Original video posted on 2025/12/08:
GitHub repo: https://github.com/jerrylshen/melee.gg-scraper (go here for the charts, code, and data output)
Some Behind the Scenes Info
Technical:
I actually thought of this back in 2025/03 in the SWU Community Discord (https://discord.com/channels/1079526508688847078/1202655318019018783/1352391128900436049) in the context of FFG’s slides of their player base and social media presence.
Why not actually do it? And so, I went off to make this scraper and got my first output in 2025/04. Having made multiple scrapers in prior work experience, this wasn’t too challenging for me.
Original charts displayed player count based on their last active date. However, my initial code was displaying players based on their last active date. I later realized that wasn’t a good way to display the data. I also scraped for Lorcana off Melee.gg to get some numbers for comparison’s sake in 2025/05. The next time I re-ran the scraper for SWU was 2025/07 and I changed the code to display the “Total Plays” and “Unique Players” that we have today.
In the beginning, I shared this info with a select few. I contemplated whether or not to share this data publicly. I decided not to, because I feared something like this being viewed as a no-no from FFG as I was trying to join their content creator program at the time. But now that I’m officially part of the creator program (I wasn’t given any guidance nor signed any forms, but I did get a SEC package, so…¯\_(ツ)_/¯) and after seeing Veiled Shot’s video, I’ve decided to clean up my code and share it fully. Now I fear Melee changing up their website to deter this.
At this point, the code should be complete/stable.
Tangent: I also started making a SWU scanner back in 2024/09 to limited success (video is an early version). But I pretty much gave up on it after thinking there may not be much demand for it. Anyways, later on, someone released HoloScan.
Video:
This was my first on-screen + screensharing video for my YT channel, so there definitely was some learning experience.
Though it’s pretty obvious that I’m just reading off a script, having a thorough script is better than me having several pauses throughout the video. My first take was about ~12min long (though it did contain excess info that I ended up cutting as I didn’t think it was too relevant/interesting).
I did about 3 complete takes prior the published take. The main issue with the initial takes was that they were too lightly scripted.
I now have a workflow process for this:
Recording software: OBS
Teleprompter: https://cueprompter.com on my phone on a stand right in front of my monitor. Though now I just paste the script on Stickies (MacOS app, but it’s basically Notepad) and having that window always be on top.
Make sure Fi is visible in the background. If she isn’t already on the couch, bribe her with kibble.
I had thought the 5min video would have pretty good view duration for the short attention span viewer, or at least Fi may keep the viewers engaged, but…ehhh
Reception:
In addition to posting the video onto YouTube, I’ve also shared it to Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/starwarsunlimited/comments/1phxbm0/examining_meleegg_data_star_wars_unlimited_vs/
There were a few comments where people expressed exhaustion from seeing these types of posts, which I understand, but I literally have hard data that no one else is talking about. The few other “Is SWU Dying?” videos/posts that I’ve seen are more localized/anecdotal. So, that was a bit frustrating, but oh wells.
My other financial impact prediction post had a much better reception though: https://www.reddit.com/r/starwarsunlimited/comments/1pl31wt/summary_predicting_the_financial_impact_of_the/
