How do you successfully build an MMO community? The teso

When it comes to the genre of online role-playing games, the theme of community is an especially important. Only if properly what is and on the servers go there is plenty of potential players, so can an MMORPG realize its full potential. And if the community still comes helpful and friendly, it is also a novice really nice dive into the virtual world of Zeroth, Korea, Syria, Tamil and so on.

• The MMO community of TEST
• Players are the key
• So much feedback can overwhelm
• More than just a game
• Communication is important

The MMO community of TEST

Already in our Special TEST, WoW, FF14, GW2 — which has the best MMORPG community from 2019 we had expressed our positive view of the community of The Elder Scrolls Online?. But how have managed those responsible at Animal, successfully built up their MMO community and expand? Even 2021 should be returned several million players for the first time to Tamil .

This is the stake in a video-Talk for Devon 2021, (buy creative director for TEST (now €49.99)) at the Matt Furor (Studio boss of Animal), Rich Lambert and moderating Kai October (Senior Community Manager for TEST) participated. The entire talk can be found below, but we have summarized you the most exciting findings in the next section.

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Players are the key

• According to Matt Furor TEST could make a very positive name in MMO circles when it comes to the best, communities helpful staff test the genre goes.
• On the one hand doing the game perfect to have as a community, on the other hand is such a passionate community also great for developers when it comes to feedback, criticism and praise. In fact, the players are the most important asset of The Elder Scrolls Online.
• The fact that TEST is now successful, is, according to Rich Lambert especially to the players who have helped, for example, through their feedback about to launch version to make everything other than perfect 2014 over the years a much better game.

So much feedback can overwhelm

• Since 2014 a lot has been done on the Internet. Feedback comes not only from the official forum, but via Twitter, Reddit, Twitch, of Discord servers and so on more.
• This can partly be quite overwhelming, because only the quantity of feedback has reached such an enormous volume.
• All the feedback is then thrown not only with the data in a pot that Animal are from the servers available, but also with the impressions that get the developers if they play their game. All in combination then leads at best to the right decision.
• A good example is for the level of experience. For example in 2016/2017 the developers analyzed the data around the level phase to determine at which stage many players TEST turned their backs whether it is somewhere increasing problems were and why here and there arose feedback that the level of experience not is optimal. Based on the results of the analysis of the guidebook for skills was developed, the player at step ascents take longer at hand.
• There are class representatives from the community who speak with the developers regularly on the class balance and co. This naturally helps to uncover sites or better classify criticism.

The Housing system was an important innovation for The Elder Scrolls online. Source: Animal

Personal contact is the A and O

• It has always been Animal important to establish a personal connection to the players and to show presence — for example at trade fairs, community events, live streams or video.
• Especially at events like Games com (ESO Tavern) or Quaker Animal was always very present in the past, because you just may bump into the community directly and talk to players. There was also repeatedly additional efforts away from the big fairs. Matt and Rich had to be made, for example, in Australia and New Zealand to the press and players.
• For the announcement of Gray Moor there was a big fan event, and will be times when the pandemic at some point no longer an issue, will follow similar fan events.
• Only in direct contact players can actually see that you are not only developers but also a passionate player.

Only players, then friend

• Social braids are enormously important for an MMO. If real friendships are created from acquaintances and guilds, then the game benefits.
• With features like the Gilschenuche you can help community find the right teammates and build the first foundation for such relationships.
• One Tamil was also an important step in this direction. The level does not matter, everyone can match everyone almost everywhere.
• Also important: you have to motivate the players to log in to the game regularly. For example, through the login rewards, daily tasks or the new system of aspirations. But also through regular content enhancements such as the LCS and chapters, or by timeless content such as the justice system, the Housing or Achievements.
• Many of the systems and features were not there from the start, but are the result of player feedback, which we are back with the players are the key.
• Speaking of Housing: What the players partly make with their own homes, the developers are always around.

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More than just a game

• There are now not only the community in Test, but also those who overlook their passion outside the game. Just take the cosplayers and other artists who create fantastic costumes and fan art works.
• And here too you try to support the players or give them a stage, with fan art competitions or cosplay events.
• After Animal for Test has released an official cookbook, something was even created around these recipes. Everywhere you can see photos of the rebuilt dishes, partly existing recipes are adapted and new recipes invented.
• An important part of the community is also the streamer that allows players to immerse in Test or gain a first imprint if you can not play the game yourself. The communities that arise around these streamers reflect test's actual community. Burden questions are not, all are very helpful.
• Again, the developers can support and strengthen the streamer and their communities, such as by Twitch Drops and Giveaways.
• When players play on Twitch Test, the developers also have another way to collect feedback and to see unfiltered, where there are problems, which matters well and what not.

Every year, Test gets three LCS and a big chapter. Source: Bethesda

Communication is important

• Since 2014, Animal has learned a lot when it comes to communicating new content. At first one wanted to be as transparent as possible and talk about things that could possibly come into play. However, that did not turn out to be the best way because thereby arouses certain expectations with the players, which may not be met.
• The developers therefore now use a fairly recorded timetable with three LCS and a chapter, with the teaser end of the year and the large preview streams in quarters 1 and 4. Thus, players know exactly what they can expect when.
• Something that the developers would only be likely to prevent the rationing of PTS data. As a result, some planned surprise has been brought to light at an early stage, which contributes to a certain kind of the work of the developer. It was arranged, so the world is unfortunately today. In order to prevent rationing completely, you would have to build blockages that would also hinder the developers themselves at their work.