Protected names like A8 do not apply on other businesses not involved in cars whatsoever.

They need the "3D" suffix to excuse themselves of refraining from improving the 2D part .

Acknex actually stands for something like

Animation Creation Kit NEXt generation?

but still i think Acknex 8 is a cool name.

i think it's actor construction kit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actor_model
it comes from the actor programming model (possible with wait() in gamestudio).

and wouldn't it have to be next next next next next next next next next generation now?

acknex is not a good name. in almost every regard. not just the ugly pronunciation.

3D Game Studio: sounds like a Toyprogram for Hobbyprogrammers from the 90s, ("Homepagemaker 2000")

Acknex: a really artificial name with an unpleasent pronounciations

Lite-C : could be the name of a weightloss fruit-drink, should
not be the name of the main product (as a modulename its ok)

What about TUSC

No, no, NOOOOOOO!!!!

GS8

and go with it. that way you can keep the unofficial gamestudio for all newbs and still have a cool sounding name...

This topic, in one form or fashion, comes up from time to time here at the forum. But there are a few things to consider. One thing is that this game development platform has been called GameStudio or 3D GameStudio for over a decade! Whether anyone likes the name or not, there are literally years of name brand recognition attached to GameStudio. Other game development suites have come and gone. Some are still around attempting to slug it out. But GameStudio (known by that name) is still here. Changing the name would undermine years and years of name brand recognition.

In the business world, changing the name of a product that has been around for a while usually spells disaster. It indicates that there are issues with the product. And no matter how enticing the new name is, it may turn off people, causing them to wonder what the real issue is with the product ("Should I purchase this product? After all, they are going down the tubes, aren't they?"). Rebranding is a difficult thing to do and, for the most part, should only be done in serious situations.

GameStudio is a good name (imo). It accurately describes the product. Despite what some people have said, I don't believe it sounds amateurish at all. When I think if a "studio" I think of a place where work gets done, where creative ideas are released to become reality. In the case of GameStudio, it is a studio where work gets done and creative ideas become reality within a real-time 3D framework. The name works. It conveys just what the product is. And, as pointed out, GameStudio has a years old reputation that has withstood the test of time.

Lastly, in the end the name of the suite of tools used makes little difference. People will judge the game or application that is created and if it is good they won't care about the tool used. In other words, a great game or application will not be diminished simply because it was created with a tool whose name is "GameStudio." On the flip side, a terrible game will not somehow become better because the development suite has a really cool name!

Having said that, my vote goes for TUSC!

The problem with a name like GS8 is that you have to keep changing the name with each new version ... GS9 ... GS10 ... GS153.2 ...

Consumers dont care (much) about the engine name.


But the name becomes a problem when moving to a publisher / financier.
Its not signaling a positive factor to trusting the developer.
(it can signal: ok that guy obviously comes from the hobby scene)
The same as if the developer would suggest to make a game
in Visual Basic. (no matter how well the product works after all)

Its all about psychology.