The name 7 Generation Games means something significant and has its roots on the Spirit Lake Dakota Nation where our original game, Spirit Lake, was developed and tested.
However, that doesn’t really translate to Latin America. So, we thought we’d try to find a name more in keeping with the local culture. It did not go so well.
First, I called on my brilliant and beautiful family (big mistake) ….
Maria: 7 Llamas Videojuegos. 7 Alpacas Games
Me: We need a new name for the company. Between children, stepchildren and husbands there are 15 of us (not counting Ellie, who can’t talk). I expect 13 more name suggestions from you people. Maria already gave two. No, you can’t take hers. Has to make sense in Chile. You have until Monday. Go!
Dennis: 7 Llamas would be too many for a logo. How about 3?
Maria: We’re 7 Generation Games
Dennis: Chinchillas are native to Peru. Why not 7 Chinchillas?
Ronda: I love chinchillas! They’re so soft!
Dennis: 14 Chinchillas. (They live in herds and 14 is twice as good as 7).
Jennifer: 4 Chinchillas and 3 llamas
Maria: It will only be 7. I am open to chinchillas. Also, llamas are known as being smart animals.
Jennifer: It adds up to 7.
Maria. No. It will only be 7. That’s not up for debate.
Jennifer: 2 Alpacas 3 Llamas and 2 Chinchillas Games
Maria: I don’t think chinchillas are that smart.
Jennifer: 2 Alpacas 3 Llamas and 2 Stupid Chinchillas Games
This was followed by various members using Wikipedia to advocate for their names
Dennis: Chinchillas: “They are agile jumpers and can jump up to 6 ft “ (Wikipedia). Can llamas jump 6 feet? I’m grateful guinea pigs can’t jump six feet.
Maria: “There is more to llamas than long eyelashes and a smug expression. They are surprisingly smart, friendly, and quirky. … Llamas make excellent guards for herds of small animals. … When one llama has an issue with another llama, it will stick its tongue out to express its displeasure.”
Dennis: OK, that tips the scales for 7 llamas
Me: Vlak (our designer) said he could do a llama with flames (also llamas in Spanish )
Maria: We’re not doing a llama with flames – that would scare small children. I don’t support setting animals on fire.
Then they got tired of discussing the names …
Jennifer: Ronda, I insist that you put a tiny pair of pants on at least one of your chickens!
Maria : I second !
(If you would like an entire book of our family texts and you can download the cleverly named Family Textbook for only $2.99.)
So you might think we went with 7 Llamas Games but you’d be wrong
After we had this discussion, I ran the name past my colleagues at Start-up Chile, a multi-national group who are always willing to give their honest opinions, from Coto “Spanish-isn’t-your-first-language-is-it” Augosto to Juan Eduardo “Llamas suck” Leal.
Hello AnnMaria,
Personal opinion: I believe in general Chilean people like names in English, even though they don’t speak it, or acronyms. just look around: transbank, ok market, tbanc, bci, vtr, entel, codelco…
Since the name means something to you, don’t change it, “Chilenizalo”
For instance: SGG (s-eh-he-he)
My grain of salt,
Rodrigo