Gaming has been one of America’s favorite sources of entertainment long before tech advancements brought us such games as Grand Theft Auto or Assassin’s Creed. Throughout the past 30 years, we’ve seen the evolution of gaming develop ten-fold from arcade games initially dominating the market to picturesque, action-adventure games  solidifying their place in the gaming arena.

Even with a variety of options from which to choose, the images seem rather monotonous when it comes to game protagonists. This is what Black Sands‘ creator, Manuel Godoy, seeks to change by developing the very first Unapologetically Black Video-Game.

Black Sands, a 9-part visual novel set in 3500 BCE, will feature ancient Egyptian gods as well as Persian, Greek, Cannanite, Kushite, and Minoan cultural components. Players progress through the game as Rah, the Egyptian sun god.

The lack of heroic black characters presented in video games is apparent. In fact, of 103 video games set in Egypt that were made in the last 27 years, only a grand total of 5 feature a black protagonist. The overwhelming majority portrayed white main characters, a misrepresentation of a civilization inhabited by black people. This is a disparity that Godoy was unaware of as a child.

“Black pride came much later in life to me as I started noticing the white-washing. I am glad this generation has social media to wake them up early. The social engineering in youth is dangerous for the black community. No one wants to see their daughter pick the white doll over the black one.
I believe that white washing in society is a never ending cycle and I know the importance of the great empires like Rome is to white children. Black children need their own legacies. Though most of us are from western Africa, Kemet is the most successful empire in history and was also a black civilization. We must learn about the cultures and see the heroes as we are.”

UI: What are some of the key features in Black Sands?

Manuel:

• You are the main character and you must manage your mental health, the respect you get from others, and the love interest you have with the female lead.
• You must deploy your allies on missions to uncover the secrets of the Rift.
• You have 180 days (turns) to get strong enough to defeat Nun (the major antagonist.)
• You must explore ancient ruins and defeat epic gods, but since they are vastly stronger then you, you must first investigate them to find their weaknesses over a series of very dangerous missions.
• You must level your character to handle niche situations to better your chances at success.
• And finally, you must survive!

Edit: We have a secret reveal coming soon of an internal game inside Black Sands for those who love strategy.

UI: The artwork is simply amazing. What are some of the challenges you face(d) developing the imagery?

Manuel: Cost. OMFG COST. My artist has been working with me for 8 months and he took major cuts in his regular wages to accommodate me. I can honestly say that Art is the single most expensive thing in the game and is easily 10x higher than the next highest cost. But there is no room for complaints. We have absolutely the best unapologetically black art to ever exist in any story.

UI: How do you think people will react to the content?

Manuel: I will have mixed feelings. I already do. In the market, I chose to target comic lovers instead of VN[Visual Novel] lovers because A) the content is very serious and features a lot of minority characters and B) the comic industry has been booming recently. Some people are upset that I portray these historical characters the way I do but that is why I chose to make it. I want my kids to grow up with their own heroes. Our kickstarter will tell the tale if our impact is enough to make the difference. It is set to begin in September.

UI: Your website states that your goal is “to empower & educate minority communities on the greatness in their cultures.” What do you think some of the challenges will be in fulfilling this goal?

Manuel: We cite our work. When you meet a new character, a new entry goes into the Book of Tehuti. This is a glossary in the game which tells you the TRUE history about a character and the director’s decisions in how they adjusted it for the story.

Additionally, roleplaying as Rah will give you a firsthand take on how the Kemetic principles first began. Also, any language we use that may need explanation will have in game footnotes that you can hover over to learn the word. These words are highlighted. Something like “ziggurat” would e highlighted the first time it is seen since many who do not study ancient cultures will be confused by it.

UI: Many video games have come and gone over the years, while some have managed to become classics.
Which one of these categories do you think Black Sands will fall into & why?

Manuel: It will be a classic because it will be the first of its kind. An unapologetically black production with triple A quality. Once I open the market of visual novels to the Black community, I think many other comic developers will do the same.
We have a chance to completely create a new market instead of trying to fit into everyone else.

UI: One word to describe Black Sands.

Manuel: Unapologetic.

Black Sands is the first video game of its kind, not only providing an interactive experience but educating gamers on history’s most mystifying civilization! There’s no doubt we’re on the verge of something great.

For more information & updates visit blacksandsentertainment.com