@dowski I disagree because vtuber's models are always on stream and therefore is a part of the main content/stream by using your own rules.

I would like you guys to reconsider this because it's going to become a bigger problem in the future as the vtuber/virtual steamer becomes more popular.

I actually went to Twitch a few days back specifically looking for Vtubers, which turned out to be impossible thanks to the lack of tag.
Please reconsider your position on this.

@dowski please reconsider this as vtubers can be much more than just used for an appearance for the streamer to use instead of a webcam.

Many of us do more than just use it as a tracked persona to mimick real life movements. That is part of it, but some of us have things like channel point redeems that allow the community to interact with our avatars in real time. Whether it's moving us around, shrinking/growing our avatars, enabling effects on them, changing their appearance, etc.

This adds content to the stream and I'd argue that this satisfies the requirement by doing so. I build my stream based on chat interactivity and am working on more features to let my chat participate in my content and this tag would help immensely for others to find my channel.

Even if one were to accept that the appearance and persona adopted by someone with a virtual avatar isn't part of the "content of the stream", your own use case isn't a valid counterargument to someone elses use case, @dowski .

Tags are arbitrary semantic labels constructed so people can find things; the things people want to find (or avoid) are what should be tagged. And it looks like people want to be able to find channels with virtual avatars. What you originally intended is largely irrelevant.

@sketchuz Hey dude, I'm also for a vtuber tag, I love vtubers and feel like it is a category of stream that is not only about the streamer but it is a specific type of content. But your comments about the LGBTQ+ tag and the community are pretty uninformed and hurtful. ***** people don't choose to be ***** that's not a choice we make it's who we are. People choose to be VTubers, they can not stream with an Avatar, in fact Bunny_gif does and it would be great if would be able to differentiate VTube Vs. No Avi streams. It's not about Twitch representing the ***** community to look "PC" etc. There is a need for ***** people to have a safe space, they know when a streamer has that tag, they are going to be respectful and part of that community. I agree that a vtuber tag is a necessary addition, as it's content I want to seek out in different categories, but I do the same with the LGBTQI+ tag so I can chat and hangout and feel safe with people that also identify with me.

@dowski So your going to give the tag for lgbqt but not the vtubers? When theres more vtubers then them? When being your ****** preference isn't aimed at the stream at all or the content. You cant have trans content, theres no such thing as it, and if you argue then talking about it, then that means vtubers can as well. Thus that makes your comment virtually useless. I understand you guys want representation in the gay community but that also doesn't mean you have to be bias to another community because its not the same or what you want.

I see what your saying but I also argue that there are tags like the lgbtqia+ tag that is about the streamer not really the stream you could say it is the stream bc maybe they are talking about lgbtq+ but then you could argue that for this vtuber tag thing too and other topics that are more about the streamer than really the stream.I think that the lgbtq+ is a great tag and is great to have but I thank should keep with this trend and do tags like this vtuber tag just my opinion on this topic and your response.

Performing with a virtual avatar is as much an art as puppetry. There are streamers performing much like small stage shows, in addition to playing games. Some art streamers are crafting virtual avatars in their streams. Adding the tag will clean up the stream titles and allow us to find the content.

I disagree because I think that A Vtuber/Vstreamer needs a tag.

@dowski

I respectfully have to disagree with where you're standing here. If the LGBTQIA+ tag can identify a streamer who is, or aligns, with others in the community then a tag such as Virtual Avatar can suffice to identify the streamer.

There are also a lot of viewers who like the avatar we use, including role-playing, AS THE CONTENT they like to watch. It's not only the streamer, but it's an integral part of the stream that can draw people in.

VStreamerタグの設置に私は賛成です。
私自身VStreamerであり、不便を感じていました。検討をお願いします。

@dowski

I disagree because the content of the stream is the VTuber / VStreamer. The avatars are dynamic and often loaded with features / content, which are some of the many reasons why we watch them. Moreover the animated avatars are an art form / content of their own and require quite some work to build and maintain.

@dowski

According to that link the primary purpose of tags is for viewers to "to find streams they’re interested in watching by filtering streams within a directory, searching for specific tags, or when they’re browsing front page recommendations". Given that people do want to find vtubers specifically, do want to search for vtubers using tags, and subsequently most virtual avatar streamers put "vtuber" in their title in lieu of a tag, it seems that a 'virtual avatar' tag is indeed warranted.

The FAQ also states that tags need to be objective. 'Virtual avatar' also satisfies this requirement, at the least it is certainly a much more objectively decidable tag than, say, the example of 'competitive' in that page, which is much more of a relative categorisation unless you're literally streaming a tournament (although even then, is a casual friendly tournament something one would put under 'competitive'?).

I also want to echo what @cakecatboy said. Virtual avatars ARE a part of the content. Even when people are not streaming avatar creation, a major draw of why people watch vtubers is because of the virtual avatar related content. Interactions with an anime (or other) style character is part of the draw. A 3d avatar substituted into the game through LIV integration is part of the draw. The creative content that is only possible through use of a virtual avatar is part of the draw. It is a very specific kind of escapist *content* that is getting very popular right now for very obvious reasons.

I'm not sure if there is anyone labouring under this misconception, but I figure its worth mentioning in this specific context... so here it is... -- the streamer isn't actually their virtual avatar, surprising I know, but as much as we might want to be, we're not actually anime in real life. The tag therefore *cannot* describe the streamer, but rather it can only refer to part of the streamed content. For anyone to assert to that 'virtual avatar' describes the streamer themselves would demonstrate quite a fatal misunderstanding of either reality or language.

However, even if you were to discount these plainly obvious facts, tags which describe the streamer *already exist* and are *explicitly listed as tags which describe the streamer* in https://www.twitch.tv/directory/all/tags. As @cakecatboy says: LGBTQIA+.

To be honest, I am kind of surprised at the incredible reluctance of Twitch to establish this tag. I imagine there are some concerns about tag pollution that need to be considered, but given that almost all virtual avatar streamers are already using their stream titles as substitute-tags, and not only that, but they're typically using a phrase ('vtuber') that due to the chaos of language's evolution, directly references a Twitch competitor, it seems unfathomable from a business point of view that Twitch would not jump on this issue and shutdown the 'vtuber' subtitute-tag that people are using ASAP. This kind of content is currently going through a rennaissance in the English speaking world, and particularly on Twitch, and if you don't work quickly to try and break the association of this content with 'the tube' then you risk every vstreamer on the platform acting as a subtle reminder to the audiences of Twitch's competitor.

In summary:

1) the viewers want the tag
2) the streamers want the tag
3) it is an objective tag
4a) it describes content not streamer
4b) for the reality challenged: there is already a tag which describes streamers anyway
5) it is in Twitch's direct and immediate business interest to establish their own tag

@dowski

"As far as a tags go they are aimed at the stream and the content of the stream and not aimed towards the streamer."

What you just said directly counters what already exists, multiple tags that exist solely to describe the content creator using it.

"LGBTQIA+

For streams in which the streamer chooses to identify as a member or ally of the LGBTQIA+ community"

"Drag

For streams in which the streamer showcases the art of drag"

The above tag information is taken directly from the twitch tag directory located at https://www.twitch.tv/directory/all/tags

If there is enough of a demand for the Virtual Avatar tag, it should be implemented. The streaming/content creation industry is booming with talk of Virtual Avatars, it would be a gross lack of action to not facilitate some way to make these Virtual content creators discoverability more consistent. Youtube makes this work by allowing custom tags, so groups, communities, fandoms, and mediums can all be easily discovered via the common tag. This is what makes Youtube such a widely trafficked platform in relation to the Virtual Creator social sphere, even to the point that the most commonly used term for someone using a Virtual Avatar is "VTuber" or "Virtual Youtuber". If twitch wants to compete as a streaming platform in regard to the craze that has swept the globe over the past year or two, they have to show that there are ACTIVE creators ON their platform that CAN compete with the creators from other platforms.

Twitch having issues with discoverability is not a new topic for discussion, and they are taking steps towards improving it, but with the saturation of broadcasters and the viewership tending to be top heavy with not much trickle down there are going to be a lot of really valid suggestions for tags. Virtual Avatar, Goth or other fashion styles, LGBTQIA+, Various languages, specific instruments, different music genres, people will be suggesting a lot, and the twitch team may view it as "unnecessary" but that's simply not true. If it's suggested it's because a consumer has thought of it. If it's voted on, it's because other consumers have agreed. The consumers are the users most in touch with how discoverability functions on the site, they're directly impacted by the decisions and implementations of new site functions. This also means they're distinctly aware of what is missing.

@dowski

appreciate the info, but I will have to disagree with you. virtual avatar IS the content, not the streamer. there are plenty of streamers who create/draw/rig these avatars, who stream with them, they're the visuals on the screen, it's no different than having a tag for LGBT (which is more descriptive of the streamer than virtual avatar is)

I'd like to support the addition of this tag only if it becomes possible to filter it out. I'd very much like to not see any vtuber content and being able to blacklist a tag like this would be awesome.

EDIT: Found an extension that blocks tags, so sure, I'll support this suggestion.

It's a real annoyance trying to find VR content on Twitch and instead having to sift through the vtubers to find the people actually playing in VR. I think a vtuber tag would benefit not only the streamers and viewers trying to find vtubers specifically, but also help the VR community easily find the content they're actually after, too. If tags are aimed at the stream and the content of the stream, then the tags need to better represent that content. Right now they do not.

Yes a great idea given the rise of Vtubers! It's not a smaller niche community anymore, Vtubers are everywhere and growing rapidly.

It will be most helpful for finding other Vtubers that, at the moment, remain hidden due to the lack of this tag.

This idea is already posted here: https://twitch.uservoice.com/forums/310210-discover-browsing-and-searching/suggestions/41458954-virtual-avatar-tag-for-vstreamers-vtubers

This would be perfect, it's a whole interconnected community, and these will help people grow when they may be otherwise unseen!