Black Powder | Red Earth
Mac build Update
July 19th, 2021 Update
The most player-requested feature for 8-Bit War is now up and running. New controls allow gamers to set the movement animation speeds of both assaulters and opponents independently from the options menu. Choose from 1x, 2x 5x or MAX speeds, to determine a pace of play that suits your style!
In addition, players have the option to skip both opponent and friendly movement in-game by tapping the spacebar to fast-forward that unit to its designated final grid, with the game only returning to 1x speed to resolve combat actions.
Look for further quality of life improvements to Black Powder Red Earth 8-Bit War in the coming months as we continue to improve the game.
March 23, 2021 Update
Unforgiving Close Combat in a War-Torn Sprawl
The Campaign Begins
Drones fill the airspace over the tangled, war-torn Awbari capital sprawl. In the narrow streets and alleys below, small unit kill teams of private military contractors carry out ruthless targeted killings of jihadists. Each assassination buying the military dictatorship another day of viability — ensuring the flow of natural resources out of the country.
The 8-Bit War Campaign is a string of 12 single-player story-driven missions, complete with cut scenes designed and produced in the style of the Black Powder Red Earth® graphic novels and Hypernotes. Isolating minute-to-minute decision-making, players hunt down three high-value targets, operational emirs of the jihadist Shadow Emirate, with full lethal authority.
Find, fix and finish.
Step into the event horizon of absolute chaos. Now.
February 25th, 2021 Update
February 18th, 2021 Update
Glowing cinders waft down, falling off pillars of smoke hanging over the war torn sprawl of the Awbari capital. Kill teams of private military contractors patrol the narrow streets and alleys, fighting as the agents of a military dictatorship against a violent extremist insurgency.
Immerse yourself deeper into the tangled war-torn slums with new sound design, voice cues and a complete re-mix of the game audio. Step into the event horizon of absolute chaos - Black Powder Red Earth® 8-bit War is closing in on our final update before the game leaves early access and becomes a full release.
January 4th, 2021 Update
The Black Powder | Red Earth® Turn Based Tactics tutorial is finally here. Covering mobility, navigation, capabilities, combat and mission completion, the tutorial teaches both the controls of the game, and the thinking that will inform your tactics.
+ Speed is security
+ Don't fight the whole city
+ Distance favors the marksman
+ Never go into a gunfight with only one gun
Gather intelligence and maneuver your kinetic forces to conduct lethal actions with minimal exposure. Step into the event horizon of chaos, now.
December 14th 2020 Update
Cevian Signature is 50 square meters of war torn ghetto. A known safe haven for jihadist fighters where every garbage-choked sliver threading through the sprawl holds potential compromise. Senior leadership of the Shadow Emirate shelter in the cinderblock structures, where only small unit kill teams can maneuver. Extract vital human assets, conduct high value target kill raids, or evacuate safe houses under massed attacks with extreme prejudice. Step in the event horizon of absolute chaos.
ROADMAP
After more than 3 years of development, Black Powder Red Earth 8-bit War is 120 days from completion. This is the roadmap.
Next 30 days
Design Team Ember will drop Cevian Signature — the sixth and final operations area for the game.
Next 60 days
Tutorial will be complete. It should be done sooner, but 60 days for sure.
Next 90 days
All foley and sound effects will be replaced with a completely redesigned package that was completed in October, 2020.
Next 120 days
A campaign was never part of the original plan but by popular demand, we've got one coming.
Hypernotes Ember + Steam Key Bundle
With the completion of our project drawing near, _Echelon Software is launching a package on our website that pairs an all-in-one Steam key for Windows, Mac and Linux (priced 30% off) with our hardcover art + lore book, Black Powder Red Earth® Hypernotes Ember.
Hypernotes Ember is hardcover bound, full color, made-in-USA book with over 40 pages of fully illustrated background info plus an original 50 page short story comic. Crafted with the assistance of the same special operations combat veterans who helped create the Black Powder Red Earth® Yemen mini-series, Hypernotes Ember is deep dive into the world of BPRE detailing factions, weapon systems, PPE, unit organizations and a comprehensive background history of the failing state of Awbari!
Pick up the package today at https://www.blackpowderredearth.com/games.php
November 3rd 2020 Update
-4 new interior maps
-ISR Dialog Bug Fix
-Maintain path selection after CTR Interrupt
-Linux startup fix
-DIsabled legacy b, t key processing
September 2nd 2020 Update
-SITREP story tab
-Replace NPC with Shadow Emirate
-BUG Exfil mode select typo
-Automatically turn the trooper when selecting an enemy within the engagement distance
-Disable kinetic interrupt during Always My Turn
-tabbing of music/sound volume levels
-Reallocate actions on escalation
-BUG HVT does not flee if path blocked
-BUG Exit door marker is not correctly oriented
-Flashbang only dialog prompt
-Instead of having "target down" for both sides, a "trooper/mobile 1/2/3/4 down" would make things a little clearer.