:

     * drum roll * ...

"Mac n Cheese"


Seriously though, Flinkly, I'm inclined to agree with your opinion. The ironic thing about the name "Amusement 360" though is that the arcade owners named it that only because "360" was their street number!  

Thanks for your input all. (And that Mini Mayhem art is fantastic!)

~Ray B.

[missioncontrol]

Amusement 360 sounds good

[maraxle]

Frankly, I like "Ultracade", but I don't know if I should be using a commercial trademark like that.

Unless you're planning on selling it, why worry?  I mean, it's a MAME cabinet after all.  The Ultracade trademark is probably the least of your issues...

But other than that, I like Amusement 360.  Pay homage to those who came before you.

[NoOne=NBA=]

If we're going with Arcade names how about RayB's Castle?

The two arcades I hit alot when younger were called Fun Unlimited and The Brass Token.

[ras2a]

WOW - excellent design, stingray.