Using the Web Annotation Tool

## Annotate Replays Directly in Your Browser The Web Annotation Tool is a powerful feature built into Spaghetti Showdown that lets coaches and players add detailed notes, drawings, and timestamps to fighting game replays without installing any software. Whether you are reviewing a student replay or analyzing your own matches, the annotation tool gives you everything you need right in the browser. ### Opening Annotation Mode You can access the Web Annotation Tool from your **Coaching Dashboard**. When reviewing a student submitted replay, click the **Annotate** button next to the replay entry. This opens the annotation workspace in a new tab with the replay video loaded and the annotation toolbar ready to use. You can also open the annotation tool standalone from the **Tools** section in the main navigation and load any video URL manually. ### Embedding YouTube and Twitch Videos The annotation tool supports direct embedding of videos from **YouTube** and **Twitch**. Simply paste the video URL into the embed field and the tool will load the video player with full playback controls. This means you can annotate tournament sets, ranked matches, or any other fighting game content available on these platforms. Both live Twitch VODs and YouTube videos are supported. The tool automatically detects the platform from the URL and loads the appropriate player. ### Adding Timestamped Notes Click anywhere on the timeline to create a **timestamped note**. Each note is anchored to a specific moment in the video, so when someone reads your review, they can click on any note to jump directly to that point in the replay. Notes support rich text formatting, so you can use bold, italic, and bullet points to structure your feedback clearly. ### Drawing on the Video The drawing tools let you illustrate concepts visually. Pause the video at any frame and use the drawing overlay to: - **Draw arrows** to show movement paths or spacing adjustments - **Circle areas** to highlight positioning mistakes or opportunities - **Add text labels** directly on the frame - **Use different colors** to distinguish between different types of feedback Drawings are saved as part of the annotation and are tied to their specific timestamp. When the review is played back, drawings appear and disappear at the correct moments. ### Saving and Exporting .spagz Files When you are finished annotating, click **Save** to store the annotation on the platform. The annotation is linked to the original replay review request and the student can access it from their dashboard. You can also **export** your annotations as a **.spagz file**. This is the Spaghetti Showdown annotation format that can be opened in both the Web Annotation Tool and the Spaghetti Lab desktop application. Sharing .spagz files is a great way to distribute annotated replays outside the platform, such as in Discord servers or community forums. The .spagz format preserves all timestamps, notes, and drawings, so the recipient gets the full interactive review experience.