Former Xbox and University of Southern California alumni Kevin Bachus and Chanel Summers have donated money for a fund to reward students who work toward innovation in video games.
Bachus and Summers are both founding members of the team that created the original Xbox game console, which catapulted Microsoft into the video game business in 2001. Microsoft now generates more than $2.5 billion in revenues a quarter from the division that includes the Xbox.
“There has never been a greater opportunity than there is today for talented and passionate individuals to come together and create the legendary game studios of tomorrow,” said Bachus. “The Bachus-Summers Fund for Innovation in Interactive Entertainment is meant to do two things: to recognize and reward the most innovative work by a student in the Interactive Media & Games Division and to encourage that student to build their own future, for themselves and for others, after leaving school. It is our expectation that the recipients of this Fund will be provided with the tools to build lasting creative and commercial success.”
“I’ve seen first-hand that the most meaningful work is always achieved when visionaries take risks and break boundaries,” said Summers. “Creative and talented individuals must be allowed to realize their dreams, regardless of resources. When thinking about this fund, it was critical to us that it be used directly to support the efforts of tomorrow’s creative and entrepreneurial leaders.”
Bachus and Summers both went to USC. They donated funds to the USC School of Cinematic Arts Interactive Media & Games Division to create a fund in their name for innovative in interactive entertainment. Bachus was one of the original creators of the Xbox console, and he currently serves as Dave & Buster’s senior vice president of entertainment and games strategy.
Summers helped create the audio capabilities for the original Xbox and was part of the first support team for content creators. After leaving Microsoft, she founded Syndicate 17, an audio production studio based in Seattle and Los Angeles. Summers also teaches the audio expression course at the IMGD division at USC.