Addressing Tag Confusion on Twitch for "The Sandbox" Franchise

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Introduction

The Twitch platform plays a crucial role in how games are discovered, streamed, and engaged with by players and viewers alike. The importance of accurate tagging on Twitch cannot be overstated, as it directly impacts the visibility of games and the cohesion of their respective communities.

This is particularly relevant for game franchises like The Sandbox, where multiple games under the same name exist with similar or identical titles.

The Problem

The issue at hand arises from the fact that both The Sandbox (2012) and The Sandbox (current version) share identical tags on Twitch. This can lead to several complications:

  • Viewer Confusion: Viewers searching for the current The Sandbox game may inadvertently end up watching streams of the older 2D mobile version, or vice versa. This dilutes the viewer experience and can lead to frustration.

  • Stream Split: Streamers may mistakenly stream under the wrong tag, causing their content to reach an unintended audience.

This not only affects viewer engagement but also splits the potential viewer base between the two tags. Impact on Discoverability: The discoverability of the newer version of The Sandbox could be hampered as it competes with its older namesake. This is particularly detrimental during events or promotional periods where the current game should ideally be in the spotlight.

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Proposed Solutions

To resolve these issues, I propose several strategies that The Sandbox can consider when addressing this problem with Twitch:

:one: Renaming the Older Game Tag: The most straightforward solution is to rename the tag for the 2012 version of The Sandbox. This could involve appending the release year to the tag, resulting in something like “The Sandbox (2012)”. This would clearly differentiate it from the current version without erasing its history or alienating its remaining player base.

:two: Adding Unique Identifiers: Another option is to incorporate more specific identifiers in the tags, such as “The Sandbox Classic” for the 2012 game and “The Sandbox Metaverse” for the current version. This would not only help differentiate the games but also provide a more descriptive and engaging tag for streamers and viewers.

:three: Custom URL Structures: Twitch could be encouraged to implement custom URL structures that incorporate unique identifiers from the IGDB database, such as “/category/8197-The-Sandbox-2012” for the 2012 version and “/category/236647-The-Sandbox-Metaverse” for the new version. This approach ensures that each game has a distinct URL, reducing the likelihood of confusion.

:four: Metadata and Tag Updates: Regularly updating the metadata and tags associated with these games on Twitch could help maintain clarity. This could involve periodic reviews of the tags to ensure they accurately reflect the games they represent, especially in light of updates, expansions, or new releases.

:five: Community Feedback and Engagement: Engage the community in the decision-making process by soliciting feedback on the proposed changes. Twitch has a dedicated UserVoice platform where community members can suggest and vote on changes. Leveraging this platform to gather input from streamers and viewers who engage with The Sandbox franchise can help ensure that the chosen solution resonates with the community.

Conclusion

The coexistence of multiple games under the same brand on Twitch presents unique challenges, particularly when those games share indentical titles. For The Sandbox Games, addressing the confusion between the tags for the 2012 and current versions of The Sandbox Metaverse is essential for maintaining a cohesive and engaged community on Twitch.

By implementing one or more of the proposed solutions—renaming tags, adding unique identifiers, utilizing custom URL structures, updating metadata, and engaging with the community—The Sandbox Games can help ensure that its games are easily discoverable and clearly differentiated on Twitch, as a important tool for game industry.

This will not only enhance the viewer experience but also support streamers in reaching the right audience, ultimately contributing to the ongoing success of the The Sandbox franchise.

Thank you
Daniel Dankoyy

STREAMERs LIST (Draft):

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10 Likes
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Hey @Dankoyy
Thank you for bringing up this problem on the forum. It’s an old and well-known problem that keeps getting mentioned occasionally on the streams without a solution anywhere on the horizon. I really hope this gets sorted out as it seems like an easy fix that would make TSB more visible on Twitch.

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Totally agree with the idea of consolidating tags on Twitch. Renaming the “old” Sandbox tag or the new one or both would avoid confusion and make it easier for streamers and viewers to find relevant content. It’s a simple solution that would improve the experience for everyone.
Also, as someone who often uploads video content on Youtube related to my games, I think having a new, updated Sandbox tag or category would also help to get more exposure on that platform.

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That’s crazy talk we the sandbox community loves confusion…. Yes, before anyone gets confused… THIS IS SARCASM!!! This has been asked about many of times with the answer being, we have addressed the issue and we are waiting for something to happen ourselves.