All throughout February, the works of Black creators have been celebrated in honor of Black History Month.
As part of the festivities, here are five virtual reality programs and video games created by Black artists to check out.
- Traveling While Black: Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Roger Ross Williams, “Traveling While Black” is an award-winning virtual reality program. Released in 2019, this 20-minute experience earned the Canadian Screen Award for Best Immersive Experience and was nominated for Outstanding Interactive Program at the Primetime Emmys. Filmed at the famous Ben’s Chili Bowl, it focuses on racism in the country, specifically the racism in the country during the 1960s. Viewers who put on the headset learn more about the time period while interacting with fellow customers who detail their experiences traveling with the help of the Green Book. To view “Traveling While Black,” the film is currently available for showing through the Oculus headset and website.
- Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan: Created by Kiro’o Games, a video game developing company based in Cameroon, in 2016, this role-action game is set on the fictional planet of Auriona, a world that’s modeled after African culture and myths. Through the game, Prince Enzo Kori-Odan is tasked with reclaiming his throne and birth-right after his brother-in-law leads a coup against him. Together with his wife, Erine Evou, the couple learn more about the world around them and how it relates to their titles. To play “Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan,” gamers can find it available on Windows.
- I Am a Man: Created by developer and Professor of Graphic Design at North Carolina State, Derek Ham, “I Am a Man” is a virtual reality experience that focuses specifically on the civil rights movement. Developed using historical footage and pictures, the program features dialouge from people who were a part of and present during the civil rights movement in the 1960s to create an interactive documentary for viewers. Throughout “I Am a Man,” events, such as the reactions to Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination and the Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike in 1968, are recreated for viewers. The VR program is currently available for viewing through Oculus.
- Combat Core: Created by animator and game developer Micah Betts, “Combat Core” is a 3D action game that suits up to four players. Featuring a cyberpunk aesthetic and inspired by anime, the game has players compete in fighting arena matches with characters that come from all over to compete. Available on Nintendo and Windows, Combat Core has been compared to games such as Super Smash Bros, amongst others.
- Chrono Ghost: Made by Kelly Davis Sr., a game designer and the founder of video game company NITETIME Studios, Chrono Ghost is a survival game that has players play as a ghost that are able to manipulate time. With each level, the Chrono Ghost solves puzzles to advance and prove himself to a character known as “The Spirit of Time.” To progress, the Chrono Ghost needs to control time in a race against it to please “The Spirit of Time” and answer his own personal questions about his identity.
