My reaction to Twitch's new Content ID system and the Google merge

(Posting on the Codex of Aegis meta-blog and the AstukaGaming Steam Community)

I know streaming has become a side-thing for me, but I'd figure I'd take the time to address this anyway.

Today, in preparation for the Google purchase, Twitch added two new “features” – a content ID system and the end of permanent archiving (at least for the foreseeable future). Both of these have obviously caused quite a stir, and although I doubt very many of you are wondering how this is going to effect my stream, I'll tell it anyway.

So far none of my previous highlights or broadcasts have been effected by this update, but its likely that once they do I might make a switch to somewhere else. This is simply because I don't condone either of this updates, and I don't like using services with major features I don't like. It's exactly the same for when I stopped buying EA games and stopped using Youtube as a viewer.

Will Twitch lose its fame once it becomes a more widened livestreaming service? It's highly doubtful. Just like Youtube, when something stays at the top for so long with such a gap between all other competitors, it's likely it will stay that way no matter what the criticism is. So, you may ask, why would I go away from Twitch if Youtube does the same and I still upload things there?

Three things.

One, there are no good substitutes for Youtube. Dailymotion is the Yahoo of streaming services. Vimeo, although it does have good video support and content, has a lack of competent browsing and search features. All the others, well, its safe to say they're far below.

Two, publicity. With Youtube, even if you don't advertise your video in anyway, you're guaranteed to get at least 20-30 views eventually. Even more if it's interesting material. You simply don't get that with Twitch – you HAVE to advertise with Twitch or else you won't get any newcomers. If that's the case, why bother hosting it on the popular website if it's the same for everything?

Three, the streaming brand isn't as important. Simple as that. I don't really have to get into how AstukaGaming is all fun and no gain because I already talked about it in my previous post. It's important for things that do have gain involved to be on the popular site, because people are more happy in clicking. This is a fact, because just recently (names voided) someone I know actually declined to see a video not because of its length or subject matter, but because of the website it was hosted on. That's right, if you're out there reading this, fuck you. I still haven't forgotten.

With these things in mind, you can hopefully see that it wouldn't be near as big of a blow in switching from Twitch to another website than it would be in switching from Youtube to somewhere else. That's the reason for change.

The next thing that comes up is the alternate streaming website in question. It's quite obvious, really. Some might have even thought I mentioned it previously, even though I have not – Hitbox.tv. It's a indie streaming service with the most modest of upbringings, and unlike other streaming services that have ended up being complete disasters (coughown3dcough) it doesn't try to strike a contract and its admin community seems friendly. Though, like twitch, I'm sure that will be eventually subject to change.

I'll be honest, I actually have zero experience with Hitbox.tv. All that I am aware is that many believe it is actually a better streaming website than Twitch, which is entirely possible. So here's the plan: Over the course of time I'll go and try out Hitbox.tv. If it really is more both streamer AND viewer friendly than Twitch, I'll make the switch (heh) otherwise I'll likely just stay on Twitch and endure.

Anyway, that's all for now. Remember to follow my Twitter @JohnMcGroover (the only thing that will be staying the same despite any moving) and check out the main website, Codex of Aegis (The “main website” link up top if you're viewing on the blog; http://landofeternallife.blogspot.com if anywhere else.)

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Royal Fisticuffs -- The Battle between Twitch and its users

Note: The following events took place the week of November 20th - November 21st, whenever that was.
Twitch is a place that works a lot like Imgur -- people go to it all the time since there's no real better place, yet everyone would agree the management really isn't the best (Seriously? "jif"? Are you fucking kidding me?). This is one of those times where Twitch once again proves it.

In case your not exactly following internet drama (don't worry, I don't either), the story starts with one of the lead admins named Horror. Horror is non-closeted homosexual furry (no, that's not an insult -- that's what he actually is) who has been around roughly since the ye olde Justin.tv years. Now, normally he isn't known for much around the community, with the exception of his own barely ever used emote, BionicBunion . However, in the recent days, he's caused quite a stir.

Apparently, Dr. Furry Love decided to make an emote for his newest furry partner (who remains unnamed, and the actual emote in question cannot be found), AKA his "fursona" (which to this day I have no idea why someone decided to make that a word). Now that only made people SLIGHTLY annoyed -- the hammer truly came down on Twitch once they removed streamer Cyghfer's emotes for, and I quote, "looking kind of sort of like Hello Kitty which is copyright." Okay, that's paraphrasing; but you get the idea.

But the true catalyst, the Franz Ferdinand of this conflict, was when a streamer by the name of Duke_Bilgewater made an innocent joke regarding the issue to which he ended up being permanently banned. Perfectly reasonable solution, I would say.

Seems reasonable.

This caught on to end up being a shitstorm, with bans on famous streamers left and right and the rest of the streaming community trying to fight back like some pitiful internet drama. Oh, wait.

One of the biggest public outcrys came from twitter, where people virtually shouted "REMOVE HORROR" over and over again like they were apart of some great political movement. Twitch proceeded to completely ignore all responses and instead make some shitty pun/joke tweet that made everyone in the vicinity immediately cringe in agony.

Please, @TwitchTVSupport. Never try to be funny again.

But that wasn't even the major brouhaha -- the battle moved to Reddit when one of the admins apparently suggested legitimately bribing the /r/gaming mods to keep the fight under wraps.

The immaturity level has skyrocketed!

At this point the maturity of both sides had reached that of some Minecraft server made by a bunch of prepubescent children, but they train wouldn't stop there. The fighting would continue to go on for what seemed like years to the Twitch.tv community but what ended up being about five minutes for everyone else, the two sides finally "truced" and most people who were banned in the incident ended up getting unbanned.

But has the fighting really stopped? Has the battle between one of the most popular streaming websites in the world and it's mostly 20+ year old users really ended? I sure hope so, because anymore autism and I might die from a hernia.

Sources:

Source1

Source2

Source3

(All from Reddit, it seems. Who is really to blame?)

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Extra-Life: The Conclusion

Even though we DID end up falling asleep for 7 of the final hours and only making one dollar due to half of the audience being 8 and half of it the DDoS attacks (dammit ghjiop), this stream ended up resulting in many incredible moments. As fun as it is though, I probably wouldn't do it again since I don't know how many hands are on my finger right now. Well, it was a good first try!

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Extra-Life stream starts in about a hour

In about 45 minutes, the 25 hour Extra-Life livestream will begin. As you can probably tell, I won't be posting anything besides this today.

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

More info on Extra-life

Last Edited: 10/21/13



First of all, I'd like to announce we're closing in on 1k views! Woot. I'll make sure to do a special post on that, whenever that happens.

However, this specific post will cover the details on the Extra-life charity marathon. I'm not going to go too far into the details of what the actual 'Extra-life' foundation is though -- for that, check out extra-life.org .

The marathon will take place from 8:00 AM on November 2nd until 9:00 AM on November 3rd. The team members (check below) and I will be playing a variety of games, possibly including but certainly not limited to:
Path of Exile
Neverwinter
Guild Wars 2
ARMA II
World of Warcraft (PTR)
Spiral Knights

Team members (as of current, will edit as people come in):
Astuka
ChaoticCactus
Toldfir (Yihzo)
Ghjiop
Zpher16
Wiiplay123
Mr_Swaq
Yunuen Cho
koopatroopa007

But wait, there's more! You too can become a team member by following these easy steps:
1. Fill out this app:
Name:
Age:
Skype ID:
Twitch UN:
Mic?:

2. Send it to

As the stream goes on, we will have various milestones for how much money we make. Some will be free games!

Milestone list still under construction

Our team page is at extra-life.org/team/rekt . Check it out!

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

WE GOT AN EXTRA LIFE TEAM NOW

http://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=12858

The team and I will be playing the vidya on November 2nd, 2013 from 8AM to 9AM the next day. Come watch and support Children's Hospitals!

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis 

Possible Halloween stream?

As most of you can tell I haven't streamed very recently due to lots of work and other stuff going on. While "Astuka's Week of Streams II" is confirmed to take place spring break (as it did last year) and likely WILL be a charity stream, I'm thinking of making a halloween special stream sometime during the weekend near halloween. We'll be watching scary videos, movies, playing scary games, etc. Anyone interested in this idea?

If enough people care, I'll start working things out. Maybe I should start a petition?

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Twitter: @CodexofAegis
Facebook: facebook.com/CodexofAegis