Category: Playable Black Characters
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Dead Island
Developer: TechlandPublisher: Deep SilverRelease Year: 2011Platform: Linux, Mac, PS3, PS4, Win, Xbox 360, Xbox OneGenre: ActionTaxonomy: Playable Black characters, Voice Acting/Motion Capture, politics/ideology/history, intersectionality, Black NPCs, Anti-Blackness/ regressive characterizations You play one of four survivors who are immune to the zombie virus and fighting for their lives and to save humanity for a variety of…
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One on One: Dr. J vs. Larry Bird
Developer: AtariPublisher: Electronic Arts, Ariolasoft, Atari Corporation (7800)Release Year: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987Platform: Apple II, Amiga, Atari 7800, ColecoVision, Commodore 64, IBM PC, Mac, TRS-80Genre: SportsTaxonomy: Playable Black characters You play as Julius Erving in a one-on-one game of basketball against the computer. You play by the standard rules of basketball and the game…
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Heavyweight Champ
Developer: SegaPublisher: SegaRelease Year: 1976, 1987 (Remake)Platform: ArcadeGenre: SportsTaxonomy: Playable Black characters One-on-one boxing game. The arcade cabinet has a lever for each hand that allows to the played to punch, block, and move. interviews and other media scholarship Return to List
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Ghostbusters 2
Developer: HAL LaboratoryPublisher: HAL Laboratory, ActivisionRelease Year: 1990Platform: GameboyGenre: ActionTaxonomy: In this game that is loosely based on the film, the Ghostbusters chase a ghost through and under the city of New York in order to rescue a kidnapped baby. interviews and other media scholarship Return to List
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Crime Fighters
Developer: KonamiPublisher: KonamiRelease Year: 1989, 2021 (PS4 & Switch)Platform: Arcade/PS4/SwitchGenre: FightingTaxonomy: Playable Black characters, Black NPCs Side-scrolling fighter set in an urban landscape. More than a dozen women have been kidnapped by the crime syndicate, the player is then tasked with rescuing the women and bringing down the syndicate. interviews and other media scholarship Return…
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Black College Football: BCFX: The Xperience
Developer: Nerjyzed EntertainmentPublisher: Aspyr MediaRelease Year: 2006Platform: Win, Xbox 360Genre: SportsTaxonomy: Playable Black characters, Mechanics, Development, fandom/community/reception, Black cultural traditions A college football game that takes place on a series of HBI (Historically Black Institutions) campuses. Also includes two rhythm mini-games that depict the halftime show and the drum line challenge. interviews and other media…
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Basketball
Developer: AtariPublisher: AtariRelease Year: 1979Platform: Atari 2600Genre: SportsTaxonomy: Playable Black characters, fandom/community/reception One-on-one basketball game that can be played by one or two players. Game is played in two four minute halves. interviews and other media scholarship Return to List
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Wu-tang: Shaolin Style
Developer: Paradox DevelopmentPublisher: Activision, Success CorpRelease Year: 1999Platform: PlayStationGenre: FightingTaxonomy: Playable Black characters, voice acting/motion capture, Black NPCs A tournament style fighting game that features the members of the group Wu-Tang Clan. The group is fighting their way through the streets of New York and China to save their martial arts master. interviews and other…
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Urban Chaos
Developer: Mucky Foot ProductionsPublisher: Eidos InteractiveRelease Year: 1999Platform: Dreamcast/PS/WinGenre: Action AdventureTaxonomy: Playable Black characters You play as D’arci Stern, new recruit to Union City Police Department. You spend much of your time fighting the local gang, the Wildcats and the unexpected leader behind them. interviews and other media scholarship Return to List
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Treachery in Beatdown City
Developer: NuChallengerPublisher: NuChallengerRelease Year: 2020Platform: Switch/WinGenre: Action, FighterTaxonomy: Development, Playable Black characters, Black Cultural traditions, politics/ ideology/ history; Narrative themes; fandom/reception/community; Intersectionality; mechanics In Beatdown City, after President Blake Obama is kidnapped by ninja terrorists and the police force is shut down, now-suspended police chief Antonio Santiago enlists the aid of his daughter Lisa and…