How do the 48-hour and 5-day formats compare for scope?

The 48-hour format (gm(48)) encourages focused, minimal scope games. The 5-day format (GMC Jam, approximately 120 hours) allows for more polish and complex mechanics. Choose based on your available time and whether you prefer rapid prototyping or more developed projects.

How does judging and feedback work in each jam?

gm(48) requires each team owner to provide written feedback on 10 other entries or face disqualification. This ensures every game receives constructive reviews. GMC Jam uses forum-based voting and community streaming feedback, creating a more informal discussion-based approach.

What asset reuse rules exist?

Both jams allow pre-made assets with proper attribution and widely-known code libraries. Core game content and unique art/audio should be created during the jam period. Check each jam's specific rules for details on permitted resources.

gm(48) vs GMC Jam

Q: Which jam offers more visibility?

gm(48) provides a public Inertia-powered showcase, analytics dashboard, and prize opportunities for top entries. GMC Jam offers exposure through the official GameMaker forums, community streaming feedback, and archived zip bundles. Both reach the core GameMaker audience through different channels.

Q: How should I prepare for jam schedules?

Check gm48.net for countdown timers and exact start times (accounting for timezones). Monitor the official GameMaker Community forums for GMC Jam announcements. Both jams announce themes at the start of the event, so you can prepare workflows and asset pipelines beforehand.

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.

Learn About gm(48) Upcoming game jams

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

Lord_404 Intermediate @ GameMaker: Studio

It was fun to make a game about a kid shooting down an internet company under 48 hours

Pelican Police Adept @ GameMaker: Studio

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!

Robert Artist

It was a gloomy theme for me, and looking back it was fun to make, especially the voice stuff! :D

MulfoK Producer

Phew! What a ride gm(48) is! I certaintly learned a ton from the jam, and it's inspired a game idea for me!

If you want be a better game developer in general, and spark some game ideas in your head, gm(48) is the place for you!

Mors Expert @ GameMaker Studio 2

I've had a lot of fun making a game for this jam. Making a game in 48 hours isn't as hard as it sounds but it's definitely really tiring. Well, at least I'm kind of satisfied with my result!

JCx64 Designer

I usually join Ludum Dare and other local jams, but I believe that GM48 are the ones I enjoy most.

It's a way to see what someone can do in just 48 hours with Game Maker, and the source code is usually available to mess with and to learn about.

Kyon Adept @ GameMaker Studio 2

GM48 pushed me to finally make something small and release it. This will be my first released game since 10 years. I had a lot of fun and I'm really impressed with myself. I learned a lot!

Nosiri-N Jan 21, 2019

I hear many game maker devs talking about gm48 so I decided to try it out myself and it was really fun it pushed me to my limits and made me create new techniques

CaptainSkippy Novice @ GameMaker Studio 2

It's a great way to lift up your 'gamemakering' career with the support of other friendly 'gamemakerers'

Nyveon Adept @ GameMaker Studio 2

No matter your skill level with gamemaker, gm48 is great. It was my first game jam ever and I don't regret it at all, the feeling of community, simple website and rules, all lead to a wonderful and inspiring experience.

BitRapture Adept @ GameMaker: Studio

Excellent game jam for any skill level! This jam really brings out the best in people and allows everyone, including myself, to grow their game development skills! I cannot wait for the next one.

Brandon H Nguyen Artist

Drawing sprites is fun so it's a good experience. :)

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about choosing between gm(48) and GMC Jam

Yes! Both jams run quarterly, but schedules typically don't overlap. This allows GameMaker developers to participate in both events and maximize learning opportunities throughout the year. Check gm48.net's schedule page and the GameMaker Community forums for exact dates.

The 48-hour format (gm(48)) encourages focused, minimal scope games—think one core mechanic done well. The 5-day format (GMC Jam, approximately 120 hours) allows for more polish, multiple mechanics, and deeper gameplay. Choose based on your available time commitment and whether you prefer rapid prototyping or more developed projects.

Yes, both gm(48) and GMC Jam are GameMaker-exclusive events. You can use GameMaker Studio 2 or newer versions. This shared requirement creates a focused community where developers share GML code and engine-specific techniques, unlike multi-engine jams.

gm(48) requires each team owner to provide written feedback on 10 other entries or face disqualification. This ensures every game receives constructive reviews with specific ratings. GMC Jam uses forum-based voting and community streaming feedback, creating a more informal discussion-based approach where participants comment on entries they choose to play.

Both jams welcome solo developers and teams. Team size limits and rules may vary between jams, so check the specific rules for each event. gm(48) offers team management tools on the platform, while GMC Jam handles teams through forum coordination.

Both jams allow pre-made assets with proper attribution and widely-known code libraries (with credit). Core game content, unique art, and audio should be created during the jam period. Check each jam's specific rules page for details on permitted resources, as guidelines may vary.

gm(48) provides a public Inertia-powered showcase on gm48.net, analytics dashboard, and prize opportunities for top entries. GMC Jam offers exposure through the official GameMaker forums (reaching the core community), community streaming feedback, and archived zip bundles. Both reach the GameMaker audience through different channels—platform-based vs forum-based.

Check gm48.net's schedule page for countdown timers and exact start times (accounting for timezones). Monitor the official GameMaker Community forums for GMC Jam announcements. Both jams announce themes at the start of the event, so you can prepare workflows, asset pipelines, and code templates beforehand without breaking rules.

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.

Why Participate View Schedule

Join our Discord community for real-time support during jams

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