About
Bionic Buddha Entertainment LLC., formed in March of 2009, is a small digital media development studio dedicated to creating high quality, innovative games and applications across a variety of platforms and for a variety of audiences. Based in Plano, TX, Bionic Buddha’s six founding members currently attend Southern Methodist University’s game development graduate program – The Guildhall. Bionic Buddha looks forward to the release of their premier title in September 2009, and the beginning of pre-production for their follow-up title scheduled for release in December 2009.
Our Staff
Hunter Hyneman – President
hunter@bionicbuddhastudio.com
Hunter’s first foray into games coincided with the purchase of a Nintendo Entertainment System at four years old. It was from that point on that Hunter’s strong passion for video games and system design began to take hold. Raised in Arkansas, Hunter prides himself on his small town understanding of honesty, hard work, and community. These small town principles carried Hunter to Vanderbilt University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. Currently, Hunter attends The Guildhall at Southern Methodist University where he is studying for a Masters of Interactive Technology in Digital Game Development with a specialization in Level Design. Hunter is the President of Bionic Buddha Entertainment, as well as a game and system designer.
James Selen – Chief Executive Officer
james@bionicbuddhastudio.com
James began to dabble in game design, level editing, and creative writing throughout his teens and into his college years where he happened upon the opportunity to work in the QA department of Volition, Inc. It was while working in the industry that James realized the potential for his passion for games to manifest as a career. After leaving the studio James went on to finish his B.A. of Philosophy and B.A. of Psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. After graduating, James continued on to Southern Methodist University to attend their game development graduate program – The Guildhall – in order to pursue a Masters of Interactive Technology in Digital Game Development with a specialization in Level Design. James is the CEO of Bionic Buddha Entertainment, as well as a writer and game designer.
Daniel Baker – Software Engineer
daniel@bionicbuddhastudio.com
Daniel started programming in C at the age of 13. After four and a half years of college at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University he received a B.S. in both computer science and physics along with a minor in mathematics. Upon graduation he spent half a year working as a programming assistant for a physics lab at Virginia Tech. It was here that Daniel realized that he must pursue his dream job of becoming a game programmer and entered Southern Methodist University’s game development graduate program. While at SMU, Daniel met a wealth of talent and decided to lend his programming expertise to a group of similar minded students who eventually coalesced to form Bionic Buddha Entertainment, LLC.
Josh Mahan – Software Engineer
josh@bionicbuddhastudio.com
Josh received a B.S. in Computer Science and Mathematics from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. During his undergraduate studies, Josh did Human Computer Interaction research at Iowa State University where he developed for an augmented reality system known as VSARD. Josh now attends Southern Methodist University in order to earn a Masters of Interactive Technology in Software Development and to learn from those well experienced in the game development industry. It is at Southern Methodist University that Josh met a number of like-minded individuals with which he decided to start a small development company focused on quality and innovation.
G. Henry Schmitt – Software Engineer
Henry got his earliest game development experience programming games in BASIC on the TI-99/4A home computer at the age of three. The combination of storytelling, technology, and interactivity that give electronic games the richest potential of all art forms fascinated him, and led to a lifetime of hacking, modding and coding. When Henry learned about Southern Methodist University’s intensive game development grad program, he knew it was the perfect place to pursue his dreams. Henry brings his drive to succeed and love of games of all kinds to Bionic Buddha as a programmer and game designer.
Jessica Loredo – Environmental Game Artist and Webmaster
jessica@bionicbuddhastudio.com
Jessica’s Kansas roots keep her grounded when making creative and business decisions. She worked retail and sales for a number of years while studying at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Her work experience– great customer service, maximizing profit, an emphasis on presentation– influences her business practices everyday. Her skill in balancing a full schedule is reflected by the quality and speed with which she completes tasks. Academically, Jesi received her bachelor’s degree in December of 2007 with a double degree in studio art and English (creative writing). Having a passion for art, technology and storytelling, she now pursues a master’s degree in interactive technology at the Guildhall at Southern Methodist University. Jesi’s strengths lie in 3D environmental art, graphic design and writing. Her favorite games usually contain heavy puzzle elements with stylized graphics and an emphasis on storyline. With a mind for business, communication, and creativity, she strives to maintain a high level of detail and quality in line with Bionic Buddha Entertainment’s business philosophy.
Shaylyn Hamm – Concept and Game Artist
shaylyn@bionicbuddhastudio.com
Shaylyn currently attends The Guildhall at Southern Methodist University and is pursuing a Masters of Interactive Technology in Digital Game Development with a specialization in Art Creation. Her specialization is in 2D concept art, as well as 3D environmental art. Her previous game demos include a 2D game called Return to Lobster Temple and an Unreal mod, Frigorific Derby. Before studying at The Guildhall, Shaylyn received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.
J.D. Posey
J.D. is originally from a small town just outside of Shreveport, Louisiana. J.D. fell in love with games at a young age. Ever since he acquired the motor skills to hold a joystick or controller, he has been using games not only to entertain himself, but also to build and enhance friendships, and even to express his creativity. Often the games J.D. has loved serve as an inspiration to his own artwork, which has included musical compositions, traditional and digital drawings, 3D models, and Flash animations. After earning his Bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with a concentration in communication / graphic design at Louisiana Tech University, J.D.’s passion for and lifelong dedication to digital gaming motivated him to apply to the Master’s program at the Guildhall at SMU to teach him the skills necessary to succeed as an artist in the game industry. Currently, he is attending the Guildhall in pursuit of his Masters of Interactive Technology in Digital Game Development with a specialization in Art Creation. J.D. is honing his skills as a 2D/3D character artist. His first featured game project, “Rock & Rumble” was presented at the 2009 Spring Guildhall game exhibition. The game won best character art, where J.D. was the only artist on the first two-person team in the history of the Guildhall to make it through the first team game project without project cancellation or having more team members added.
