This is for my new online rpg game I’m working on. Just want to get a general vote on what sounds the best.
The name is based around the theme I’m planning to do, so no need to post any more ideas.
Hmmm…
Well not to be mean or anything but I think they all sound a little contrive - not natural and fluid. I think what works better is a simple and catchy name that is often even a made-up word. Similarly, it should be indicative of the actual product.
For example:
Warcraft
Half-Life
Ghost Recon
Neverwinter Nights
Spore
Tomb Raider
These are just popular games from the top of my head. You can see that all the names are relatively short and all of them usher in another thought, or hint on the actual gameplay.
“Warcraft” is a combined made up word, literally the craft of war. Short and simple. Also describes the product.
“Half-Life” is not very descriptive, but makes you wonder, is very simple, and hints on sci-fi elements.
“Ghost Recon” is super cool, not too long, and makes you wonder. It also hints that it’s a war game.
“Neverwinter Nights” flows off your tongue, sounds very cool, and immediately creates an image in your mind, which is excellent for an RPG.
“Spore” is very very simple, to the point that it stands in your memory. It also hints at the gameplay.
“Tomb Raider” isn’t so amazing, but tells exactly what you do in the game, and that’s it.
All things considered, this means that a game name is most often:
- Simple.
- Easy to remember.
- Causes the player to wonder.
- Cool.
- Hints at gameplay.
All of your options (Reign of illumination, Edge of Intensity, and Ambient Retribution) could definitely be described as cool, but none of the other attributes. They certainly aren’t simple names, therefore not being easy to remember, I don’t really wonder anything because the concepts are too vague to grasp, and I have no idea what the gameplay might be. In my opinion, coolness is the least important part of a name. Too often independent developers spend a lot of time on coolness, and not enough on anything else.
I’ve recently been playing a very fun indie game called Depths of Peril, and I couldn’t think of a worse name to give it. Honestly, I think if they had a better name, more people would play it. It’s a lot like Diablo (good game name), but with some extra elements. So why not simply “The Depths” or something like that? Notice how it carries more mystique behind it?
Anyway, I’ll get off my high horse. My main point is that coming up with a good game name is very difficult. I often default to the Tomb Raider-type option, giving my games names that are not at all cool but tell what it’s about. So why not go with something a little less cool and a little more something else? You seem to want a light theme here, and you’re making an RPG… how about “Ambience” or “By Candlelight” or “Glow” or “White Light?” Or something like that? It’s just your three names sound, well, like the names of indie RPGs.
Hm you do have a good point there. It is very hard to get a good name. I have been thinking long all week about it.
Well I will think about some more examples…
Though Edge of Intensity isn’t hard to remember.
Off to brainstorm more…
What your opinion on mystic bounds, distant dream, clear mist, forbidden aura, glowbond, white fate, casters of fate?
My I think I like mystic bounds or casters of fate.
Oooh, I love Glowbound! Possibly spelled GlowBound?
Yea I was also thinking of Glowbound but was trying to not have them all sounding similar.
Any I don’t pick here anyone is free to use…
If you’re not going to use Glowbound, can I steal it?
* Markus_Persson calls dibs, then looks around the room sternly.
Well I’ll post what name I’ll use when I figure which one will be the best to use. So the rest people can use.
If I don’t use that one then yes you can have first dibs 
Edit: I updated the poll.
Casters of Fate is nice too. Very epic.
You could try throwing some of the words around as well.
Casters of Fate -> FateCaster
Forbidden Aura -> Aura of Forbidding (Heh…)
Mystic Bounds -> Bounds of Mystery (ooh)
Yep, FateCaster sounds good, but personally I think the originals sound better.
Glowbound is cool but a bit weird. Easy to remember for sure.
Casters of Fate is cool.
The rest I don’t like as much as those two.
I’m not much help.
Yea that helps, all I want is to get a idea of a good name. So I mostly likely pick the one most voted on.
I agree that Glowbound is cool, as well as Fatecaster. What about a combination… “Bound By Fate.”
Anyway, I typically like the one word ones best, but that’s just me. 
And you can also go with the joke option.
Example:
On The Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness
That’s the new Penny Arcade game. It’s incredibly long and cliche, but so much so that it’s funny.
I made an RPG before called:
The Best Game Evar 2: LameBoy’s Revenge
For the same reasons. There was no prequel to the game, no character named LameBoy, etc. It’s so contrived it’s funny.
Other game names I’ve used:
Sinuosity (A labyrinth dungeon crawler)
Agent: 00PK (An action game)
Jario (Java Mario)
Voodoo Vendetta (A Worms-type game)
Party Tetris
The Wikid Fun Search (A game where you search through Wikipedia)
Planetary Simulator
Bird Race
I’m not at all claiming that those are that great. I personally think Voodoo Vendetta is very contrived, and Planetary Simulator is incredibly boring. But, notice that on the more boring ones I didn’t have to put any descriptions in parentheses.
Or just go the Sid Meier way like I did with “Karl’s Kard’s”
Cool Cool, well I think I’ll stick with the names I have in the poll, I don’t want to waste all my time just designing the name hehe.
Though adding this poll and another poll I did, the name votes are mostly equal atm. I’ll keep it running till I see a clear winner.
I dont like any of them, sorry. I dont feel that they say anything, they feel like random combinitions of mystic sounding words. No character in them.
Isnt it better to use something from within your gameworld, name of the country its in or anything?
Oh I chose casters of fate, so anyone is free to grab any of the other names.
Which the game I will have a demo out soon, more info here