Game Jolt
{{Short description|Social community platform for content created by gamers}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Primary sources|date=January 2025}}{{Infobox website
| name = Game Jolt
| logo = Game-jolt-logo.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| url = {{URL|https://www.gamejolt.com}}
| commercial = Yes
| type = Social community platform for content created by gamers
| registration = Optional
| founder = Yaprak & David DeCarmine
| founded = {{Start date and age|2003}}
| 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.{{cite web|title=Game Jolt - Games for the love of it|url=https://gamejolt.com/p/the-game-audio-concert-kicks-off-today-and-it-s-free-grab-a-drink-s8srqa4j|accessdate=2022-07-26|website=Game Jolt|language=en}} On October 16, 2023, Firesides were removed from Game Jolt.{{cite web|title=Game Jolt - Share your creations|url=https://gamejolt.com/p/hey-it-s-atcros-taking-over-the-game-jolt-page-for-a-tough-message-fgbsrckb|accessdate=2023-11-19|website=Game Jolt|language=en}}
=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.{{cite web|date=2022-03-02|title=Game Jolt launches mobile app for Gen Z gamers and creators|url=https://venturebeat.com/2022/03/02/game-jolt-launches-mobile-app-for-gen-z-gamers-and-creators|accessdate=2022-07-26|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US}}
=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.{{cite web|title=What is the Game API?|url=https://help.gamejolt.com/dev-game-api|accessdate=December 13, 2015}}{{cite web|title=Game Achievement System|url=http://gamejolt.com/developers/achievements-new|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205073644/http://gamejolt.com/developers/achievements-new|archivedate=December 5, 2013|accessdate=November 30, 2013|date=October 13, 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy}} Game Jolt advertises that the API can:
- Create multiple "scoreboards" which collect high scores from players made publicly available on the game's profile and give user accounts EXP{{cite web|title=Scoreboards Guide|url=https://help.gamejolt.com/dev-scoreboards|accessdate=December 13, 2015}}
- Award player's trophies which give user accounts EXP
- Store game data on Game Jolt's data servers{{cite web|title=Data Storage Guide|url=https://help.gamejolt.com/dev-data-storage|accessdate=December 13, 2015}}
- Log whether a user is currently playing a game they're logged into via the GJAPI
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.{{cite web|title=Game Jolt - Games for the love of it|url=https://gamejolt.com/f/game-jolt-shocking-contest-judged/11|accessdate=2022-07-26|website=Game Jolt|language=en}}
In November 2014, Game Jolt announced the "Indies vs PewDiePie" game jam, partnering with the popular YouTuber Felix "PewDiePie" Kjellberg.{{cite web|last=Dimopoulos|first=Konstantinos|date=November 13, 2014|title=Indies VS PewDiePie: The Game Jam|url=http://indiegames.com/2014/11/_indies_vs_pewdiepie_the_game_.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708193957/http://indiegames.com/2014/11/_indies_vs_pewdiepie_the_game_.html|archivedate=July 8, 2016|accessdate=September 1, 2016|publisher=Gamasutra#IndieGames.com|df=mdy}} 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.{{cite web|title=Indies VS PewDiePie|url=http://jams.gamejolt.io/indiesvspewdiepie|accessdate=December 11, 2015|website=Game Jolt|archivedate=January 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117230128/http://jams.gamejolt.io/indiesvspewdiepie|url-status=dead}} 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,{{cite web|title=DANCE PEWDIEPIE DANCE! // INDIES VS PEWDIEPIE JAM WINNERS! - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMw6o7497To|accessdate=December 31, 2015|website=YouTube| date=December 7, 2014 }} although later he played other entries.{{cite web|title=VIDEOGAME: THE GAME - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kozmWR9NlIU|accessdate=December 31, 2015|website=YouTube| date=December 20, 2014 }} 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.{{ref needed|date=October 2024}}
Game Jolt partnered with Felix, Sean "Jacksepticeye" McLoughlin and Mark "Markiplier" Fischbach to host "Indies vs Gamers" in July 2015.{{cite web|last=Rad|first=Chloi|date=July 8, 2015|title=Game Jolt Prepares to Launch Indies VS Gamers Jam|url=http://indiegames.com/2015/07/indies_vs_gamers_jam.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628001136/http://indiegames.com/2015/07/indies_vs_gamers_jam.html|archivedate=June 28, 2017|accessdate=September 1, 2016|publisher=Gamasutra#IndieGames.com|df=mdy}} The requirements for entries were arcade games using the Game Jolt Game API highscore tables, to be made between the July 17–20{{cite web|title=Indies Vs Gamers {{!}} Game Jolt Jams|url=http://jams.gamejolt.io/indiesvsgamers|accessdate=December 11, 2015|website=Game Jolt|archivedate=January 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104142624/http://jams.gamejolt.io/indiesvsgamers|url-status=dead}} and the top 5 games were played on the partner's YouTube channels.{{cite web|title=BEAT UP KIDS! {{!}} Indies Vs Gamers Gamejam - Top 5 Winners - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtUCMeCqH1E|accessdate=December 31, 2015|website=YouTube| date=August 13, 2015 }}{{cite web|title=Fans vs PewDiePie (Indies vs Gamers) - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5cXb5ePvl0|accessdate=December 31, 2015|website=YouTube| date=August 27, 2015 }}
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{{cite web|date=2022-06-02|title=Game Jolt and LootLocker are announcing the 2022 Together Jam|url=https://venturebeat.com/2022/06/02/game-jolt-and-lootlocker-2022-together-jam|accessdate=2022-07-26|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US}} 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".{{cite web|date=2024-04-15|title=The HighRise Game Jam has begun|url=https://gamejolt.com/p/the-highrise-game-jam-has-begun-the-highrise-game-jam-is-7xquasfh|accessdate=2024-05-09|website=Game Jolt|language=en-US}} Pocket Worlds had sold NFTs up until roughly 2022, causing a community outburst. The situation was addressed, and the situation started to disperse.{{cite web|date=2024-04-16|title=We'd like to address the drama related to the Highrise Game Jam|url=https://gamejolt.com/p/we-d-like-to-address-the-drama-related-to-the-highrise-game-jam-3jhquygi|accessdate=2024-05-09|website=Game Jolt|language=en-US}}{{cite web|date=2024-04-16|title=Looking for a fun #gamedev challenge? (...)|url=https://gamejolt.com/x/permalink/comment/29047563|accessdate=2024-05-09|website=Game Jolt|language=en-US}}
Contests
Events
Game Jolt hosts both physical and virtual events to entertain and prank its users, which consists of the following:
History
Game Jolt has supported independent creators with a central platform to manage their content and communities since its start in 2003. 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.{{cite web|date=2002-11-23|title=Holo-World! Quality Freeware games!|url=http://www.holo-world.com|accessdate=2022-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021123214205/http://www.holo-world.com|archivedate=November 23, 2002}} 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,{{cite web|title=Lucent Web Creative, LLC - Hershey , PA - Business Information|url=https://www.dandb.com/businessdirectory/lucentwebcreativellc-hershey-pa-7554681.html|accessdate=2022-07-26|website=www.dandb.com}} 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.{{cite web|date=July 9, 2015|title=Gamejolt Next :: Nuevo diseño, nuevas posibilidades|url=https://geekyjuegos.com/gamejolt-next-nuevo-diseno-nuevas-posibilidades|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528204733/https://geekyjuegos.com/gamejolt-next-nuevo-diseno-nuevas-posibilidades|archivedate=May 28, 2016|accessdate=September 1, 2016|df=mdy}}
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.
=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{{citation|url=http://www.gamejolt.com|title=Game Jolt Main Page|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225141040/http://gamejolt.com|archivedate=December 25, 2008|accessdate=November 30, 2013}} which allowed support for browser based games. In February 2013, Game Jolt built support for browser-based HTML5 games as well.{{cite web|url=http://www.html5gamedevs.com/topic/1464-newgrounds-now-accept-html5-games/#comment-10079|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019143217/https://www.scirra.com/forum/gamejolt-html5_t79168|title=Newgrounds now accept HTML5 games|date=September 24, 2013|archivedate=October 19, 2016|accessdate=September 1, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy}}{{cite web|url=https://www.scirra.com/forum/gamejolt-html5_t79168|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912011412/http://www.html5gamedevs.com/topic/1464-newgrounds-now-accept-html5-games|title=GameJolt Html5|date=February 13, 2013|archivedate=September 12, 2016|accessdate=September 1, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy}}{{cite news|first=David|last=DeCarmine|url=http://gamejolt.com/blog/distributions-and-html-integration/30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205065424/http://gamejolt.com/blog/distributions-and-html-integration/30|title=Distributions and HTML Integration|publisher=Game Jolt|date=February 11, 2013|archivedate=December 5, 2013|accessdate=November 30, 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy}} 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).{{cite web|url=http://gamejolt.com/community/forums/topics/new-experience-level-system/1727|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423070046/http://gamejolt.com/community/forums/topics/new-experience-level-system/1727|title=New Experience/Level system|website=Game Jolt|archivedate=April 23, 2013|date=April 16, 2013|accessdate=November 30, 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy}}
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.{{cite web|first=Alex|last=Wawro|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/run-your-own-game-jams-with-game-jolt-s-new-jam-manager|archive-url=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|publisher=Gamasutra|title=Run your own game jams with Game Jolt's new manager|date=July 16, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2016|access-date=September 1, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy}}{{cite web|title=We Launched the New Site - Fireside by GameJolt|url=http://fireside.gamejolt.com/post/we-launched-the-new-site-zkdvvscx|accessdate=December 13, 2015|date=October 13, 2013}}
In April 2016, an online marketplace was announced{{cite web|date=April 21, 2016|title=Selling Games on Game Jolt|url=http://fireside.gamejolt.com/post/selling-games-on-game-jolt-rshmihiu|accessdate=September 2, 2016}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/gamejolt-announces-indie-games-marketplace|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819072059/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/272467/Gamejolt_announces_indie_games_marketplace.php|title=Gamasutra - Gamejolt announces indie games marketplace|first=Bryant|last=Francis|publisher=Gamasutra|date=2016|archive-date=August 19, 2016|access-date=September 2, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy}}{{cite web|last=Kerr|first=Chris|date=2016-01-13|title=Indie marketplace Game Jolt releases open source desktop client|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/console/indie-marketplace-game-jolt-releases-open-source-desktop-client|website=Game Developer|accessdate=2023-02-03}}
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."{{cite web|title=Indie Hosting Platform Game Jolt Suddenly Bans 'Porn Games'|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/indie-hosting-platform-game-jolt-suddenly-bans-porn-games/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Vice.com|date=January 5, 2022|language=en}}{{Cite news|author1=Mollie Taylor|date=2022-01-06|title=Indie store Game Jolt's porn ban has hit games with no sexual content|language=en|work=PC Gamer|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/indie-store-game-jolts-porn-ban-has-hit-games-with-no-sexual-content|accessdate=2022-01-17}}
Investments
After bootstrapping Game Jolt with revenue earned from ads on the website for years, the DeCarmines secured venture capital in 2020 from SoftBank,{{cite web|title=WeWork and SoftBank unveil the first 14 startups in their Emerge accelerator for underrepresented founders|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/05/14/wework-softbank-emerge-accelerator/|access-date=2022-07-26|website=TechCrunch|date=May 14, 2020|language=en-US}} doing so again in 2021 from founders of Twitch, Rec Room, Modio and more.{{cite web|date=2021-10-01|title=Game Jolt raises $2.6M to expand social platform for Gen Z gamers|url=https://venturebeat.com/2021/10/01/game-jolt-raises-2-6m-to-build-social-platform-for-gen-z-gamers|accessdate=2022-07-26|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://gamejolt.com}}
{{Software digital distribution platforms}}
{{portal bar|Internet|Video games}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Game Jolt}}
Category:Android (operating system) software
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