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Metadata encouragement Sticky

A topic by dustdfg created Jun 13, 2023 Views: 6,704 Replies: 97
Viewing posts 1 to 78
(2 edits) (+90)

Metadata settings are really hidden and people new to itch not know about it. Many of them don't know about it even when they have many games/assets uploaded...

I propose the following solutions:

  1. Add an opportunity to set metadata in creation time
  2. Add pop up menu (immediately after project creation) that encourages people to set metadata
  3. Add text about metadata in the end of the project creation page to notify creator that he/she should go there after uploading project
  4. Add proposal to set metadata inside emails you are sending to the creators when they published project but didn't change theme or added screenshots...

For those who are here accidentally and don't know where metadata is read it https://itch.io/t/2923877/setting-engine-metadata

P.S Most of CC licenses allow redistribution. If you doesn't know what means the license you point in metadata, so don't point it. I saw many times how someone sets in metadata CC0 or CCBY4 and say "no redistribution". It is essential part of them and if you say that you doesn't allow redistribution so it isn't longer CC0 or CCBY4 🤦‍♀️

(+3)

Thank you very much :-)

(+23)

I fully support this, the option is really hidden and it's super important for game assets especially.

(+4)

Thank you ;)

(+2)

Brooo yeah ! also, it was confusing looking for licenses back then. Metadatawouldve helped alot

(+2)

Thanks for sharing these tips. I'll share this with other creators I know. 

(+2)

I agree with this, I didn't know about Metadata until you told me about it. It's a major help to solve any issues or misunderstandings about licensing which is so important for asset packs

(+2)

Thanks for sharing these tips about metadata! You helped me to set licenses correctly!! =).

(+2)

Thanks for sharing this information.

(+2)

Thanks for sharing !

(+2)

Totally agree, it would be a lot of help as it's kind of tricky to find the metadata option!

(+2)

Thanks for letting me know. I don't know why itch would hide the "Release info > License" option away in the third tab.

(+1)

OUT OF CONTEXT MESSAGE: brooooo, how can i contact you???? I love what you do, i'm a indie dev in Unity, GameMaker and Godot 4. I'm actually using one of your assets and i loved it so much! Is there any social media where can i contact you?? Regards

(+1)

Dave Cuzz were you able to contact him ? I'm also working on a game and his assets are so good

(+2)

Fully support this! I didn’t even know this existed until OP sent me a comment. Super important for game assets.

(+2)

Yes, nice idea!

(+2)

I fully support the proposal to make metadata more visible to interested users. It will improve discoverability and enhance the overall user experience on the platform.

(+2)

Verry helpfull, thank you.

(+1)

i will see how i can share this with other itch users without disturbing too much.

i found the metadata because i am the kind of people who explores the Windows settings after i install Windows. but most people don’t even touch the Windows settings, so i understand how — without encouragement — they would not want to change any game page settings beyond the first page.

(+2)

this is indeed a good idea

(+2)

Thank you for this. It is indeed a good idea. Full support.

(+2)

Thank you very much, Full support

(+2)

I fully support this. Absolutely had no idea about this till I saw your comment.

(+3)

lets a go, great idea!

(+2)

We support this!

(+2)

Great idea. Hopefully a mod will pass this onto the admins who can implement this.

Moderator(+3)

I did, not long after your post, but forgot to reply.

(+1)

Thanks :D

(+2)

I agree, thank you for sharing this information.

(+2)

I fully support these ideas! Thank you for telling me about metadata as I would have never set a license if you hadn't have mentioned it :)

(+2)

thanks for the info

(+2)

Thank you so much! Full support! 

(+2)

Totally agree with this, we need it!

(+2)

I fully support this suggestion and believe that implementing them would greatly enhance the user experience on the platform.

(+2)

Thanks for bringing this up! This has my support. :)

(+2)

He is absolutely right. I had no idea. He literally had to comment on one of my asset packs and guide me through the whole thing. dustdfg's solutions would help out a lot, new and older creators alike.

(+2)

I often forget about adding metadata to what I publish, so yes, I support this idea.

(+1)

+100500!

(+2)

I support this idea.

(+1)

I second this.

(+2)

Second?

(+1)

Oh, I mean, "I agree" with this!

(+2)

100% behind this idea!

(+2)

Metadata are indeed very hidden. Great proposal. Thanks for giving this option more attention!

(+2)

Thank you so much!! 

(+2)

I support this guy's proposal.  If there is an alternative viewpoint, I don't know about it, but this does seem like a good point he's making.

(+2)

I support this. I've recently released some free assets and this would be really useful in helping them get into the hands of those who would use them.

(+2)

Thanks!

(+2)

i vote , yeah

(+2)

Yes, motivating to fill in the metadata of the items in store is very useful, it is appreciated that they suggest it when uploading new items.

(+3)

Thanks mate didn't even know about the metadata section until you informed me, you've been a big help

(+3)

This topic is one of the top results when googling "itch.io metadata" so I'd say it's at least worth consideration lol. Also, same goes for setting metadata for the profile page (which I actually still don't know how to do)

(+1)

You need to open your profile page -> Edit Profile and there you will everything you click... Isn't it what you need?

Moderator(+1)

Yes, but the whole point of this topic is that the metadata tab isn't obvious, and neither is the More Information drop-down on game pages. So many creators don't set those fields, and many players never see them.

(+1)

I am writing it here because not sure that I should open new topic...

I noticed that left bar "Filter Results" differs for games and assets

I found that assest's version has filtering by "tools and engines" but games's version lack this option.

If game's version has it, people will start accidentally use it. Some of them will start to think how to place their games there. Some of them will found metadata...

(+1)

If you can see a setting on here that says "metadata" I would love to know where it is. itch support has not yet responded to my emails haha.

(+1)

I meant that the profile settings itself "metadata" setting. I don't understand what metadata of profile you need? It is all "metadata" of profile... What you mean when you say metadata of profile? It looks like we have different interpretations of this word

(+1)

I guess you're right that many of these all control a kind of metadata. What I specifically wanted to do was change how link previews for the user  appear. For individual games that's controlled under a widget that handles a bunch of metadata stuff (including a tab literally called "metadata") but there doesn't seem to be an equivalent for the user page.

Moderator(+2)

...Metadata is a things game pages have, not profiles. Profiles just have the bio, avatar, links and display name.

(+2)

Full support 

(1 edit) (+2)

Thanks for your tips. đź‘Ť

I support it. 

(+2)

Awesome work!

(+2)

Thank you so much, I didn't even know that!

(+3)

translated by Google.


the metadata is too hidden and often goes unnoticed (giving rise to questions that if they were more visible everything would be clearer and it would be faster for the creator of the project as well as for the one who wants to try/use it).


I support the idea.

(+2)

Why the metadata gotta be hidden like that make it more accessible 

(+2)

thank you i had no idea about metadata thing

(+2)

I fully support this, I didn't know about this and I think it is really important

(2 edits) (+2)

Fair enough: fill out the meta data info, but, questioning people's license choices can be stepping over a line.

(+1)

I agree that it seems crossing over line but it is really obvious question that could be in "FAQ"... If you would add notice similar to your comments to the page, I wouldn't ask about it...

(+2)

nice call!

(+3)

i jump on the bandwagon. this is important for foss projects and advocates of open culture, as well as to asset creators, as well as asset users who are looking for assets that are compatible with their project.

(+1)

What License you have to use if you just upload a game? It is important?

(+3)

Do you want to allow users use assets or code of your game? If not, you don't need to change anything... 

License is about permissions of user. What user can/can't do with the work. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/License

Each license describes different permissions and "behaves" different.

(+1)

website i recommend about choosing a license: https://choosealicense.com/

(+2)

I was looking for it while creating the post and until the comment came up to tell me where it was, I was lost.  It would be nice to have it as an option during creation time.

(+2)

This can be very useful for setting things like licenses and such

(+2)

I absolutely agree. I even knew about this option (set it for other asset packs before), but forgot about that for my most recent upload. If this were part of the original Edit page, we won't miss it that easily!

(+2)

This is the very useful tips, thank you for the information.

(+2)

Thanks for the advice. I've now added metadata to all my games and assets. I agree Itch should push setting metadata for new projects.

(+2)

I agree with this, mostly because I keep forgetting to set it

(+2)

Fully support this!  This is so helpful! I actually was just learning about metadata this week in my photography class and how you can set it in adobe light-room. I had no idea itch.io supported it too!!! I have been making digital art for years and literally just learned what metadata is... (yep I'm slow haha!) thank you so much for sharing this! It is really important and helpful for fellow creators. 

(+2)

lmao i just got hit by that comment, thank you for telling me and i absolutely agree with this proposal

(+2)

Agreed, and the Engines & Tools section of Metadata is very limited, not every engine is listed, like the OHRRPGCE engine used to make one of my games wasn't listed, so I couldn't add it.

(+2)

AGREED!! i feel like this would be very helpful. i'm new to itch.io and i really didn't pay it any mind until OP asked me, and later sent me their post explaining where to add it when i expressed confusion

(+3)

Making metadata more visible would be very helpful!

(+2)

This is a really good idea. Meta data is buried

(+2)

Nice to know! I didn't find it by myself either.

(+2)

Already knew about it since I have a tendency to go into every minor detail when I'm doing something new.

But it's one of those things that need to be way more accessible!
Not everyone's gonna dig through every nook and cranny, can get exhausting ._.

(+1)

I absolutely agree. Is helpful to find assets more easily and also for creators how to use assets!

(+2)

+1 , thanks! I didnt know, ( not even Claus xD)

(+1)

I didn't know about the metadata settings, went to look at them - they seem pretty useless for TTRPGs. There's no way to even say "this is a print-and-play game; platform & controllers don't apply."

for tabletop games, leaving the Input methods field empty is best. setting the game as a physical game should be done in Edit game > Classification.

you can still set all the other metadata, so it’s actually just as useful for tabletop games as for video games.

although it would be great if they listed input methods for physical games:

  • tabletop
  • cards
  • dice

if itch lists virtual reality as an input method, i don’t see why they couldn’t list tabletop, since both input methods alter your environment for playing the game.

(+2)

I was unable to set a minimum number of players higher than "1" for a tabletop game until I selected a multiplayer option, and all of those are terrible for tabletop games. (Sure, let's go with "local multiplayer." Fine. I'm not going to decide which "server" option translates to "you can play this on Roll20.")

Accessibility options are also weird. Ah, sure, let's call it "high contrast" since it's "black text on white background."

It'd be nice if they had input methods or just listed "Tabletop Game" as an input method of its own.  Other "inputs" for tabletop games:

  • Cards
  • Dice (probably too much hassle to separate "D6s" from "polyhedral dice")
  • Tarot cards
  • Graph/hex paper required
(+1)

i just noticed the Metadata tab (and every other tab besides Edit game) only shows up when editing a saved game, not when creating a new game. no wonder so many people miss the Metadata tab.

(+1)

My friend, thank you very much, I am such a ignorant about all this stuff, I am just an Oldman that loves making pixel art, Thank you for  this tip! Cheers!

(1 edit) (+1)

Great suggestion. I hope this gets implemented (if it hasn't yet).

(+1)

licensing information is just as important as the description. it’s a shame that many open‑source projects are entered as proprietary software on the itch database because they missed the licensing page on the game page settings

Unfortunately I also noticed the reverse situation... Where some proprietary assets are marked as open-source because people doesn't really understand CC licenses so maybe it isn't as bad that this proposal wasn't implemented...