Whither the Update tag?

Question

I noticed today we have a tag for update with no usage guidance yet.

It's not very popular (only 64 questions), and seems to be used for a mix of topics:

• How to use the game update loop pattern

  • Changing the current state of an entity in the middle of an update step or wait for the end?
  • How do I pass my objects to the update method?
  • Is it safe to base a combo system in frames instead of time?

• How to modify a particular piece of data over time / over a network

  • How to correctly update sprite rect
  • MMO Player Position Update
  • Data overwritten in MapSubresource() method

• How to use the MonoBehaviour message called "Update" in Unity

  • Update function only running once
  • base.Update() makes coroutine stop
  • 2D Game has very bad lag because of one script?

• How to deploy game software updates to players, or modify games on distribution platforms

  • Game launcher / updater download delta diff
  • Unity, Steam and updaters!
  • Declaring another alpha or beta testing after a game app for Android (APK file) is uploaded and already published in Google Play Store

It doesn't look like the current version of this tag is clearly identifying a particular topic or area of expertise.

Should we delete it outright, modify it to focus on one specific topic, or cleave it into distinct topic tags?

Answer 1

I think update is not clear enough and should be deleted.

However, while doing so, the questions tagged with update regarding the topic game update loop pattern could be tagged with game-loop instead, while those with the topic deploy game software updates to players could be retagged with deployment. I feel the other two topics you've covered are using update as a meta tag.

Answer 2

I think the update loop and deploying game updates uses of the tag both identify a specific problem domain in which someone could develop particular expertise.

The update loop questions can use the existing tag game-loop.

Deploying game updates would need a new tag, something like software-updates to distinguish the subject from runtime updates of in-game data.

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I think the "modify a piece of data" use of the tag is purely meta and should be removed. I don't think someone can be an expert in "modifying data" alone.

I think tagging a question "Update" because it entails a method named Update() is pure noise, and the tag should be replaced with game-loop if the question is really about simulating behaviour over time via updates, or simply deleted otherwise.