Search system - what is the rationale?

Hi everyone, Love Roll20 and the service it provides (former Plus subscriber here!) but I am having trouble understanding the search system.  I know this has been brought up before but if someone could explain why the dev team have gone with the current system then I can get on board and stop worrying :) Basically, it seems to me that a "smaller" system can only be added to the main list if enough people play it under the "other" category and / or petition it to be added under suggestions.  What I am struggling with is new players coming to Roll20 looking to play "x small system" first search the list and don't find it so then search under other and / or a tag with the name and maybe find a game or not.  Seeing that the system is not popular on Roll20 (ie. put in the other section and harder to find) they will often head elsewhere.  So, the players that are supposed to stick around and play the system and vote for it to get on the main list will only be the die-hards while the casuals or regulars will just head elsewhere. TLDR - Why is the search system not like other game managers that either have a full list that they just add everything to or custom tags.  I am looking for the rationale behind the choice so I can stop scratching my head and get back to playing games :) Thanks in advance! Pete.

If memory serves me correctly, the current way of game searching came to being due to originally there not being a standard method. At one time, everyone could list their game however they wanted to but that lead to having no reliable search method at all. I remember that at it's worse, there was over 15 different ways that one system was listed. Now think about how many systems are out there and how many different ways you can label or tag them. Due to the community's outcry of "We want it more standardized so we can search easier" at that time, the Devs sat down and reviewed the data on the games being played and the most common method of games being listed/tagged/titled. This was the result of it. Over time more games are added as they gain popularity and they become in demand. Right now, it is recommended to list those "x small systems" be listed as other but with their system in their title and game description. The search engine usually can find them that way. Once those systems hit a specific percent of demand and use they get reviewed and added usually.

Ah I see. Thanks for taking the time to elaborate Pat.  Really appreciated. The only part I need to figure out now is why, when a system is mentioned to the devs, they can't just add it to the list?  Are there back-end things that need to be configured for each system or is it a case of just adding a new entry? Cheers, Pete.

That is something you would need to ask the Devs. You can do that with an email to <a href="mailto:Team@roll20.net" rel="nofollow">Team@roll20.net</a>.

Another thing to consider is that the whole Roll20 crew is rather small in number. &nbsp;Between the constant upgrades, bug squashing, and general maintenance, I don't imagine they have someone who waits around for the next request to be instantly submitted. &nbsp; At least, they better not have some one waiting for everyone else's demands. &nbsp;That person is suppose to be assigned to me, to be at my beck and call...

As the original questions have been answered, this thread will be closed now.