[Idea] Proposal for CMDR led, system naming architecture.

[Strangepork]

If you could name a new system you had discovered what would you call it?

For me, 'Elon's Vision/Hope'. Or some such.

Now we have filters in place allowing the naming of ships without offending the more delicate Commanders out there?

Wouldn't it now be possible to allow system naming, for first discoveries?

Maybe planets too?

This would bring great deal of enjoyment to participating Commanders, I suggest.

And flesh out the game significantly, in terms of slowly flushing out those peculiar designations the systems out with the bubble have.

What do cmdrs think, what possible disbenefits could there be?

 

[CMDR Yates]

I think it's probably not an issue with filtering out swear-words, per se, but in managing a large number of weird, joke-y and duplicate system names. Give the internet the chance to name a research vessel and they choose Boaty McBoatface. Multiply that sort of thing across the Elite Dangerous galaxy and it will get ridiculous fast. I'd rather explore a system with a procedural name that sounds vaguely scientific, like "Synuefe ZL-J D10-119", than be bumping into systems called Spacey McPlanetbum or whatever.

 

[Strangepork]

I think it's probably not an issue with filtering out swear-words, per se, but in managing a large number of weird, joke-y and duplicate system names. Give the internet the chance to name a research vessel and they choose Boaty McBoatface. Multiply that sort of thing across the Elite Dangerous galaxy and it will get ridiculous fast. I'd rather explore a system with a procedural name that sounds vaguely scientific, like "Synuefe ZL-J D10-119", than be bumping into systems called Spacey McPlanetbum or whatever.

Point taken, though I see the benefit in allowing the personality of the playerbase into the game. For the sake of witnessing a few dumb names (IMO), I'd love to see a flicker of the potential genius out we have out there. I suspect the IQ of the average Elite player is well above average.

 

[avow555]

Naming my first discoveries would be a really nice feature.

 

[CMDR Yates]

Point taken, though I see the benefit in allowing the personality of the playerbase into the game. For the sake of witnessing a few dumb names (IMO), I'd love to see a flicker of the potential genius out we have out there. I suspect the IQ of the average Elite player is well above average.

True, ED possibly does attract a smarter-than-average player-base, but intelligence doesn't necessarily equate to taking something like this seriously. Those with a bit of wit and intellect are probably more likely to try to squeeze a reference or joke into a name. Look at all the great ship names we see in the game nowadays. The sort of humour that works for ship names doesn't work for planets and star systems: one is the personal property of an in-game character, so it's a reflection of them and anything goes, whereas the other is supposed to be a scientifically surveyed navigational landmark. Given free reign, I know that even I would be tempted to give systems absurd names or name stars after in-jokes with friends or whatever. The idea of making other Commanders laugh when they see a name you chose is just too appealing; fun on a one-off basis but immersion-breaking at large scale.

Don't get me wrong, I agree it would be cool to be able to name planets etc., but if it happens, I think it should be limited to so many proposed names per player per month or something, in order to give someone at FD a chance to vet the suggestions and keep it somewhat "on brand" with the game world.

 

[Para Handy]

I don't really like this idea.

 

[Strangepork]

True, ED possibly does attract a smarter-than-average player-base, but intelligence doesn't necessarily equate to taking something like this seriously. Those with a bit of wit and intellect are probably more likely to try to squeeze a reference or joke into a name. Look at all the great ship names we see in the game nowadays. The sort of humour that works for ship names doesn't work for planets and star systems: one is the personal property of an in-game character, so it's a reflection of them and anything goes, whereas the other is supposed to be a scientifically surveyed navigational landmark. Given free reign, I know that even I would be tempted to give systems absurd names or name stars after in-jokes with friends or whatever. The idea of making other Commanders laugh when they see a name you chose is just too appealing; fun on a one-off basis but immersion-breaking at large scale.

Don't get me wrong, I agree it would be cool to be able to name planets etc., but if it happens, I think it should be limited to so many proposed names per player per month or something, in order to give someone at FD a chance to vet the suggestions and keep it somewhat "on brand" with the game world.

Computers are the new 'vettors', they are just better at it.

I'd be tagging my own personal hero's, scientific suthsayers, and maybe envisioned futurists, maybe just maybe a fellow CMDR would check them out on YouTube archive 201x, and learn a new treat. Right now, 'Isaac Arthur prospect' would be a stussy of a name for the enlightened cmdr out there...

I don't really like this idea.

Why?

 

[Cuddlestuff]

If you could name a new system you had discovered what would you call it?

For me, 'Elon's Vision/Hope'. Or some such.

Now we have filters in place allowing the naming of ships without offending the more delicate Commanders out there?

Wouldn't it now be possible to allow system naming, for first discoveries?

Maybe planets too?

This would bring great deal of enjoyment to participating Commanders, I suggest.

And flesh out the game significantly, in terms of slowly flushing out those peculiar designations the systems out with the bubble have.

What do cmdrs think, what possible disbenefits could there be?

i love this idea but I do not want every system named, I’d prefer it was done through forums and only if there is a special reason for it, crash site in system or a planet that supports life in system

 

[Para Handy]

..........
Why?

Because it would undoubtedly go runny very quickly.

There is virtually zero possibility anyway since people paid an awful lot of money to do this back at kickstarter and F D would have to resolve that first.

So - leave naming as a rare and special circumstance, it will remain more valued that way.

There are lots of spivs that will sell you a bit of paper naming a star for you.

 

[MBaldelli]

If you could name a new system you had discovered what would you call it?

This is not a good idea. South of Ceos/Sothis if you do system surveying you will find First Discovered By: Manfaced Missiletits. I most assuredly don't want to see what adolescent and infantile names other people will come up with planets and star systems.

Seriously, leave the naming convention alone.

 

[Ranek Eisenkralle]

I do agree that letting players name random systems they come across (even if they are the first to explore them) may result in undesirable names.
However, I can think of one circumstance under which I would consider this an option: Colonization. Meaning a player claiming a system he/she found and sets about building outposts and even stations there, followed by bussing colonists there to start populating the place.
Make no mistake, either of the structures is going to be requiring a lot of resources and thus money. Plus getting all that far out to uneyplored systems takes considerable time - especially with cargo ships laden to the brim with construction equipment. But it would allow people who are so inclined to create their own home among the stars and let others drop by. Maybe even with some management for planetary colonies (meaning to determine whether a station is going to be an industrial station, or agricultural or whatever.) The investment of a given player in creating this colony in the middle of nowhere would, in my opinion, warrant considering letting them name their new home system.

I am going to outline details on this in a separate thread shortly since I do not wish to hijack this one.

 

[MBaldelli]

However, I can think of one circumstance under which I would consider this an option: Colonization.

Would you want to visit a planet to trade called Cumguzzling Manwhore? If this passes the forum guidelines, you can rest assured it would end up in the game...

No, no, no... A thousand times no.

 

[Ranek Eisenkralle]

Would you want to visit a planet to trade called Cumguzzling Manwhore? If this passes the forum guidelines, you can rest assured it would end up in the game...

No, no, no... A thousand times no.

No I wouldn't want to either. And I was referring to naming in general - not unregulated naming as the type you suggest there.
I suppose I did not make it sufficiently clear, but I did intend on having some regulation in place concerning names for installations. Planets would remain as they were beforehand just like with most systems in the bubble as is. As part of these regulations a reasonable person (and I prefer to assume the devs to be such people) would exclude profanity from being valid names.

 

[MBaldelli]

No I wouldn't want to either. And I was referring to naming in general - not unregulated naming as the type you suggest there.
I suppose I did not make it sufficiently clear, but I did intend on having some regulation in place concerning names for installations. Planets would remain as they were beforehand just like with most systems in the bubble as is. As part of these regulations a reasonable person (and I prefer to assume the devs to be such people) would exclude profanity from being valid names.

I don't think you understand just how inventive people can be for the lulz. The instant you allow any player interaction into the game - regardless of the fact that you have a complete profanity filter in place and operational - you're letting the demon out of the pits of hell.

This isn't the sort of thing that the saying, herding cats has the right impact... Think of it more like babysitting a gaggle of bored 7 year olds looking for things to pass the time. The instant you turn your head, something is destroyed, you're preventing them from dunking your beloved pet in the toilet, or worse... they're sticking forks into outlets.

And let's face it... We adults love working with double entendres, particularly if it has a sexual connotation to it... Would you want to trade at Dirty Sanchez? I wouldn't... And that would happily pass the standard cuss and profanity filters. Feel free to look it up. Further, with the continued creation of such double entendres, it would be the devs full-time job trying to keep up. I would think that coding the game would be better than trying to keep up with all the various cusses and what not introduced into English along with other languages this game supports.

 

[Ranek Eisenkralle]

Hmm.. I think I am beginning to see your point. If my username hasn't given it away already, I'm not a native speaker, so I suppose some of your initial argument went past me unnoticed up to this point.

Either way, naming aside what do you think of my idea concerning colonization? Might make the universe feel less static, don't you think?

 

[MBaldelli]

Either way, naming aside what do you think of my idea concerning colonization? Might make the universe feel less static, don't you think?

I'll try to read it tomorrow. Personally I'm rather satisfied with the thought of a universe being static. It implies to me that the universe will still be here tomorrow when I'm not.