What is the gm(48)?
The gm(48) is a quarterly community event centered around a competition, in which game developers, by themselves solo or in teams, must develop a game in GameMaker Studio 2 in 48 hours.
These competitions are commonly referred to as game jams. Once the games have been submitted, everyone will play, rate and critique the submissions for two weeks, the ratings from which the top three games will receive licenses to GameMaker Studio 2 as prizes.
The game jam is open to GameMaker Studio 2 developers of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. Beginner or expert, young or old, artist or programmer, all are welcome in the gm(48) game jam community.
In a limited sense, yes.
You are permitted to start pre-production, which we consider to be brainstorming, storyboarding, game design document, etc, of your game before the game jam starts. You can't start production of any assets or do any coding. Even art sketches can be considered cheating.
You participate by creating a game from scratch in the 48 hours from when the game jam starts to when it ends.
Before the deadline is reached, you must submit your game to the website. You'll need an account on the website in order to do that.
You don't have to register or sign up before the game jam starts.
Check out our Quick Guide for more information.
No, but many developers use the GameMaker project files to learn from, so we encourage you to upload your project, however "gross" it might be. Let's be honest, everyone's project is spaghetti code after 48 hours.
As thanks for giving back to the community, you'll get an achievement for uploading your project to your entry.
The score is calculated using the Bayesian average method. This means that a game with one 100% rating can't score higher than a game with five 80% ratings. In other words, the number of ratings a game has received plays a role in calculating the score. That's why the averages in the rating categories doesn't match up with the final score.
Yes, you fully own the rights to your game. We reserve the right to use your game for promotional purposes. We can't steal or sell your game. → Terms and Conditions
Submit your post-jam game to GX Corner (GXC). GXC is a collaboration between YoYo Games and Opera to bring together a brand new platform for Opera GX users to play, share and discover games made by independent GameMaker developers, such as yourself. → Learn more
Hear it from participants
With over 2000 participants to date, the gm(48) game jam has for years been instrumental in enabling developers to become better at game design, game development and GameMaker Studio 2.
I'm sweating. I learned a lot in such a short amount of time (especially about time management). The 29th GM48 was my first jam and I'm happy with what I produced.
We all start somewhere and I'm so grateful for this opportunity.
Whether you're looking for a tight-knit community, putting your abilities to the test, or simply scratching that game development itch, the GM48 is the definitive GameMaker experience.
Trying to make a game in 48 hours proves one main thing, and that is how short 48 hours really is. Fun, Stressful and Brain-Numbing is what best describes the feeling that engulfs you throughout the competition.
The Jam was a lot of fun! One tip I can give to future participants: Nail down what you want to do as quickly as possible! If you don't, it might come around later and bring unwanted trouble!
This is a great game jam. I joined this game jam when i was only 2 weeks into coding, and i enjoyed every second.
GM48 was my first Game Jam. It was a really awesome first experience. The Game Jam is really neat with nice theme. Will sure participate to the next GM48!
If you want a quick break from your main project, and a dopamine hit from receiving waves of feedback from a passionate community, then the GM48 jam is for you!
It's always a challenge to create something in such a short time but one of the most useful aspects of the game jam is the feedback. Often the feedback will highlight something positive or areas of improvement which gives you direction and snaps you out of the bubble you are in.
I agree wholeheartedly with MintyPython's testimonial: "GM48 is an inspiring and inclusive event fit for beginners and veterans alike. There's no better place for GameMaker devs to really come together as a community and show off what they've got."
GM48 is always fun because the themes are amazing. This is a jam I'll always look forward to!
I was used to procrastination but participating to a game jam made me feel more motivated and I nearly coded during the 48h. That was a very nice experiment !
I always tend to have fun when jam season hits. Its a great chance to sit back and relax without having to stop programming or writing music or whatever. Creative freedom with minimal restrictions. It helps that GM48 is run by people who know what they're doing!
Participate and level up your GameMaker skills
Receive constructive criticism and insights into how others perceive and play your games.
Become better at game design, game development and GameMaker Studio 2 by participating in our GameMaker community game jam.
Join the best GameMaker game jam Community
The gm(48) game jam is full of passionate, skillful and constructive developers, who would love nothing more than to share their experiences and feedback with you.
Share your games with other like-minded GameMaker Studio 2 developers, see and learn how they make their games, and become better developers together.
GameMaker Studio 2 Integrations
Games are better played together. Add social interactions to your game jam submission with these easy-to-install GameMaker scripts and watch how players compete, speedrun and interact with rest of the community.
gm48.net OAuth2 for GameMaker Studio 2
gm48.net Leaderboards for GameMaker Studio 2
gm48.net Achievements for GameMaker Studio 2
gm48.net Multiplayer for GameMaker Studio 2
What would you develop?
There's no better time than now to start using GameMaker Studio 2. Book a weekend for the game jam and see what you can create with it.
The game jam is a great way to take an idea from paper to playable prototype. Developers use game jams to let loose their creativity.
Cookies & Cataracts
A platformer-turned-memory-puzzle game - make your way through the house to get yourself a cookie while your vision falls apart
The Ascension
You play as an angel descending into a murky cave. At the same time, a voice warmly recommends you to ascend. Finding what you seek will not be as easy as it seems...
Why Game Jams
During a game jam, participants are challenged to create games within a deadline while adhering to a community-voted theme. The constraints will enable you to focus your creativity and game developer skills on creating a playable game from scratch, gaining valuable experience with GameMaker Studio 2 and constructive criticism from your fellow game developers.
Be persistent and don't give up! Taking part in a game jam can seem intimidating, but that's a good thing. It will force you to work harder to improve your skills. Watch this video by Shaun Spalding for tips on how to survive your first game jam. The original version of Shaun's game PokeyPoke was first submitted to the 25th gm(48).
Why GameMaker Studio 2
Making games development accessible to everyone means taking away the barriers to getting started. GameMaker has everything you need to take your idea from concept to finished game.
Using the intuitive 'Drag and Drop' development environment you can have your game up and running in a matter of minutes without ever having to write any code! GameMaker's built-in language (GML) helps you learn to program as you go and not jump in at the deep end of coding.
GameMaker Studio 2 is simply perfect for game jams.