The underground Met Gala of concrete murderzone design has descended upon the digital world, bringing together gamers and developers in a celebration of brutalist architecture-inspired level design for id Software's classic first-person shooter, Quake. Welcome to the Quake Brutalist Game Jam, a six-week extravaganza that has yielded 77 new maps and missions, showcasing the creativity and dedication of the community.
The brainchild of Ben Hale, a professional game developer and event concierge, the jam was inspired by a set of concrete textures designed for Quake by another mapper, Benoit Stordeur. The idea quickly gained traction, with participants producing 35 levels in just two-and-a-half weeks using the textures as a starting point.
This year's jam has taken things to a new level, however, with the introduction of new tools and a total conversion of the Quake engine. The result is an almost entirely new game world, with over 200 new enemy types and more than 1,000 new items of equipment. Players can expect to face off against some truly formidable foes in the epic three-hour map, Escape from KOE-37.
Despite its underground status, the Quake Brutalist Jam has become a major event on the gaming calendar, with contributions pouring in from industry professionals and newcomers alike. The jam's organizers have taken steps to make it more inclusive, with a dedicated section for players new to mapping or modding.
The impact of the Quake Brutalist Jam cannot be overstated. As linear, single-player first-person shooters fall out of favor, events like this are keeping alive the art of 3D level design and community-driven game development. The jam's success is a testament to the power of collaboration and creativity in the digital world.
For Robert Yang, a game designer and former teacher at New York University's Game Centre, the Quake Brutalist Jam represents a unique opportunity for community-driven game development. "It's the underground Met Gala of concrete murderzone design," he says with a smile. "Everyone shows off, everyone nurtures the new faces, everybody eats. I love it."
As the jam comes to a close, its organizers are already looking to the future. A full-length video game is in the works, one that will be driven by community input and creativity rather than profit. The Quake Brutalist Jam has proven that even the most niche communities can come together to create something truly special.
The brainchild of Ben Hale, a professional game developer and event concierge, the jam was inspired by a set of concrete textures designed for Quake by another mapper, Benoit Stordeur. The idea quickly gained traction, with participants producing 35 levels in just two-and-a-half weeks using the textures as a starting point.
This year's jam has taken things to a new level, however, with the introduction of new tools and a total conversion of the Quake engine. The result is an almost entirely new game world, with over 200 new enemy types and more than 1,000 new items of equipment. Players can expect to face off against some truly formidable foes in the epic three-hour map, Escape from KOE-37.
Despite its underground status, the Quake Brutalist Jam has become a major event on the gaming calendar, with contributions pouring in from industry professionals and newcomers alike. The jam's organizers have taken steps to make it more inclusive, with a dedicated section for players new to mapping or modding.
The impact of the Quake Brutalist Jam cannot be overstated. As linear, single-player first-person shooters fall out of favor, events like this are keeping alive the art of 3D level design and community-driven game development. The jam's success is a testament to the power of collaboration and creativity in the digital world.
For Robert Yang, a game designer and former teacher at New York University's Game Centre, the Quake Brutalist Jam represents a unique opportunity for community-driven game development. "It's the underground Met Gala of concrete murderzone design," he says with a smile. "Everyone shows off, everyone nurtures the new faces, everybody eats. I love it."
As the jam comes to a close, its organizers are already looking to the future. A full-length video game is in the works, one that will be driven by community input and creativity rather than profit. The Quake Brutalist Jam has proven that even the most niche communities can come together to create something truly special.
I mean, have you seen these new maps for Quake?! 77 new ones! That's insane. The whole point of this game jam is just a testament to how awesome the gaming community can be when they get together and share their creativity. And I love that it's not just about the big-name devs, but also about all the newcomers who are bringing in fresh ideas. It's so cool to see what people can do with just some basic tools and a bit of motivation.
but at the same time i gotta admit its kinda cool how gamers & devs came together 2 make some sick new maps & stuff 
like, who knew id software was still relevant? 
and yeah ben hale's idea is pretty genius, bringing ppl together 4 a good cause 
but what's with all these tools & engine updates tho? its just gonna make it harder 4 noobs 2 get in 
and what r they doin w/ the profit thing? cant they jus focus on makin awesome games instead of tryna make a buck? 
its like the gaming community is finally showing love to old-school games like quake, you know? and its not just about the game itself but the whole scene around it - all these talented mappers and developers coming together to create something amazing. its like a digital art show 
i mean, who needs commercial success when u can make somethin that resonates with people on a deeper level? the fact that its becoming this major event is a testament to how gaming has evolved over time. we're seein more and more devs and community members gettin involved, sharing their ideas and expertise. id software is doin somethin right by fostering this sorta creative environment
& cant wait to try out escape from koe-37 its gonna be lit 
hope theres more events like this in the future, its amazing 2 see ppl comin together over something they love 
cant wait to try out escape from KOE-37 w/ all those new enemy types & items 
anywayz, more jamz pls & less boring games 
. gotta give props to ben hale and his team for putting this whole thing together 
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. And I love that there's a dedicated section for newcomers, too - it's so cool to see industry pros working alongside fresh talent. This jam is like the ultimate proof that community-driven development can lead to something truly amazing 
gotta give props to ben hale and benoit stordeur tho, they're the real MVPs 
. Ben Hale's got some major connections, must be a secret society or something 
. And 77 new maps in 6 weeks? that's just crazy talk 
. I'm low-key hyped for the full-length game tho, can't wait to see what the community comes up with 
this jam is literally a testament to what can happen when ppl from all walks of life come together over something they're passionate about 
The fact that it's not just industry pros but also newbies getting involved is a huge plus - it shows that there's room for everyone to contribute and learn.
. It's great to see industry pros teaming up with indie devs and newbies alike to create something truly special 
. As Robert Yang says, "It's the underground Met Gala of concrete murderzone design"... I couldn't agree more 
IT'S AMAZING TO SEE THE GAMING COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER LIKE THIS, SHARING THEIR CREATIVITY AND TALENTS WITH ONE ANOTHER. 
[A screenshot of a Quake map with a brutalist design, complete with exposed ductwork and concrete walls]
[A meme of Ben Hale with a cape, surrounded by concrete and Quake textures]