Aaron Johnson

Aaron.j@Digipen.edu
210.319.0102
AarontheBarbarian.com

Technical Artist / Technical Designer

Game Projects

Pipeline Software

SubRay VR (subraygame.weebly.com)
3D virtual reality alien ocean exploration/survival game for Oculus Rift
8/2015-present
- Technical Artist responsible for ensuring 90 fps Oculus requirement, VR FX development, and feedback
- Lead designer and gameplay developer using Unreal Engine 4 and Oculus technology
- Artist producing and managing entire AAA pipeline (concept/modeling/texturing/animating) and all game assets
- Lead developer of diegetic UI/UX solutions and nausea-reduction methods for virtual reality

Dischord (dischordgame.weebly.com)
3D music visualizer/action arcade game created in a custom C++ 3D engine
- Technical artist, lead designer, FX system developer, and lead artist/animator
- Constructed custom control rigs with animator- friendly controls for quick animation iteration
- Assisted graphics engineers to develop and implement unique shaders
- Designed and created 3D levels with custom level editor to optimize levels for performance
- Responsible for creating all game lighting, 3D FX, and particle systems

6/2014-4/2015

SubRay (subraygame.com)
2D atmospheric underwater exploration game in a custom C++ engine
9/2013-6/2014
- Lead designer, assisted engine engineers in development of game mechanics/systems
- Solo artist - generated all game art, textures, animations, particle and FX systems
- Implemented art assets in custom C++ engine; assisted graphics engineers to develop sprite shaders/lighting techniques
- Responsible for designing, crafting, optimizing, and testing levels through custom level editor

Professional Experience
Psychology Research Associate, DigiPen Institute of Technology
9/2013-present
-Technical preparation of laboratory instruments, directed/recruited participants, completed data recording and entry
Teaching Assistant, DigiPen Institute of Technology
9/2013-present
- Obtain and organize materials for classes, assist faculty with grading, data entry, and maintaining records
WANIC Video Game Programming Instructor
4/2013-9/2013
-Taught Zilch programming language (similar to ActionScript) and application of game engine code to produce game projects
Aircraft Electrical and Environmental Journeyman United States Air Force
4/2007-4/2011
- Operated as overseas front line supervisor responsible for the troubleshooting, diagnosis, repair, and operation of
Boeing C-17 aircraft (est. material value $1.5 billion)
- Specialized training and certification in the technical compliance and proper use and handling of explosive materials
-Multiple commendations received for outstanding performance, including basic honor graduate, top graduate technical
honors, BTZ recipient (accelerated rank), Airman of the Month

Professional Awards
SubRay
2013 Claude Comair Game of the Year, DigiPen Institute of Technology
2014 Intel GDC Award, Visuals Category 3rd Place
2014 StrasBourg European Fantastic Film Festival Finalist
2013 Intel Buzz Workshop Developers Showcase 1st Place
2013 DigiPen Game Award- 2D Visual Design 1st Place

Dischord

2014 DigiPen Game Award, Visuals Category -1st Place

Programming
Languages
Blueprint Visual Scripting
Python
Actionscript
C++
Javascript
Zilch

Art
Production/Utility
3D Modeling
Texturing
Shaders
Custom Rigging
Weighting
Animating
Particle Systems
Motion Graphics

Game Development
VR Development
Unreal Engine 4
Unity
Gameplay scripting
Rapid Prototyping
Game FX and Feedback
UI / UX Design and
Implementation
Perforce/BitBucket/
Mercurial

Other
Leadership training
Trello/Slack
Military Experience

Education
2016 (expected), Bachelor of Arts in Game Design

Autodesk Maya
Zbrush
Substance Painter
Substance Designer
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe AE/Flash
Cinema 4D
Turbulence FD
X-Particles
X-Normal

DigiPen Institute of Technology