# 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

---

## 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

---

## Career Timeline

| Years | Role | Organization | 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](https://patents.google.com/patent/US9021390B1) — Optimized pop-up rendering system for payments

---

## 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](http://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](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9ewwXf8x6Q&t=34s)

### **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](https://yoworld.com/)

### **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](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1057800/Floppy_Knights/) |
→ [Nintendo Switch](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/floppy-knights-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](https://github.com/rosecitygames/fk-ddr2) |
→ [AI Particle Generator](https://github.com/rosecitygames/fk-ddr3)

### **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](https://store.steampowered.com/app/755470/The_World_Next_Door/) |
→ [Nintendo Switch](https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/the-world-next-door-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](https://www.meta.com/experiences/snow-strike/905254456232781/)

### **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](https://x.com/Google/status/925403756140822529)

### **Monster Character Kit**
**Organization:** Google | **Role:** Commissioned Artist | **Platform:** Google Blocks
Character construction kit for the VR modeling software Google Blocks.
→ [Sketchfab](https://skfb.ly/6tp9z)

### **ARCore Experiments**
**Organization:** dpid.co | **Role:** Lead Developer | **Engine:** Unity  
Early AR prototypes and experiments exploring spatial computing.  
→ [YouTube Playlist](https://youtu.be/Z76m07w5stM)

### **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](https://www.jellyneo.net/?go=kass_basher_flash)

### **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](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWl2H6Z2Bqc)

---

## 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](https://open.spotify.com/album/4hhvgZMWPka3MEC3bimsZA)  
- **Romie Romak and the Turquoise Lemonade** (2023–2025) — drums | [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/artist/27nMUbt9zoEH8GDovDimVd)
- **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._

---

## Connect & Collaborate

**Primary Contact:**
**Email:** damon@pidhajecky.com
**Portfolio:** [dpid.co](https://dpid.co) — VR/AR games, Snapchat lenses, Google commissions

### Professional Networks
- **GitHub**: [github.com/dpid](https://github.com/dpid) - open source contributions, code samples
- **LinkedIn:** [linkedin.com/in/damonp](https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonp) — 25+ years game dev, blockchain protocol lead

### Creative Channels
- **Instagram:** [instagram.com/dpidco](https://www.instagram.com/dpidco) — behind-the-scenes: code, circus, family life
- **X (formerly Twitter):** [x.com/dpid](https://x.com/dpid) — tech discourse, games, immersive media insights
- **YouTube:** [youtube.com/dorianlux](https://www.youtube.com/user/dorianlux) — AR/VR prototypes, technical tutorials, experiments

---

## 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.