Ultimaker and MakerOS Collaborate to Launch the GAMESMASH Challenge in NYC

Some may say that the hype behind desktop 3D printing is all but dead, and us enthusiasts are now left to wallow in the failure of 3D Systems’ Cube and the controversial decision by MakerBot to move their desktop 3D printer production overseas. Well, if any company can manage to prove these desktop dissenters wrong, it might just be Ultimaker, the Dutch-based open sourced 3D printer company. Instead of ignoring or fleeing from the issues that have come from the desktop 3D printing consumer market, Ultimaker’s CEO Jos Burger is instead looking to usher in the new professional era for the desktop format.

More so, Ultimaker is much more involved in the 3D printing community than most, and has shown it through their open source platform, as well as by taking part in a variety of design and 3D print-driven challenges. Now, once again, Ultimaker playing host to yet another innovative design contest, this time asking participating designers and makers to integrate desktop 3D printing and tabletop gaming together. On August 13th and 14th, Ultimaker will partner up with the cloud-based business management tool developer MakerOS to launch GAMESMASH – The Game Design & Fabrication Challenge. The challenge will take place in a New York City-based makerspace called the Fat Cat Fab Lab.

“We are excited to join forces with MakerOS to host this new 3D printing driven gaming event,” says Siert Wijnja, founder and CTO of Ultimaker. “In addition to winning a title or prize during the event, participants who complete their game design will be asked to exhibit their creations in a GAMESMASH-specific display within the Ultimaker booth at World Maker Faire, New York, October 1-2.”

GAMESMASH attendees will get into teams and design and fabricate their own tabletop game, where they will compete in three categories: Best Design, Best Mechanics, and Best in Play. Each team will be made up of three to six individuals, and will race against the clock to develop their own innovative tabletop game design. These groups will also be tasked with fabricating the game pieces and decorations, utilizing Ultimaker desktop 3D printers alongside other types of digital fabrication equipment.

In addition, each team will be given a theme and a list of constraints, which will limit the tools and materials they’re allowed to use in the challenge. Prizes for the winning team will include membership to the Fat Cat Fab Lab makerspace and an Ultimaker 2+ 3D Printer. The teams will present their final games to the judges on Thursday, August 18, at Playtesting Night. Tickets for this event are $10, and will allow both attendees and the public to actually playtest these unique games. Participants who complete the challenge will also be asked to exhibit their creations in a GAMESMASH-specific display at the Ultimaker booth during the World Maker Faire, which is taking place October 1st and 2nd in New York City.

Applications for GAMESMASH will be accepted until August 11, so if you’re feeling capable of creating your own 3D printed tabletop game, you can sign up here. Let’s discuss this challenge further over in the GAMESMASH 3D Printed Games forum over at 3DPB.com.