The underground Met Gala of concrete murderzone design is alive and well in the Quake Brutalist Game Jam, where community developers come together to create new levels, missions, and even entire games inspired by the brutalist architecture aesthetic. The event, which has been running for two years, started as a celebration of old-school 3D level design but has evolved into something much bigger.
The third iteration of the jam saw over 77 new maps created, with players fighting new enemies and using new weapons in a variety of environments inspired by brutalist architecture. The event was made possible by the contributions of hundreds of developers, including game designers, modders, and enthusiasts.
One of the standout features of the jam is its emphasis on community and collaboration. Organizers Ben Hale and Fairweather (Lain Fleming) have fostered an environment where anyone can contribute to the project, regardless of their experience level. The result is a diverse range of levels, from quickfire experiments to epic three-hour affairs with hundreds of enemies.
The Quake Brutalist Jam has also attracted industry professionals, including game designer Robert Yang, who created an open-ended map that would feel right at home in a Myst-style adventure game. Yang's contribution highlights the potential for Quake mods to transcend their original purpose and become something more.
For Yang, the jam is not just about creating levels but about community and collaboration. He sees Quake Brutalist Jam as a form of "socialist utopia" where handcrafted video games bring people together. The event has also sparked talk of Hale and Fleming's next project โ a fully independent video game that will allow them to explore their creativity without the constraints of id Software's shooter.
As the Quake community continues to thrive, it's clear that the underground Met Gala of concrete murderzone design is here to stay. With its emphasis on community, collaboration, and creative freedom, the Quake Brutalist Game Jam has become a beacon for game developers and enthusiasts alike.
The third iteration of the jam saw over 77 new maps created, with players fighting new enemies and using new weapons in a variety of environments inspired by brutalist architecture. The event was made possible by the contributions of hundreds of developers, including game designers, modders, and enthusiasts.
One of the standout features of the jam is its emphasis on community and collaboration. Organizers Ben Hale and Fairweather (Lain Fleming) have fostered an environment where anyone can contribute to the project, regardless of their experience level. The result is a diverse range of levels, from quickfire experiments to epic three-hour affairs with hundreds of enemies.
The Quake Brutalist Jam has also attracted industry professionals, including game designer Robert Yang, who created an open-ended map that would feel right at home in a Myst-style adventure game. Yang's contribution highlights the potential for Quake mods to transcend their original purpose and become something more.
For Yang, the jam is not just about creating levels but about community and collaboration. He sees Quake Brutalist Jam as a form of "socialist utopia" where handcrafted video games bring people together. The event has also sparked talk of Hale and Fleming's next project โ a fully independent video game that will allow them to explore their creativity without the constraints of id Software's shooter.
As the Quake community continues to thrive, it's clear that the underground Met Gala of concrete murderzone design is here to stay. With its emphasis on community, collaboration, and creative freedom, the Quake Brutalist Game Jam has become a beacon for game developers and enthusiasts alike.