The Importance of Gaming Communities 

If there's one thing that holds gamers together, it's that they have one of the most tight communities in the world. There's nothing like seeing two gamers meet for the first time and instantly having so much in common the moment they discover they both favour shotty sniper games in Halo. 

But why is it so important that we have a gaming community, and communities within it that cluster around certain games, genres or scenes? Do we really need big groups of gamers, or can people simply not play online with random people, or just talk about games with friends? 

Well, it's simple - the internet changed the gaming landscape forever. You don't have to go to Iceland to watch the latest Eve Online announcements, or make tracks for Vegas to gamble - just head to partycasino.com instead. Gaming forums, online clans, instant messaging, online multiplayer - there's such a wealth of tools that you can use to communicate and game now that it's impossible not to find new communities and new friends who share your gaming interests. 

The reason gaming communities are so import is that it gives people a chance to connect and play with people they normally wouldn't be able to do so with. Whether they're intending to become gamers full-time and take their passion to a professional level or they're just living in an area with few people around who are into videogames, the online community can offer them millions of people around the world who love videogames and who would welcome that individual's participation in their community. 

The Halo community is something special. Whether you love MLG, Rooster Teeth, or just playing on a Friday night with your friends, there's nothing quite like it. Machinima, pro gaming, casual, single-player, co-op - there's always something to talk about, and Bungie/343 Industries keep the community going with a load of content, effort and tools (both social and data-based, such as heatmaps for a multiplayer map). Community is a fundamental part of gaming, and it always has been - the internet just made it better. Jump in, or miss out.