An Exclusive ION Interview with SOE's Alan Crosby and Craig Dalrymple

[RadarX]

Having pioneered MMO games and their respective communities, Sony Online Entertainment is no stranger to both victory and controversy. What are the thoughts and philosophies of community management behind this corporate giant? Senior Director of Global Communications Alan Crosby and Senior Community Manager Craig Dalrymple discuss not only their methods, but how emergencies should be handled and how other companies can learn from them.

What exactly is in a name? When it comes to videogames, the reputation of both publishers and developers can be fit into just a single word or acronym. While a name like Blizzard will bring respect, something like N-Gage will send shudders through any gaming veteran's spine. What is it like helping to control the image of a corporate giant like Sony Online Entertainment and wrangling what can at times be a difficult community? Holding the line of this battle front are Senior Director of Global Communications Alan Crosby, and Senior Community Manager Craig Dalrymple.

An Exclusive ION Interview with SOE's Alan Crosby and Craig Dalrymple

[Lizante]

I was very much amused by this.

The whole concept of SOE even knowing how to spell community relations boggles the mind.

Too bad, really. Many of us turned our backs on anything remotely connected to SOE long ago and won't ever go back.

[Steamers]

PSP still owns tho

[RadarX]

Originally Posted by Lizante

I was very much amused by this.

The whole concept of SOE even knowing how to spell community relations boggles the mind.

Too bad, really. Many of us turned our backs on anything remotely connected to SOE long ago and won't ever go back.

No offense, but I have to question how much you've looked at community relations. Have they made some of the biggest community relations mistakes in history? Absolutely, but they admit them freely. In a day and age where forums and focus groups are going away? SOE is continuing to build them. What other company has had to deal with such dramatic game changes and...let's just say less than stellar game launches?