Unboxing Bruna Faria - Interview

Here she is. Bruna Faria, Cereal Games’ community manager since July 2020. Handling the company’s several social networks, Gamejolt and Discord, has a tasting of Karma’s reverse effect, while explaining about amplifying the company’s community and keeping it connected to our projects. Get to know here, while there’s still time: Bruna the marketeer is coming, with all her hooks, mental accuity, and maybe, marketing campaigns. Read about it here (while you're still safe from Facebook's Pixel ID).

Bruna, you’ve been on the team since July 2020. You’ve been putting the pedal to the metal when it comes to the amplification and management of Cereal Games’ online community. What’s your review of the last year and a half of professional experience?

Has it been a year and a half already? Time really does fly…When I started in July 2020, the community was considerably smaller than it was nowadays and, at the time, looked like a huge challenge. But, bit by bit, with some managing, patience, and with the help of the entire team, I think we’ve managed to build up a pretty solid and interested community around what we do daily.

You’ve got your hands on Discord, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. We know you were familiar with Facebook (even Keith Richard’s grandma is), but what other social network presented the biggest challenge to you?

And Gamejolt!
Of all the social networks we use daily, I believe the one I’ve had the most trouble with was definitively Twitter. Even though Discord and Gamejolt being something completely unknown to me, they are pretty intuitive to use, which is why I adapted quickly to them. Now Twitter… Ouch. Even today it is still a big challenge for me. It is a world of possibilities, people, content… There’s a little bit of everything there, and sometimes, it’s hard to manage all of that.

"Unfortunately there’s still an idea that the vídeogame world is ruled by men only, so when a woman appears in this sector, there are some less "convenient" comments made"

Discord puts us directly face-to-face with our followers and the interaction is much more direct. Is that something that leaves you aprehensive? Ever been in a tough spot?

I’ll admit I’ve had some “less pleasant” experiences dealing directly with followers, but nothing I can’t deal with. Unfortunately, there’s still an idea that the vídeogame world is ruled by men only, so when a woman appears in this sector, there are some less "convenient" comments made. But, fortunately, it has been gradually change. Women also like videogames, guys!

Karma is a b… Karma is a tough mistress. Let’s go for a little quizzzzzz… What makes you awaken your demons while exercising your functions?

A) “I wrote the plan on Podio, but Podio didn’t save it...”

B) “Lázaro found out a trending subject before I did”

C) ”Folks at the studio eating cake and here I am working remotely”

D) “I got a sh-… a ton of things to do and this guy is coming at me with quizzes.”

I can perfectly deal with the fact that Lázaro can find a trending subject quicker than me and with these kinds of quizes. Luckily, that’s the lesser of my woes. All the guys eating cake at the studio and me sitting at home doesn’t awaken any demons, jsut breaks my heart a little because Ashley’s cakes are simply wonderful! * Drools * Now Podio… * deep breath *If there’s anything that awakens all my demons is having the weekly plan (or even monthly plan!) all done and the #$%& Podio doesn’t save it. The desire to break whatever is around me is immense (but I haven’t broken anything so far!).

How far in did you get into Pecaminosa - A Pixel Noir Game (be honest, there’s no shame in assuming our limitations)?

Honestly? Haven’t gotten past Rourke. Yet! But one day I’ll take some off time for me and I’ll reach the end of it, you’ll see.

"I really enjoy going for a stroll in my Animal Crossing island or go for a brawl on Mortal Kombat 11"

What have you been playing? Something you took a fancy to that you’d like to recommend to our community? (other than Pecaminosa, of course!)?

Now working during the day and taking my master’s at night, it’s been hard to play whatever, but when I find some time, I really enjoy going for a stroll in my Animal Crossing island or go for a brawl on Mortal Kombat 11. I’ve got a ton of games on stanby (like Spyro, Little Nightmares, Creepy Tale, LEGO Harry Potter Collection) but, rightn ow, it’s been hard to find extra time for those.

"We’ve got more than 8000 followers on Twitter, but I try to keep track of the most people as possible (at least the ones we keep in contact daily)"

Communicating to a community, as authentic we strive to be, is also a game and implies balancing and efforts so that it may become larger and more interested. Pleasures and pains of the process?

One of the greatest pleasures are the bonds you build with the community. Even though I’m hiding behind a screen of an institutional account, I always take care of paying attention to what is going on with the community. Can’t say it’s been always easy, even though, for example, we’ve got more than 8000 followers on Twitter, but I try to keep track of the most people as possible (at least the ones we keep in contact daily). Regarding pains… There are a lot. As dedicated as we might be, there’s always something that doesn’t go as planned or that escapes us completely. Then we have the fact that you can’t please everybody. What today might be good for followers, tomorrow might not be and it is really easy to lose a follower to other developers.

You decided to complete a master’s in Marketing on the University of the Azores, while working at Cereal Games. Was it being part of Cereal Games that peaked your interest?

I’d like to say yes, but my interest for Marketing goes way back. It was born and grew with the attendance (and conclusion) of the Professional Degree of Communication – Marketing, Public Relations and Publicity on EPROSEC. My integration on Cereal Games was another reason to sign up for the master’s. As the world is in constant change, so do behaviors, attitudes, interests, and beliefs of people change, so it is necessary to adapt our strategies and tactics regarding marketing and public relationships. As Cereal Games' PR and Community Manager, I felt, almost immediately, the necessity to acquire more knowledge in that field so as to be able to keep up with new trends.