PUBG MOBILE Fan Interview
“User Partners” serve as a bridge to connect users and the game to make the PUBG Mobile experience more entertaining. [LINK] And “User Partner Managers” help to maintain this bridge by paying heed to the voices of User Partners and supporting their efforts. The KRAFTON team met two User Partner Managers, “Cloud” who drew profile pictures for as many as over 120 User Partners, and “Kin Jin Ro” who has uploaded more than 70 stories regarding PUBG Mobile experiences. Let’s hear what PUBG Mobile means to them.
Nice to meet you. Can you please introduce yourself?
Cloud: Hi, everyone. I am PUBG Mobile User Partner Manger “Cloud” and I draw profile pictures for User Partners.
Kin Jin Ro: Nice to meet you all. I am User Partner Kim Jin Ro in the fifth cohort. I have been a User Partner since the second cohort and currently also work as a User Partner Manager.
Before we talk about User Partners, could you tell us about your first impressions of PUBG Mobile?
Cloud: Well, I think it was around 2018. Watching a lot of YouTubers such as KIMBLUE playing it, I really wanted to give it a try. But I couldn’t really get around to it because of a low-spec PC. And upon learning that PUBG Mobile came out, I jumped right into it. It was so cool to play PUBG Mobile myself, a game I had to settle for watching on YouTube. I remember that being able to chat and have fun with my friends without actually being together made it even more fun to play.
Kim Jin Ro: Honestly, I don’t quite remember my first impression since I’ve been playing this game for almost five years (Laughs). But I do remember this. It felt really revolutionary to play PUBG on mobile since I had only played it on PC.
What do you think is the biggest appeal of PUBG Mobile?
Cloud: Availability. Since it’s mobile, you can play it anywhere, anytime. When I was in college, my round-trip commute was three hours. But it felt like a minute when I played a Deathmatch or watched my friends play on the subway (Laughs).
Kim Jin Ro: I think communication is the biggest appeal. I could be wrong since I have played only a few mobile games, but I had to type to communicate in most games. So I just focused on playing rather than bothering to type to chat. But PUBG Mobile has a feature called voice chat. For me, enabling users to play the game and communicate while turning the mic on and off during the combat was a big draw for this game.
What made you become a fan of this game??
Cloud: Seeing yourself grow? (Laughs) I was introduced to this game by my friends. I was just a newbie, but my friends ranked really high: Conqueror or Crown in Season 2. Lots of chicken dinners followed. I always died first, left on the sideline to watch their play. It made me want to play better. And watching high performers play and learning from them, I got better and better too. As I played better, I found it more fun to play and eventually became a fan.
Kim Jin Ro: Well, I think at first I was curious about what this game was about. Then, I found myself aiming for a higher rank and joined a clan. Now it has become my favorite game. I play it at least once a day.
Are you good at PUBG Mobile?
Cloud: Well, quite a few people told me I was good. Back in my prime, I joined a rank of Conquerors. Now, I get killed a lot because of too many good players (Laughs).
Kim Jin Ro: Compared to excellent players, I still have a long way to go (Laughs). Well, I engage more in weird behaviors such as carrying a VSS or staying hidden to the end. But, I am being told that I play better than before and I think so too.
Do you remember your first kill or first chicken dinner?
Cloud: Yes, I remember my first Solo match. It didn’t take long before having a chicken dinner. How frustrated I felt after finding out it was all AI! For a second, I thought I was a natural player (Laughs).
Do you have any favorite map, mode, or collaboration?
Cloud: I loved the Spider-Man collaboration. I was over the moon when it happened. I never stopped talking about this collaboration and even filed a 1:1 inquiry asking for it when Spider-Man: No Way Home was released. Call me biased, but I found the collaboration very satisfying as a fan of Spider-Man. I had so much fun with the web shooters so I went on to upload a video of using them to climb up Mylta Power, which reached 140,000 views (Laughs). It is still the most viewed video on my TikTok.
Kim Jin Ro: There were too many entertaining modes to choose from. But I would say Gear Arena in 2019, Extreme Cold Mode in 2020, and Technology Mode in 2021. These three I find the most impressive.
When was your happiest play moment?
Cloud: It was when I was awarded one million won and Galaxy Note 9 (the latest model back then) thanks to the chicken dinner in the preliminary round in PMSC (PUBG Mobile Street Challenge) Season 1, which I happened to join. It was the most exciting chicken dinner ever. Having that chicken dinner by luck became such a memorable experience as a newbie, which became my go-to anecdote in a get-together.
Kim Jin Ro: I tend to frequently change my in-game nickname or User Partner name. So, most users probably don’t know me, but many recognize me by my old nicknames. Whenever I was recognized, I felt very happy.
Let’s get to the point now. Could you tell us what a User Partner Manager is?
Cloud: From what I understand, User Partner Managers help facilitate communication between Admins and User Partners. Communication between the two used to involve more steps, and User Partner Managers now serve as a bridge to connect the two. User Partners connect Admins and users, and User Partner Managers bridge the gap between Admins and User Partners.
Kim Jin Ro: If I may add, User Partner Managers collect and convey feedback from User Partners or provide answers for them. We help Admins and User Partners by encouraging active participation in events or helping execute them.
What made you become interested in and apply for the role of User Partner Manager?
Cloud: I am in charge of drawing user profile pictures, and this naturally led to many opportunities to communicate with users. So, I thought I could be a good manager upon seeing the recruitment notice. Also, I applied because I wanted to show support to administrators who always work hard for users.
Kim Jin Ro: Watching Managers provide answers to questions from User Partners, I became interested in the role because I thought it was really cool. Also, I applied for the position to engage in more User Partner activities and provide support.
What is the most memorable User Partner (Manager) activity?
Cloud: I would say when I drew profiles of the first and second cohorts of User Partners. I was kind of overwhelmed since it was the first time working on the group profile (about 120 users). However, it allowed me to study the character fashion of PUBG Mobile users, and learn about user preferences such as the most preferred and valuable costumes and hairstyles. What’s interesting was that a lot of users really liked pigtails (Laughs). It was very entertaining to work with such interesting fashion styles. I felt a great sense of accomplishment when I finished the work.
Kim Jin Ro: Recording “PUBG Squid Game” was the most memorable among the User Partner activities. I remember that I got caught while leading “Red Light, Green Light”… and killed by Admin “Deopbae.” I was eliminated in the first round and had to stay on the sidelines (Laughs).
Let me ask you a question, Cloud. How long does it take to draw one character?
Cloud: 20 minutes to one hour and 30 minutes. Easy ones I can finish really quickly, but complicated skins like Poseidon take ages to draw. I recently tried this funny drawing style called “pingtari”, which took only five minutes to draw (Laughs).
Do you have a favorite character? (It could be the one you drew or any other character.)
Cloud: I do love PUBG Partner ZZP’s character.
It has grown on me after making so many drawings of it, and I like its strange look. It’s also fun to draw YouTube Membership emojis as characters have built a universe.
Have you always been interested in drawing?
Cloud: Not really. I was really bad at drawing and barely interested in it. I started to draw characters for my clan members for fun with an iPad I bought for studying, and I ended up getting better at it.
Kim Jin Ro, your nickname is “Jin Ro”, right? Is there any reason you chose it as your nickname?
Kim Jin Ro: I don’t like using the same nickname as someone else. So, I tried to think of something no one would pick. Then, I came across this toad mascot called “Jin Ro”, which was absolutely cute. I was hooked right away.
You might think I chose the nickname from my love for drinking, but it was out of my affection towards “Jinro” the toad. I am a huge fan as you can see from my desk.
You have been a User Partner from the second cohort to the ongoing fifth one. Is there any reason for maintaining your User Partner position this long?
Kim Jin Ro: What keeps me going is simply these two sentences. “You have been a great help. Thanks.” I have always liked communicating with users. Now, I can communicate with more users as a User Partner. A few words of thanks from users really perk me up and keep me going. That is why I continue my efforts as a User Partner.
You are also publishing a series of stories called “PUBG Playbook” on the forum. What made you start writing?
Kim Jin Ro: It makes me blush to call it a story because it is just about mundane stuff (Laughs). It is more like a journal. I posted my first piece on June 13th, 2021. I thought simply keeping screenshots was not enough to refresh my memory, so I came up with the idea of posting on the official forum in the form of a journal. Since then, I have been writing for more than two years now. Reading my old posts makes me amusingly reminiscent.
https://cafe.naver.com/battlegroundsmobile/1674922
‘“PUBG Playbook” contains every minute detail. Although the stories might seem similar, each one of them contains a unique experience in a different setting such as whom I played with and took pictures with, what happened, chicken dinners, etc.
Considering you posted 70 stories, you must be really invested in PUBG Mobile. What makes you attracted to this game so much?
Kim Jin Ro: I would say PUBG Mobile is a kind of “rendezvous” for me. Sadly, the door goes both ways: it’s exciting to meet someone new but sad to see someone go. I love this game because I can meet new people and build memories with them. I think it’s the game of my life, making me change for the better.
Is there anything in the program you wish to be better as a User Partner?
Cloud: User Partner activity itself is not challenging, but it’s frustrating that my iPad lacks enough storage to play, draw, and record simultaneously. Which is why I couldn’t download resources for PUBG Mobile skins. I would love to use cool skin like everyone else, but I can’t. That is such a disappointment (Laughs). For those who draw and play games, please make sure to get a tablet PC with enough storage!
Could you promote your channel or yourself? Please feel free to pitch yourself!
Cloud:
I am currently running a channel on TikTok.
https://www.tiktok.com/@a_cloud_haha
I usually upload videos of my drawing process as well as play clips. I have recently posted videos of drawing caricatures of PUBGM Esports players.
Please come visit my channel!
Kim Jin Ro: I am also running a channel on TikTok.
https://www.tiktok.com/@yyov_vokk
I mostly post videos of old play and kill clips. On top of that, I am writing stories called “PUBG Mobile Playbook” on the official forum as mentioned before.
https://cafe.naver.com/battlegroundsmobile/1674922
Is there any PUBGM-related experience that made you feel proud?
Cloud: When I first started my channel on TikTok, there were few PUBG Mobile TikTokers who drew. I kept drawing and posting user profile pictures, and now I see many of TikTokers like me. I feel proud that I blazed that trail to some extent (Laughs).
Are you planning to keep working as a User Partner (Manager)? What is your personal goal?
Cloud: I would love to continue my contribution. After becoming a User Partner, I gained more followers on TikTok and improved my drawing and video editing skills. So, I could say that PUBG Mobile and I have grown in tandem. I would like to continue our co-growth. With continued work, I cautiously wish to become a PUBG Partner one day. Again, cautiously (Laughs).
Kim Jin Ro: I think I will continue to work as a User Partner until the end of the program. As for my personal goal, it would be nice to see my nickname appear on the official User Partner post.
https://cafe.naver.com/battlegroundsmobile/1981544
I will work hard so I can see my nickname on the official post one day (Laughs).
What does PUBG Mobile mean to you?
Cloud: It is a game that helped me set out on a new challenge. Taking part in PMSC (PUBG Mobile Street Challenge) was truly a unique experience for me. Playing in front of the crowd and having an interview does not happen to you every day. I became more confident and created a good memory. Also, I started a TikTok channel thanks to PUBG Mobile, became a User Partner, and had an opportunity to create a variety of content and communicate with my followers.
Without this game, I wouldn’t even have thought about drawing in the first place. A couple of profile pictures led to logo works for clans, which in turn led to selling caricatures and logos on a market platform called “Idus.”
https://www.idus.com/w/artist/99558383-4da2-4aad-91f3-4b0ec95cb16d/product
Again, I wouldn’t have picked up on my talent without PUBG Mobile. It has changed my life with great opportunities, which I am really grateful for. Way to go, PUBG Mobile!
Kim Jin Ro: I think PUBG Mobile serves to bring people together. I meet and interact with a lot of people using voice chat in the game. In real life, I rarely get to talk to and laugh with those who are way out of my age group. Thanks to this game, I get to meet people from different age groups and even run into someone from the same neighborhood. Sometimes I receive life advice. These moments are precious to me, and so is PUBG Mobile.
Do you have any last comments?
Cloud: Please show your support for the sixth cohort recruitment following the wrap-up of the fifth one. You can be a User Partner too!
Kim Jin Ro: Please take an interest in the recruitment for the next cohort. Also, I will keep uploading my “PUBG Mobile Playbook” series, so stay tuned!
