Forum:Block Exploration Videos

This is a proposal to include youtube videos from the Block Exploration Videos channel on the wiki in our "Videos" section.

We have been trying to get user-created videos on the wiki for years now at this point, and only just recently did we get out our first (first that isn't deleted that is) video, that being on creepers. As it turns out, someone has been making the exact videos we've wanted for about a month now, that person being Adzramous, who runs the Block Exploration Videos channel. They've been talking in the discord and they're very happy for us to include them on the wiki, the old MCSpotlight videos even inspired the entire channel. I think the videos are a good fit for the wiki, and many people in the Wiki Videos thread on discord have already approved of us collaborating with them. So I'd like everyone to watch a couple of their videos and see what they think.

I would rather the videos stay on the Block Exploration Videos channel instead being uploaded on the wiki channels, and I assume Adzramous would want the same, but perhaps they could comment about that here.

One possible problem is what we do with our own original videos. I don't want this collaboration to mean the end of our own Wiki Videos project, because I think the creeper video is great and I'd love to see more those videos eventually. However, I think the wiki having two official channels putting out videos on the same thing would just be a bit too much. My idea for resolving that is simply to give each channel have a clear scope. Block Exploration Videos could be about only blocks and items, which are simple things that make sense to only explain in quick one minute videos, while the wiki channel is for mobs and structures and biomes etc., which 90% of the time are more complicated than any given block or item, and therefore make more sense to explain in longer videos. - Harristic / Talk 👁 Image
23:26, 31 July 2024 (UTC)

As proposer, 👁 Image
 Support including Block Exploration Videos on the wiki. - Harristic / Talk 👁 Image
23:26, 31 July 2024 (UTC)

Hi there!

This is Adzramous of the Block Exploration Videos channel. I am very excited and enthusiastic about this collaboration. I do agree that I would like to keep the uploads to my channel so I can cover every block and item in the game.

I would also like to add, however, that I would like to eventually explore mobs and biomes too. A simple overview of the Creeper, for example, would add to the completeness of my series of videos. I can highlight their spawning and mechanics, item drops and special uses. But that is a long way off. I'm interested in hearing what the rest of the community has to say! BlockExplorationVideos (talk) 23:49, 31 July 2024 (UTC)

Hmmm... Define "every item". There are a few weird spots: Block states, historical items, etc. And there are are which could be combined, like chorus fruit and popped chorus fruit. Though, overall, the proposal sounds good to me. I still have to watch since of those videos, though. -~- Nerdyguy2000   talk   edits 00:32, 1 August 2024 (UTC)

Hello Nerdyguy2000! My plan is to make a video covering every reasonable topic for every block, item and mob. Like you said, many will need to be combined together. I have already uploaded videos on Gold and Iron, which include the ore, crafted block and the item. Thanks so much for watching! I look forward to continuing to create content for you guys. BlockExplorationVideos (talk) 00:47, 1 August 2024 (UTC)

I'm assuming that the combined topics will be, for instance, colored blocks, stages of copper oxidization, wood types, pistons (sticky and not), block states, ores (deepslate or not), and other small, similar topics like chorus fruit. Basically, if it has multiple variants that don't have different functionality. (Note that the wood types works probably have to be split between Nether and Overworld) Or if two things share the same name and do similar things, like (sticky) pistons, (ominous) vaults/trial spawners, and (deepslate) ore. Or if it shares a name, is in the same place, and is a very small topic, like chorus fruit. Is that right? I'm kind of just suggesting things here. Also, would there be a video about, for example, the Nether reactor core? -~- Nerdyguy2000   talk   edits 14:41, 1 August 2024 (UTC)

I already watch Adzramous video's I really enjoy them and think they would be a good edition to the wiki SIRROM12 (talk) 00:22, 1 August 2024 (UTC)

👁 Image
 Oppose - I would not oppose including links to YouTube videos, but I don't think unofficial user-created content should be included on the wiki as a whole.Drour1234 (talk) 02:31, 1 August 2024 (UTC)

I don't think this will interfere with anything. Because the wiki video project is made by the wiki community, it is not official. - CraftianosHard(falar) Administrador👁 Image
|Director👁 Image
12:46, 1 August 2024 (UTC)

I agree with this reasoning but also I think an exception could be possible with certain conditions. See my comment below. -BrianGLHF (talk) 14:57, 3 August 2024 (UTC)

👁 Image
 Support Harri's proposal. The videos are clear and short, and would work well on the wiki. Maybe adding a link to the wiki page in every video's description would be a good idea too. –MetalManeMc, 👁 Image
French👁 Image
Wiki admin (Talk to me!👁 Image
) 07:18, 1 August 2024 (UTC)

👁 Image
 Support - CraftianosHard(falar) Administrador👁 Image
|Director👁 Image
12:48, 1 August 2024 (UTC)

👁 Image
 Support - I am in support of the idea of including user-created videos overall but i do have some concerns. May i ask why you are opposed to having two or more sources (individually maintained or not) making the videos, Harristic? Just like someone pointed out here - we, the wiki, are also not an official source, so we are all technically making unofficial videos. Secondly I, too, am not particularly fond of splitting the scopes of the wiki videos channel and the block exploration videos channel since we don't own the block explorations channel and it is upto the owner to decide what they want to do. Since we can't control what they plan on doing, i feel we should still continue with the wiki videos project regardless of whatever topics are covered through individual user-created videos. Morover, it also becomes easier to maintain the videos on the wiki in the future if we have the script and/or video snippets used (in cases where information that we put in a video becomes outdated in a future update, we would have the resources to update the video on our end). Lastly, if we were to include user-created videos as such, i would like to encourage them to allow us (the wiki) with proof reading their scripts before they start making their videos in an attempt to reduce the spread of misinformation; alternatively we could also help them with creating the scripts if they are not opposed to that idea. - Hound (talk) 03:50, 2 August 2024 (UTC)

I 👁 Image
 Oppose controlling the video creation. This will just slow down the process of the creator and bring the whole "wiki lag" to the process. We are free to not put the videos on the content page if they aren't good enough by our standards. –MetalManeMc, 👁 Image
French👁 Image
Wiki admin (Talk to me!👁 Image
) 08:55, 2 August 2024 (UTC)

The suggestion to help (not control) with their scripts was not to overstep the creator's boundaries but to come to a middle ground on the decision regarding splitting of the scopes of our wiki videos project and user submitted videos that was brought up in this forum post. In order to maintain the scope that the current wiki video projects has (one of which is to have as much information that can be said about something without a time restriction on it) as well as respect the art style and format that Block Exploration Videos is taking (which is to keep things short and sweet while covering things on a surface level), i was suggesting that the team behind wiki videos project wouldn't be opposed to helping Block Exploration Videos (and any other such creators) with a their script should they also show interest in making long format videos. Rest assured, this wouldn't stall any creator's creation process, it's not our intention. - Hound (talk) 13:43, 2 August 2024 (UTC)

I simply think it is confusing and unnecessary for a reader to look in a videos section and see multiple different user-created videos about the same thing. Which one are they meant to watch? Unless the videos manage to focus on entirely different topics about the same feature then one of those videos is redundant, or one of them needs to be improved so that the other isn't necessary. I don't want Wiki Videos to stop because of BEV (Block Exploration Videos), but the Wiki Videos team can't just ignore the existence of BEV and keep going like they were before. Some sort of change needs to happen to accommodate BEV. Brian's suggestion about BEV being placeholder and then replaced by a Wiki Videos video when it gets made might be the solution but I'm not 100% sure. - Harristic / Talk 👁 Image
15:02, 11 August 2024 (UTC)

Maybe whichever isn't as detailed shouldn't be there, so that so that a reader knows which one to watch. -~- Nerdyguy2000   talk   edits 16:27, 11 August 2024 (UTC)

I would 👁 Image
 Support adding Block Exploration Videos, but only under the following conditions:

1. The Block Exploration Videos must not be monetized. No one should profit from the wiki, regardless of the quality of their contributions. Other MCW editors are not paid through their contributions, and this should not be an exception. Additionally, this would prevent our readers from having to view ads, which we all dislike.
2. Block Exploration Videos should serve as placeholders on pages that don’t have videos created by the MCW video team hosted on the MCW YouTube channel. The hard work and dedication of the MCW video team should take precedence over any third-party videos posted on the wiki. As MCW video project creates more videos, Block Exploration Videos should be removed in their place.
3. Block Exploration Videos should not be added to the MCW indiscriminately; each Block Exploration Video must be reviewed by a group or committee that includes members of the current video project team for accuracy and completeness before being added to MCW pages.

I am looking forward to having these points taken into consideration. Thank you for understanding! :) -BrianGLHF (talk) 14:49, 3 August 2024 (UTC)

I agree with all these conditions, especially 1 and 3.--Capopanzo (talk | contribs) 15:33, 3 August 2024 (UTC)

The wiki videos project team is not the fastest at pushing things out. This is not an attempt to make an excuse but not only does it take time and a collective effort of quite a few people that slows the process, the people involved do this when they find time to invest in the video creation process and, unfortunately for the wiki, that further stalls the rate at which we pump out stuff. So the condition 2 that you mention here would not only further add to the long list of things that the wiki videos project team is yet to complete, but also stalls production of the independent user-created video creation process, which further delays any sort of videos being showcased on the wiki - the delay which we are trying to reduce by this very endeavor. - Hound (talk) 15:36, 6 August 2024 (UTC)

This original proposal should not dictate what the MCW video team wants to work on. As the MCW video team makes the new videos they want to make at their own rate they would replace the BEVs where there is overlap. I don't see how this further stalls anything. -04:41, 7 August 2024 (UTC) BrianGLHF (talk) 04:41, 7 August 2024 (UTC)

Could someone embed once of these videos on a user page or something? I am still yet to see once of them. -~- Nerdyguy2000   talk   edits 14:50, 3 August 2024 (UTC)

👁 Image
 Support. However, every video should be reviewed and voted on, preferably by all editors for transparency reasons. It also shouldn't be monetized, and it should be properly marked with a disclaimer and version used.

I would also propose that the processes we create here can be applied for other creators, if there is a will for that. TreeIsLife (talk) 15:59, 3 August 2024 (UTC)

I Agree per @Capopanzo and @TreeIsLife. -~- Nerdyguy2000   talk   edits 16:38, 3 August 2024 (UTC)

Hey everyone, Adzramous of Block Exploration Videos here.

Thank you to everyone pitching in their opinions and voice for this important decision. I'd like to confirm that I do not plan on monetizing these videos, not asking for payment of any kind. I also am not opposed to having my videos reviewed before being added to their respective Wiki pages. I'm just hoping to make this Wikipedia a better more accessible place for everyone. I am in the Minecraft Wiki Discord server, in the Wiki Videos thread and appreciate any feedback! BlockExplorationVideos (talk) 22:22, 3 August 2024 (UTC)

Uh oh… these videos are outdated. It is using older versions, 1.3-1.13 I think, we need to use it to 1.21. 2001:4456:C2E:E200:38A5:A2D2:1E6F:BA66 10:21, 7 August 2024 (UTC)

I'm inclined to sum up the current discussion with this resolution (mostly based upon BrianGLHF's comment):

Inclusion

Any YouTube channel may qualify as long as they meet certain requirements.

• Owner of a channel may self-nominate to include their own video on the wiki.
• The community will be able to discuss about the quality of video for this channel and choose whether to qualify it for inclusion. This include some hard limitations:
  • The channel must demonstrate a portfolio of at least 5 high quality videos, each of which includes a good range of information about a specific block, item, entity, game mechanic, etc.
  • Videos must be made in reference to this wiki. Other sources may also be referenced except those which are in direct competition with this wiki.
  • Videos must include appropriate attribution to any wiki pages referenced.
  • Videos must turn monetization off. It must not include any paid product placements, sponsorships or endorsements. If the channel violates this, it may be permanently disqualified.

Competition

Different partner channels should not compete with each other by creating overlapping content.

• Each partner should report their videos which are currently in-production in order to avoid duplicate efforts. This should probably take place in a Google Sheet.
• In case of any video needing to be updated, it is encouraged to allow their original author to reupload an updated version first.
• The Wiki Video project should also adhere to the above recommendations. In case of an overlap of topic, the one with the better quality wins.

Quality assurance

Every video on the wiki should be coherent, accurate, reliable and up-to-date.

• Videos may or may not be narrated. Synthetic voices must not be used in accordance with MCW:GENAI. Narrated videos should include a fluent voice whose accent has no effect on intelligibility.
• Videos should use the vanilla resource pack and the English language, ideally English (US).
• A video should only be added when its channel and itself are both approved by the community.
• Any channel may request a script review in the Discord channel #Wiki Videos. Community members may check the script for accuracy, style, etc. on a best-effort basis.
• Qualified channels can submit a video for review in the Discord channel #Wiki Videos. A video may be added to the wiki when there is a clear consensus in support.

Misc

• If any video is added to or removed from the wiki, the creator must be notified. In case of removals, a reason should be provided if appreciable.

--GIM Dianliang233 T C 12:11, 27 August 2024 (UTC)

Hmm... What if the videos said, like, "I'm going to enable a resource pack to make it easier to see...."? -~- Nerdyguy2000   talk   edits 14:49, 27 August 2024 (UTC)

Hey there, Adzramous from Block Exploration Videos here.

I think these guidelines and rules are excellent for maintaining good quality videos on the Minecraft Wiki! I have demonstrated my ability to create these high quality explorations, and intend to keep making them, going through every block. I am excited to work with Minecraft Wiki and have my videos be featured, pending approval! BlockExplorationVideos (talk) 21:01, 28 August 2024 (UTC)

Some of my thoughts regarding the points stated:

• Notifying other users as well as the wiki of which videos they are working on to avoid duplicates - we could use the wiki itself to keep track rather than google sheets. Just like we keep track of the wiki videos project's tasks in Minecraft_Wiki:Videos.
• Speaking of duplicates, user channels competing with each other is not a bad thing at all, i feel. The concern that harristic bought up not wanting to see a lot of user created videos being unnecessary could be diverted by having a section at the bottom of a particular wiki page for 'User submitted explanation videos' or the like, similar to how we have a gallery, that could showcase all such tutorial videos. Perhaps this encourages more creators to come through.
• You mention that the wiki videos project must also adhere to your recommendation and that "In case of an overlap of topic, the one with the better quality wins.", but wiki videos project was never to be replaced by user submitted videos to begin with - even in harristic's outline of the scope of the user submitted videos project, they express that they wouldn't want to see the wiki videos project be replaced.
• "Narrated videos should include a fluent voice whose accent has no effect on intelligibility." since we are not directly involved in the creation process for the individual user's videos, how may we draw the line that they couldn't use their voice (if they chose to voice over the video and they happen to have an accent that makes them intelligible)? - Hound (talk) 15:53, 27 August 2024 (UTC)

• Wikitext tables can be difficult to edit for experienced users, let alone beginners. Using an external tool to simplify this seems to be a good compromise, but I'm open to discussion.
• I believe that one page should have only one associated video. If we allow multiple videos to compete, it would create numerous problems. A video gallery section is useless to viewers because, unlike an image gallery, these videos would be talking about the exact same thing. The creation of this section would also mean that there has to be a certain order for those videos, which is unfair. It should be our goal to make creators explore other topics and install a video on every page, instead of repeating the same ones over and over again, because it's essentially a waste of time and resources. Given that there are so many pages which do not have a video yet, I don't think this would deter anyone from trying their hand at it. There's plenty of fish in the sea.
• I do agree that the Wiki Video project should be kept. However, we must have the creators' point of view in mind when making these rules. Just like we don't want our video to be replaced, creators also don't want their content to be replaced, given how much effort they put into. Given that, we should try to make this a level playing field for everyone. This creates incentives for us and partners to make better videos.
• I don't see how the creation process and the concern on voiceover quality are related. As you can see, we don't interfere with the "creation process" other than an optional script review and/or any other assistance they may request. However, for videos to be shown on the wiki, it must first reach some hard requirements specified in "Inclusion" (objective) and must reach our standard of quality (subjective, consensus-based). If someone has a concern over their voice, they should just ask for feedback at any time.

GIM Dianliang233 T C 02:37, 28 August 2024 (UTC)

The reasoning i had behind wanting to keep both the wiki project's videos as well as user submitted videos (Block Exploration Videos' videos in this case) was that even if they cover the same content, the BEV videos were brief and brushing over the more commonly known features whereas our videos aren't constrained by time, allowing us to cover a lot more information, even niche ones. Like mentioned here before, both can coexist - even if there is a user submitted video, i don't see a reason not to have the wiki videos team work on what they have been working on. Hound (talk) 16:36, 30 August 2024 (UTC)

I would also like to see the wiki itself used in the process of submissions and reviews rather than Discord and Google. We could direct people to the Wiki Videos Project page on wiki or the thread on Discord for submission and help, but submissions should live on the wiki. Submitting information doesn't have to be through wiki tables, they could simply create talk pages and ask someone else on the project to link to into a table appropriately or just bring it up on the project talk page. What do you have in mind? :) -BrianGLHF (talk) 00:48, 30 August 2024 (UTC)

I think that's a good idea. I, for one, am not on Discord, so I can't review them if they're on there. And there are a few others that aren't in Discord either. -~- Nerdyguy2000   Talk   Edits  00:53, 30 August 2024 (UTC)

I have no problem with submitting my videos here on the Wiki! As long as it is explained how I can do that. BlockExplorationVideos (talk) 03:43, 2 September 2024 (UTC)

Nice. Then I can see them without going into YouTube, which I'd rather not. Thanks! -~- Nerdyguy2000   Talk   Edits  03:47, 2 September 2024 (UTC)

It appears most of the main points are about keeping the Block Exploration Videos channel moderated and unmonetized, which I am completely fine with. Also posting video submissions to a separate forum would be great. The only question I have is about the suggestion to have the videos be replaced with ones created by the other admins when they make one. I would like to propose that, as I continue my mission to make an exploration video for every single block in the game, they could be kept on the related Wiki pages in addition to any extra videos made by other wiki members. BlockExplorationVideos (talk) 03:55, 2 September 2024 (UTC)

It seems like that there has been no further opposition to this, other than minor points. For the sake of passing this quickly, I think we can compromise on:

• We'll have the wiki-made video shown side by side with the submitted video.
• The submission will happen on wiki, with clear guideline on how to do so.

Therefore I will close this topic and I will create some pages very soon. Thanks everyone! GIM Dianliang233 T C 10:45, 11 September 2024 (UTC)

I thought that review and submission would happen on the wiki? -~- Nerdyguy2000   Talk   Edits  23:46, 11 September 2024 (UTC)

What's the status on getting that stuff linked up here? thanks! :) -BrianGLHF (talk) 22:42, 20 September 2024 (UTC)