Blackoak isn’t just a project. It’s the digital town I always wanted to get lost in—a living, breathing roleplay sandbox inspired by the very best (and worst) of online RP communities, then twisted through the lens of my own weird sense of humour and attention to gritty detail.
What is Blackoak?
At its core, Blackoak is an open world roleplaying game set in the fictional American state of Blackoak. But forget the usual AAA “live your dreams, do anything, be anything!” marketing fluff. I’m not here to promise the moon, then deliver a pebble. Blackoak is about building something honest, immersive, and community-driven—one feature at a time.
The Philosophy: Realistic Ambition
Chartist Games is a tiny, stubbornly independent studio in Wales. The goal with Blackoak isn’t to chase impossible promises; it’s to set realistic milestones and actually deliver. Yes, you’ll spot bought assets in early builds—because we’d rather show our ideas working than spend years tinkering with the perfect trash can model.
Every screenshot, prototype, and system is built to slot into a bigger vision. If it looks like a feature from another one of my games, that’s not an accident—Blackoak is the glue that binds all my projects together.
Features & Style
- A Real Place, Warts and All: The city’s got grime, personality, and just enough absurdity. Billboards advertise “Cuck” soda. Storefronts push COVID clearance. The police station has a chandelier that costs more than your first car. It’s dark, it’s a little tongue-in-cheek, but it all feels like it belongs.
- Roleplay, Not Railroads: Blackoak is a sandbox, but with rules that keep the experience grounded. Don’t expect to become mayor by headbutting an ATM (unless you really want to, and I haven’t patched that bug yet).
- Transparency: I’m sharing every step—warts, placeholder assets, dev logs, even the setbacks. If you want polished PR, look elsewhere. If you want honesty and a community-first approach, you’re in the right town.
The Process
- World-Building in Unreal Engine: The city’s being built up block by block, with a mix of custom assets and placeholders. Every corner tells a story, from graffiti tags to dodgy vending machines.
- Iterative Design: I show progress, ask for feedback, and pivot based on what the community actually wants—not what some publisher spreadsheet says I should build.
- Modular Development: Everything connects—whether you’re chatting up Gary the awkward shopkeeper, ordering a Trash Burger, or just hanging around a suspiciously empty street at 2am.
The Truth
Blackoak is a love letter to all the late nights spent in RP servers, to the modders who made better games than the studios, and to anyone who’s ever wanted a “second life” that wasn’t just a meme. It’s also a playground for every other wild idea I have—if you see something weird in another one of my games, chances are it’ll find a home in Blackoak sooner or later.
Want In?
If you’re tired of big studios over-promising and under-delivering, welcome to Blackoak. I’m building this one for people who care about community, creativity, and a little bit of chaos. Follow along for progress updates, dev streams, or just to heckle me about that one soda machine texture.
Welcome to Blackoak. Your new start. Just don’t drink the Cuck.
