Black Game Developers
- Thread starter Responsible Allen Iverson
- Start date
I added Austin Walker who writes for Giant Bomb and a lot of developers:
Adversary Games, Afroes, Algorythmic Studios, Altered Gene, Andy James Nicholls, Audley Gordon, BIGVGAMES, Bruce Johnson, Bryson Whiteman, Chase Bethea, Christopher A. Butler, Damien A. Morris, Davon Marquis Sanders, Derek L. Manns, Ebrima Leigh, Frank Silas, GameBuilder Inc, Gaming Pixie, Gamesole, Graham Reid, Greg Goodson, Gregory Jean-Baptist, Hero Machine Studios, HumaNature Studios, Ignov8, Isaac Nichols, Jacob Mooney, Jason Coker, Jason Paul, Jermaine Belcher, John Davis, Kidando, Kieron White, Kojo Kumah, Kola Studios, Kuluya, Lee Hinds, Leti Arts, Lisette Titre, Lucky Shot Media, MALIYO Games, Markus Heinel, Matthew Findlater, Maximum Crash, Michel Nkuindja, Mike Adebajo, Mike Murray, More Fire Games, Ondayo, PawByte, PinkTreeLeaf, Pixiro, Polkritude, Power On Games, pyun-pyun, R. Lateef, Ray Batts, ReJean DuBois, Revelation Interactive, RIchie Branson, Ron Jones, Sean Bellinger, Sean R. Scott, Silentrivr, Sleight Of Hand Studios, Somara Atkinson, Spray N Pray Studios, Spritewrench, Sterlyng Powell, Terrance Smith, Tim Lewinson, Tito Interactive, Tony Barnes, Tony Yotes, Tristion Edison, Troy D. Patterson, Wayman Harris, Wilbert Roget II, and Zapling Studios
Adversary Games, Afroes, Algorythmic Studios, Altered Gene, Andy James Nicholls, Audley Gordon, BIGVGAMES, Bruce Johnson, Bryson Whiteman, Chase Bethea, Christopher A. Butler, Damien A. Morris, Davon Marquis Sanders, Derek L. Manns, Ebrima Leigh, Frank Silas, GameBuilder Inc, Gaming Pixie, Gamesole, Graham Reid, Greg Goodson, Gregory Jean-Baptist, Hero Machine Studios, HumaNature Studios, Ignov8, Isaac Nichols, Jacob Mooney, Jason Coker, Jason Paul, Jermaine Belcher, John Davis, Kidando, Kieron White, Kojo Kumah, Kola Studios, Kuluya, Lee Hinds, Leti Arts, Lisette Titre, Lucky Shot Media, MALIYO Games, Markus Heinel, Matthew Findlater, Maximum Crash, Michel Nkuindja, Mike Adebajo, Mike Murray, More Fire Games, Ondayo, PawByte, PinkTreeLeaf, Pixiro, Polkritude, Power On Games, pyun-pyun, R. Lateef, Ray Batts, ReJean DuBois, Revelation Interactive, RIchie Branson, Ron Jones, Sean Bellinger, Sean R. Scott, Silentrivr, Sleight Of Hand Studios, Somara Atkinson, Spray N Pray Studios, Spritewrench, Sterlyng Powell, Terrance Smith, Tim Lewinson, Tito Interactive, Tony Barnes, Tony Yotes, Tristion Edison, Troy D. Patterson, Wayman Harris, Wilbert Roget II, and Zapling Studios
If you give me your contact details, I can add you to the OP.
Added the DRONE Zero Gravity thread to the relevant threads section
Added RainBros, Ben Wilson, Soup With Bits, Kimardamina, OMC Games, Black Division Games, Miscellaneum Studios, and GungHo Studios to the developer list
Added Luckslinger, Nairobi X, and Combat Core to the relevant threads
Added Luckslinger, Nairobi X, and Combat Core to the relevant threads
http://www.blackenterprise.com/life...rican-american-festival/#.VYxIU2uwOxo.twitter
African American Gamers Thrive at African American Festival
Video game creators and designers discuss diversity in gaming at AAF
by Safon Floyd Posted: June 24, 2015
A- A A+
(Image: File)
The 2015 African American Festival in Baltimore, Maryland not only celebrated black art, music, culture, and achievement, but it also celebrated the breaking of molds and exhibited possibility in African American contribution in the predominantly “other” gaming market.
Business owners and full-fledged gamers Derek Manns of Sungura Games and Dennis Matthews II of Revelation Interactive Game Development and Entertainment held down the Toyota Tech Playground at AAF where they talked diversity in gaming while displaying an interactive game they created in just 3 weeks. The newly developed game centered around an African American character in a genre where this particular race of players typically goes unnoticed. BlackEnterprise.com caught up with Derek L. Manns and Dennis Matthews II to gauge their scoop on the gaming industry and their goals in ensuring black people have a seat at the head table when creating quality innovative and interactive video games.
BlackEnterprise.com: What exactly is Sungura Games?
Manns: Well, Sungura is Swahili for rabbit. A mother’s friend used to call me rabbit because he said I was fast. It’s synonymous with clever, really. Sungrura Games = clever games.
How did you get started with Sungura Games?
Manns: Really, I started making games on consoles and PCs long ago and later decided to start own company. I wanted to make games that African Americans can relate to. Don’t get me wrong, I’m open to making any kind of game, but there is a representation missing from the African American community, and I wanted to play an active role in resolving that.
[Related: African American Festival: BE Empowerment Zone – Money, Love, and Inspiration]
How did you get started with Revelation Interactive?
Matthews: I was initially doing aerospace engineering but later [around 2002], I decided to go to Full Cell in Orlando, Florida to study game design and assimilation. I began to place myself around the right people and before i knew it, I was working for Revelation Interactive. I later [around 2009] ran into Derek Manns, Director of Sungura, and have been doing contract development with him alongside my work with RI. Derek designs, I program.
So how did you get into coding?
Matthews: Having an engineering background and being involved in computer science in high school. Dennis: When I got into college, I played lots of video games–it wasn’t before long that I had the realization that I didn’t just want to play them, I wanted code them. You have to understand that back then there weren’t any visible career paths for this. There wasn’t any real education for it. So, when I went to Full Sail University for Game Design, it was their second class ever.
After attending school, how did you find employment in the gaming industry?
Matthews: I started to go to gaming conferences to network with people that are now my peers. You had to know people in order to get into the industry. They weren’t hiring from schools. They were hiring from networking opportunities, which is why diversity is a large initiative–mainly because the resources are becoming available to reach more diverse communities, largely through networking.
What exactly is it that makes Sungura Games different from other gaming companies out there?
Manns: We have an interesting model for making games. Our staff is primarily African American and is steady. Most of my staff is based on partnerships. If I need certain things, I try to contract to African Americans but ultimately, I go with anyone who can do the job and of course, is reasonable.
What makes Revelation Interactive different?
Matthews: What makes us different primarily is that the core base of our team is diverse. Our studio is primarily African American and that’s just not prevalent in the industry.
What’s the future of Sungura Games?
Manns: I see us becoming a full fledged development company. I’d live to legitimize and show that we have the skill and experience to make games like any other company.
What made you guys decide to work for yourselves as opposed to joining a pre-existing gaming company?
Manns: I knew this is something I could successfully do myself. I had the knowledge and the resources so I figured why not?
Matthews: I saw the amount of money I was making for other people, and I figured why not make that money for myself.
Derek, what adivce would you have for up and coming African American gamers looking to consider gaming or creating video games as a serious career?
Manns: What I will you say those looking to join gaming is make sure you’re good at math. Also, look into schools that offer gaming in undergrad. I actually didn’t earn my degree in gaming until gaining my masters from Southern Methodist University Guildhall as a Level Design major.
Matthews: Also, check out Blacks in Gaming. There is a whole community out there.
What imprint would you like to leave?
Manns: Listen, black developers are there–we’re out there. Black developers that have the skills to develop these games. I want them to know that we do exists out here. If I have to be that person that’s the Tyler Perry of the gaming industry, then I’m okay with that.
Dennis, is there anything else you would like BlackEnterprise.com readers to know?
Matthews: The urban community needs to know that gaming is a strong career, it pays well, and there are educational resources, both community college and the university level. You can get a masters degrees in gaming. Find one of the increasing number of communities aimed to diversify the presence of blacks in gamings.
For more information on Sungura Games, Derek Manns, and gaming design visit www.sunguragames.com. For more information on Dennis Matthews and Revelation Interactive be sure to visit www.revelation-interactive.com.
African American Gamers Thrive at African American Festival
Video game creators and designers discuss diversity in gaming at AAF
by Safon Floyd Posted: June 24, 2015
A- A A+
(Image: File)
The 2015 African American Festival in Baltimore, Maryland not only celebrated black art, music, culture, and achievement, but it also celebrated the breaking of molds and exhibited possibility in African American contribution in the predominantly “other” gaming market.
Business owners and full-fledged gamers Derek Manns of Sungura Games and Dennis Matthews II of Revelation Interactive Game Development and Entertainment held down the Toyota Tech Playground at AAF where they talked diversity in gaming while displaying an interactive game they created in just 3 weeks. The newly developed game centered around an African American character in a genre where this particular race of players typically goes unnoticed. BlackEnterprise.com caught up with Derek L. Manns and Dennis Matthews II to gauge their scoop on the gaming industry and their goals in ensuring black people have a seat at the head table when creating quality innovative and interactive video games.
BlackEnterprise.com: What exactly is Sungura Games?
Manns: Well, Sungura is Swahili for rabbit. A mother’s friend used to call me rabbit because he said I was fast. It’s synonymous with clever, really. Sungrura Games = clever games.
How did you get started with Sungura Games?
Manns: Really, I started making games on consoles and PCs long ago and later decided to start own company. I wanted to make games that African Americans can relate to. Don’t get me wrong, I’m open to making any kind of game, but there is a representation missing from the African American community, and I wanted to play an active role in resolving that.
[Related: African American Festival: BE Empowerment Zone – Money, Love, and Inspiration]
How did you get started with Revelation Interactive?
Matthews: I was initially doing aerospace engineering but later [around 2002], I decided to go to Full Cell in Orlando, Florida to study game design and assimilation. I began to place myself around the right people and before i knew it, I was working for Revelation Interactive. I later [around 2009] ran into Derek Manns, Director of Sungura, and have been doing contract development with him alongside my work with RI. Derek designs, I program.
So how did you get into coding?
Matthews: Having an engineering background and being involved in computer science in high school. Dennis: When I got into college, I played lots of video games–it wasn’t before long that I had the realization that I didn’t just want to play them, I wanted code them. You have to understand that back then there weren’t any visible career paths for this. There wasn’t any real education for it. So, when I went to Full Sail University for Game Design, it was their second class ever.
After attending school, how did you find employment in the gaming industry?
Matthews: I started to go to gaming conferences to network with people that are now my peers. You had to know people in order to get into the industry. They weren’t hiring from schools. They were hiring from networking opportunities, which is why diversity is a large initiative–mainly because the resources are becoming available to reach more diverse communities, largely through networking.
What exactly is it that makes Sungura Games different from other gaming companies out there?
Manns: We have an interesting model for making games. Our staff is primarily African American and is steady. Most of my staff is based on partnerships. If I need certain things, I try to contract to African Americans but ultimately, I go with anyone who can do the job and of course, is reasonable.
What makes Revelation Interactive different?
Matthews: What makes us different primarily is that the core base of our team is diverse. Our studio is primarily African American and that’s just not prevalent in the industry.
What’s the future of Sungura Games?
Manns: I see us becoming a full fledged development company. I’d live to legitimize and show that we have the skill and experience to make games like any other company.
What made you guys decide to work for yourselves as opposed to joining a pre-existing gaming company?
Manns: I knew this is something I could successfully do myself. I had the knowledge and the resources so I figured why not?
Matthews: I saw the amount of money I was making for other people, and I figured why not make that money for myself.
Derek, what adivce would you have for up and coming African American gamers looking to consider gaming or creating video games as a serious career?
Manns: What I will you say those looking to join gaming is make sure you’re good at math. Also, look into schools that offer gaming in undergrad. I actually didn’t earn my degree in gaming until gaining my masters from Southern Methodist University Guildhall as a Level Design major.
Matthews: Also, check out Blacks in Gaming. There is a whole community out there.
What imprint would you like to leave?
Manns: Listen, black developers are there–we’re out there. Black developers that have the skills to develop these games. I want them to know that we do exists out here. If I have to be that person that’s the Tyler Perry of the gaming industry, then I’m okay with that.
Dennis, is there anything else you would like BlackEnterprise.com readers to know?
Matthews: The urban community needs to know that gaming is a strong career, it pays well, and there are educational resources, both community college and the university level. You can get a masters degrees in gaming. Find one of the increasing number of communities aimed to diversify the presence of blacks in gamings.
For more information on Sungura Games, Derek Manns, and gaming design visit www.sunguragames.com. For more information on Dennis Matthews and Revelation Interactive be sure to visit www.revelation-interactive.com.
TryObsidian?
Pro
Yeah that irked me too because the black guy is always bald.
This thread and The Coli was mentioned on this podcast. Start listening from 15:33
https://simplecast.fm/s/284d4a60
https://simplecast.fm/s/284d4a60
Triple X Tyc00n, a game about managing an adult business through the 70s and into the 2000s uses a game engine originally built by Gnovahex. Same team, same programmer, new name.
Development blog | Twitter
Development blog | Twitter
SleezyBigSlim
Banned
Well I must be blind, I don't see any black people in this photoI am.....
EPIC GAMES, COMPANY PHOTO.....
Just an example i see like 3 black people....
