The Lonely Room is a bad name for something you do with friends.
September 1, 2015 1:30 PM Subscribe
We're looking for a name for a new game and hobby store. Metafilter is super great at naming things (like cats, blogs, food carts, etc.) and we've put our minds to coming up with a name but have run out of ideas that we both like.
Something like "The Hero Stash" or something would be ok but I don't want a word that has a specific gender association like "hero". We're trying to avoid names that indicate being alone, being nerdy or are too "insider". I guess something like Lonely Geek Pwnshop would be an example. Something that's TOO much associated with an actual game or another game store would be bad. Names with Meeple in them, The Black Lotus, the Dragon's Horde, and so on.
We're looking for something that is evocative but approachable, so if you see the name whizzing past you think, "Hey I bet they sell games, we should go there".
Two ideas that we sort of both like are The Mana Base and Wizard's Outpost. Those are literally the only two we can come to a consensus about. It's hard coming up with cool names when you're not very cool.
We're located in a decent sized suburb of a large city on the US West Coast. I like word play that's not too punny, foreign words and literary references. Not a limiter, just a reference point.
Something like "The Hero Stash" or something would be ok but I don't want a word that has a specific gender association like "hero". We're trying to avoid names that indicate being alone, being nerdy or are too "insider". I guess something like Lonely Geek Pwnshop would be an example. Something that's TOO much associated with an actual game or another game store would be bad. Names with Meeple in them, The Black Lotus, the Dragon's Horde, and so on.
We're looking for something that is evocative but approachable, so if you see the name whizzing past you think, "Hey I bet they sell games, we should go there".
Two ideas that we sort of both like are The Mana Base and Wizard's Outpost. Those are literally the only two we can come to a consensus about. It's hard coming up with cool names when you're not very cool.
We're located in a decent sized suburb of a large city on the US West Coast. I like word play that's not too punny, foreign words and literary references. Not a limiter, just a reference point.
The Hexagon Adventure and Supply Store
posted by prewar lemonade at 1:52 PM on September 1, 2015
posted by prewar lemonade at 1:52 PM on September 1, 2015
I don't have any suggestions right now, but I did want to point out that if you're trying to avoid gendered terms, "Wizard's Outpost" may not be your best bet. Maybe "Magician's Outpost" would be better if you wanted to go that route.
posted by schroedingersgirl at 1:53 PM on September 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by schroedingersgirl at 1:53 PM on September 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
Let's Roll
posted by Kabanos at 1:53 PM on September 1, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by Kabanos at 1:53 PM on September 1, 2015 [7 favorites]
How about: the nerding grounds, roll for fun, the hearth & dice...
posted by LegallyBread at 1:54 PM on September 1, 2015
posted by LegallyBread at 1:54 PM on September 1, 2015
Acme Board and Die
posted by prewar lemonade at 1:54 PM on September 1, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by prewar lemonade at 1:54 PM on September 1, 2015 [5 favorites]
The Cardboard Castle
posted by prewar lemonade at 1:58 PM on September 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by prewar lemonade at 1:58 PM on September 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
The Game Warden
posted by Kabanos at 2:13 PM on September 1, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by Kabanos at 2:13 PM on September 1, 2015 [5 favorites]
The Best Dang Game & Hobby Shop in YourTownName
Dice Paradise
Games, Games, Games, and Hobbies
Dice Tower
Not Just Dice Games
We Speak Gamer
Aware Wolf Game Store
AAA Game & Hobby
Cards, Dice, and Dragons Hobby Supply
Probability & Imagination Game Shoppe
posted by enfa at 2:16 PM on September 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
Dice Paradise
Games, Games, Games, and Hobbies
Dice Tower
Not Just Dice Games
We Speak Gamer
Aware Wolf Game Store
AAA Game & Hobby
Cards, Dice, and Dragons Hobby Supply
Probability & Imagination Game Shoppe
posted by enfa at 2:16 PM on September 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
Rune & Board
posted by Kabanos at 2:19 PM on September 1, 2015 [12 favorites]
posted by Kabanos at 2:19 PM on September 1, 2015 [12 favorites]
Bored? Games!
posted by zyxwvut at 2:19 PM on September 1, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by zyxwvut at 2:19 PM on September 1, 2015 [3 favorites]
Mom's Basement
Which I obviously mean in an affectionate, self-deprecating way. You could even put that on the sign!
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 2:28 PM on September 1, 2015
Which I obviously mean in an affectionate, self-deprecating way. You could even put that on the sign!
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 2:28 PM on September 1, 2015
I think you were on to something with Pwnshop, but that does read a little videogame to me...
The Pawn Shop as three words though? I could totally hear myself saying "yeah, we are going down the pawn shop later if you wanna hang with". I might not go "ooh, game shop" as I swished past, but I would definitely react to the spaced spelling of the name, especially if there were some sort of dice/pawn logo. Or a hanging three brass balls that are three 20-sided dice!! *dies of nerd* ded
posted by Iteki at 3:13 PM on September 1, 2015
The Pawn Shop as three words though? I could totally hear myself saying "yeah, we are going down the pawn shop later if you wanna hang with". I might not go "ooh, game shop" as I swished past, but I would definitely react to the spaced spelling of the name, especially if there were some sort of dice/pawn logo. Or a hanging three brass balls that are three 20-sided dice!! *dies of nerd* ded
posted by Iteki at 3:13 PM on September 1, 2015
The Sand Castle
The Sand Box
Board Silly
The Card Table
Cabinet of Curiosities
Pair-a-dice
The Rec Room
Game Plan
posted by carmicha at 3:40 PM on September 1, 2015
The Sand Box
Board Silly
The Card Table
Cabinet of Curiosities
Pair-a-dice
The Rec Room
Game Plan
posted by carmicha at 3:40 PM on September 1, 2015
Don't call it the Pawn Shop. Regardless of what graphics you use to emphasize "pawn" as in "game piece," you're going to get people who are furious that you won't even look at their accordions.
Something else? Like Good Times Games & Hobbies? Or just Roll Again.
posted by blnkfrnk at 3:41 PM on September 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
Something else? Like Good Times Games & Hobbies? Or just Roll Again.
posted by blnkfrnk at 3:41 PM on September 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
Gamers' Grid
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 3:56 PM on September 1, 2015
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 3:56 PM on September 1, 2015
Bard, Mage, Wolf, and Co. (done up like a Victorian shop sign, or an old English pub sign)
Infinite Mana
The Mana Well
I swear I've been to a game shop named Wizard's Outpost before.
posted by erst at 4:54 PM on September 1, 2015
Infinite Mana
The Mana Well
I swear I've been to a game shop named Wizard's Outpost before.
posted by erst at 4:54 PM on September 1, 2015
The Dice Is Right
posted by tilde at 5:04 PM on September 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by tilde at 5:04 PM on September 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
Us girls think of ourselves as heroes too, by the way.
The Happy Gamer
It's a Thinker
Tinker, Thinker, Love-Life-Sinker
I AM GAMER
posted by myselfasme at 5:13 PM on September 1, 2015
The Happy Gamer
It's a Thinker
Tinker, Thinker, Love-Life-Sinker
I AM GAMER
posted by myselfasme at 5:13 PM on September 1, 2015
No suggestions, sorry. Just want to say I'd avoid 'mana' - has a specific meaning in some Pacific languages, to do with cultural authority and prestige. Not that it's a bad meaning, but non-gamers like me might incorrectly assume cultural appropriation rather than a gameing reference.
posted by yesbut at 5:21 PM on September 1, 2015
posted by yesbut at 5:21 PM on September 1, 2015
Nerd Alert!
posted by dgeiser13 at 5:38 PM on September 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by dgeiser13 at 5:38 PM on September 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
Tabletop
Critical Hits
Game Time
Otherworldly Pastimes
Dice Bag
Item Shop
Level Up
Game On
Oddworlds
Intergalactic Trading Post
And once you get it up and running, you need to have a meetup there. :D
posted by wintersweet at 6:38 PM on September 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
Critical Hits
Game Time
Otherworldly Pastimes
Dice Bag
Item Shop
Level Up
Game On
Oddworlds
Intergalactic Trading Post
And once you get it up and running, you need to have a meetup there. :D
posted by wintersweet at 6:38 PM on September 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
Spielgarten
posted by wwartorff at 6:59 PM on September 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by wwartorff at 6:59 PM on September 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
I have only the vaguest idea of what "mana" means, and I actually like some 4-hour board games. (I thought of "manna from heaven.")
posted by salvia at 10:08 PM on September 1, 2015
posted by salvia at 10:08 PM on September 1, 2015
Dark Dungeons
Save Vs. Games
Natural Twenty
Platonic Solids
Your Quest Is Ended
Have Dice, Will Game
Boarddom
Prepare For Adventure!
The Board Room
Basement Quest
posted by Mister Moofoo at 4:10 AM on September 2, 2015
Save Vs. Games
Natural Twenty
Platonic Solids
Your Quest Is Ended
Have Dice, Will Game
Boarddom
Prepare For Adventure!
The Board Room
Basement Quest
posted by Mister Moofoo at 4:10 AM on September 2, 2015
Seconding The Board Room. Also:
Board Meetings
The Saving Throw
House of Games
Analog Pastimes
Dragon's Lair
Hall of Game
The Gaming Table
posted by GrammarMoses at 7:06 AM on September 2, 2015
Board Meetings
The Saving Throw
House of Games
Analog Pastimes
Dragon's Lair
Hall of Game
The Gaming Table
posted by GrammarMoses at 7:06 AM on September 2, 2015
The Vengeful's Hoard
posted by tilde at 10:01 AM on September 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by tilde at 10:01 AM on September 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
All the places I know called "The Boardroom" are bars, just for the record. (Of the same age and genre as bars called "The Office" and whatnot.)
posted by wintersweet at 11:04 AM on September 2, 2015
posted by wintersweet at 11:04 AM on September 2, 2015
Play
Department of Recreation
Another Castle
Castalia or Magister Ludi (From this, and probably requiring the same amount of irony and self-deprecating humor as Mom's Basement.)
As others have said, "mana" would leave me with no clue the store was game-related. (I'd have guessed New Age crystal shop if forced to speculate about a store called Mana Base in a US city.) Also, spielgarten and cardboard castle, above, are great.
posted by eotvos at 11:53 AM on September 3, 2015
Department of Recreation
Another Castle
Castalia or Magister Ludi (From this, and probably requiring the same amount of irony and self-deprecating humor as Mom's Basement.)
As others have said, "mana" would leave me with no clue the store was game-related. (I'd have guessed New Age crystal shop if forced to speculate about a store called Mana Base in a US city.) Also, spielgarten and cardboard castle, above, are great.
posted by eotvos at 11:53 AM on September 3, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by prewar lemonade at 1:38 PM on September 1, 2015