Episode 6: Alexandra Orlando on Fostering Community in Gamedev

Summary

In this episode, Pejman and Jen interview Alex Orlando, the community manager for Kitfox Games. Alex recounts her journey into the game industry, her day-to-day experiences in community management, and the importance of supportive workplaces. She highlights the necessity of community managers in building and nurturing player communities. Alex also addresses the challenges she and others face in her role, touching on the issues of harassment and toxicity on different platforms, and the need for better strategies and policies to address it. Alex also reflects on her career path and emphasizes the value of pursuing different experiences and not being afraid to try new things. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the future of the industry and the importance of community support for game success.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• The role of a community manager varies from job to job, but it often involves managing social media, online communities, and gathering feedback from players.

• A vibrant player community is essential for a game’s success, as it helps to generate excitement while providing support and feedback.

• With limited developer control over player forums, toxic environments can develop within communities on platforms like Steam.

• Despite its critical importance, the role of a community manager is often under-supported, and there is a need for better resources and mentorship for community managers in the industry.

• Supportive workplaces prioritize job security, work-life balance, and flexibility.

• The future of the gaming industry relies on studios being managed sustainably so that they can retain talent, refine their design ethos over time, and ultimately create better games.

About Alex

Alexandra Orlando is the community manager of Kitfox Games in Montreal, Canada. She has worked on launching Boyfriend Dungeon, Pupperazzi, and Dwarf Fortress on Steam, and is currently working on Dwarf Fortress’ Adventure Mode and Caves of Qud.

Keywords

game industry, community manager, supportive workplaces, gamer harassment, platforms, policies, community management, gaming industry, player communities, toxic communities, career journey, game development, community support