Major Changes In Youtube Involving Let's Players

[Roxas1359]

I never watched any channels or follow anyone, and most of the ones I do watch are by people who only did a game or one series. I really don't see this affecting anyone who does it to show off a game they love.

When you aren't a partner then it affects you even more. The benefit of being in a partnership with a network was that they helped you with YouTube's completely broken copyright report system. Most of the time people will get 3rd Party Content ID Matchers, and about 1/10 of the times will it actually be from the company or publisher that owns the IP and all copyright rights. With how this will be, even those who are partnered who had at least some protection get screwed, and those who aren't partners with a network will have an even harder time now.
Really wish I had started LPing a few years ago now...>.>

No,but making LP vids is hard work with little to no payoff.That's why I think anyone who tries to use copy claims to muscle in on Let's Players aren't going to get much money in the end.

You I like a lot, as you seem to know that it can be hard to make the videos and release them on a schedule. ^.^

 

[Roxas1359]

After watching hundreds of LPs from some of my favorite YouTubers I grew to respect the dedication they put into their vids.One of them explained how he often has to release a few vids a week because of editing and getting the audio right,that's why I think it's kind of dickish for Youtube and any game company that is going to take advantage of this to put the screws on people who help get their games out there.

Believe me, getting the audio just right can be a pain. The worst things that can also happen are that the video can glitch out and you have to see if you can save the footage, and if not then you have to rerecord. I remember the worst thing that happen to me before was I was doing a game that had autosaving as a feature and I had to playthrough the game at the beginning again just to rerecord that part. T^T
Some people do put a lot of hard work into the videos, but then there are those that don't, as I've seen some lazy LPs before. XD
Personally I don't monetize my videos even though I can if I wanted too, as I was hoping to work towards an actual network partnership, but if the benefit of getting better protection is gone then what's the point. I might as well just head straight to Game Anyone only because at least there I wouldn't have to remove some parts of the videos or censor out music so that YouTube's broken automated system doesn't go haywire. (It's especially a problem with Kingdom Hearts videos)

 

[Muspelheim]

"Hey, thanks for all the free advertising of our games! Now, bog off!"

And Google goes right along, as usual. The crippling midlife crisis they are evidently going through can't be helping, either. I do hope some smaller devs with less ivory boardroom idiocy weighing them down take the opportunity to get some extra space, however.
It's not the end of the world, perhaps, but it's a good indication of what we'll see more of in the future.

I really hope an alternative comes along, though... Youtube just won't do for much longer.

 

[TehCookie]

I never watched any channels or follow anyone, and most of the ones I do watch are by people who only did a game or one series. I really don't see this affecting anyone who does it to show off a game they love.

When you aren't a partner then it affects you even more. The benefit of being in a partnership with a network was that they helped you with YouTube's completely broken copyright report system. Most of the time people will get 3rd Party Content ID Matchers, and about 1/10 of the times will it actually be from the company or publisher that owns the IP and all copyright rights. With how this will be, even those who are partnered who had at least some protection get screwed, and those who aren't partners with a network will have an even harder time now.
Really wish I had started LPing a few years ago now...>.>

Will it be checking the non-monetized videos though? From the article it only seems to apply to the monetized videos (but I agree that system is broken as hell).

 

[Roxas1359]

Will it be checking the non-monetized videos though? From the article it only seems to apply to the monetized videos (but I agree that system is broken as hell).

Pretty much yeah, they're implementing this for everyone more or less. The main reason a lot of people would go into the partnerships was the protection that the network you were with would provide, with the money being a bonus since the network takes a cut (ranging from 10%-40% but that's based on the contract agreements) and Google always takes 40% no matter what. So this really just kills the point of getting into a partnership to help you get more protection against the broken system, which YouTube really needs to amend because I've gotten more 3rd Party Content ID matches from random groups than from the actual people who own the IP and copyrights.
Larger networks like Polaris, TGS, Machinima, etc. have some more help, but the problem is now they are forcing the networks to determine whether someone is a Managed Partner or an Affiliate. Being an affiliate pretty much you're paying all this money and getting no benefits like protection from the network, but if you were to get copyright strikes then only you are affected. With Managed Partners if the Managed Partner were to get a strike then not only do they get one, but their Network gets one as well. Combine that with the fact that YouTube has a 3-strike and you're out policy and then you can have the situation in which one person can get 3-strikes and then not only is their YouTube shutdown, but the entire network is too.

 

[alphamalet]

====================================================================
Now then, a little conversation between us forum posters:

1: What do you think of this sudden change happening next year?

2: Are you worried about your favorite Let's Player's future?

3: Do You Think This should have happened a long time ago, and are proud of Youtube's Decision?

4: Anyone think that Video Game Crash is going to happen due to this being one of the factors?

5: Which Let's Players do you think would be fine with this outcome? Which ones do you think would not be?

6: Freestlye Final Thoughts - Your take on this with a good conclusion?
===================================================================
You may now post.

1) Meh. I find it a little ridiculous that people's "jobs" are fooling around on youtube making videos, but I do like being able to hear individuals' opinions.

2) Not really considering I've never found any to be compelling.

3) Not proud of the decision, no. Am I going to lose sleep? No.

4) When will these nihilists get off of this whole video game crash thing. It's not going to happen, and if it did I guarantee it would result in nothing positive for the hobby you love.

5) Don't watch them so I wouldn't know.

6) There are other avenues for these people that don't include monetizing copyrighted material. Podcasts are one of them, and blogs are another. There are ways to profit off of getting your opinion out there without a video using copyrighted material, it just probably isn't as convenient. Surely these let's players whose primary income were youtube video knew that this wasn't going to last forever... it just seems like it might have ended a bit more suddenly than anticipated.

 

[Weaver]

Affiliates can still be monetized, they just have to pass the audit first.
Not that that's good, as the audit process can take days and managed people don't have to do it.

The major issue I'm seeing is... why the hell would anyone bother with a network now? They take 40% of your pay for ... what? They provide no legal defense for you, your videos are still audited like normal and there's literally no benefit to you in any way to be affiliated instead of managed with a network.

I almost want to make a youtube like site but for only games and allow 60fps uploads.
Game Anyone exists, but the site has it backwards IMO. It's easy to find playthrough of games, but not easy to find a person who you like. People don't have channel identities on that site like on youtube which I dislike. The UI is kind of crap too.

 

[Roxas1359]

People will simply migrate away from YouTube. YouTube is already a giant corporate mouthpiece, they have killed what made people go there in the first place; democratization of content. Now it's like any other content provider; protecting the ingrained interests of a few giant IP holders ans swatting down the little guys.

Many have already started to move to Blip or other such services. They have lower visibility but higher revenues and much less interference.

I've been seeing people migrating more to Twitch as well, especially since the PS4 and Xbox One support Twitch. Well PS4 currently allows it from the console, while support for the Xbox One is gonna support it later.
I'm hoping that if enough people migrate Google will end up changing some things, since the only listen to them losing money. But sadly YouTube is so big and popular that some people still won't leave.

Affiliates can still be monetized, they just have to pass the audit first.
Not that that's good, as the audit process can take days and managed people don't have to do it.

The major issue I'm seeing is... why the hell would anyone bother with a network now? They take 40% of your pay for ... what? They provide no legal defense for you, your videos are still audited like normal and there's literally no benefit to you in any way to be affiliated instead of managed with a network.

Pretty much agree, what's the point of joining a network if you're losing money for no benefits. You might as well just stay that fake type of partnership that you are given by default.

 

[lacktheknack]

For as many people calling the companies greedy, aren't the LPers just as greedy?

I never watched any channels or follow anyone, and most of the ones I do watch are by people who only did a game or one series. I really don't see this affecting anyone who does it to show off a game they love.

Except the LPers often put in a ton of work making videos and they usually don't make much money to offset the costs.That's why most have other jobs to help them make money.

Do you need someone to pay you to do hobbies?

When said hobby cuts deeply into my time to the point that I can't hold a full-time job at the same time? Yes.

Plus, people WERE willing to pay them. If they stop paying, then the hobbyists won't be able to afford to live without getting back into a nine-to-five, so no more LPs.

It's pretty simple. There's only 24 hours in a day.

 

[j0frenzy]

A lot of people apparently want to burn down the entire LP forest to cut down the PewDiePie tree, which to me sounds like a terrible rule. We don't like this one guy, so rather than avoid his content altogether, we're going to stop anyone from using his business model because we don't like him.
Also, I may have missed it or it's covered elsewhere, but does Youtube have a policy in place to be discerning, because not all developers have problems with monetization, just the big ones.
http://canipostandmonetizevideosofdevolvergames.com/

As a side note, can we please finally get around to passing a new Copyright law that isn't coo-coo bananas already?

 

[Rednog]

You may want to reread the article because your post kind of runs at odds with what it actually says. The check system is already in place and has been in place, it isn't coming next year. What's changing is that everyone is going to be subject to the system; as it stands now youtubers were able to bypass the system by joining up with a company/manager. The article is basically saying that anyone managed or not is subject to having their video demonetized.

Personally I don't know why youtube is doing this, they're basically shooting themselves in the foot because let's face it "Let's Players" draw a huge amount of consistent views. Sure each of their individual video views aren't going to reach the latest internet viral video, but they're still most likely youtube's biggest earners.

I'm wondering how legit this news really is. I haven't heard of this guy or his site, and considering this is people's livelihoods, this would be all over the place like the SOPA stuff was and not just on some small site.

 

[unindexedsearchengine]

Well, shit. I've only recently started LPing. This sucks quite severely. I fail to see the logic behind this. The companies aren't losing any profit due to these LPs, and they get quite a bit of free advertising.
Good thing I've got some fully original stuff planned. As for Let's Plays, I guess I'll have to stick to indie games.

 

[Roxas1359]

As a side note, can we please finally get around to passing a new Copyright law that isn't coo-coo bananas already?

Really the Copyright laws at this point need a full on update or rewriting since us LPers have to use the Fair Use Act of 1976 to try and defend ourselves, and it doesn't always work. The market and things have changed so greatly, and with LPs being in this grey area then it's a pain, and combine it with YouTube's broken copyright system you've got hell itself to fight if you do LPs there.
I know I've learned the hard way after doing Kingdom Hearts Final Mix on YouTube.

 

[Mister K]

This. Is. Bull. First Google+, now this.
I pride myself in being calm and thoughtful person, so I'll wait for how this turns out.
But (and that's a big BUT) if TBFP, Maximilian, Angry Joe and anime abridgers will leave Yotube and will post their videos on other site, then I'll follow without second thoughts.

 

[Weaver]

As a side note, can we please finally get around to passing a new Copyright law that isn't coo-coo bananas already?

What would be nice is to make a common use license that companies can stick on for free. Think of like a GPL but for let's plays. A license that lets people know they can record this footage legally and monetize it. It could even include logos and such for companies to include.

 

[j0frenzy]

As a side note, can we please finally get around to passing a new Copyright law that isn't coo-coo bananas already?

Really the Copyright laws at this point need a full on update or rewriting since us LPers have to use the Fair Use Act of 1976 to try and defend ourselves, and it doesn't always work. The market and things have changed so greatly, and with LPs being in this grey area then it's a pain, and combine it with YouTube's broken copyright system you've got hell itself to fight if you do LPs there.
I know I've learned the hard way after doing Kingdom Hearts Final Mix on YouTube.

That's because the last true Copyright Act to be passed in the US was the 1970s. We're still using an outdated Copyright Act that never envisioned the power of the internet and assumes any infringer to be a competing business as opposed to say individual making fan content. And then there's the DMCA, which is best left ignored.

 

[Silverbane7]

well, while i can't say its a surprise (after all, all money is THEIR money, from the corps point of view)
i just hope that the places the LPers move to will support such things as HTML5.... im sick and tired of using the /embed/ trick to watch things in bed on my wiiu pad, and then finding i cant watch anything somewhere else because its all crappy flash.

infact i cant even watch anything here, becasue i have to be a subber to access the HTML5 version of the popup. let alone blip and any of the other places.
(yes, i do get that probably everyone else but me seems to be ether using a pc or phone to watch stuff, or uses those auful you tube apps. but i don't use my TV in bed to watch lets plays. i like to use the easier to use wiiu screen lol. at least with that, i can roll over in bed and not miss any action)

so please, if you are a LPer, can you poke the places like Blip ect to add a HTML5 option? i was told once that flash player was going to be phased out, what changed?