sheep

We’ve talked a lot about community on WOOTcomms, in different posts and for different reasons. Communities can help make or break a game. They are an incredibly important part of a game’s ecosystem, and should factor heavily in your marketing plan. But it’s also important to understand the basics of community, what people want and need from being part of a community, and what you need to deliver to your community’s members. This post isn’t about why you should create a community, or how you help grow one, but instead looks at the principles of why people join communities.

Sense of belonging

Humans are social animals. They want to join groups of people that are similar to themselves. The fact that they all play your game gives these people something in common, something to talk about. You need to find ways to help people feel like they belong in your community.

Feeling of significance

Within these groups people want to feel valued, feel significant. They want to be the ones telling other people how to beat levels and get past bosses. Your community needs to help people feel significant, both in the community, and if possible (if your game mechanics allow for it) in the game too.

Knowledge and support

A significant motivation for joining a group is to gain access to information. Many people join forums for a particular game because they have a question or are looking for some help. Others will join to get help more generally, such as tips and advice.

Influence and innovation

People like to make a difference; they want to know that they are being listened to. By joining a community an individual can have a greater influence than they could alone. Creating a community for your indie game can be a great way to let your players give you feedback, for members to help influence the future of the game that they are playing.

These four motivations are why people will join your community. Is your community providing one of these? Is it providing all four?