10 games by Black developers to check out
Black gamers and developers have made a major, positive impact on the industry. Here are a few games by Black developers that you should try.
Niantic Launches Programme Supporting Black AR Developers
It’s currently Black History Month in the US and Niantic Labs is showing its support by announcing a new programme. Called the Black Developers Initiative (BDI), Niantic will provide access, resources and mentorship to Black augmented reality (AR) creators.
The initiative is about funding new projects from Black videogame development teams both indie and veteran alike, helping them build prototypes which could then be released via Niantic’s platform. Teams can apply now and if selected they’ll be provided with five months of development funding, executive mentorship, and development support.
With the aim to create a real-world AR prototype in that time frame, once those five months are up they’ll still be supported, joining: “a growing community of peers and program alumni who they can continue to build relationships with beyond the duration of the program,” states Niantic.
An extension of the company’s Beyond Reality Initiative, BDI has already signed its first team, W!CKED SAiNTS Studio, a Black and Women-led studio currently developing World Reborn. Utilising graphic-novel style storytelling, World Reborn is a mobile title “where players practice becoming a hero (dealing with bullying, prejudice, etc.).”
On the initiative Niantic Labs Founder and CEO, John Hanke said in a blog post: “Increasing content that represents a more diverse view of the world is critical and central to Niantic’s mission to inspire people to explore the world together.”
Applications for the Niantic Beyond Reality: Black Developers Initiative are open until Sunday, 14th March 2021. Apply after that date and you might be considered for the next programme.
Over the past few years, Niantic Labs has made a big name for itself with titles like Pokémon GO and Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. The next AR videogame VRFocus is awaiting news on is Catan: World Explorers revealed back in 2019. There have been no further updates since then so in the meantime Catan VR has just launched for Oculus Quest.
Also celebrating Black History Month is Bigscreen, creating a new ‘Black Cinema’ category featuring free (ad-supported) films. For further updates on the latest XR diversity initiatives, keep reading VRFocus.
Microsoft outlines Xbox plans for Black History Month celebration
Xbox's Black History Month plans include spotlights on Black creators, media, and charities.
Bigscreen Adds 14 Free Movies As Part Of Black History Month
Bigscreen has updated its catalog of free movies with a whole new category called “Black Cinema”, adding 14 movies in honor of Black History Month.
It was only last month that Bigscreen added a bunch of free movies, and now it’s adding more to honor Black History Month.
Here are the 14 movies being added:
- St. Louis Superman
- I Am Not Your Negro
- Night Catches Us
- Southside With You
- Silverrain
- The Pruitt-Igoe Myth
- Broken Ceiling
- The Long Walk Home
- Mandela
- Sincerely, Brenda
- For Ahkeem
- Muhammad Ali Life of a Legend
- Cover
- Jackie Brown
All of these movies will be added to a new “Black Cinema” category and are available to watch on-demand at any time in Bigscreen. Similar to all other free movies and TV available on Bigscreen, they are made available through PlutoTV. This means that the movies may be ad-supported, but those ads stem from PlutoTV and direct revenue toward them, not Bigscreen.
Some other new movies have also been added into the “Free To Watch With Ads” category as well, such as The King’s Speech and Memento.
Bigscreen will also host an event later today at 7pm PT/10pm ET — a live screening of 2014 Best Picture nominee Selma. Directed by Ava DuVernay, the film tells the story of Dr Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight for equal voting rights and his march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965. The film is already available to rent on-demand in Bigscreen, but this will be a free and live screening allowing users to watch the film in a social setting in VR.
The 14 new movies honoring Black History Month are available from today in Bigscreen on Oculus Quest and PC VR.
Bigscreen’s Latest Free Movies Celebrate Black History Month
Last month Bigscreen rolled out ad-supported, free-to-watch movies via PlutoTV, supporting the platform’s growing demand for new, accessible content. With Black History Month beginning today in the US, Bigscreen is rolling out a new category to celebrate black cinema.
Just like it did during last summer, Bigscreen is hosting a live screening of Ava DuVernay’s critically acclaimed film, Selma to mark the launch today. Kicking off at 7 pm PT/10 pm ET (3 am GMT 2nd Feb), Selma tells the story of how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a three-month march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. The film then can be rented on-demand for $3.99 in the US or $4.99 in Canada.
As for the rest, here are all the free new movies in Bigscreen’s ‘Black Cinema’ category:
- St. Louis Superman
- I Am Not Your Negro
- Night Catches Us
- Southside With You
- Silverrain
- The Pruitt-Igoe Myth
- Broken Ceiling
- The Long Walk Home
- Mandela
- Sincerely, Brenda
- For Ahkeem
- Muhammad Ali Life of a Legend
- Cover
- Jackie Brown
Additionally, Bigscreen’s free to watch category has also been updated with new blockbusters like Memento and The King’s Speech. Like all of the movies available through the platform, these latest editions won’t be available in every territory.
Bigscreen continues to be free to download, supporting headsets including HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality, Oculus Rift, Oculus Go and Oculus Quest. For all the latest updates, keep reading VRFocus.
Keng City challenges stereotypes on the hypergrid
Black History Museum. (Image courtesy Keng City Grid.)
Keng City, OpenSim’s only major African-American grid is working to promote awareness and inclusivity on the hypergrid, and to battle prejudice, with exhibits, events, and destinations of interest.
Even simple things, like finding appropriate avatars, can be a challenge for OpenSim’s users.
“We struggle finding culturally related items for our avatars,” grid owner Nubian Keng told Hypergrid Business.
And even when appropriate avatars are available, some users find it uncomfortable to wear them.
“Honestly, some hide behind white avatars just to get accepted into some virtual communities because they don’t want the hassle of revealing themselves as being African-American,” he said.
Black History Museum. (Image courtesy Keng City Grid.)
To address this problem, Keng City hopes to become a motivational force for persons of color within the OpenSim community, he said.
“We believe we are groundbreakers,” he said. “Keng City gives us the opportunity to not only represent people of color but to provide entertainment and fun for everyone.”
But reaching the public can be a challenge, Keng City CEO Antoinette Keng told Hypergrid Business.
“No matter how strong your marketing is, you find its still a challenge bringing in visitors simply because you are African-American,” she said. “Some mistakenly believe because African Americans own the venues that we only cater to black people. That could not be farther from the truth. Yes, we represent and celebrate our heritage proudly but Keng City was made for everyone regardless who you are or where you from.”
It’s a challenge that the grid is meeting head on.
Last month, for example, Keng City had the most Gloebit transactions of any regions on the hypergrid.
Keng Skate. (Image courtesy Keng City Grid.)
Keng City history
Keng City was founded in 2018 and featured a movie theater, lounges, and nightclubs. Last February, the grid celebrated Black History Month with the launch of a museum.
When I visited the world for the first time, it blew me away.
At the Commemorative Black History Museum, seeing the display of these incredible American Icons on the screen made me wish I could walk around it in real life. In fact, I’m a resident of Washington, D.C., and the museum reminded me of the Smithsonian.
I then decided to kick up my heels at the Shantel Cigar Lounge. Courtesy of band delivering some hot Latin flava that night, I shimmied and shook my tail, even taking a chance on the dance pole. Lord was it super fun!
The last place I checked out was Keng Skate. Even though I don’t skate much now as a kid it was a favorite past time of mine and being in this space brought back some great memories.
Shantels. (Image courtesy Keng City Grid.)
Q&A with the founders
A few days ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing this lovely duo for Hypergrid Business. The discussion was inspirational for me, and I think, for anyone in and out of the OpenSim universe.
Timeka Cobb: How did the two of you get your start in virtual worlds?
Antoinette Keng: Nubian and I have both been in virtual for about 10 years each. I began in IMVU and then moved on to Second Life fairly quickly. I only discovered the freedom of OpenSim a little over three years ago. Nubian began in Second Life, building his first Keng City on one sim. He moved to OpenSim about eight years ago and transitioned between many grids building bigger and better versions of Keng City with each move.
Timeka Cobb: What was the vision behind Keng City?
Antoinette Keng: From the beginning, Nubian had a vision of Keng City being a center of entertainment and shopping for not just people of color but everyone. From the opening of his first modest build in Second Life to the opening of his own grid, he has striven to make a welcoming place where all, but especially POC could feel at home.
Timeka Cobb: How long did it take to build this grid?
Nubian Keng: When I first came to OpenSim I was trying to duplicate what I had in Second Life so it took me about 3-4 weeks on a 2×2 var region. But now that I am more experienced and have my files saved to my hard drive I can do it much quicker. I built up and completed the majority of this 10×10 main region in less than a month.
Timeka Cobb: What are the pros and cons of dealing with OpenSim and the hypergrid?
Nubian Keng: The hypergrid is a system of transit between OpenSim grids. Now in comparing OpenSim to Second Life, the biggest pro is that land is much cheaper here. One main con is that each separate grid can often have their own currency or system of commerce in place. Gloebits have aided in that by being an OpenSim wide accepted monetary system.
Timeka Cobb: What does the future like look for Keng City, and what plans do the two of you have for the grid and its brand?
Nubian Keng: Keng City Grid plans to move forward into the future doing as we always have, using our creativeness to provide new experiences and entertainment to all of OpenSim while maintaining an open, friendly family approach to operating our grid. We plan to continue with our innovative marketing styles, expand on our Keng City News Network media outlet, our blog, and our retail shop selection.
Timeka Cobb: What are your hopes and dreams for helping more persons of color becoming aware of OpenSim and using it?
Nubian Keng: We are hopeful that as more people look for an alternative to Second Life they will discover OS and see that it is a viable option. One of the realizations we have come across in OpenSim is that when people come they want their avatar looking good. So we provide a platform to help them with that, whether they are people of color or not. We also offer assistance with learning about the hypergrid and anything else they may ask for help with.
African Americans in virtual reality
As a person of color and a woman, I’ve become aware with the lack of representation expressed outside of the entertainment or sports world. That is even more prevalent within the Virtual Reality community. Even though African Americans are strong consuming anything tech related us making up less than 20 percent in production shows our weakness behind the scenes. Since February is Black History its only right to bring to the forefront a few people and projects that have implemented VR into their endeavors and are leaving a lasting imprint to be celebrated for years to come!
Black Panther
One of the most celebrated films of this generation is having free screenings for the entire month of February nationwide. Director Ryan Coogler and crew won the hearts of billions globally bringing to life the fictional, technological advanced utopia known as Wakanda.
Treat yourself — or someone else — to a date night and relive the magic.
Not only does the film feature some impressive uses of immersive virtual reality — check out Shuri driving a car via a remote virtual interface in the clip above — but you can also become Black Panther in Marvel Powers United VR for the Oculus Rift.
Documentaries
If you prefer smaller features check out “Traveling while Black” and “My Africa.”
Taking place in a Washington, DC Eatery Roger Ross Williams’s Traveling While Black is a thought-provoking discussion centering around race relations in the US throughout the years.
Narrated by Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyongo, My Africa shines a light on a wildlife conservatory and its connection with the people of Northern Kenya. Simplistic yet sublime My Africa will have viewers not only fall in love with the subjects but with the beauty of Kenya as well.
Watch the 360-video below, or in your favorite VR headset.
Hyphen-Labs
When it comes to business one group to be aware of is Hyphen-Labs. This company is an international team of women creating concepts that challenge all the senses. One of their projects titled NeuroSpeculative AfroFeminism transports its viewers to a virtual hair salon and uses neurocosmotology to each about brain optimization and cognitive enhancement.
Check out the trailer below.
Guy Primus
Another business mind in the VR world is Guy Primus. A native of PA Primus is one of the co-founders of The Virtual Reality Company, a studio production firm that combines storytelling, art, and tech to make incredible experiences.
Some of VRC clients include Disney and Dave & Busters to name a few and one of their games has been promoted on TV courtesy of the Ellen DeGeneres show.
Black Public Media
Black Public Media is an organization whose purpose is to fund and distribute media content created by people of color. Folks who have ideas VR related and want to bring them to life should look into their 360 Incubator + program which a link is provided on their website.
As the virtual reality popularity continues to grow my wish is to see more people of color create new and innovative content that will not only set trends but will stand the test of time. I hope my wish will come true!