Crafting a Powerful Online Network: Strategies for Building a Super Community
Creating an enjoyable multiplayer game isn't just about designing a fun game — it's also about cultivating a vibrant community. Take our four-year journey with Super Animal Royale, and you'll see why we believe that a top-notch game goes hand in hand with a thriving community.
Creating a Welcoming, Non-Toxic Environment
Competitive games can be a source of frustration, and it's easy for a critical mass of upset players to create a toxic environment. To combat this, we've baked respect for players' emotional well-being into Super Animal Royale's core design.
Each design decision affects the player experience, and we strive to ease the sting of defeat whenever possible. For instance, we've replaced the traditional "You have died" message with more lighthearted notifications that remind players they're just playing a video game. Jonny, the majority banana, or Lumpy, the grumpy penguin, share their puns and encourage a more positive outlook.
Just because you're building a battle royale game doesn't mean it has to be all doom and gloom. You can find humor in even the most gruesome moments, like the death animation where your character turns into a pile of spaghetti. It's all part of maintaining a playful and supportive atmosphere, and it goes a long way in keeping our players coming back for more.
Prioritizing Player Well-being
Understanding your players' emotional needs is crucial in fostering a healthy community. We work with Ramin Shokrizade, an expert in metagame design, to integrate his insights into our game development process. This approach helps reduce negative play habits and keep players centered on their long-term well-being.
Take our new Animal Pass Archive system as an example. Traditional battle passes often pressure players to complete them within a limited time frame, encouraging unhealthy marathon play sessions. Our Animal Pass Archive system lets players work at their own pace, taking the pressure off final exams or other essential activities. By respecting a player's time, we can encourage sustainable play behaviors.
Remember: Games are just one part of a player's leisure time. Encourage shorter, more frequent play sessions and remind your players that a healthy, balanced lifestyle is essential.
Engaging with Your Community
Build the community you want to be a part of. We believe in maintaining a porous wall between our development team and players. You'll find our developers actively playing the game and participating in our Discord server, where they respond to player feedback and help shape the game's future.
Our community members have helped create the friendly, supportive, and positive atmosphere of Super Animal Royale. They set the example for good behavior, and by working with them, we can enforce community norms and foster a culture that rejects toxicity.
Investing In Your Community
Treat your community members like the valuable contributors they are. By recognizing and rewardsing their input, you can build long-lasting relationships that benefit both parties. Our YouTube series, Super Animal Royale Tonight, is our flagship community engagement initiative, showcasing the incredible talents of our players.
We invite players to share their best moments and playful creations, and in return, we give them a platform to showcase their skills. This mutual investment helps reinforce the idea that we're all building something amazing together.
We invite developers to join in the discussion and share their insights on community building. Follow us on Twitter at @PixileStudios or join us in our Discord server. Together, we can create thriving communities that enrich our games and our lives.
Promoting a positive and enjoyable lifestyle within a home-and-garden setting can be as important as designing the physical space itself. For instance, in the virtual world of Super Animal Royale, we've prioritized a welcoming, non-toxic environment, focusing on elements such as humor, lighthearted notifications, and a supportive atmosphere to make players feel at ease.
To further enrich this community experience, we engage with our players actively, investing in their creativity and input through initiatives such as Super Animal Royale Tonight, our YouTube series that showcases players' talents. By fostering such interactions, we create a sense of collaboration and shared ownership, which ultimately leads to a vibrant and thriving lifestyle within the Super Animal Royale community.
