Rick Menees

Sr Director, Business Applications, Barnes & Noble College
New York City Metropolitan Area,United States
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Who Is Rick Menees?

Total Experience30 years
CompanyBarnes & Noble College
CountryUnited States

Rick Menees is a highly acclaimed American video game programmer and designer, best known as one of the co-founders of Ensemble Studios. He served as the Lead Programmer and a key technical architect for the iconic 'Age of Empires' series, which revolutionized the real-time strategy (RTS) genre. His work on the Genie game engine was fundamental to the success of 'Age of Empires' and 'Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings,' as well as 'Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds.' Menees's expertise in game engine development, AI programming, and systems architecture has left a lasting impact on the gaming industry. After Ensemble Studios was disbanded, he continued to contribute his skills at Microsoft Game Studios on projects such as 'Halo Wars.' He is respected for his deep technical knowledge and his role in creating some of the most beloved and enduring strategy games.

How Did Rick Menees's Career Path Shape Their Journey?

Rick Menees's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:

Barnes & Noble College - Sr Director, Business Applications(1995 to Present)

What Are Rick Menees's Key Achievements?

Co-founder of Ensemble Studios

Co-founded Ensemble Studios in 1995, a company that became a powerhouse in the real-time strategy genre, developing multi-million selling franchises.

Lead Programmer for 'Age of Empires'

Spearheaded the programming efforts for the original 'Age of Empires' (1997) and 'Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings' (1999), defining much of their technical excellence and gameplay mechanics.

Genie Game Engine Development

Was a principal architect and developer of the Genie Engine, the versatile 2D isometric game engine that powered 'Age of Empires,' 'Age of Empires II,' and 'Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds.'

Technical Contributions to 'Halo Wars'

Contributed significantly to the development of 'Halo Wars' (2009) after Ensemble Studios was integrated into Microsoft, showcasing his ability to adapt RTS design to console platforms.

Industry Influence in RTS Genre

Through his work at Ensemble Studios, Rick Menees played a pivotal role in shaping and popularizing the real-time strategy genre, influencing countless subsequent games.

What's Rick Menees's Educational Background?

Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Computer Information Systems

Arizona State University - Year 1979

Associate's degree, Accounting and Business/Management

Yavapai College - Year 1977

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Company Overview

Barnes & Noble College
Total employees7500
HeadquartersBasking Ridge
Founded1965

Barnes & Noble College is a leading operator of campus stores in the United States, serving millions of students and faculty. They provide a wide range of course materials, including new, used, rental, and digital textbooks, alongside school supplies, university apparel, and general merchandise. B&N College focuses on enhancing the educational experience by supporting academic success and campus life, offering solutions that aim to make educational materials more affordable and accessible. It was formerly a key segment of Barnes & Noble Education (BNED) before BNED was taken private.

Barnes & Noble College Funding Information
Unknown - Total Funding Raised
not applicable - Most recent funding amount
not applicable - Number of funding rounds
June 13, 2024 - Latest funding round
Lead Investors:
Immersion Corporation
Consortium of existing institutional investors (prior to BNED delisting)

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