Lesson 239: Steam Playtest Feedback Tag Taxonomy Receipt on BUILD_RECEIPT (2026)

Direct answer: Before hotfix week merges Discord screenshots and Steam survey exports, file playtest_feedback_tag_receipt_v1.json proving a single canonical tag list, alias map (Discord emoji ↔ survey dropdown), and tag → owner → BUILD_RECEIPT row crosswalk—then promote BUILD_RECEIPT playtest_feedback_tag_ok. Distinct from Lesson 221 facilitator amendment (version pin / scope) and 18 playtest feedback tools (tool list, not taxonomy governance).

Why this matters now (June 2027 hotfix week)

June 2027 facilitators post #combat-bug in Discord while Steam surveys capture Combat / Balance and ops tracks combat_balance in BUILD_RECEIPT—three strings, one crash. Hotfix triage burns Tuesday arguing labels instead of shipping Lesson 238 save isolation fixes. Lesson 221 updates version pins when depots change; this lesson updates feedback vocabulary when playtest scale starts.

The GameMaker feedback tag preflight is the ninety-second editor checklist (Included Files + alias map)—239 is the BUILD_RECEIPT milestone.

Beginner path (taxonomy in one sitting)

Time: ~62 minutes first wave; ~15 minutes when alias file is committed.

Developer path (gates F1–F6)

Canonical tag table (example — customize)

Pair GameMaker taxonomy preflight when shipping Included Files alias map on GM HTML5 builds.

tag_alias_map_v1.json

{
  "schema": "tag_alias_map_v1",
  "build_label": "summer-playtest-2027-rc1",
  "canonical_tags": [
    "save_isolation",
    "audio_init",
    "npc_inference",
    "html5_shell",
    "analytics_pii",
    "facilitator_scope"
  ],
  "aliases": {
    "#saves": "save_isolation",
    "save bleed": "save_isolation",
    "#no-sound": "audio_init",
    "#tavern-crash": "npc_inference",
    "#black-screen": "html5_shell",
    "#ga4": "analytics_pii",
    "#wrong-build": "facilitator_scope"
  }
}

Pin under release-evidence/playtest/TAG_ALIAS_MAP.json.

playtest_feedback_tag_receipt_v1.json

{
  "schema": "playtest_feedback_tag_receipt_v1",
  "build_label": "summer-playtest-2027-rc1",
  "taxonomy_version": "2027-06-tags-v1",
  "canonical_tag_count": 6,
  "alias_map_path": "release-evidence/playtest/TAG_ALIAS_MAP.json",
  "facilitator_pin_message_id": "discord:1234567890123456789",
  "owner_map": {
    "save_isolation": { "owner": "gameplay@studio", "build_receipt_row": "playtest_save_isolation" },
    "audio_init": { "owner": "audio@studio", "build_receipt_row": "wwise_dsp_init_receipt" },
    "npc_inference": { "owner": "ai@studio", "build_receipt_row": "sentis_npc_batch_receipt" },
    "html5_shell": { "owner": "web@studio", "build_receipt_row": "corp_coep_fest" },
    "analytics_pii": { "owner": "privacy@studio", "build_receipt_row": "construct_playtest_analytics" },
    "facilitator_scope": { "owner": "ops@studio", "build_receipt_row": "facilitator_amendment_pass" }
  },
  "gates": {
    "F1_build_label": "pass",
    "F2_canonical_cap": "pass",
    "F3_alias_map": "pass",
    "F4_owner_crosswalk": "pass",
    "F5_facilitator_pin": "pass",
    "F6_build_receipt": "pass"
  },
  "taxonomy_ok": true,
  "promotion_allowed": true,
  "cousin_receipts": {
    "facilitator_amendment": "release-evidence/ops/FACILITATOR_AMENDMENT_RECEIPT.json"
  }
}

Pin under release-evidence/playtest/PLAYTEST_FEEDBACK_TAG_RECEIPT.json.

BUILD_RECEIPT row (F6)

Relationship to guide vs Lesson 221

When version_pin_after changes mid-week, run 221 first—then bump taxonomy_version if facilitator channels add new aliases.

Key takeaways

1. One canonical tag list—Discord, survey, and BUILD_RECEIPT use the same vocabulary.
2. tag_alias_map absorbs emoji shorthand—do not rename BUILD_RECEIPT rows per message.
3. Pair 221 (scope) with 239 (labels)—amendment without taxonomy still confuses triage.
4. Lesson 240 — map npc_inference tag to Sentis row.
5. Q3 capstone 244 requires playtest_feedback_tag_ok GREEN.
6. Thursday review — one Tags / triage line.
7. ≤12 tags—sprawl defeats hotfix week.
8. Community playtest resources — paste taxonomy block into facilitator README.

Common mistakes

• New Discord emoji every day without updating tag_alias_map.
• Steam survey free-text only—no dropdown aligned to canonical tags.
• Tag audio maps to three different BUILD_RECEIPT rows—pick one owner.
• Paying facilitators before 221 + 239 GREEN on new pin.
• Conflating with Lesson 220 VOD batch—Whisper tags ≠ player feedback tags.

Troubleshooting

Mini exercise (60 minutes)

1. Collect ten real Discord messages—list unique strings.
2. Collapse to six canonical tags—write alias map.
3. Assign owners + BUILD_RECEIPT rows.
4. Facilitator pins taxonomy—capture message ID (F5).
5. File receipt; run Thursday row review.

Continuity — Q3 2027 summer playtest wave (236–244)

Previous: Lesson 238 — Godot playtest save isolation.
Next: Lesson 240 — Unity Sentis NPC inference batch.

FAQ

Same as 18 playtest tools blog?
Blog lists tools; 239 owns taxonomy + BUILD_RECEIPT wiring.

Same as Lesson 221?
221 = version/scope amendment; 239 = feedback label governance.

Need taxonomy before Lesson 240?
Recommended—npc_inference tag routes OOM reports to Sentis row.

GameMaker guide required?
Guide is preflight cousin; 239 is course milestone.

Hotfix week fails when every channel uses different words for the same bug—canonical tags, alias map, owner crosswalk, then promote playtest_feedback_tag_ok on BUILD_RECEIPT.