Wheel of Games Journal

Games Convention Online 2010 is over. Next to the GCO’s “in-house” program – the Hans Bredow Institute’s Business Talks –  this year featured the opening of the very first worldwide Community Manager Conference (CMC). Organized and run by Two Pi Team, the Opening Panel alone had almost 100 participants.

CMC 2010 – Retrospect

Donna Prior, Sean Kauppinen, Martin Rabl, Jörg Koonen, Iain Compton – in the light of such renowned speakers, for many Community Managers as well as game industry experts participation at CMC was a must. “Many CMC 2010 attendees only travelled to Leipzig to participate in this event”, states Two Pi Team’s CEO Thomas Lagemann.The planning for next year has already started to further increase the CMC’s success and to enlarge its range; after all, the goal is to continue and expand this platform for the exchange between Community Managers.

“The worldwide first Community Manager Conference was a success. The reception by speakers and participants alike encourages us to establish the CMC as a regular event. We already have plans to expand the conference.” says Nadja Bastawi, Chief Visionary Officer of Two Pi Team.

Backed by positive feedback from the participants this tailwind encourages Two Pi Team to enlarge the CMC. The second Community Manager Conference in 2011 will expand in direction of non-gaming industry. The goal is to give participants of both industries a platform to exchange their experiences and to analyze problems from another point of view through a cross-industry cooperation between Community Managers.

“We received much feedback from non-gaming Community Managers who would like to participate at the next Community Manager Conference. After some talks with CMC participants, we quickly realized that both sides, Community Managers from the gaming as well as from the non-gaming industry, may learn a lot from each other. To expand the second CMC into non-gaming area is therefore the next logical step”, says Sabrina Rentzschke, Two Pi Team’s organizer of the Community Manager Conference, on the evening after CMC.

The Community Manager Award

The excitement already began the day before Community Manager Conference.  Thomas Lagemann, CEO of Two Pi Team and Jörg Koonen presented the Community Manager Award to the attendees at the GCO business party. In his speech Lagemann explained the award’s significance: An award from Community Managers – symbolically awarded to the Community of Community Managers for outstanding achievements in the field of Community Management.The award in his hands, Thomas Lagemann asked Donna Prior to come on the stage. Donna has been active in community work for twenty years now and is always a welcome guest at many trade shows and conferences.

“I believe I’ve never been so excited in my life. It’s really an overwhelming feeling, simply indescribable!” said Thomas Lagemann shortly after the award ceremony.

Similar thoughts may as well have entered his head after the CMC, for the success of the worldwide first Community Manager Conference is indicative of growth, when Community Managers from all over the world will come together at the CMC 2011.