Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Alumnus Karthik Bala ’97 and Brother Guha Bala of Hit Video Game Development Company To Be Honored October 9
Vicarious Visions started out in 1991 as a “hobby” for Guha and Karthik Bala in their parent’s basement, while they were in high school in Rochester, N.Y. A few years later they landed their first publishing deal when Karthik was a freshman at Rensselaer. They formed a team of eight friends from college and in 1999, they entered the first Independent Games Festival. They won two awards – Best Programming and Best Audio which put them on the map and provided visibility amongst the big game publishers.
Over the years that followed, they were able to secure angel investment and an acquisition which allowed them to stay independently run. They’ve shared the stage with Steve Jobs, debut new game releases regularly and are ranked 18th among the world’s top developers.
The Severino Center is proud to recognize the accomplishments of Vicarious Visions founders, Karthik and Guha Bala, at the 2013 Rensselaer Entrepreneur of the Year Award Celebration.
The celebration will include a showcase of student games from students in Rensselaer’s Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences Program.
EVENT COVERAGE
Video of the event
WAMC
Times Union
Times Union
The Business Review
Troy Record
SHOWCASE GAMES
Desktop Bomberkid

Reginald Franklin
http://athetc.weebly.com/desktop-bomberkid.html
Hangeki

Jaron Kong. Jon Ota. Greg Weil.
http://pentavera.com/games/hangeki/
Heist

Ethan Richards – Producer
Ian Kettlewell – Lead Programmer
Christian Tewell – Art and Sound Design
J.J. Go – Lead Design
https://vimeo.com/72711865
Prismatic Showdown

Nichoas Cesare – Producer, Programmer
Dennis Co – Programmer
Chris DeBartolomeo – Programmer
Grace Rhee – Artist / Designer
Tom Weithers – Programmer
Miles Beaven – Music/Sound
http://www.prismaticshowdown.com/
Qualdrin

Gerald Franklin – Lead Designer, Lead Artist
Reginald Franklin – Lead Programmer, Co-Designer
http://geraldfranklin.weebly.com/qualdrin.html
Triangle Legacy Revolution

Matthew Chapman
http://fawfulfan.itch.io/triangle-legacy-revolution
Zineth

arcanekids.com
Tom Astle – Game concept, main game programming
Jacob Knipfing – Game concept, cellphone programming
Russell Honor – Game concept, main game programmin, level design
Tom Lanciani – Character rigging, animation, additional models
Evan Gonzalez – Music, sound effects
Dan Spaulding – Character and world design, story, level design, additional art
Sylvia Forrest – Character and monster design, story, character models, additional models, animation, art, sound effects
Flo: The Watershed Project


Originator/Designer/Director/Producer:
Kathleen Ruiz, Ph.D. abd, Associate Professor of Integrated Arts, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute:
Student Design Team Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute:
Dan Hawkins, Game Designer;
Bryce Miller: 2-D Artist;
Evan Minto: Project Manager/Web Designer & Programmer;
Colin Neville: Programmer;
Evan-Daniel Rose-Gonzalez: Music Composer;
Randy Sabella: 3D Artist/Designer;
Anthony Szymczyk: 3D Artist;
Beth Towns: Programmer;
Rosa Tung: 3D Artist/Level Designer;
Beth Werbaneth: Programmer/Game Designer;
Gabriella Ciavardoni: Artist/Animator
Educators:
Kate Van Baren, 8th grade science teacher Onteora Middle School, Boiceville, N.Y. (Watershed partner school)
Amber Bennett, 8th grade science teacher NYC MS x551 The Bronx Academy of Letters (N.Y.C. partner school)
Katie Palm, Education Director, The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development: Environmental Education Consultant
Science Team:
Kerissa Fuccillo, Ph.D. MS, Ph.D. candidate, Green Infrastructure Scientist and Director of Education & Research, The Ashokan Center
Elliot Schneiderman, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist, NYC Environmental Protection: Watershed Science Modeling Consultant
http://watershed.hass.rpi.edu/