Searching for games by tags doesn't seem to work right or at all

[TheSilverHammer]

I was just searching for games with the tag "Open World". I got at least 30 pages of results.
The problem is that the vast majority of these games were NOT open world games. I even looked at some of these games and they did NOT have the "Open World" tag, yet they came up in the search results.

Perhaps there is an open world game out there I would like, but I can't find it because I have to wade through so many irrelevent results. Please fix this.

[Sovietball]

Tags are generated by user

[Gus the Crocodile]

Do you have an example of a game without the open world tag showing up when searching for that tag? I didn't see any, but then I didn't click on all ~1200 search results and don't plan to. To be clear, you are aware that you need to click the little plus icon after the first few tags shown on he game's page in order to see its full list, right?

[The Gaming Womble]

There are very many games with wildly inappropriate tags, as already mentioned because if enough users add the same tag Steam just adds it without any sanity check.

This is best seen with the Nudity and Adult Content(I think it is) tags - many kids' games will apear in the "All" list for these tags.

For others, it's personal preference I suppose. My personal bugbear is when a game about something fictitious, impossible, sci-fi or whatever is tagged, "Simulation"....but I guess there are far worse things to worry about in life.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

If you find incorrect tags, you can flag them.

[TheSilverHammer]

Apparently I am not very clear. Search for open world games by tag.
Then, as an example, this comes up:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/493340/?snr=1_7_7_151_150_2

This game does NOT have any open world tags, yet when searching by the open world tag, it comes up. This should not happen, the search is broken.

Many, many titles come up that should not.

[The Gaming Womble]

Originally posted by TheSilverHammer:

Apparently I am not very clear. Search for open world games by tag.
Then, as an example: this comes up:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/493340/?snr=1_7_7_151_150_2

This game does NOT have any open world tags, yet when searching by the open world tag, it comes up. This should not happen, the search is broken.

Actually, it does have the Open World tag. You just don't know where to look for it.

Next to the list of tags, left to right by order of importance or frequency, n ot sure which, is the + icon. This will pop a sub-window showing you the full list.

[TheSilverHammer]

I see you are right. I always thought the + symbol meant, add a new tag.

Ok, my suggestion is for steam to vet these tags by making sure they get enough votes. IE: If 1000 users add tags to a game, and out of those 1000 tags, open world is only added like 10 times then perhaps the open world tag should not be considered valid.

Otherwise tags are useless.

You can also use some google tactics as well. Basically if any user adds a tag to a game, then ask them if another tag that has been added is appropreate. IE: I tag a game as a Simulation, then when I submit it, steam says, "Do you think this game is also an Open World game?"

[The Gaming Womble]

Originally posted by TheSilverHammer:

I see you are right. I always thought the + symbol meant, add a new tag.

Ok, my suggestion is for steam to vet these tags by making sure they get enough votes. IE: If 1000 users add tags to a game, and out of those 1000 tags, open world is only added like 10 times then perhaps the open world tag should not be considered valid.

Otherwise tags are useless.

You can also use some google tactics as well. Basically if any user adds a tag to a game, then ask them if another tag that has been added is appropreate. IE: I tag a game as a Simulation, then when I submit it, steam says, "Do you think this game is also an Open World game?"

You are right, Steam needs a vetting system.

Actually, you could just have a VETO system when the game is added. Say you add a game for 5yr olds....you can block the addition of the "nudity" or "adult content" or "gore" tabs.

Same goes for a graphically violent game - can't add "family friendly".

Not sure how much further you could go, apart from those very basic ideas as what some people consider say "strategy", others consider "action RPG" or something else.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Originally posted by TheSilverHammer:

I see you are right. I always thought the + symbol meant, add a new tag.

Ok, my suggestion is for steam to vet these tags by making sure they get enough votes. IE: If 1000 users add tags to a game, and out of those 1000 tags, open world is only added like 10 times then perhaps the open world tag should not be considered valid.

Otherwise tags are useless.

You can also use some google tactics as well. Basically if any user adds a tag to a game, then ask them if another tag that has been added is appropreate. IE: I tag a game as a Simulation, then when I submit it, steam says, "Do you think this game is also an Open World game?"

Pretty sure tags are only added to the store page after enough people use that tag anyway.

I know I've tried adding an unpopular (though relevant/true) tag to a thing -- such as "Dragons" to this game, where the main character and her obnoxious older sister are both canonically dragons, and giant bone dragons also appear in the third level -- but it doesn't show up immediately at all. In fact, it still hasn't shown up in this case.

Originally posted by Hogan J.:

Actually, you could just have a VETO system when the game is added. Say you add a game for 5yr olds....you can block the addition of the "nudity" or "adult content" or "gore" tabs.

Same goes for a graphically violent game - can't add "family friendly".

Not sure how much further you could go, apart from those very basic ideas as what some people consider say "strategy", others consider "action RPG" or something else.

I'm concerned that this may result in abuse by unscrupulous publishers.

Alternatively, maybe all requests would have to go through Valve staff, but that would create extra work for them.