Renaming Characters (FFVII)

[Ingemar]

If a game allows me to rename characters, I usually rename everyone I can (PSII does so except for two characters, and it's funny--they usually tell you their name first, and ask you if you'd like to call them something else).

I have never played a game of FFVII where I kept a single default name.

1st time through--
Cloud=Ingemar
Barrett=Thomas (friend)
Tifa=Sarah (cousin, who looks suprisingly similar)
Aeris=Alys (chick from another RPG who also dies)
Red XIII=Ian (friend)
Yuffie=Kelly (small and annoying cousin, just like Yuffie!)
Cait Sith=Pat Sie (nickname of a friend)
Vincent=Shiloh (friend)
Cid=Kaena (friend)

2nd time around
Cloud=Millions (I suppose named after Millions Knives, but a day before I started an unsaved game where I named him Thousand. I just though naming someone after huge numbers was cool).

Barrett=YHWH (I should be smitten for that)
Tifa=Bimbo (Sorry Omega. Her apparel doesn't speak very highly of her).
Aeris=Trinity (I couldn't decide. I suppose since Aeris prays for Holy, a "holy" sounding name would fit. Or, you coud just say it was the Matrix character).

Red XIII=Rouge 13 (French version)
Yuffie=Buffy (the Materia Slayer? Meh, it rhymes)
Cait Sith=Jon Smith (Don't ask.)
Vincent=Neo (yet another Matrix character. I would have done Anderson, but that would have sounded wierd. But Neo would make it appear that Vincent has a romantic relationship with Aeris, which he does not).
Cid=Ol' Bearle (character I made up YEARS ago).

[Nate]

Yuffie=Buffy (the Materia Slayer? Meh, it rhymes)

Actually in my opinion it doesn't...I was always under the impression that since Yuffie was from Wutai, and Wutai=Japan (her last name is Kisaragi), that her name would be pronounced the Japanese way which would be the long "u".

Unless you pronounce "Buffy" like "Boofee." But unless they dub Advent Children in the U.S., I guess we'll never know. Besides, a lot of people probably pronounce it like you do, so I'm probably in the minority.

[AngelSakura]

I say Yoofie and not Yuffie, so we're together on that, kaemmerite. But I never, ever rename my people, except on Pokemon, where I named myself Daisuke and my rival Dark. Don't kill me because they aren't really rivals, I just liked the name Daisuke and went with the theme. Besides, I know practically nothing about DNAngel. ^^;;;

[Omega Amen]

Tifa=Bimbo (Sorry Omega. Her apparel doesn't speak very highly of her).

While I understand your point, ultimately, I do not let apparel speak to me for a woman (or a man). Granted, there are serious social consequences and implications for a woman on how she dresses. However, personally, I always give women respect regardless of who they are, what they do, or how they appear. With Tifa, it would be hard for me to not give her a lot of respect.

Back to the topic.

As for renaming characters in Japanese console RPGs, I tend to not do that. This is because these type of RPGs have set roles and personalities for their characters. So I tend to let the developers have their way with the names as well. However, for the PC RPGs here in America, where I would have more control over the character's development, I would prefer to come up with a name....

That is, if I can come up with a name, which is another problem.

[panegryst]

I name my Pokemon characters stuff like Discharge and Delinquent and Stupid. I wouldn't touch the names of RPG characters (for Omega's reasons).

[skynes]

I always rename the main character - Skynes. The first girl is Sera the 2nd is Ariena, the big bulky guy I name Tychus.

Skynes is obvious where I get it from, all the other names I just made up.

[RoyalWing]

I don't rename my people in Final Fantasy VII, for some reason for me wouldn't feel right! I think, same reason as Omega Amen.) But I thought seeing your list was funny. ^v^ I found it funny that you translated Red XIII's name in french!

p.s. I pronounce it "Yoo-fy"

[Spencer]

I didn't rename my characters on FFVII...But I the second time I played Golden Sun, I named them all after Zoids characters (whichever series had Bit and Leena)

That was pretty fun.

[Azier the Swordsman]

I never rename characters in RPG's except for in rare instances, such as the original Final Fantasy, where the characters do not have set personalities nor is there a real storyline. My team usually consists of:

Fighter: "Azier"
Monk: "Shawn"
White Mage: "Hana"
Red Mage: Can't remember.... I'll probably name him "Kaze" next time through...

Essentially, in any RPG where the main character's name isn't set, and there is no "official" name, I'll usually go with "Azier" and name other characters based on who they remind me of.

I'm not for renaming "officially" named characters at all. I've always felt this detracts from the experience the original creators intended.

[Esoteric]

When given the option to change the names of characters, I typically can't resist personalizing. The results are usually random too; whatever the character makes me think of. Except that I always name Link, Katsu!. Don't ask me why.

[Kisa]

I tend not to rename characters unless I really dont like their name. I like the names they pick mostly and I get confused real quick when I discuss it with my brother and he has different names for his files characters. LOL

[Gypsy]

I rarely, rarely will change the name of my characters. I think I only did it in Tales of Phantasia and once in FFIX. (Zilch and I thought that Amarant needed a new name, thus he became 'Foofy'. Anyone that has large strands of yarn for hair should expect no less. We didn't use him anyway.)

And it's nice to see other Tifa fans. I've said it before, Omega, but I'm glad to see that other people actually paid attention to the personality behind the barmaid outfit.

[Zedian]

I use to name all the characters in FF VI and VII to reflect me and friends that are close to me. That is, I only did it the second time around so I could just enjoy the storyline the original way it was intended.

[KBMaster]

I only renamed those I could think of good names for such as
Barret- Mr. T
Red XIII- Simba
Aeris- Aerith(I played kingdom hearts before ff7)
Cait Sith- Buyo

I liked Cloud's name, Vincent was to cool to call "man-wolf", tifa.... all the names I wanted for Tifa wouldn't fit, couldn't think of nothing for cid, and I liked yuffie's name.

[kaji]

I usually don’t rename the characters in video games.
Even in FF9 when you get the rename card-thingy, I didn’t change names.

However this is not true 100% of the time.
In FFVII I did rename RedXIII to Nanaki (or what ever his real name was…)

As far as games that don’t give you default names, I usually use the same names over and over again (most of which are repeating names in FF).

Cid
Wedge
Biggs
Vix
Duo

I don’t have any creative girl names… <_<

[Yojimbo]

I remember a couple years ago I used to name the main character my name but not anymore.