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Envisager
The MVP's guide to creating Community Events
Creating a unique community event isn't rocket science, that's why us lot are able to do it!
All you need is a game you love, a few hours spare and an awesome community packed with Playstation folk such as this one.
Step 1 : Planning
You love that game, you want some fun nights with fellow OPC'ers but where do you begin? Here's what we do:
- Check this very board for current events and try to pick a day or time where your particular idea doesn't clash with a similar event. For instance, OPC battlefield 3 Sunday takes place at the same time as Vizzy's Everybody's Golf Fun Night. A Golf game and a big shooter can co-exist peacefully!
- Boot the game up and take a look at the multiplayer options carefully. Often games will allow you to set up a private server with a password whereas other titles will feature public server options only. When you can always go for the private option, that way you'll have the most control over your event, you can keep an eye on the numbers and in league situations track scores and stats with ease.
- Try to go with a game with working comms whenever possible. These forumites love their comms and we like a bit of old fashioned banter.
Step 2 : Your Event Thread
We're guessing you're all pretty up to speed on the nuts and bolts of creating a thread, but there are a few considerations :
- Try and get a banner together. This forum is awash with artistic types ready and willing to put something together for you.
- Keep your thread reasonably simple. A banner, introduction, brief description of the event followed by a date, time and server/password information is all you need.
- Think about what you can do to make the event stand out. TheNarrators Killzone AM event offers a free custom Killzone AM theme, a little stroke of genius that helps make everyone that takes part know he *wuvs* them.
- Use the thread often, that way your mass of regulars can stay in the loop and communicate with you. Ask them for feedback and implement it when you feel it's right, you want them to contribute and you want them to know they're being listened to.
- Now hit 'Send' and sit back!
Step 3 : Promotion
- You've had your Eureka moment, done your research, got your snazzy banner, made an ace thread and posted it. Nice one, now tell us MVP's all about it! Drop one of us a PM with a link to your thread and that way we can help get your event out there, some of us may even attend and drag a mod along too!
- Get yourself on Twitter and as many other social networking sites where gamers gather and tell them all about it. A quick Tweet with a date, time and shortened link to your event thread can do absolute wonders. Follow the games developers and trouble them to a retweet too.
- Carry the name of your event on your signature, your trophy card and even your PSN comment. When people see you on the forum or anywhere else make sure they see your event too.
Step 4 : The Event
Dun dun dunnnnn....
- Be on time! If the game is known for the occasional server or connection hiccup get started 20 minutes early, find your server and give it a quick test. Nobody likes sitting around waiting for you to start.
- Get a private text chat room running. You'd be surprised how much banter that little app can generate and it's also the best tool you have to keep your community informed of any issues you may encounter.
- Remember that often gamers like to play lots of games in a short space of time so try to keep your event to two hours maximum.
- Don't lose heart if the first week or two aren't packed to the rafters, sometimes events take a little while to grow into themselves. Hang in there baby.
- Last but not least use us MVP's whenever you need any help with your event, it's what we're here for.
Envisager wrote:
Jacko_the_lad wrote:
I tried to start up an Uncharted 3 event but the forum is kind of dead so it didn't work and then I did a sad.
You should contact one of the MVpP's or Community Team if you ever need any help promoting an event! This is what these boards were invented for
i thought these boards were invented for us to spam on. 
well, on a more serious note if you like poker keep your eyes peeled as a few of us are making the mother of all poker tournaments for us psn users!
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