Poll: First Expansion Name (Answer: The Zenith Remnant)

[x4000]

Feel free to make your own suggestion (write-ins are welcome, and a moderator will add the best ones to the options above for voting -- people can later change their votes if better options come up), or comment on why one name works better or not as well for you.  I won't necessarily go with the majority here, but I would like some feedback.  The expansion will be going up for preorder in 3-5 weeks or thereabouts, so a name is needed!

Background:
The primary theme here is the Zinth aliens, who will be a small faction that both the humans and the AI can interact with.  As evidenced by the Zinth Starship, humankind (and the AIs) have encountered the Zinth in the past, before the AIs turned on humans and wiped them out of the galaxy.  The Zinth are basically nomadic traders that roam between the galaxies, and haven't been seen here for a while.  In this expansion they are returning, and a lot of the new ships available to both the humans and the AIs will be Zinth-themed.

Anyway, so the name of the expansion will be in the format "AI War: Whatever The Expansion Is Called."

[RCIX]

I really like Return of the zinth!
has a very "expansiony" feel plus it gets right to the point; the Zinth are "returning", aren't they?

BTW, if i preorder it as soon as its available where do i go for beta testing?

[Magitek]

I think you'll want something less uhh.. B grade.
The expansion is about the Zinth and new technology from what I can gather, so without further adue (my epic 15 minute session):

AI War: Battlecodex of the Zinth \ Zinth Technobible \ Warship catalog \ Hallowed warhalls of the Zinth \ Zinth armada \ Burnt chapters of the Zinth(pointing towards the zinths vast armory)
AI War: Descendants of *enter some neat named war the Zinth took part in 50,000 years ago to build their ships (they've returned from relative extinction with vast ships, but no society left)
AI War: *name of zinth's most brutal warship*'s Approach. (no one messes with the zinth because they're on mark nine okay?)
AI War: The forgotten Zinthian star (humans discover the planet, and some of the technology, but before long the ai lords crush the resistance and finish excavation)

These are all just shots in the dark, i'm just trying to inspire something more epic here. To be honest, there's alot of room for expansion into AI Wars lore, if done properly, could be as (or more) interesting than homeworld etc.

I gave up creative writing 15 years ago, it probably shows why
I think you really need to build some lore around here. Because we don't really know too much about the zinth, it's really difficult to come up with something good. It also depends why they return.. and why is the AI bothering to chat with them? I always got the feeling the AI didn't care too much about diplomacy.

[darke]

My vote is for "AI Wars: Zinth Zinth Revolution". It comes with a dance mat and you the more accurate you are to the beat of the background music the faster your ships fire.

[Warnstaff]

Return of the Zinth is the more descriptive and most accurate name. The "Zinth Evolution" that is so popular thus far implies that either the Zinth evolved, or the apes evolved due to some sort of drug call Zinth (or something along those lines).

If the Zinth are aggressive conquerors as well, "Zinth Incursion" would be good to, but "Return" is better.

My opinion is correct.

[liq3]

I agree with Warnstaff. I have a strange feeling people picked "Evolution" over "Return" because Return is so overused and "bland" (Return of the Sith anyone?).

[darke]

"His serve still needs work, but no-one returns like The Zinth!"

I'd apologise, but making fun of these titles is too much, err, fun.

[Fiskbit]

I can't say any of the names listed really appeal to me all that much, to the point where I'd rather see the more simplistic and flavorless "AI War: The Zinth" than any of them. Unfortunately, I've not a good replacement so far, but I'll put some thought into names to propose. Naming things is difficult, in my opinion, and getting the right name can take time.

I have a strange feeling people picked "Evolution" over "Return" because Return is so overused and "bland" (Return of the Sith anyone?).

That's "Revenge of the Sith" and "Return of the Jedi". Amusingly, Backstroke of the West is an infinitely superior movie to the former, though that is kind of sad...

[x4000]

Okay, new option:  AI War: The Zinth

If one of the titles like Zinth Evolution gets picked, I would weave that in to the bits of lore that will make it in.  Personally, I like "The Zinth" or "Return of the Zinth" or "Zinth Evolution."  I'll try to think of a better, less common noun that might go well with it.

As for really strange titles with lots of adjectives and long, unusual names, no thanks.  Those are the modern equivalent of B-grade, I know a lot of mine are also B-grade but at least the evoke some of the classics.

EDIT:  I do like Zinth Codex pretty well, though.  I've also replaced a number of the unpopular entries, and added a few new ones, too.

[x4000]

BTW, if i preorder it as soon as its available where do i go for beta testing?

Details for that sort of thing will be on these forums, as usual, at the same time the preorder becomes available.  If you know the process for getting the current prereleases, getting the expansion beta versions won't be much different -- nice and simple!

[Magitek]

I think AI War: The Zinth remnant isn't half bad. Maybe remove "the"?

[x4000]

I think AI War: The Zinth remnant isn't half bad. Maybe remove "the"?

Yeah, good call.

[Echo35]

Hmm... Not a fan of Zinth Evolution since that makes it sound like they're changing or advancing from a previous form (Unless they're like the L1Z1X or something ) and Return of the Zinth just sounds cliched, but its at least simple and straight to the point.

[Revenantus]

I agree that Zinth Evolution has the wrong connotations, for the reasons given above.

Given my current understanding of the role the Zinth will play in the context of the expansion, and also because it sounds interesting, Zinth Remnant is currently my first choice. The somewhat simpler, The Zinth, is a close second however.

[x4000]

Okay, I've decided against Zinth Evolution, and have taken it and a few other options off the list.  People who previously voted for that option can choose something.  I'm leaning toward Zinth Remnant myself, unless something better comes up.  The Zinth is a close second for me, too.  I was originally preferring Return of the Zinth, but it is more than a bit cliche.