Reflecting on the Community

We're kicking off a little bit of a new tradition this year. September 6 is being designated as Community Appreciation Day! Or... Community Recognition Day. Or maybe something else. No one seems to be sure yet, but the intention is clear. We've got a great community and today is a day to celebrate. And to reflect.

The Spiral Community

If you've only ever played KingsIsle's games, you might not realize just how special our community is. We've got a wide variety of people with a wide variety of interests and tons of different ways to connect and share information and experiences related to our favorite games. But it's more than that. Our community, as a whole, is not only more closely linked than most, it's also much more welcoming. You don't need to go very far to find that many gaming communities are not that at all. We're pretty lucky. I think it has something to do with the types of people who play these games. The UK and foreign Wizard101 communities exhibit the same level (and sometimes even higher levels) of kindness as we have here at home.

The types of content players enjoy has shifted a little over the years along with general internet trends. People like quick snippets of content and enjoy watching videos. We have a pretty enormous YouTube community. Wizard101 and Pirate101 players have spread across every social media platform, and each one brings something unique to the Spiral.

I've tried my best to compile all of the active sites on the Community page. The Interactive Home page also has an automatically-updating feed of the latest content from these sites! (If your site isn't here, it's because I can't find an RSS feed. Feel free to send one over!) Also check out the Wizard101 Fansites page and the Pirate101 Fansites page.

The Community is held together by its shared interest in the games, and has begun to overlap more and more with KingsIsle employees as they become active on social media. With Mathew at the helm of the community team at KingsIsle, sites have seen increased visibility and promotion by KingsIsle.

Why It Matters

At the end of the day, most of us log into the game or make videos or write posts because we enjoy it. It's not an activity that's designed to be stressful, but the environment matters, especially in a multi-player game where you're going to inevitably need some help to complete certain content. Even the most ridiculous social media drama over Wizard101 can go with you when you log off. How you treat other people - and how they treat you - transcends the game universe or a social media platform. For better or for worse, it has real impacts. They can positive or negative, and having a great community that makes you feel good is a key part of having a positive experience.

Looking Back, Then Ahead

We're all occasionally guilty (some more than others) of romanticizing the past. The truth is, the community has never been perfect. It didn't used to be a shining beacon of pure perfection, nor is it now. And that's okay. The community is expanding and growing and with that growth comes change. Things are not necessarily better or worse, just different. Right now, we have players who are as engaged as ever, content coming from creators that is as good as ever, and updates to Wizard101 (not so much Pirate101 but that's another story) that are better than they've ever been. Don't let anyone fool you into thinking that the community is not in a good spot, because it is.

Remember that every day that you log on to fansites or social media or the game, you are not only seeking a pleasant experience for yourself, you are also playing a role in the experience other people have. Treat others with kindness and respect. These values are what has kept our community going strong for so long and what will propel it forward in the future.

Thanks for reading and see you in the Spiral!