The game jam for every type of GameMaker developer
The gm(48) is a quarterly community event centered around a competition, in which indie 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 for free to 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.
To participate in the game jam, you will need to create a game in GameMaker within 48 hours, starting from the event's beginning and ending at its conclusion. You should submit your game before the deadline, along with instructions on how to play, artist and programmer credits, and a list of any known issues.
The game jam is open to GameMaker Studio 2 developers of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds, with the aim of creating a diverse and inclusive community that values all contributions equally. Whether participants are beginners or experts, young or old, artists or programmers, they are welcome to join in the event.
To help you succeed in the game jam, an comprehensive guide has been created that contains all the information you need. This guide includes instructions on how to participate and submit your game, as well as tips and tricks for maximizing your success.
Game and artistic content must be created within 48 hours, except for certain exempt resources that must be credited and have sufficient intellectual property rights.
These exempt resources include derivative works, widely-known free GML scripts, promotion content, generators, fonts, logos, brands, brushes, loops, drums, and instrument samples, among others.
Please refer to rule #4 for the full list.
To a certain extent, you are allowed to prepare for the game jam before it officially begins. This includes what can be referred to as pre-production, which involves brainstorming ideas, storyboarding, and creating a game design document. However, you are not allowed to begin actual production of any assets or start coding until the game jam officially begins.
It's important to note that even creating art sketches in advance could be considered cheating and is therefore prohibited. The purpose of a game jam is to challenge participants to create something new and innovative within a set time frame, and pre-production is allowed only to a certain extent to help participants plan and organize their ideas, not to give them an unfair advantage over other participants. So while you can start planning and ideating before the game jam starts, you cannot start creating any tangible assets or start coding until the official start time.
While uploading your project files is not strictly mandatory, it is strongly encouraged as it can be a valuable resource for other developers with an educational opportunity to examine and learn from your code, assets, and other relevant files, however "gross" it might be. Let's face it, after 48 hours, everyone's code is a bit of a mess, but this is a valuable opportunity to showcase your skills and give back to the community.
By sharing your code, assets, and other relevant files, you can help others understand your game-making process and potentially inspire them to create their games. Moreover, it's an excellent way to build your reputation as a knowledgeable and helpful developer in the game development community.
As a token of appreciation, you are rewarded with an achievement for uploading your project. So, if you're interested in giving back to the community and helping others learn, consider uploading your project files. It's a win-win situation that benefits both you and the game development community.
For the game jam, the game score is determined by using a statistical technique called the Bayesian average. This means that when calculating a game's score, the number of ratings it has received is taken into consideration. For instance, a game with a single 100% rating will not necessarily get a higher score than a game with multiple 80% ratings.
Basically, the Bayesian average method ensures that a game's score reflects the collective opinion of a larger number of people who have played and rated the game. So, even if a game has high ratings in one category, like graphics or sound, it may not necessarily have a high overall score if it has not received enough ratings.
This is why you may notice that the rating averages in specific categories do not always align with the game's final score. The final score is influenced by both the average rating and the number of ratings received across all categories.
Your game is your intellectual property, and rest assured that you own the rights to your creation. You have put in a lot of hard work, creativity, and dedication to bring your game to life. Your exclusive right to use, sell, and distribute your game as you see fit is acknowledged by the terms and conditions.
In recognizing the value of promoting your game and the game jam to reach a wider audience, gm48.net reserve the right to use your game for promotional purposes. This means that your game may be showcased on the website, social media platforms, or in other marketing materials to help promote your work and share it with the community.
→ gm48.net/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.
5GM48 was difficult but rewarding. Two days don't seem as much time but many things can be made in this timespan.
5First time in Gm48. Really tough for me and my team because we had been too ambitious and the low experience didn't help! Anyway, very funny, I will participate again.
5Great way to practice your skills. Creativity through restriction is a great way to come up with good ideas.
The reviews are also good and give fair criticism that helps you improve.
5I 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!
5I had a perfect version at 7:00. Deadline gets extended 15 mins so I try to add one little thing to it. Fatal error on my submitted project with no way to fix one simple mistake that completely ruins an entire 48-hour slugfest BY MYSELF.
Probably won't be attending another.
5In my project Countdown is a project in which I have not put all my work, but in The Legend of Princess Kidnap yes. I hope you like it
5I 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 !
5If 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!
5I've learned a lot during GM48!
The experience has been incredibly fun and I'll definitely be joining more game jams in the future. Going through all the other entries is just as fun as making our game was!
5It'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.
5Really fun Jam with a great community.
5The 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!
Participate and level up your GameMaker skills
Discover how others view and play your games and receive useful insights and constructive criticism.
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.
Sinker Squid
Plunge below the high seas and pillage some booty from the depths, using... SQUID?!
LINNA - Devotion to Locomotion
Take control of Linna the walking fort. Build defensive walls and turrets as enemies come and try to destroy it.
Cave of Generations
According to legend, treasure awaits the brave at the bottom of Cave of Generations!
Need a reminder?
Subscribe to never miss another game jamWhy Game Jams
Game jams have become increasingly popular in recent years, as they provide a great opportunity for game developers to showcase their skills and creativity. Game jams are typically events where developers come together to create games within a specified time frame, usually ranging from 24 hours to a week. The purpose of game jams is to encourage developers to create new and innovative games, and to push their limits in terms of what they can achieve within a short amount of time.
If you're interested in game development and want to participate in a game jam, there are many resources available to help you get started. One of the best places to start is by joining online communities and forums dedicated to game development. These communities are a great way to connect with other developers, learn new skills and techniques, and get feedback on your work.
When participating in a game jam, it's important to keep in mind that the focus should be on creating a fun and engaging game, rather than trying to create a masterpiece. Game jams are a great way to experiment with new ideas and concepts, and to push yourself creatively.
Game jams are a great way to showcase your game development skills and creativity. Whether you're an experienced developer or just starting out, there are many resources available to help you get started with game jams and game development in general. So why not join the GM48 game jam today and see what you can create with GameMaker?
Looking to improve your game development skills for GM48 or any other game jam? Check out Shaun Spalding's video for some valuable advice, tips, and tricks. He covers topics such as time management, scope, creativity, and more.
With his years of experience in game development and a successful game development channel, Shaun Spalding is a great resource for any aspiring game developer.
Why GameMaker Studio 2
At GM48 game jam, we require participants to use GameMaker Studio 2 as the exclusive game development tool. This means that everyone in the community is a GameMaker Studio 2 game developer, making it a uniquely specialized and collaborative event.
By restricting the game engine to GameMaker Studio 2, we create a level playing field for all participants, and encourage developers to focus on creativity and innovation. The engine's intuitive drag-and-drop interface and built-in support for features like physics, particles, and animations enable participants of all skill levels to create high-quality games in a short amount of time.
Additionally, GameMaker Studio 2 has a thriving and active community of developers who share resources, tutorials, and code snippets. This community can be an invaluable resource for participants during the game jam, as they can quickly find solutions to common problems, get feedback on their work, and exchange ideas with other like-minded developers.
By using GameMaker Studio 2 exclusively, we foster a sense of community and collaboration that is unique to GM48. Participants can connect and network with other GameMaker Studio 2 developers, share their work, and inspire each other to create the best games possible.
In conclusion, GM48 game jam is a specialized and collaborative event exclusively for GameMaker Studio 2 developers. By using this engine as the exclusive game development tool, we create a level playing field, foster creativity and innovation, and encourage participants to connect and collaborate with like-minded developers.
In the video, GameMaker showcases the latest and greatest games created using its platform. The featured games demonstrate the versatility of GameMaker, ranging from retro-style platformers to modern puzzle games.
The video highlights the ease of use of the platform and the support provided by the GameMaker community. The showcased games include titles such as "Nidhogg," "Hyper Light Drifter," and "Undertale," all of which have received critical acclaim.