Based on our experience with community-building, the best time to begin growing a community for your game is when you have a compelling showcase ready or as you’re preparing to release a demo. This strategy preserves an element of surprise while building anticipation for the full reveal.
Launching your community too early, especially when significant progress hasn’t been made and content is sparse, can lead to diminished interest. People may lose patience waiting for meaningful updates. It’s often better to hold off until you have more to present before inviting people to join your community. Otherwise, it might seem like a mere promotional effort rather than a genuine introduction to your game, which could result in lower engagement. By timing your community launch with substantial content, you ensure that your engagement feels authentic and relevant, helping you build a dedicated and enthusiastic following.
Before launching your game’s community, engaging with existing game development forums, gaming communities, and industry-related groups can be incredibly valuable. These interactions not only help refine your project but also build anticipation. Just remember to adhere to each community’s rules to encourage positive engagement and avoid potential pitfalls.
Key points to consider: (Summary)
Benefits of Creating a Community for Your Game:
Increased Visibility and Following: Engaging with a game development or gaming community can attract attention from publishers, media, and content creators. This helps in building a following for your game early on.
Valuable Feedback: Community interaction provides constructive feedback and insights that can help refine your game to better meet player expectations, enhancing its appeal.
Enhanced Player Loyalty: By involving community members early, you create a sense of connection and loyalty. These early supporters are more likely to become dedicated players.
Sustained Interest: Regular updates and engagement help maintain interest in your game, keeping it on the radar of potential players and supporters.
Support Network: Contributing to and engaging with the community helps build a network of advocates who are likely to support and promote your game.
Non-Benefits and Considerations:
Risk of Loss of Interest: Starting to build a community too early, especially without substantial content, can lead to waning interest as people might lose patience waiting for meaningful updates.
Perceived as Advertisement: Launching a community before having significant content to showcase might be perceived as an advertisement rather than a genuine engagement, potentially deterring potential members.
Time and Effort: Building and maintaining a community requires a significant investment of time and effort, which might divert resources from game development.
Community Management Challenges: Engaging with a community involves managing interactions and feedback, which can be demanding and may lead to issues if not handled properly.
Overall, while creating a community for your game offers numerous benefits in terms of visibility, feedback, and player loyalty, it’s crucial to time your community-building efforts appropriately and manage them effectively to avoid potential drawbacks.
