Here at Mozilla, we’re the first to admit that the Internet isn’t perfect, but we’re also quick to point out that the Internet is pretty magical. The Internet opens doors and opportunities, allows people to connect with others and allows everyone to find where they belong: their corners of the Internet. We all have an internet story worth sharing. In My Corner Of The Internet, We Talk To People About The Online Spaces They Can’t Get enough Of, What We Should Save On Pocket to read later, and what sites and forums shaped them.
This month we chatted with Erin Wayne, known as “Aureylian” in the game streaming community and now the Global Head of the Riot Games Gaming Community. She talks about what she’s reading, how she accidentally started a YouTube career, and what we can all learn from gamers.
What is your favorite corner of the internet?
I love baking, hosting parties, and all things crafting, so I’m a daily user of Pinterest and Etsy. My mom and I are currently renovating a cabin built in the 1950s, so finding vintage items and inspiration to update our little part of the world while retaining the original charm has been a really fun side project. I also really enjoy supporting local small business owners, and these are great ways to do it!
What’s a deep dive on the internet that you can’t wait to dive back into?
I love history and have recently become very interested in the time period leading up to the reign of Elizabeth I of England. To me, she is one of the most fascinating people in history, and the period leading up to her reign is something I am very excited to learn about through historical records and documentation, as well as the many intriguing movies and TV shows. about her life.
What is the tab you always regret closing?
My calendar! Between being a mom and managing four global teams, I live by my schedule. I am lost without him!
What can’t you stop talking about on the internet right now?
Scotland. I am going to be in Scotland this summer and I know it will be an absolutely once in a lifetime experience. I’m part Scottish by heritage, but it’s also a beautiful country, with amazing people, great food, deep history and the most stunning views. By sharing what I experienced there, I hope it will inspire others to go and participate in the culture.
What was the first online community you interacted with?
Although I played World of Warcraft starting in 2005, I played with local friends and at LAN parties, without being truly connected to guilds or an online community. It really wasn’t until 2012 when I started reaching out to people on Twitter to join a WoW-inspired Minecraft server that I helped create that I really got into online communities. That, in turn, accidentally launched my YouTube career and is ultimately the reason I am where I am today!
What articles and videos are in your Pocket waiting to be read/watched right now?
Right now on my list, I have a few lined up. As a woman in the gaming industry, I can’t wait to read “Pioneer Rediscovered: The Woman Who Brought Female Representation to Gaming”. I’m also a big history lover, so I’ve saved “A history of the smile through art, culture and etiquette”. Since our team recently brought on about 20 new people, I’m also very interested in what the Harvard Business Review wrote regarding employee retention, “The key to retaining young workers? Best Incorporation”.
What do you think the future of video games will be like?
I think game companies are finally beginning to understand that gamers, like all people, are multifaceted. We like games, but we also like music, television, sports and fashion. The list goes on, and I hope that game companies start to diversify the way they interact with their players to continue serving them in all of these places. That’s why I joined Riot. I believe Riot is at the forefront of innovating what it means to be a community-driven, player-centric gaming company that not only provides meaningful gaming experiences for players, but also provides them with countless opportunities to interact with its [intellectual property] through different lifestyles.
Generally speaking, I also hope that games will continue to focus on the community aspect of the product to drive connection between people. Coming out of the pandemic, I hope industries outside of gaming begin to understand what gamers always have: that connecting with each other in valuable and meaningful ways can and does happen digitally. I met my husband and best friends through social media/gaming and even my dad found ways to move his board games online to stay in touch with his longtime friends during the pandemic. It’s one of the most personal and meaningful connections we have, freed from the overwhelming nature of social media likes, comments, shares, and virality to allow us to get back to the basics of pure connection with each other.
If you could create your own corner of the Internet, what would it be like?
It probably looks a lot like my Pinterest boards (lol). It’s a great way to share what I’m working on or projects I want to start, things I’ve been cooking (I honestly wish Pinterest put more effort into the “tried it” feature), places I want to travel to. , and funny or inspiring images, memes, and graphic designs that I loved. Plus lots of quotes from Leslie Knope and Ted Lasso.
Erin “Aureylian” Wayne is the global head of the gaming community for Riot Games, overseeing community engagement across all Riot titles, including League of Legends, one of the most played competitive video games in the world. He also leads the development of strategies and programming for Riot’s interactions with players around the world related to community, editorial, influencer management and social media. Prior to Riot, Erin spent seven years at Twitch, where she built and led its community and creator marketing teams, which focused on engaging, exciting and educating Twitch users.