Episode Summary: In this insightful episode, Catherine Litvaitis, an experienced community manager from Mouldbreaker Interactive, Armor Games Studios, and Paradox Interactive, shares her journey and expertise in the world of community management. Catherine discusses the importance of community guidelines, the role of a community manager, and the evolution of online communities from platforms like Neopets to modern-day Discord servers. She also touches on the challenges and rewards of fostering and nurturing game communities, the skills necessary for success in this role, and the tools she relies on to manage and engage with players effectively.
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Key Takeaways:
- Role of a Community Manager:
- Catherine emphasizes that community management is about the care and keeping of the people who play your game. It’s about creating a bridge between developers and players, ensuring that both sides are heard and understood.
- Importance of Community Guidelines:
- Establishing clear and inclusive community guidelines is crucial for maintaining a healthy and welcoming environment for all players. Catherine customizes guidelines for each project to reflect the values of the game and the community.
- Evolution of Online Communities:
- Catherine shares her journey from Neopets to managing communities on modern platforms like Discord. She highlights how different platforms serve different purposes and the importance of choosing the right one for your community.
- Tools and Best Practices:
- Catherine discusses the tools she uses, such as Discord, ClickUp, and Notion, to manage tasks, communicate with teams, and keep communities engaged. She also emphasizes the importance of consistent communication and content creation.
- Challenges in Community Management:
- Building a community from scratch, especially for indie games, requires a deep understanding of your audience. Catherine shares her experience in attracting and nurturing like-minded individuals to form a strong, engaged community.