Winners Announced for the ASCENDANT JAM 🏆
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
The ASCENDANT Jam has reached its chaotic finale. 80 wild, brilliant, biocore-fuelled entries fought their way across four categories - each with a $7,500 prize, plus bonus loot bringing the total pool to $50,000.
Judging? Absolute madness. We argued, we laughed, we survived mutant-sized debates, and yes - someone dramatically read a questionable fanfic aloud in a boardroom. But after all the chaos, the biocores have been captured, and the winners stand tall.
Without further ado...
*drumroll*
[h2]BEST CINEMATIC[/h2]
Using our assets, create an animation set in the world of Ascendant. We’re looking for quality, originality, and an understanding of the game lore.
[h3]🥇1st Place - $7,500[/h3]
WINNER: Nexen - 'The Last Biocore' Cinematic Video
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]🥈2nd Place - $2,500[/h3]
WINNER: HydranGaiaDev - 'Ascendant 2D Cinematic'
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]🥉3rd Place - $1,000[/h3]
WINNER: Dev_Jha - 'Ascendant Animated Cinematic'
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h2]BEST GAMEPLAY[/h2]
Make a stream, edit, fan trailer, in-game machinima, etc. It just has to be a video that incorporates game footage in some way.
[h3]🥇1st Place - $7,500[/h3]
WINNER: ValleyOfLillies - 'Ascendant Training Video'
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]🥈2nd Place - $2,500[/h3]
WINNER: Knut78- 'Ascendant Gameplay Video Edit'
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]🥉3rd Place - $1,000[/h3]
WINNER: LastSaiyanPrince - 'Ascendant Lore Video with OST'
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h2]BEST NEW TAKE[/h2]
Bring Ascendant to life in a new medium. Create a game of your own, write a story, draw a webcomic, do whatever. Bonus points for creativity.
[h3]🥇1st Place - $7,500[/h3]
WINNER: HugBug - 'Spore Storm' Game
Play Here: Spore Storm by HugBug
[h3]🥈2nd Place - $2,500[/h3]
WINNER: Trenchfootdev- 'Ascendant Marble Run'
Click here to watch it in action!
[h3]🥉3rd Place - $1,000[/h3]
WINNER: SoraTheSyke- '3D-Printed Battle Rifle Prop'
[h2]BEST FILTH[/h2]
Shock us. Seriously.
Note: Due to platform policies (booo) we'll link to the submissions.
[h3]🥇1st Place - $7,500[/h3]
WINNER: fathergascoignee - 'Pay-Per-View Beneath the Earthtree'
[h3]🥈2nd Place - $2,500[/h3]
WINNER: ORANGE SKULL - 'Thunder Babes' Short Erotic Novel
[h3]🥉3rd Place - $1,000[/h3]
WINNER: HydranGaiaDev - 'Horror Ascendant 2D Cinematic'
[h2]BEST IN SHOW[/h2]
Deemed the best entry in the ASCENDANT Jam by our judging panel, the winner of this category gets a trip to the UK with a +1 to come to our studio in Cambridge to meet the team and see how we operate, before partying with us at the pub we own - The Side Quest!
WINNER: Nexen - 'The Last Biocore' Cinematic Video
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Here's what our Principal Animator, Michael, had to say:
[h2]BONUS POTS[/h2]
But we didn’t stop at the big wins. Bonus prizes were unleashed across categories like Best Music and Best 80s Tribute (because big hair deserves big respect). You’ll find the full breakdown in this X/Twitter article - and in the coming weeks, we’ll be spotlighting some of the wildest, weirdest, and most brilliant submissions. Stay tuned - chaos deserves its encore.
Whether entrants were a seasoned Jam pro or joining us for the first time, their creativity and enthusiasm made this event unforgettable.
Keep an eye on our announcements for future events and opportunities to showcase your talents.
Until then, keep creating and inspiring!
With neon love and a touch of lycra,
The ASCENDANT Team
The ASCENDANT Jam has reached its chaotic finale. 80 wild, brilliant, biocore-fuelled entries fought their way across four categories - each with a $7,500 prize, plus bonus loot bringing the total pool to $50,000.
Judging? Absolute madness. We argued, we laughed, we survived mutant-sized debates, and yes - someone dramatically read a questionable fanfic aloud in a boardroom. But after all the chaos, the biocores have been captured, and the winners stand tall.
Without further ado...
*drumroll*
[h2]BEST CINEMATIC[/h2]
Using our assets, create an animation set in the world of Ascendant. We’re looking for quality, originality, and an understanding of the game lore.
[h3]🥇1st Place - $7,500[/h3]
WINNER: Nexen - 'The Last Biocore' Cinematic Video
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]🥈2nd Place - $2,500[/h3]
WINNER: HydranGaiaDev - 'Ascendant 2D Cinematic'
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]🥉3rd Place - $1,000[/h3]
WINNER: Dev_Jha - 'Ascendant Animated Cinematic'
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h2]BEST GAMEPLAY[/h2]
Make a stream, edit, fan trailer, in-game machinima, etc. It just has to be a video that incorporates game footage in some way.
[h3]🥇1st Place - $7,500[/h3]
WINNER: ValleyOfLillies - 'Ascendant Training Video'
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]🥈2nd Place - $2,500[/h3]
WINNER: Knut78- 'Ascendant Gameplay Video Edit'
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]🥉3rd Place - $1,000[/h3]
WINNER: LastSaiyanPrince - 'Ascendant Lore Video with OST'
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h2]BEST NEW TAKE[/h2]
Bring Ascendant to life in a new medium. Create a game of your own, write a story, draw a webcomic, do whatever. Bonus points for creativity.
[h3]🥇1st Place - $7,500[/h3]
WINNER: HugBug - 'Spore Storm' Game
Play Here: Spore Storm by HugBug
[h3]🥈2nd Place - $2,500[/h3]
WINNER: Trenchfootdev- 'Ascendant Marble Run'
Click here to watch it in action!
[h3]🥉3rd Place - $1,000[/h3]
WINNER: SoraTheSyke- '3D-Printed Battle Rifle Prop'
[h2]BEST FILTH[/h2]
Shock us. Seriously.
Note: Due to platform policies (booo) we'll link to the submissions.
[h3]🥇1st Place - $7,500[/h3]
WINNER: fathergascoignee - 'Pay-Per-View Beneath the Earthtree'
[h3]🥈2nd Place - $2,500[/h3]
WINNER: ORANGE SKULL - 'Thunder Babes' Short Erotic Novel
[h3]🥉3rd Place - $1,000[/h3]
WINNER: HydranGaiaDev - 'Horror Ascendant 2D Cinematic'
[h2]BEST IN SHOW[/h2]
Deemed the best entry in the ASCENDANT Jam by our judging panel, the winner of this category gets a trip to the UK with a +1 to come to our studio in Cambridge to meet the team and see how we operate, before partying with us at the pub we own - The Side Quest!
WINNER: Nexen - 'The Last Biocore' Cinematic Video
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Here's what our Principal Animator, Michael, had to say:
- Great suspense introducing the protagonist main character and antagonist Gorlizard.
- Use of animation on the main character is nice for the shots.
- Detail on the finger movement as the camera focus shifts past it was a really nice touch.
- Gun handing scene looked suspenseful.
- The Gorlizard appearing the way it did from behind was reminiscing of films such as Alien.
- Use of VFX for the drool, and lighting were very good!
- Biocore effect and animation of it landing on the floor has great detail.
- Death animation showed great control of the character falling to the ground and flopping a little on the rebound.
[h2]BONUS POTS[/h2]
But we didn’t stop at the big wins. Bonus prizes were unleashed across categories like Best Music and Best 80s Tribute (because big hair deserves big respect). You’ll find the full breakdown in this X/Twitter article - and in the coming weeks, we’ll be spotlighting some of the wildest, weirdest, and most brilliant submissions. Stay tuned - chaos deserves its encore.
Whether entrants were a seasoned Jam pro or joining us for the first time, their creativity and enthusiasm made this event unforgettable.
Keep an eye on our announcements for future events and opportunities to showcase your talents.
Until then, keep creating and inspiring!
With neon love and a touch of lycra,
The ASCENDANT Team