Extensions of Black Creativity: An Investigation of the Tools & Culture of Black Independent Game Developers

Abstract

This thesis examines the creative practices of Black independent game developers, focusing on how they use digital tools, embed cultural identity into narrative, and navigate structural power dynamics in the gaming industry. Based on in-depth interviews with three participants, the study explores how technologies such as game engines, generative AI, and collaborative platforms function as extensions of cognition and creative practice. Grounded in Extended Mind Theory, Techno-Vernacular Creativity, and Practice Theory, the analysis shows that these developers utilize technology not only as a means of production but as a medium for expressing their own lived experience and cultural heritage. Using phenomenological methods, this research contributes to discussions about creativity, race, and interactive media—illustrating how Black indie game developers are redefining the medium with culturally-rooted practices of creativity.