gm(48) vs GMC Jam
Two GameMaker-exclusive jams serving the same community with different approaches. GMC Jam offers a 5-day contest on the official forums, while gm(48) provides a 48-hour sprint with structured feedback and public showcase. Understanding these differences helps you plan the perfect jam calendar.
New to game jams? Learn what game jams are first.
Two GameMaker Jams, Two Philosophies
Both gm(48) and GMC Jam celebrate GameMaker development, but they differ in cadence, community structure, and feedback approach. GMC Jam runs for 4-5 days with forum-based voting. gm(48) offers a 48-hour sprint with required feedback and a public showcase platform.
Forum-Based Community Jams
GMC Jam on the official forums offers:
- 4-5 day development window (~120 hours)
- Volunteer-led organization on GameMaker forums
- Community streaming and informal feedback
- Rotating quirky themes and forum discussions
Platform-Based Competitive Jams
gm(48) on a dedicated platform offers:
- 48-hour focused development sprint
- Public Inertia-powered game showcase
- Required structured feedback (10 reviews minimum)
- Prizes for top entries and analytics dashboard
Key Differences
Understanding how these GameMaker jams differ helps you choose the experience that matches your schedule, feedback preferences, and development goals.
Cadence & Duration
GMC Jam: 4-5 day jams (~120 hours) running quarterly on the official GameMaker Community forums.
gm(48): Exactly 48 hours, quarterly schedule (roughly March, June, September, December) on a dedicated platform.
Production Polish & Tooling
GMC Jam: More time allows for polished mechanics and deeper gameplay. Forum threads for submission and voting.
gm(48): 48-hour constraint encourages minimal scope. Public showcase with analytics, team management, and submission workflow.
Feedback Expectations
GMC Jam: Forum-based voting with optional streaming feedback. Community-driven discussions around entries.
gm(48): Required written feedback on 10 other entries. Structured review system ensures every game receives constructive critiques.
Visibility & Community Reach
GMC Jam: Official GameMaker forum exposure, archived zip bundles, streaming sessions with community feedback.
gm(48): Public showcase on gm48.net, prizes for top entries, Discord mentorship, and analytics for creators.
Which Jam Fits Your Goals?
Choose the jam format that aligns with your available time, feedback preferences, and development style. Many GameMaker creators participate in both throughout the year.
Choose GMC Jam if...
- You prefer longer development time for polish
- You enjoy forum-based community discussions
- You like informal streaming feedback sessions
- You want official GameMaker forum visibility
- You appreciate volunteer-led community events
Choose gm(48) if...
- You need a tight 48-hour focused sprint
- You value structured written feedback guarantees
- You want public showcase and analytics tools
- You're interested in winning prizes and recognition
- You prefer Discord-based real-time mentorship
Why gm(48) for GameMaker Developers
gm(48) combines the rapid-fire intensity of a 48-hour jam with structured tooling and feedback systems. Prizes reward standout entries, while the public showcase and analytics give creators visibility beyond the jam period.
Prizes & Recognition
GameMaker Studio licenses awarded to top entries each jam
Required Feedback
10 written reviews minimum ensures constructive critiques for every game
Public Showcase
Inertia-powered front-end displays games beyond the jam period
Analytics Dashboard
Track plays, feedback, and ratings throughout and after the jam
The 48-hour format forces minimal scope and rapid iteration. Discord provides real-time support during development, while the structured feedback requirement guarantees thoughtful reviews. Post-jam, the public showcase keeps games discoverable, with prizes awarded to recognize exceptional entries.
Learn More About gm(48)GMC Jam Community Highlights
The GameMaker Community Jam brings together forum regulars for 4-5 days of creative GameMaker development. Rooted in the official forums, GMC Jam offers a volunteer-led, discussion-based experience with streaming feedback and archived zip bundles.
Forum Roots
Hosted on official GameMaker forums with 100% GameMaker audience
Quirky Themes
Rotating creative themes selected by community voting
Streaming Reviews
Community-run streaming sessions provide real-time feedback
Archive Bundles
Zip bundles preserve jam entries for future reference
GMC Jam's 5-day cadence suits developers who want more time to implement complex mechanics and polish. The forum-based approach fosters open discussions about entries, while volunteer streamers provide live feedback and playthroughs. The quarterly schedule aligns with the GameMaker community's seasonal rhythm.
What gm(48) Participants Think
Hear from GameMaker developers who value structured feedback and public showcase
5I 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."
5It was fun to make a game about a kid shooting down an internet company under 48 hours
5The great thing about GM48 is that everyone's using the same platform. This makes it easy to collaborate, discuss code and help each other, especially if you join the GameMaker discord server. It really strengthens the community aspect of the game jam.
5First game jam competition that can compete with the ludum dare, if you ask me. Had much fun particapating and looking forward to do it again.
5This project was a lot of fun. I streamed a good majority of my development and had a lot of fun doing so. The drive and push it gives you to make a full, complete project is very valuable.
5Hey look. I actually finished something for once.
5Some of the most fun and engaging game developing experiences I've ever had have been during my participation in GM(48).
I encourage all GameMaker enthusiasts to give it a go.
5Participating in GM48 was great! I've never felt this motivated to make something ever before. I'm definitely going to try and participate in future GM48s.
5As draining and as tiring hacking away at a game for 48 hours is, I'm super glad I participated in my first GM48. It was a very rewarding and exciting experience and I hope I will have the chance to do many more of these in the future!
5What a great way to put my skills to the test, meet tons of like-minded people, and have fun all at the same time! This was my first time participating in a game jam, and I'm absolutely blown away by the amazing community surrounding this event! I will definitely be doing this again!
5Although making two games instead of one wasn't ideal, it was a lot of fun to see how quickly I could create two small prototypes and made for a great challenge.
It's nice to hang out with other game makers while you're all frantically coding and making content as fast as you can!
5I've never participated in a game jam previously and was excited to join in with this. In the middle of tending to two children and going shopping it's been a blast!. The enjoyment of having a set target and project and cracking on to meet the deadline! definitely participate again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about choosing between gm(48) and GMC Jam
Ready for gm(48)?
Join the next 48-hour GameMaker sprint. Build a complete game, receive structured feedback, and showcase your work to the community. Prizes awarded to standout entries.
Join our Discord community for real-time support during jams
Related Comparisons
Explore how gm(48) compares to other game jams