> FACULTY PROFILE

WHEN AARON THIBAULT became an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Computer Science at Baylor this spring, the excitement of gaming development students – and their professors – was tangible. Having been an active member of the industry for more than 14 years and serving in both commercial and academic posts, his immense knowledge of gaming will certainly assist students in taking their skills to the next level.

14 SYNERGY MAGAZINE / SPRING 2012 VOL. 10 / www.baylor.edu/ecs BAYLOR UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE 15 GAME DEVELOPMENT: EXCITING PARTNERSHIP who has found a balance between AMAZING CAREER academia and corporate gaming. OPPORTUNITY RICH EXPERIENCE Though the majority of his time is Thibault believes students have spent on the commercial side of the Aaron is currently Vice President an incredible opportunity to see industry these days, his desire to According to the Entertainment of Product Development at the fruits of their labor very quickly remain engaged in academic circles Software Association (ESA), gaming located in the current environment as has never waned. in the United States brought in more in Plano, Texas, where he is games can quickly be created and Thibault began his relationship than $25 billion in sales of video responsible for production and published through iTunes, , with Baylor as a visiting lecturer in games, hardware and accessories in staffing of all projects. While at Xbox Live and the PlayStation the film and digital media classes 2010. This is a number that increases Gearbox, he has worked on hits Network among others. of both Drs. Corey Carbonara significantly each year and shows such as 2, Aliens and and Michael Korpi. Not only no signs of slowing down despite Brothers in Arms: Furious 4. HIS ADVICE? did he share with students his an uncertain economy. Seventy-two He has experience in START LEARNING NOW. experiences but he also took these percent of American households play entertainment production, opportunities to visit with students “There’s a ton of pickup game computer or video games, and those military R&D and academia. about their gaming experiences programming opportunities who participate span genders and After earning his undergraduate and expectations of new products available. Students should find generations. In short, this is a booming degree at The University of Texas on the market. hobby projects and actually industry that is in need of fresh talent at Austin, Thibault began working “I really enjoyed coming down complete game projects,” says on a regular basis. at Origin Systems where he was and having a sounding board of Thibault. “Find what’s really To prepare students to enter this a sound designer and cinematic students to talk to,” Thibault said. interesting to you and work to rapidly evolving industry with the best animator, which was a part of “These guys are gamers. They know improve each and every day.” skill set possible, Baylor’s Department Electronic Arts, the company about games in the market. I love of Computer Science offers a behind the Madden franchise to see the reactions and see what game development and simulated and other popular games. After they’re thinking about and talk to environments concentration within EA began to downsize, he them about new developments the Bachelor of Science in Computer returned to his alma mater. within the industry.” Science degree program. This “Dr. George Kozmetsky, raised Through these experiences, specialization is designed to provide money to build an R&D program Thibault began discussions about an understanding of the development with games,” Thibault said. “I opportunities to get more involved and application of interactive digital started with a research agenda with the program at Baylor. In media technologies. The program of artificial intelligence, learning January he officially stepped is offered in cooperation with the and online games. I built Digital into an elevated role by taking Film and Digital Media Division and Warrior, which was a learning on the challenge of teaching combines media course offerings with game for decision-making for the computer science capstone technical content in order to produce the Army. I tied that in to other course for Game Development. a graduate with skills that go beyond gaming projects that were Baylor’s program is highly design and implementation. happening around the Army. regarded as one that consistently The program features a traditional I did a number of very cool produces graduates capable of computer science core, with a projects there.” positively impacting a business three-course game development After launching the IC2 immediately. The addition of sequence and a four-course media Institute at UT, Thibault moved Thibault will only advance the production sequence taught in Film to the Dallas area where he “Find what’s really University’s reputation in this area. and Digital Media. As a concentration served as Deputy Director and “Aaron Thibault is a major of the BSCS, the curriculum features Senior Lecturer at Southern interesting to you player in the industry and vice the breadth of an undergraduate Methodist University’s Guildhall president of a major studio, said Computer Science degree along graduate program in videogame and work to improve Dr. Jeff Donahoo, a professor with specialization in areas central arts and sciences. of computer science at Baylor. each and every day.” to the game development industry. The time spent teaching “He brings many years of Graduates of the program are and researching was a highlight experience on a variety of high awarded a fully-accredited for Thibault but his desire to profile projects to the capstone Computer Science degree with all return to commercial gaming class, providing a tremendous the associated career and graduate led him to his current company, benefit to Baylor students.” education opportunities. Gearbox Software. Thibault’s involvement will give “Gearbox has a great team,” Baylor students a very special says Thibault. “I’m able to work opportunity to learn directly from directly with the founders of the one of the best in the industry. They company, who are awesome will be the beneficiaries of hands- game makers, having made on instruction and practical advice some games I loved playing: that could only originate from one Counter Strike,Tony Hawk, and Halo PC.”

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