Quake Brutalist Jam: where creativity and brutalism reign supreme in the underground gaming world.
The Quake Brutalist Game Jam has evolved into an event of note, attracting a devoted community of enthusiasts who celebrate the aesthetic and design sensibilities of 1990s-era id Software's first-person shooter. For its third iteration, the jam brought together 77 contributors over six weeks to create maps that embodied the brutalist architectural style.
The event began with Ben Hale, the event's concierge, and veteran modder Lain Fleming, who teamed up to create a new toolset for Quake. This ambitious project aimed to not only revamp existing content but also introduce innovative mechanics, resulting in an almost entirely new arsenal of weapons and enemies. The team worked tirelessly, with contributions pouring in from experienced developers, aspiring level designers, and enthusiasts.
The results are staggering – the featured map, Escape from KOE-37, is a three-hour masterpiece that sets a new standard for Quake content. With over 1,000 enemies to fight, this epic experience showcases the jam's contributors' dedication to creating immersive, high-intensity combat zones. Other standout maps include Yang's One Need Not Be a House, an open-ended level with branching paths and powerups.
Quake Brutalist Jam 3 is not just for die-hard Quake fans; its inclusive atmosphere welcomes newcomers and industry professionals alike. Robert Yang, game designer and professor at New York University's Game Centre, has contributed to the jam, creating a map that could easily fit in an adventure game like Myst. His level combines elements of architecture and puzzle-solving, setting it apart from traditional Quake maps.
The jam's community-driven approach resonates with Yang, who sees it as a manifestation of brutalist ideals – building for the public good, prioritizing functionality over ornamentation. As he notes, "Brutalism, especially in the UK, is about building for the public. You don't need to add beautiful ornaments because building and nurturing the future is already beautiful." This sentiment aligns with the jam's focus on community-driven creativity and open-source game development.
As the Quake Brutalist Game Jam concludes, its organizers have hinted at their next project – a fully independent video game, free from id Software's influence. Ben Hale sums up the situation: "After this jam, we're taking a bit of a break from modding and mapping for Quake... We love the community and aren't going anywhere. But also, we want to just make a game. We've been wanting to do that for so long it's starting to hurt."
The Quake Brutalist Game Jam has evolved into an event of note, attracting a devoted community of enthusiasts who celebrate the aesthetic and design sensibilities of 1990s-era id Software's first-person shooter. For its third iteration, the jam brought together 77 contributors over six weeks to create maps that embodied the brutalist architectural style.
The event began with Ben Hale, the event's concierge, and veteran modder Lain Fleming, who teamed up to create a new toolset for Quake. This ambitious project aimed to not only revamp existing content but also introduce innovative mechanics, resulting in an almost entirely new arsenal of weapons and enemies. The team worked tirelessly, with contributions pouring in from experienced developers, aspiring level designers, and enthusiasts.
The results are staggering – the featured map, Escape from KOE-37, is a three-hour masterpiece that sets a new standard for Quake content. With over 1,000 enemies to fight, this epic experience showcases the jam's contributors' dedication to creating immersive, high-intensity combat zones. Other standout maps include Yang's One Need Not Be a House, an open-ended level with branching paths and powerups.
Quake Brutalist Jam 3 is not just for die-hard Quake fans; its inclusive atmosphere welcomes newcomers and industry professionals alike. Robert Yang, game designer and professor at New York University's Game Centre, has contributed to the jam, creating a map that could easily fit in an adventure game like Myst. His level combines elements of architecture and puzzle-solving, setting it apart from traditional Quake maps.
The jam's community-driven approach resonates with Yang, who sees it as a manifestation of brutalist ideals – building for the public good, prioritizing functionality over ornamentation. As he notes, "Brutalism, especially in the UK, is about building for the public. You don't need to add beautiful ornaments because building and nurturing the future is already beautiful." This sentiment aligns with the jam's focus on community-driven creativity and open-source game development.
As the Quake Brutalist Game Jam concludes, its organizers have hinted at their next project – a fully independent video game, free from id Software's influence. Ben Hale sums up the situation: "After this jam, we're taking a bit of a break from modding and mapping for Quake... We love the community and aren't going anywhere. But also, we want to just make a game. We've been wanting to do that for so long it's starting to hurt."
I'm low-key obsessed with these underground gaming jams 
, and this Quake Brutalist Jam 3 is on another level 
. The attention to detail in the maps, especially "Escape from KOE-37", is mind-blowing 
. It's amazing how a community can come together to create something so polished and engaging 
. I'm also loving the quote from Robert Yang about brutalism being about building for the public good - it's like he's talking straight to my soul 
. Can't wait to see what these game devs come up with next 
, maybe a Quake spin-off that'll break the mold (pun intended) 
.
robert yang's map one need not be a house is so cool, like who wouldn't wanna explore an open-ended level with powerups? 
I'm hyped to see what they come up with next – that fully independent game sounds like a wild card that could shake things up 
. The attention to detail on these Quake maps is insane - from the enemy spawn points to the destructible environments, it's like stepping into a real-life Brutalist building (but, you know, way more fun). And I'm super impressed by the community's dedication to this event - 77 contributors over six weeks? That's some serious grind 
. Plus, having industry pros and newcomers working together is a great way to keep things fresh and innovative 
. Can't wait to see what these talented folks come up with next... maybe even a full-fledged game 
I mean, who wouldn't want to see creativity and brutalism reign supreme in the underground gaming world? The fact that 77 contributors came together over six weeks is just mind-blowing. And can we talk about the featured map, Escape from KOE-37? That's like a three-hour masterpiece right there! 
the way these creators poured their hearts into building these brutalist maps was insane 
and the community aspect of it all is what really gets me 
I mean, who wouldn't want to explore some gnarly, open-ended level that's got branching paths and powerups? it's like they're pushing the boundaries of what Quake can do, which is amazing. and I love how the community is behind this - it's all about collaboration and creativity, you feel me? 
! And it's not just about the gameplay, it's also about the community and the culture surrounding it. The fact that they're embracing brutalism as an aesthetic is really cool – it's like they're celebrating the idea of functionality over ornamentation 
.
and i love how robert yang's level, one need not be a house, is more like an adventure game than a traditional quake map 
it's cool to see the community driving creativity and open-source development, but idk why they gotta keep it so secretive about their next project 
THE JAM'S COMMUNITY-DRIVEN APPROACH IS TRULY REMARKABLE AND I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THE ORGANIZERS HAVE PLANNED FOR THEIR NEXT PROJECT - A FULLY INDEPENDENT GAME THAT'S FREE FROM ID SOFTWARE'S INFLUENCE!!! 
and then just went for it 
. his map in the jam is like a masterclass in brutalist design - it's all about functionality and creating an immersive experience 
. and when he talks about how brutalism is about building for the public good, I'm like "yaaas, same energy!" 
