Global Game Jam Launches Program Serving Indie Game StudiosNews

Global Game Jam Launches Program Serving Indie Game Studios

Nonprofit seeks to expand its work supporting game developers around the world

July 3rd, 2024 - Each year, thousands of games are developed over a single weekend as part of Global Game Jam, the world's largest game creation event. The jam has been the starting point for countless game developers who have built successful, sustainable careers in game development.

Now, Global Game Jam®️ (GGJ), the nonprofit organization behind its namesake event, has launched a program to further its mission of supporting game developers year round: The Global Game Jam Indie Studio Supporters program.

Established as an annual membership program, participating studios will receive promotion on the Global Game Jam site, social media and opportunities for inclusion in organizational news stories; exclusive deals from sponsors; access to webinars and "Ask the Expert" sessions focused on topics of interest to indie studios; and the ability to be part of GGJ's Indie Studio community channels to connect, network and exchange ideas with other studios around the world.

"We're constantly hearing stories of games created or studios founded at Global Game Jam that are taking those next steps from game idea to game company," GGJ executive director Maria Burns Ortiz said. "The Indie Studio Supporter program was created as a way to support these small studios and help continue building community as they're building their businesses."

The program also makes it possible for studios to financially help support the organization in ways that traditional event sponsorship might not be. In an effort to be globally accessible, the program has implemented a tiered pricing system, based on World Bank designation, making it possible for studios to sign up for as little as $50 a year.

Even prelaunch, the program drew paid signups from around the globe, attracting studios from the United States, Ukraine, Germany, Finland, Serbia, Colombia, Brazil, China, Cameroon and more. India's Second Quest, a studio born out of a Global Game Jam event, was the first to sign up.

"We're honored to lead the way as an inaugural Indie Studio Supporter, empowering fellow indies and fueling global game dev growth," Second Quest CEO and cofounder Kinshuk Sunil said. "The program's emphasis on community, exposure, and economic incentives makes it a game changer."