Jones: Retired Special Forces veterans in Fayetteville contribute to new game

Rakeem “Keem” Jones
·4 min read
Justin Manley, left, and Tony U. Brown are partners in a venture that has produced BlackpointBR, a video game based on the combat experience of retired Special Forces veterans, who contributed to the game's development.
Justin Manley, left, and Tony U. Brown are partners in a venture that has produced BlackpointBR, a video game based on the combat experience of retired Special Forces veterans, who contributed to the game's development.

In 1952, Cambridge University Ph.D candidate Alexander Douglas designed a computerized version of the British game Noughts and Crosses, better known as Tic-Tac-Toe, called OXO.

OXO is known as the genesis of video games. The game was played on the Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator, or EDSAC. The EDSAC displayed the game using a 35x15 dot cathode ray tube. The player would use a rotary phone to dial in their moves.

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Through the development of technology, games are now played on consoles, computers and even mobile phones. One of the most popular genres of gaming currently is first0person shooter games such as Call Of Duty. Triple A gaming companies like Activision have made a name for themselves by providing an immersive experience that allows players to engage in battle that makes them feel like they are really in those environments.

Rakeem Jones
Rakeem Jones

With the development of BlackpointBR, CEO Justin Manley is working with combat veterans who really were in those environments. Manley recently traveled to Fayetteville to connect with retired members of the Fort Bragg Special Forces for the development of BlackpointBR.

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However, the purpose was bigger than developing a video game. Manley wanted to create an impact. He is an Army veteran with the hopes of leaving a legacy for himself and others. The goal of BlackpointBR is to become the first Black-owned, Veteran-owned Triple A game in history.

In addition, he understands the value that BlackpointBR brings to those involved with the development.

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“Hearing operators like Hector say you brought me back to life again with this project helps me wake up motivated with more inspiration and purpose knowing that I am a part of this project,” says Manley, a 32-year-old South Carolina native.

More than a gun range

Hector is Hector Torres, a 27-year veteran that transitioned from the Marines to the Army. The 53-year-old Miami native is the business partner to Cornell Causey. Together, the pair own and operate a 15-acre piece of land located just outside of Fayetteville city limits. On this land, 4.5 acres are dedicated to weapons and self defense training. The land is the home of the MOR Gun Club & Range.

MOR can have multiple meanings, but it is widely known as Men Of Respect. However, Causey says when a person’s out shooting, MOR could mean My Own Range because of the feelings you have during the trigger therapy. The range offers a number of real-life settings that offer battle situations, such as a house, to practice clearing, a flat area for pistol work, and an ATV area.

Coupled with the fact that Torres and Causey are both retired members of Special Forces, MOR Gun Club was the perfect destination for Manley and his team to work with real weaponry and real veterans like Earnest “Rob” Robinson, a 47-year-old Tallahassee, Florida, native with 26 years of Army service. Robinson provides medical and security training based on knowledge he gained as a member of an 82nd Airborne infantry unit.

Building a gaming community

The overall measure of success will be the impact created by BlackpointBR. Combat veteran and BlackpointBR COO Tony U. Brown understands the importance of creating an impact in the community. With the help of DayQuon White, a student at Fayetteville State University and combat veteran, BlackpointBR will host a qualifier tournament with Historically Black Colleges and Universities around the country that awards a cash prize of $5,000.

Furthermore, Brown and White are looking to introduce coding and video game development to troubled youth in underserved communities. Future plans include the erection of an Gaming Education Center, located a mile and a half from Fayetteville State University.

With the rise of E-Sports, BlackpointBR will be able to grow in a space that is rarely occupied by minorities. Manley, Brown and the rest of the team are working to successfully bridge the gap between gaming and culture by going directly into the community to build the player base.

Many veterans search for a sense of purpose after retiring. The veteran team of BlackpointBR continues to diligently work with other veterans and active-duty military to help them deal with mental strains such as suicide prevention.

For more information, log on to www.blackpointbr.com or contact COO Tony U. Brown at (718) 344-7378. Salute to Justin and every activist getting active. Peace.

Rakeem “Keem” Jones is a community advocate and father of three from the Shaw Road/Bonnie Doone area of Fayetteville. He can be reached at keemj45@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Jones: Retired Special Forces vets in Fayetteville contribute to new game