Introduction to Discord
Launched in 2015, Discord was originally created as a platform for gamers to build communities and chat. However, it has evolved into a platform that serves a much broader audience, covering various interests, not just gaming.
Simply put, Discord is a messaging platform that allows users to communicate with each other through different channels. It can be considered a less formal version of Slack. On the platform, users can send text messages, video messages, and other forms of rich media like photos and videos.
Each community on Discord is composed of multiple channels, each with its own theme, interest, and set of rules. Therefore, each channel can be used to discuss different topics—one might be dedicated to gaming, another to sports, and so on. The possibilities are endless, and the best part is that creating these communities is free.
With so many different Discord communities covering a wide range of topics, it’s similar to Reddit, where communities are built around forums aimed at creating a sense of belonging based on shared interests. It’s fairly easy to find a niche on Discord since there are numerous communities that cater to a wide variety of interests.
The most effective way to find a community is simple—just Google search for them, as the platform’s search feature only displays the most popular communities. Discord is a versatile platform, available as both a mobile app and a desktop app. You can also connect your Spotify and YouTube accounts to enhance your experience.
Apart from its versatility, Discord can also be customized based on users’ interests and how they want to use the platform. Users can have both private and public communities, and there’s an admin role that allows assigning roles to each user, granting special permissions and name tags. These roles are especially useful in large and diverse communities, providing a sense of moderation within the community.
In addition to group chats, Discord also offers private messaging features, giving users the option to have one-on-one chats and become friends with others.
The Origins of Discord
According to CEO Jason Citron, many people used apps like Skype or FaceTime to chat while gaming, but it was difficult to do so while playing PC games. For example, if someone wanted to call a friend on Skype, the friend would have to answer the call on their computer, causing the game to minimize and interrupt the gaming experience.
Discord, on the other hand, works differently from apps like Skype. It’s more like a conference call that always takes place within the community.
The predecessor of Discord was actually a game studio developing multiplayer games, and they were working on a game that used voice communication for interactions. At that point, the team realized there were issues with voice chat in multiplayer games and wanted to address these problems.
Communication through voice is crucial for professional players, especially in team-based games. With the rise of esports and competitive gaming, communication with teammates has become extremely important. Even in non-competitive environments, Citron viewed gaming as a way to pass time and communicate with friends.
Citron believes communication is essential in gaming and even considered Discord to be a company focused on communication for gaming. Gamers have very specific needs, and they required major improvements to their communication tools. It wasn’t until Discord came along that these tools were designed with the market’s demands in mind.
