There is a special kind of pride that comes from watching students grow into creators. For the Shawnee State University Games Design Program, that pride is front and center as we celebrate JollyWare, a studio founded by SSU alumni Elijah Wickerham, Kyle Maroscher, and Connor Adkins. Their game Gnomad has advanced to the final round of the global Rising Tide Challenge, placing in the top 100 out of 401 entries.

The journey of JollyWare started right here at Shawnee State. Elijah, Kyle, and former team member Andrew, first began developing Gnomad as students, honing their skills in our classrooms and labs. After graduation, they transformed their academic project into a professional studio where they picked up Connor. They continued to build and refine Gnomad while showcasing it at events like GDEX, GDC, and SGC. Their growth from students to studio owners shows their dedication and the strong foundation they built at SSU.

The Vision Behind Gnomad

JollyWare's flagship title, Gnomad, is an offbeat, hand drawn, bouncing ball platformer that represents the creative vision we nurture at SSU. Players become a gnome exploring a whimsical, sunken forest. They engage in fast paced combat by spiking, ricocheting, and redirecting enemies and projectiles. The game encourages player creativity. A rich and engaging experience that stands out in the indie game landscape.

A Crucial Opportunity

The Rising Tide Challenge, hosted by Blue Ocean Games, represents a transformative opportunity for alumni like the JollyWare team. This community voted competition offers indie developers a shot at crucial funding and exposure. This is especially important now, as traditional publisher support has become harder to secure, particularly for first time developers.

For JollyWare, this is more than a challenge; it's a pivotal moment for their studio. A top 10 finish would offer powerful external validation, serving as tangible proof that their SSU-born project resonates with a wide audience. It would secure them a featured interview with Blue Ocean Games with the possibility of funding. While also providing a significant credential to leverage when pitching Gnomad to other publishers, dramatically boosting their credibility in the industry.

Pride in Our Alumni

The Shawnee State Games Faculty could not be more proud of Elijah, Kyle, and Connor. Watching them grow from students to professional developers has been inspiring. Their success in the Rising Tide Challenge reflects the hard work, talent, and skills they cultivated at SSU.

"Kyle, Elijah, and Andrew showed exceptional promise from their very first proposal. I saw they had the vision to build something special and was even prepared to help fund the project before they joined the ShawneeXP accelerator. Connor has been an invaluable addition since coming on after graduation. Watching their growth from my capstone class to a professional studio has been incredibly rewarding." - Instr. Travis Lynn

Their journey embodies what we hope for all our students: the creativity to imagine new worlds, the perseverance to build them, and the courage to share them.

Follow JollyWare's Journey

The Shawnee State community celebrates the remarkable achievements of our alumni. For those interested in following JollyWare's journey, here are ways to stay connected with their work:

• Rising Tide Challenge Voting: Community voting takes place at blueoceangames.com/challenge/voting and ends on October 24, 2025.
• Studio Information: Learn more about JollyWare at their official website
• Upcoming Appearance: The team will showcase Gnomad at the Shawnee Game Conference on November 7+8, 2025
• Community Engagement: Follow their development journey and share in their progress

Stay tuned for more insights into JollyWare's development process. SSU Engineering Technology Chair & Game Programming Professor Jason Witherell is scheduled to sit down with the team for an upcoming conversation about their development journey and technical achievements.