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ome video game names just aren't meant to be. Take Puck-Man, the original, susceptible-to-vandalism name for Pac-Man. Or take today's example, the iPhone game soon-to-be-formerly-known-as Pussy Flip.
The Othello-style game will be updated later this month, its creators at U.K. development studio Kwalee, adding achievements, a new mode, a new board and a new name.
"With it's new update Pussy Flip will be renamed as Flip the Cats, which will work better in global markets and better describes what the game is about."
Well, yeah, that name might raise a few less eyebrows.
When I saw this morning's name-change news, I wondered, on Twitter, if perhaps "pussy" didn't have all the same connotations in the U.K. that it does in the U.S. Or if it's only used in the U.K. for cat.
A few folks replied:
Stephen Totilo @stephentotilo
10 Jan 13
The game is British. Do those of you in England perhaps only use the word "pussy" to describe cats?
Rahul Ricky @rahulricky
@stephentotilo nope, it's definitely used for the other meaning too. Which is why Pussy Galore was a laugh-riot of a name in the Bond film
10 Jan 13
Stephen Totilo @stephentotilo
10 Jan 13
The game is British. Do those of you in England perhaps only use the word "pussy" to describe cats?
Mark Abraham @Kum0
@stephentotilo Yes, BUT the older you get (18+) the less likely you would use it.... for the obvious reason. #gash
10 Jan 13
Stephen Totilo @stephentotilo
10 Jan 13
The game is British. Do those of you in England perhaps only use the word "pussy" to describe cats?
colossalblue @colossalblue
@stephentotilo its other meaning is very rare here, and only because of the cultural bleed-in from US sources.
10 Jan 13
And then some people at Kwalee started chiming in:
Stephen Totilo @stephentotilo
10 Jan 13
The game is British. Do those of you in England perhaps only use the word "pussy" to describe cats?
BruceKwalee @BruceKwalee
@stephentotilo Another problem is that some people were shy of saying "Pussy Flip"
10 Jan 13
BruceKwalee @BruceKwalee
10 Jan 13
@stephentotilo Another problem is that some people were shy of saying "Pussy Flip"
Ian Kane @kanekwalee
@BruceKwalee @stephentotilo me especially !
10 Jan 13
The title is awkward enough that, when you log in to play it with a Facebook account, the game calls itself "Kitty Flip."
Some think the rather saucy original name was intentional.
Stephen Totilo @stephentotilo
10 Jan 13
The game is British. Do those of you in England perhaps only use the word "pussy" to describe cats?
Adam El Araby @Adam3001
@stephentotilo I have a sneaking suspicion they knew what they were doing.
10 Jan 13
But our man at Kwalee notes that the studio now has a new problem.
Stephen Totilo @stephentotilo
10 Jan 13
The game is British. Do those of you in England perhaps only use the word "pussy" to describe cats?
BruceKwalee @BruceKwalee
@stephentotilo Bit of a problem now is that "Flip the Cats" is boring. Less controversial without the double entendre.
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