Game Jolt Explained

Game Jolt
Commercial:Yes
Type:Social community platform for content created by gamers
Registration:Optional
Founder:Yaprak & David DeCarmine
Country Of Origin:United States
Owner:Game Jolt, Inc.
Current Status:Online

Game Jolt is a social community platform for video games, gamers and content creators. Founded by Yaprak and David DeCarmine, it is available on iOS, Android, and on the web and as a desktop app for Windows and Linux. Users share interactive content through a variety of formats including images, videos, live streams, chat rooms, and virtual events.

Features

Crowd streaming

In 2021 Game Jolt revealed their own live streaming feature called Firesides. Firesides allowed multiple users to simultaneously livestream together with nearly no delay. The feature launched with a virtual concert showcasing its ability to accommodate multiple streamers.[1] On October 16, 2023, Firesides were removed from Game Jolt.[2]

Mobile app

Game Jolt Social by Game Jolt Inc. launched on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in March 2022. "It's clear to us that Gen Z is tired of generic social media and they want a place specifically for gaming that supports all types of content they're creating–art, videos, thoughts, and livestreams all in one place." said Game Jolt founder and CEO Yaprak DeCarmine, in a statement to VentureBeat.[3]

Game API

The Game Jolt Application Programming Interface (usually known as the Game Jolt Game API) allows any developer using a game development platform that supports HTTP operations and MD5 or SHA-1.[4] [5] Game Jolt advertises that the API can:

Game jams and competitions

Game Jolt regularly hosts game jams where participants are encouraged to develop games for a chance to win prizes. They hosted their first game jam in 2009, Shocking Contest.[8]

In November 2014, Game Jolt announced the "Indies vs PewDiePie" game jam, partnering with the popular YouTuber Felix "PewDiePie" Kjellberg.[9] Developers were given a weekend (21–24 November) to create a game with the theme of "fun to play, fun to watch" to suit the Let's Plays entertainment style.[10] Users could rate entries afterwards until December 1 when the scores were counted up. The prize to the top 10 rated games was Felix playing the games on his channel as a means of promotion for the developers,[11] although later he played other entries.[12] One of the participants of the jam, now known as Outerminds Inc. was discovered and hired by PewDiePie to develop his mobile game, Legend of the Brofist.

Game Jolt partnered with Felix, Sean "Jacksepticeye" McLoughlin and Mark "Markiplier" Fischbach to host "Indies vs Gamers" in July 2015.[13] The requirements for entries were arcade games using the Game Jolt Game API highscore tables, to be made between the July 17–20[14] and the top 5 games were played on the partner's YouTube channels.[15] [16]

Following the "Indies vs PewDiePie" game jam in 2014, Game Jolt released their internal jam hosting tools public for all users to use as a service, to create their own game jams that integrated with the main site.

Today, Game Jolt focuses on hosting and co-hosting game competitions with established brands in order to bring monetary[17] and educational opportunities to their users. On April 15, 2024, an announcement was made about a collaboration with Pocket Worlds for the "HighRise Game Jam",.[18] Pocket Worlds had sold NFTs up until roughly 2022, causing a community outburst. The situation was addressed, and the situation started to disperse.[19] [20]

Contests

DateThemePlace
1st2nd3rd
13–21 June 2009Shocking[21] ShockMazeInfidelsShocker: The Electrifying Hero
1–31 AugustAxiom[22] [23] Raimond ExPaul Moose In Space WorldNo Longer Apart
1–7 November 2009Minimal[24] [25] Spectrum WingSautFetus
24–25 January 2010Rogue[26] [27] Super Space RoguesTower Climb Flood the Chamber
1–8 July 2010Indie Game Demake[28] [29] Warning ForegoneSulkeisSaucelifter 8-bit
16 January–14 February 2011Invention Contest[30] Fire With a RiotBun DunMonica
20 August–24 September 2011Music Interpretation[31] Je Suis Le DiableRhythmicalJeremy
11–19 August 2012Fear[32] [33] The RoomFragments of FearNyctophobia
1–11 March 2013Chaos[34] [35] Void RogueBlues for MittavindaStellar Zero
9–18 March 2013Party[36] Quantum Party CrasherSuper Clean CleanParty Run
21–24 November 2014Fun to play and watch (Indies vs PewDiePie)Lord of the HordeKid VS SchoolDANCE!DANCEPewDiePie
17–20 July 2015High scores (Indies VS Gamers)Racket BoySushidoSuper Nanny Sleepytime Ultra HD Alpha Omega
29 July–13 August 2021Opera GX Game Maker Jam[37] OPERIUS won $10,000 USD[38] OH NO! ALIENS STOLE MY WIFI won $7,000 USDNETTIE AND SETTIE SAVE THE INTERNET won $3,000 USD
17 June–3 July 2022Together Jam
5–8 August 2022Girls in Games Jam[39]

Events

Game Jolt hosts both physical and virtual events to entertain and prank its users, which consists of the following:

!Year!Event Name!Location
2016Game Jolt Develop: Party![40] Brighton, United Kingdom
2018The Other Party at GDC by Game Jolt, DreamHack, Devolver Digital, Good Shepherd[41] San Francisco, California, USA
2019Indiepocalypse at GDC by Game Jolt, Devolver Digital, Good Shepherd and DreamHack[42] San Francisco, California, USA
2019Indie Forest PAX West Party by Game Jolt, DreamHack and Devolver Digital[43] Seattle, Washington, USA

History

Game Jolt has supported independent creators with a central platform to manage their content and communities since its start in 2002. David DeCarmine began development of Game Jolt at the age of 14 for a group of hobbyists, making games and sharing on forums in an early iteration known as Holo World.[44] The original intention was to create a platform for gamers where new games could be discoverable and quickly playable, and where feedback could be provided directly to the creators, allowing them to continue improving their games.

In 2008, Game Jolt was registered as an LLC,[45] then incorporated as Game Jolt Inc. in September 2020.

A new site launched in 2015 featuring a responsive design, automated curation for both games and game news articles which weighs how recent a game was uploaded and how popular it is ("hot") and filtering options on game listings for platform, maturity rating and development status.[46]

In March 2022, Game Jolt launched a mobile application simultaneously on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store targeted at Gen Z gamers and creators. While in beta, the mobile app had 100,000 installs pre-launch.[3]

Game store

Game Jolt continues to host a large library of independent games. Game developers can upload their games directly to the site to share or sell.

They would allow distribution for downloadable games, later adding support for Adobe Flash, Unity and Java games which allowed support for browser based games. In February 2013, Game Jolt built support for browser-based HTML5 games as well.[47] [48] [49] A user levelling system was released into public beta in April 2013, incorporating the GJAPI trophies and highscores, as well as site activity, to generate 'EXP' (experience points).[50]

Game Jolt Jams released in early 2014 as a service to allow users to create their own game jams that integrated with the main site.[51] [52]

In April 2016, an online marketplace was announced[53] and released the following month with an exclusive set of game titles, including Bendy and the Ink Machine, allowing developers to sell their games on the site.

In January 2016, Game Jolt released source code of the client and site's front end on GitHub under MIT license.[54] [55]

In January 2022, Game Jolt banned adult games from appearing on the site, stating in an email to developers that the site had become "social media platform" and they "had to make decisions around the direction and future of the brand which has now included the removal of hosted games with explicitly adult content." In response to a tweet by Itch.io saying the site is not for prudes, they wrote in their own tweet: "Game Jolt is a platform with a large audience of 13-16 year olds. Our users asked us to clean up, so here we are."[56] [57]

Investments

After bootstrapping Game Jolt with revenue earned from ads on the website for years, the DeCarmines secured venture capital in 2020 from SoftBank,[58] doing so again in 2021 from founders of Twitch, Rec Room, Modio and more.[59]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Game Jolt - Games for the love of it. 2022-07-26. Game Jolt. en.
  2. Web site: Game Jolt - Share your creations. 2023-11-19. Game Jolt. en.
  3. Web site: 2022-03-02. Game Jolt launches mobile app for Gen Z gamers and creators. 2022-07-26. VentureBeat. en-US.
  4. Web site: What is the Game API?. December 13, 2015.
  5. Web site: Game Achievement System. https://web.archive.org/web/20131205073644/http://gamejolt.com/developers/achievements-new. December 5, 2013. November 30, 2013. October 13, 2013. live. mdy.
  6. Web site: Scoreboards Guide. December 13, 2015.
  7. Web site: Data Storage Guide. December 13, 2015.
  8. Web site: Game Jolt - Games for the love of it. 2022-07-26. Game Jolt. en.
  9. Web site: Dimopoulos. Konstantinos. November 13, 2014. Indies VS PewDiePie: The Game Jam. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160708193957/http://indiegames.com/2014/11/_indies_vs_pewdiepie_the_game_.html. July 8, 2016. September 1, 2016. Gamasutra#IndieGames.com. mdy.
  10. Web site: Indies VS PewDiePie. December 11, 2015. Game Jolt. January 17, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160117230128/http://jams.gamejolt.io/indiesvspewdiepie. dead.
  11. Web site: DANCE PEWDIEPIE DANCE! // INDIES VS PEWDIEPIE JAM WINNERS! - YouTube. December 31, 2015. YouTube. December 7, 2014 .
  12. Web site: VIDEOGAME: THE GAME - YouTube. December 31, 2015. YouTube. December 20, 2014 .
  13. Web site: Rad. Chloi. July 8, 2015. Game Jolt Prepares to Launch Indies VS Gamers Jam. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170628001136/http://indiegames.com/2015/07/indies_vs_gamers_jam.html. June 28, 2017. September 1, 2016. Gamasutra#IndieGames.com. mdy.
  14. Web site: Indies Vs Gamers Game Jolt Jams. December 11, 2015. Game Jolt. January 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160104142624/http://jams.gamejolt.io/indiesvsgamers. dead.
  15. Web site: BEAT UP KIDS! Indies Vs Gamers Gamejam - Top 5 Winners - YouTube. December 31, 2015. YouTube. August 13, 2015 .
  16. Web site: Fans vs PewDiePie (Indies vs Gamers) - YouTube. December 31, 2015. YouTube. August 27, 2015 .
  17. Web site: 2022-06-02. Game Jolt and LootLocker are announcing the 2022 Together Jam. 2022-07-26. VentureBeat. en-US.
  18. Web site: 2024-04-15. The HighRise Game Jam has begun. 2024-05-09. Game Jolt. en-US.
  19. Web site: 2024-04-16. We'd like to address the drama related to the Highrise Game Jam. 2024-05-09. Game Jolt. en-US.
  20. Web site: 2024-04-16. Looking for a fun #gamedev challenge? (...). 2024-05-09. Game Jolt. en-US.
  21. Web site: Shocking Contest. https://web.archive.org/web/20130519203025/http://gamejolt.com/community/forums/topics/game-jolt-shocking-contest-judged/11. Game Jolt. 2009-06-12. May 19, 2013. 2013-12-01. live. mdy.
  22. News: David. DeCarmine. Ad Revenue Sharing and Contest. https://web.archive.org/web/20160307122416/http://gamejolt.com/blog/ad-revenue-sharing-and-contest/8. Game Jolt. June 12, 2009. November 30, 2013. March 7, 2016. live. mdy.
  23. Web site: Axiom Contest. https://web.archive.org/web/20140719045844/http://gamejolt.com/community/forums/topics/game-jolt-axiom-contest-contest-is-over/82. Game Jolt. 2009-07-25. July 19, 2014. 2013-11-30. live. mdy.
  24. Web site: Minimal Contest. https://web.archive.org/web/20140719075056/http://gamejolt.com/community/forums/topics/game-jolt-minimal-contest-it-s-over/187. Game Jolt. 2009-10-28. July 19, 2014. 2013-11-30. live. mdy.
  25. Web site: Minimal Contest Results. https://web.archive.org/web/20141222031337/http://gamejolt.com/blog/minimal-contest-results/17. Game Jolt. 2009-11-19. December 22, 2014. 2013-11-30. live. mdy.
  26. Web site: Rogue Contest. https://web.archive.org/web/20140719074422/http://gamejolt.com/community/forums/topics/game-jolt-rogue-contest-it-s-over/271. Game Jolt. 2010-01-10. July 19, 2014. 2013-11-30. live. mdy.
  27. Web site: Rogue Contest Results. https://web.archive.org/web/20121005141025/http://gamejolt.com/blog/rogue-contest-results/20. Game Jolt. 2010-01-31. October 5, 2012. 2013-11-30. live. mdy.
  28. Web site: Indie Game Demake Contest. https://web.archive.org/web/20140719115813/http://gamejolt.com/community/forums/topics/game-jolt-official-indie-game-demake-contest-it-s-over/574. Game Jolt. 2010-06-28. July 19, 2014. 2013-11-30. live. mdy.
  29. Web site: Indie Game Demake Contest Results. https://web.archive.org/web/20130928025723/http://gamejolt.com/blog/indie-game-demake-contest-results/24. Game Jolt. 2010-07-17. September 28, 2013. 2013-11-30. live. mdy.
  30. Web site: Invention Contest- Hosted by NAL. https://web.archive.org/web/20140720020736/http://gamejolt.com/community/forums/topics/game-jolt-official-invention-contest-hosted-by-nal-results-announced/730/?forum_topic_post_page=15. Game Jolt. 2011-03-12. July 20, 2014. 2013-12-01. live. mdy.
  31. Web site: Music Interpretation Contest with.... https://web.archive.org/web/20131223152210/http://gamejolt.com/community/forums/topics/game-jolt-music-interpretation-contest-with-indie-function-finished/1005. Game Jolt. 2011-08-13. December 23, 2013. 2013-12-01. live. mdy.
  32. Web site: Fear Contest. https://web.archive.org/web/20130923094434/http://gamejolt.com/community/forums/topics/game-jolt-official-fear-contest/1250. Game Jolt. 2012-08-07. September 23, 2013. 2013-12-01. live. mdy.
  33. Web site: GameJolt Fear Contest. https://archive.today/20240526221501/https://www.webcitation.org/6LXGrw4F5?url=http://gamejolt.com/community/contests/3. Game Jolt. May 26, 2024. 2013-12-01. dead. mdy.
  34. Web site: Chaos Contest. https://web.archive.org/web/20131016121938/http://gamejolt.com/community/forums/topics/game-jolt-chaos-contest/1496. Game Jolt. 2013-02-22. October 16, 2013. 2013-12-01. live. mdy.
  35. Web site: Game Jolt Chaos Contest. https://web.archive.org/web/20140327091233/http://gamejolt.com/community/contests/5. Game Jolt. March 27, 2014. 2013-12-01. dead. mdy.
  36. Web site: GameJolt Contest 10. https://web.archive.org/web/20131106114735/http://gamejolt.com/community/contests/6. November 6, 2013. Game Jolt. 2013-12-01. dead. mdy-all.
  37. Web site: Game Jolt - Games for the love of it. 2022-07-26. Game Jolt. en.
  38. Web site: Game Jolt - Games for the love of it. 2022-07-26. Game Jolt. en.
  39. Web site: Liang. Lu-Hai. 2022-07-20. August's Girls In Games Jam Has Speakers From Sony And EA. 2022-07-26. TheGamer. en-US.
  40. Web site: Game Jolt Develop: Party!. 2022-07-26. Eventbrite. en-us.
  41. Web site: The Other Party. 2022-07-26. Eventbrite. en-us.
  42. Web site: Indiepocalypse by Game Jolt, Devolver Digital, Good Shepherd and DreamHack. 2022-07-26. Eventbrite. en-us.
  43. Web site: Indie Forest by Game Jolt, Devolver Digital and DreamHack. 2022-07-26. Eventbrite. en-us.
  44. Web site: 2002-11-23. Holo-World! Quality Freeware games!. 2022-07-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20021123214205/http://www.holo-world.com. November 23, 2002.
  45. Web site: Lucent Web Creative, LLC - Hershey, PA - Business Information. 2022-07-26. www.dandb.com.
  46. Web site: July 9, 2015. Gamejolt Next :: Nuevo diseño, nuevas posibilidades. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160528204733/https://geekyjuegos.com/gamejolt-next-nuevo-diseno-nuevas-posibilidades. May 28, 2016. September 1, 2016. mdy.
  47. Web site: Newgrounds now accept HTML5 games. https://web.archive.org/web/20161019143217/https://www.scirra.com/forum/gamejolt-html5_t79168. September 24, 2013. October 19, 2016. September 1, 2016. live. mdy.
  48. Web site: GameJolt Html5. https://web.archive.org/web/20160912011412/http://www.html5gamedevs.com/topic/1464-newgrounds-now-accept-html5-games. February 13, 2013. September 12, 2016. September 1, 2016. live. mdy.
  49. News: David. DeCarmine. Distributions and HTML Integration. https://web.archive.org/web/20131205065424/http://gamejolt.com/blog/distributions-and-html-integration/30. Game Jolt. February 11, 2013. December 5, 2013. November 30, 2013. live. mdy.
  50. Web site: New Experience/Level system. https://web.archive.org/web/20130423070046/http://gamejolt.com/community/forums/topics/new-experience-level-system/1727. Game Jolt. April 23, 2013. April 16, 2013. November 30, 2013. live. mdy.
  51. Web site: Alex. Wawro. Run your own game jams with Game Jolt's new manager. https://web.archive.org/web/20160811115312/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/221211/Run_your_own_game_jams_with_Game_Jolts_new_jam_manager.php. Gamasutra. July 16, 2014. August 11, 2016. September 1, 2016. live. mdy.
  52. Web site: We Launched the New Site - Fireside by GameJolt. December 13, 2015. October 13, 2013.
  53. Web site: April 21, 2016. Selling Games on Game Jolt. September 2, 2016.
  54. Web site: Gamasutra - Gamejolt announces indie games marketplace. https://web.archive.org/web/20160819072059/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/272467/Gamejolt_announces_indie_games_marketplace.php. Bryant. Francis. Gamasutra. 2016. August 19, 2016. September 2, 2016. live. mdy.
  55. Web site: Kerr. Chris. 2016-01-13. Indie marketplace Game Jolt releases open source desktop client. Game Developer. 2023-02-03.
  56. Web site: Indie Hosting Platform Game Jolt Suddenly Bans 'Porn Games'. 2022-01-17. www.vice.com. January 5, 2022. en.
  57. News: Mollie Taylor. 2022-01-06. Indie store Game Jolt's porn ban has hit games with no sexual content. en. PC Gamer. 2022-01-17.
  58. Web site: WeWork and SoftBank unveil the first 14 startups in their Emerge accelerator for underrepresented founders. 2022-07-26. TechCrunch. May 14, 2020. en-US.
  59. Web site: 2021-10-01. Game Jolt raises $2.6M to expand social platform for Gen Z gamers. 2022-07-26. VentureBeat. en-US.

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