Welcome To The Community Lounge
Your hub for community management resources, guides, and conversations. Whether you're just getting started or have years of experience, you'll find something valuable here.
The Community Lounge Podcast
Conversations with Community Managers from the video game industry.
Get people engaged and get them curious
with Orchid
Orchid, Community Manager at THOMIC, is our guest this week. We chat about how her journalism background translates into community work, her Ukrainian daycare story that reflects her approach to welcoming new players, and how she built the OddSparks Discord from scratch without being able to show any game footage.
It’s a full time job – and then some!
with Ray Willmott
Ray tells us why Steam reviews have become increasingly important for a game’s visibility and success, and how community managers can turn negative reviews into positive outcomes through thoughtful engagement. Ray also shares advice for aspiring community managers on avoiding burnout, and how to build experience through volunteer work.
We're all really creators in some way
with Milissa Maxin
Milissa Maxin (Singularity Six) tells us how she moved from studying tuba performance to working in community management. We chat about how early experiences in games like Toontown, Neopets, RuneScape, and Habbo Hotel shaped her approach to community building, and how running roleplay servers in Grand Theft Auto V became an unexpected stepping stone into the industry. Milissa shares her path from volunteer moderator to customer support at Linden Lab, and eventually into community leadership roles working on Second Life, Sansar, and Palia. We also discuss the power of virtual spaces to create lasting friendships and meaningful connections, the importance of continuous learning, and why empowering player creativity is at the heart of great communities.
Guides for Community Managers
Practical, step-by-step advice to help you manage, thrive and grow.
Learning resources for community managers: what my podcast guests recommend
In this guide, we dive into the resources game community managers rely on to learn the job beyond the job — from practical books and free GDC talks to peer Discords, industry events, and mentorship programs recommended by experienced CMs.
Internal communication for community managers: How to talk to your team
In this guide, we explore the invisible half of community management: internal communication. Learn how to build trust with developers, tailor your reports for different stakeholders, filter out toxicity, and translate studio decisions to your players with empathy and transparency.
Your first week as a community manager: What actually matters
Starting a community management role feels like being handed the keys to someone else’s house while they’re on vacation. You know there’s a system, but nobody left instructions. The good news: every community manager before you felt the same disorientation. The better news: there are concrete things you can do in week one that will […]
Industry news & trends
Stay up to date with what's happening in the gaming industry.
Video game industry podcasts
I’m a big fan of podcasts. They’ve been around for a long time, but there’s still plenty of life in them. Here are some active podcasts from the video game industry podcasts (yes, including my own): The Community Lounge This is my podcast. It features interviews with people in community roles in the video game […]
How to get player feedback
I strongly believe that listening to player feedback will make your game better. But what if you're not yet getting any player feedback? I have three tips for getting players to give you feedback.
23 top tips to smash your game early access goals
Don’t fail your early access launch. This guides covers everything from feedback to community, retention, promotion, and a lot more.