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.
Do the Job Before You Have the Job
with Greg Castle
Greg Castle (Spark Universe) explains how archaeology unexpectedly prepared him for community management. We talk about growing and supporting an 800,000-member Discord server, landing a dream role on a game he had covered for years, and why constant experimentation and empowered volunteers are essential to healthy communities.
Every Community Manager has a different way of doing things
with Danreb Victorio
Danreb Victorio (Gamers Outreach) shares his path from teenage GameSpot moderator to games media founder, Glu Mobile community manager, and now nonprofit community work bringing games to children in hospitals. We chat about building community around games you may not personally love, the importance of genuine human connection, and how to stay resilient after repeated job-search setbacks.
We work with real people, with real emotions
with Kristoph Zandecki
VR gaming and its community are a bit of a different beast, and our guest is here to tell you all about it. Kristoph Zandecki joins The Community Lounge to break down exactly what it takes to manage and grow communities in the Virtual Reality space.
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.