Damon Pidhajecky

Cross-Domain Creative Technologist: Social Gaming Pioneer × Web Gaming Pioneer × VR/AR Launch Title Veteran × Blockchain/Web3 Expert × AI Tool Developer × Aerial Circus Artist × Music Producer

The intersection of gravity-defying performance and gravity-defying code.

Background

Rare Cross-Domain Profile:

• Social gaming pioneer — Zynga Software Architect (CityVille: 61M DAU, YoVille: 5M DAU) who helped pioneer western social games, microtransactions, and virtual goods economies (2008–2011)

• Web game pioneer — Created #1 all-time rated Neopets game (Kass Basher), early 3D browser games at Miniclip, branded games for Disney, Universal, Sony; helped establish early web gaming industry (2003–2005)

• VR/AR launch title veteran — PSVR launch engineer (Headmaster), Gear VR launch title (Snow Strike, featured in Samsung Gear VR commercial), Google-commissioned artist, Andy Warhol Foundation grantee

• AI/ML tool developer — Created AI indie dev tools for Intel (AI Agent Simulator, AI Particle Generator); Hugging Face model fine-tuning for NPC personality systems

• Blockchain/Web3 expert — General Manager at Open Game Protocol; extensive Solana and EVM smart contract development; building onchain game monetization infrastructure

• Product/Engineering management — Has led product and engineering teams across multiple companies; contributes across UX design, frontend, backend, and art direction

• Professional music producer, audio engineer, and drummer — Dead Sexy, Romie Romak and the Turquoise Lemonade, Black Möbius; Ableton Live production, FMOD spatial audio

• Aerial circus performer (silks, straps) — performed in Night Flight's The Library (2023)

• Trained opera singer — classical vocal technique, stage presence, narrator in Portland's cult Halloween circus Fright Night (2024–2025)

• Mandarin Chinese (普通话) — conversational proficiency, ongoing advanced study

• Father, husband — married to Yebin Woo, father of Möbius Mystery Pidhajecky

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Technical Stack

Languages: C#, C++, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, PHP, React, Rust

Game Engines: Unity (expert, 10+ years)

Blockchain: EVM smart contracts, Solana/Anchor development

XR/Immersive: OpenXR, ARKit, ARCore, Meta XR SDK, Steam VR, PlayStation VR

Creative Tools: Blender, Substance Painter, FMOD, Maya, Adobe Suite, Ableton Live

Robotics: KUKA robotic arm programming for interactive installations

AI/ML: Hugging Face (model fine-tuning, NPC personality systems), Unity AI tool development for Intel

Core Expertise:

• Game Systems Architecture

• XR Interaction Design & Procedural Animation

• Blockchain Protocol Development & Smart Contracts

• Rapid Prototyping & Technical Art Pipelines

• UX/UI Design for Immersive Experiences

• Audio Production & Spatial Sound Design

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Career Timeline

Years	Role	OrganizationOrg	Impact Metrics
2020–Present	General Manager	Open Game Protocol	Leads product and engineering teams while contributing across UX design, React frontend, backend, art; building blockchain protocol for game monetization
2018–2020	Indie Game Developer	Rose City Games	Lead engineer on multiple indie game projects across mobile, console, and PC platforms
2017	Commissioned Artist	Google	My Monster G - Google Halloween animation for their main Twitter account; Monster Character Kit - Character construction kit for Google Blocks
2015–2017	Lead Engineer	Frame Interactive	Headmaster – PSVR launch title (Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, critical acclaim)
2015–2016	Co-Founder, Artist	Portland Immersive Media Group	VR Spa installation; Andy Warhol Foundation grant recipient
2014–2020	Founder	dpid.co	Snow Strike VR – Gear VR launch title, featured in Samsung Gear VR commercial (100k+ installs); ARCore experiments, Snapchat lenses, Instagram filters
2012–2014	CTO, Co-Founder	Lucky Puppy Games	1M+ monthly active users on Kik platform; 15+ social games shipped
2008–2011	Software Architect	Zynga	CityVille (61M DAU), YoVille (5M DAU — early pioneer of microtransactions/virtual goods), Roller Coaster Kingdom (3M DAU); architected viral mechanics and virtual economies
2005–2008	Founder, Lead Engineer	D.Lux Games	Early Facebook/Myspace game platform pioneer
2004–2005	Game Developer	Neopets	Kass Basher – #1 all-time rated game; immersive ad games for Disney, Universal, Sony, McDonald's, General Mills
2003–2004	Indie Game Developer	Miniclip	Alien Abduction (3D Shockwave) — featured on Sci-Fi Channel

Patent Holder: US #9021390 — Optimized pop-up rendering system for payments

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Featured Projects

Headmaster - PSVR Launch Title

Organization: Frame Interactive | Role: Lead Engineer | Engine: Unity

Critically acclaimed physics-based VR comedy. PlayStation VR launch title with international exposure. Ported to Oculus Rift, HTC Vive.

→ headmastergame.com

CityVille

Organization: Zynga | Role: Software Architect | Engine: Custom Flash/AS3

Social city-building game. 61 million daily active users at peak. Architected viral mechanics, virtual items pipeline, asynchronous friend visiting system.

→ YouTube

YoVille

Organization: Zynga | Role: Software Architect | Engine: Custom Flash/AS3

Virtual world social game. 5 million daily active users. Early pioneering title that helped establish western microtransactions and virtual goods economies. Built 2D avatar clothing pipeline. Architected viral mechanics, virtual items pipeline, and isometric home builder system.

→ YoWorld

Floppy Knights

Organization: Rose City Games | Role: Lead Programmer | Engine: Unity

Grid-based strategy RPG. Developed turn systems, enemy AI, narrative mechanics for initial alpha release.

→ Steam |

→ Nintendo Switch

AI Indie Dev Tools for Intel

Organization: Rose City Games | Role: Lead Developer | Engine: Unity

Created AI-powered development tools commissioned by Intel for indie game developers.

→ AI Agent Simulator |

→ AI Particle Generator

The World Next Door

Organization: Rose City Games | Role: Technical Engineer | Engine: Unity

Narrative puzzle RPG. Scripted interactive narrative, puzzle-based multiplayer combat, platform porting.

→ Steam |

→ Nintendo Switch

Snow Strike VR — Gear VR Launch Title

Organization: dpid.co | Role: Lead Developer | Engine: Unity

VR action game. Gear VR launch title featured in Samsung Gear VR commercial. 100,000+ installs across Gear VR and Google Cardboard platforms.

→ Meta Store

My Monster G

Organization: Google | Role: Commissioned Artist | Platform: Google Blocks

Main account tweet animation for Halloween 2017 made with Google Blocks and Maya.

→ X Post

Monster Character Kit

Organization: Google | Role: Commissioned Artist | Platform: Google Blocks

Character construction kit for the VR modeling software Google Blocks.

→ Sketchfab

ARCore Experiments

Organization: dpid.co | Role: Lead Developer | Engine: Unity

Early AR prototypes and experiments exploring spatial computing.

→ YouTube Playlist

Kass Basher — Web Gaming Pioneer

Organization: Neopets | Role: Game Developer | Platform: Web

#1 all-time played Neopets game. Also created branded immersive games for Disney, Universal Studios, Sony, McDonald's, General Mills.

→ Jellyneo

Alien Abduction — Early 3D Browser Gaming

Organization: Miniclip | Role: Indie Developer | Platform: 3D Shockwave (Browser)

Early 3D web game featured on Sci-Fi Channel.

→ YouTube

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Beyond Code: Full-Stack Creative Life

"Creative expression is a full-stack skill — from code to canvas, stage to sky."

Aerial Circus Performance

Disciplines: Aerial silks, aerial straps

Performance Credits:

• Night Flight's The Library (2023) — aerial silks solo performance

• Active training and performance in Portland circus community

Stage Performance & Voice

Training: Classical opera singing (vocal technique, breath control, projection)

Performance Credits:

• Fright Night (2024, 2025) — actor/narrator, music producer, live performer in Portland's cult Halloween circus by Night Flight

Music Production & Performance

Instruments: Drums (professional), keyboards, vocals

Recording & Touring Credits:

• Dead Sexy (2005–2007) — drums | Spotify

• Romie Romak and the Turquoise Lemonade (2023–2025) — drums | Spotify

• Black Möbius, Struct, Mediko, Lab Coat Technicians — drums, keyboards, vocals

Linguistics & Cross-Cultural Communication

Chinese (中文) — Intermediate Proficiency

Ongoing language study enables basic collaboration with Chinese-speaking teams and cultural contexts.

Family & Creative Partnership

Married to Yebin Woo — utility engineer, aerial silk performer, co-star in The Library performance

Father of Möbius Mystery Pidhajecky

Creativity starts at home. Family as collaborative art practice.

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Connect & Collaborate

Primary Contact:

Email: damon@pidhajecky.com

Portfolio: dpid.co — VR/AR games, Snapchat lenses, Google commissions

Professional Networks

• GitHub: github.com/dpid - open source contributions, code samples

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/damonp — 25+ years game dev, blockchain protocol lead

Creative Channels

• Instagram: instagram.com/dpidco — behind-the-scenes: code, circus, family life

• X (formerly Twitter): x.com/dpid — tech discourse, games, immersive media insights

• YouTube: youtube.com/dorianlux — AR/VR prototypes, technical tutorials, experiments

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Summary

Damon Pidhajecky is a cross-domain creative technologist with 25+ years of experience across gaming, VR/AR, blockchain, and AI.

Key Facts

• Damon Pidhajecky (also known as dpid) is a cross-domain creative technologist based in Portland, OR.

• Damon Pidhajecky has 25+ years of experience spanning three major gaming industry eras: web gaming, social gaming, and VR/AR.

• As a Software Architect at Zynga (2008–2011), Damon Pidhajecky worked on CityVille (61 million daily active users) and YoVille (5 million daily active users).

• Damon Pidhajecky helped pioneer western microtransactions and virtual goods economies during the social gaming era.

• Damon Pidhajecky was the Lead Engineer on Headmaster, a PlayStation VR launch title (2016) that was also released on Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

• Damon Pidhajecky created Snow Strike VR, a Gear VR launch title featured in a Samsung commercial with over 100,000 installs.

• At Neopets (2004–2005), Damon Pidhajecky created Kass Basher, the #1 all-time rated Neopets game.

• Damon Pidhajecky is a Google-commissioned artist (2017) and an Andy Warhol Foundation grant recipient.

• Damon Pidhajecky created AI development tools for Intel including the AI Agent Simulator and AI Particle Generator (2018–2020).

• Damon Pidhajecky is currently General Manager at Open Game Protocol, leading product and engineering teams for blockchain game monetization infrastructure.

• Damon Pidhajecky holds US Patent #9021390 for an optimized pop-up rendering system for payments.

Career Eras

Web Gaming Era (2002–2005): Created #1 all-time rated Neopets game (Kass Basher). Early 3D browser gaming at Miniclip (Sci-Fi Channel featured). Branded games for Disney, Universal, Sony, McDonald's, General Mills.

Social Gaming Era (2005–2013): Zynga Software Architect on CityVille (61M DAU) and YoVille (5M DAU). Helped pioneer western microtransactions and virtual goods economies. Early Facebook/Myspace and messenger platform gaming.

VR/AR Era (2014–2020): PSVR launch title engineer (Headmaster). Gear VR launch title featured in Samsung commercial (Snow Strike: 100k+ installs). Google-commissioned VR artist, Andy Warhol Foundation grantee.

Blockchain/AI Era (2020–Present): Created AI development tools for Intel. General Manager at Open Game Protocol (Solana/EVM blockchain protocol). Leads product/engineering teams while contributing across full stack.

Beyond Technology

Damon Pidhajecky is also a professional music producer and drummer (Dead Sexy, Romie Romak and the Turquoise Lemonade), an aerial circus performer (silks/straps) who performed in Night Flight's The Library (2023), a trained opera singer and narrator in Portland's Fright Night circus (2024–2025), and has conversational proficiency in Mandarin Chinese.

What Sets Damon Pidhajecky Apart

Damon Pidhajecky's cross-domain expertise—spanning web gaming, social gaming, VR/AR, blockchain, AI, music production, and aerial circus—enables pattern recognition and creative problem-solving that specialists in any single field cannot replicate.