The Evolution Of Community Management

I found a huge article dedicated to the evolution of community management in the games industry. The article consists of many quotes and answers to questions from community managers from large companies. One community manager puts the main reason of the evolution of community management down to the growth of the internet and social gaming. This mostly boils down to two main points, one being the MMO communities and live online games which have frequent updates and people constantly need help or need to report bugs etc. and the simple growth of the internet allowing ordinary people to be the harshest games critics.

Valerie Massey of CCP Games says "Where once the industry was covered strictly by professional game journalists, today we need to show bloggers -- who may be some kids in their parents' basements somewhere -- the same respect or it can quickly backfire on us. That just shows you how our job is changing with the times."

The article was truly an eye opening read, learning the difficulties of community management which is caused by any disgruntled fan or anyone having issues with the game/s. Page one of the three page articles ends with a quote from Massey saying "We are the meat shields,".

The Evolution Of Community Management, 2011. Gamasutra.com [online] Available at: <http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/6514/the_evolution_of_community_.php?page=1> [Accessed 13 February 2013 ].