A decade of discovery, development, and dedication - my journey has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride through the realms of crypto and programming. It's been a while since I've shared, but today, I'm revisiting my past and unveiling my future.
The Beginnings of a Crypto Enthusiast
Ten years ago, my journey into the cryptocurrency world began, not with a financial investment, but with a community that epitomized the spirit of generosity and innovation: /r/dogecoin.
It was here that I discovered the impact of collective action. We achieved amazing things, from charity drives that made real-world impacts, like the Doge4Water campaign, to my personal initiative that raised D1.1M for charity. This experience was a profound realization of what a united community can accomplish. /r/dogecoin was more than a subreddit; it was a home that fostered my love for blockchain technology and set me on my path.
The Birth of DogeArcade.net
Inspired by this vibrant community, I ventured into combining my two passions at the time: blockchain technology and videogame development. Alongside my friend (@corybralcortex's big brother) /u/DLLrul3rz, we created video games for Dogecoin. Among those, DOOMGE stood out, embodying the fun and innovative spirit of Dogecoin.
Revisit: A tribute to to my first crypto home - /r/dogecoin
Ethereum and the Dawn of DApps
Fast forward four years from my initial dive into the crypto space, my journey took a turn towards the world of decentralized applications (DApps) on Ethereum. It was here that I embarked on a very personal project with my friend @jaegar: the launch of @pixelproperty. This endeavor wasn't about achieving widespread success or revolutionizing the digital art world overnight. Instead, PixelProperty served as my laboratory, my sandbox for experimentation within the blockchain domain.
This project became a cornerstone of my blockchain education, allowing me to merge my interests in programming, digital art, and cryptocurrency in a practical, hands-on way. While PixelProperty may not have made headlines, its value to me was immeasurable. It was my stepping stone into the world of DApps, a proof of concept that demonstrated the possibilities and challenges of building on Ethereum.
More than anything, PixelProperty was a testament to the exploratory spirit that defines the crypto and blockchain community. It was a learning experience that deepened my understanding of smart contracts, user interaction on the blockchain, and the potential of decentralized platforms.
In many ways, PixelProperty underscored the ethos of early blockchain development: a blend of innovation, community, and a bit of trial and error. It was, for me, a jumping-off point into deeper waters, a project that laid the groundwork for all my future endeavors in the blockchain and crypto world.
Revisit: PixelProperty.io Launches The Evolving Blockchain Canvas
Seed - A Blockchain Solution for Video Games
That same year, amidst my foray into decentralized applications, I ventured into one of the most intellectually stimulating projects of my academic career. My graduation final project, a pioneering endeavor named Seed, sought to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in the realm of blockchain technology: creating a high-volume, low-latency solution specifically tailored for decentralized video games.
Seed wasn't just a project; it was a deep dive into the intricacies of blockchain scalability and efficiency, particularly within the gaming industry. The initiative led to the development of 39 articles and contributions on Utopian, each exploring different facets of blockchain technology and its application in gaming environments.
Revisit: Seed - Problems & Hypothesized Solutions - The Cooperative blockchain Scaling Solution
Pyramid Panic and Open Source Contributions
In the same year that saw the birth of Seed and deep dives into decentralized applications, another adventure was taking shape, one that would meld our love for gaming, programming, and community engagement into a singular, creative endeavor: Pyramid Panic. Developed alongside my colleagues @jaegar, myself, and a dedicated group of friends, Pyramid Panic was more than just a game—it was an open-source voyage into the heart of collaborative game development.
The Genesis of Pyramid Panic
Pyramid Panic began as an ambitious idea: to create a top-down 2.5D fighting/puzzle game that challenged players to battle and puzzle their way through a dynamically evolving pyramid. The concept was simple yet captivating; reach the top and claim the treasure, but with a twist—defeated players would turn into ghosts, capable of influencing the game's outcome from beyond the grave.
The Evolution Through Open Source
One of the most compelling aspects of Pyramid Panic's development was our decision to make the game engine open source. Over the course of six articles shared on Utopian, we chronicled the highs and lows of our development journey.
Revisit: Pyramid Panic - Beta Features - Custom C++ Networked Game & Engine
The Saga of Guilds of Gods
In a year brimming with innovation and exploration, my journey took an exciting turn towards the realm of MMORPGs. Partnering with my colleague @jaegar, we embarked on an adventure that was as challenging as it was rewarding, creating Guilds of Gods. This indie MMORPG project marked the beginning of a three-year odyssey of development, fueled by our shared passion for gaming and the endless possibilities within the virtual worlds we sought to create.
Guilds of Gods was conceived in the aftermath of our work on the Seed project. Although Seed's direct integration with Guilds of Gods was set aside, the lessons learned and the ambition it fostered were not. Free from the constraints of blockchain technology, we poured our efforts into developing a server that would host our vision for an MMORPG that was both engaging and unique.
A Journey of Collaboration and Live Development
From the outset, @jaegar and I committed to an open development process. We took to live streaming our development every Sunday, inviting the community into our creative process, fostering a transparent and interactive environment. These streams weren't just about coding or designing; they were about building a connection with our audience, sharing our progress, and incorporating real-time feedback.
The heart of Guilds of Gods beat strongest within its community. Starting a Patreon allowed us to deepen our engagement with our most dedicated fans, providing them with exclusive insights and the opportunity to shape the game's development. Our Discord channel became a bustling hub of over a few hundred players, sharing their adventures, suggestions, and fostering a sense of belonging among like-minded enthusiasts.
While Guilds of Gods may not have shattered records, the milestones we achieved together spoke volumes of our dedication and the resonant chord our game struck with its audience. Over 9,000 players registered to join our world, with a peak of 35 players adventuring through the realm of Guilds of Gods simultaneously. These numbers, modest though they might be, were a testament to the vibrant community that rallied around our creation.
Reflecting on Three Years of Guilds of Gods
As we reflect on the three years dedicated to developing Guilds of Gods, it's clear that success isn't solely measured by numbers. The journey of creating Guilds of Gods with @jaegar, the community we built, and the live interactions that shaped each Sunday, culminated in a project we hold dear. It's a narrative of passion, perseverance, and the joy found in bringing a shared vision to life.
Guilds of Gods was more than a game; it was a labor of love, a platform for innovation, and a gathering place for a community that cherished the idle incremental MMORPG we had poured our hearts into. And as we look back, it's not just the game we created that fills us with pride, but the journey we embarked on together and the community that joined us every step of the way.
Revisit: Guilds of Gods - The Idle Incremental MMORPG
PixelProperty V2
Three years ago, while still deep in the development of Guilds of Gods, I took on a side challenge at the EthGlobal's Scaling Ethereum hackathon. My team and I prototyped PixelProperty V2, a multichain digital canvas aimed at solving the original's scalability issues by allowing interaction across Ethereum, Polygon, and Avalanche.
This version introduced a more accessible platform for users to create and collaborate, with properties represented as ERC1155-compliant crypto collectibles. Our hard work paid off when we won the Skale Prize, highlighting the project's innovation and potential in a multi-chain environment.
This experience was a brief yet enriching journey into the possibilities of blockchain technology, all while juggling the ongoing progress of Guilds of Gods. Winning the prize was a proud moment, showcasing our commitment to overcoming blockchain's limitations through creativity and technical ingenuity.
GoG: Battles Wins at EthOnline Hackathon
Later that same year, @jaegar and I participated in EthGlobal's EthOnline hackathon. Here, we unveiled GoG: Battles, a strategic card game extension of the Guilds of Gods universe, marrying trading, battling, and DeFi savings into a seamless experience. Our efforts were recognized with two prestigious awards: the Skynet Prize and Best Use of AAVE - 1st Place.
GoG: Battles allowed players to collect and battle with equipment cards, each backed by DeFi savings. By integrating with AAVE on Polygon, the game introduced a novel way for players to mint NFT cards with real underlying value and earn through gameplay. Battles were fought with teams of adventurers, with the victor gaining ranks and rewards that grow from interest generated in DeFi protocols.
Winning the Skynet and AAVE prizes at the hackathon was a testament to the innovative approach GoG: Battles took in blending gaming with decentralized finance. It showcased how blockchain games could offer more than just entertainment, providing a unique investment avenue for players.
Guilds of Gods: Battles Showcase
Soulmatates: A Winning Solution at Hack FEVM
At EthGlobal's Hack FEVM, my latest and final hackathon endeavor brought us Soulmates, a soulbound token (SBT) issuance engine. This project not only secured us a spot as finalists but also led us to win, earning the #1 prize, the Filecoin Grand Prize for Best Use, a testament to our project's utility and innovative approach to decentralized identity and reputation systems.
Soulmates is built on FEVM, featuring a suite of smart contracts and a fully-functioning front-end dApp. It's designed for creating, assigning, and claiming SBTs, leveraging automatic Filecoin deal data for provably stored metadata. The platform showcases potential use cases ranging from lending protocols and DeFi solutions to storage provider reputation systems and education credentials.
Winning the Filecoin Grand Prize and presenting Soulmates on the big stage was a crowning moment in my hackathon experiences. It highlighted the potential of soulbound tokens in shaping the future of decentralized systems and identity verification. This project was a thrilling conclusion to my hackathon chapter, filled with learning, innovation, and the satisfaction of creating something with immediate real-world applicability.
Silence Before the Storm
My journey since the last touchpoint with Hive has been a whirlwind of personal and professional milestones. It began with finding love and took a pivotal turn as I relocated to the United States. There, I embarked on an exciting professional venture as the founding engineer at IYK Inc., a role that set the stage for my subsequent leadership in product development at Colle Inc., where I serve as a Staff Software Engineer. Each of these chapters has not only shaped my career but also deepened my engagement with the transformative potential of blockchain technology.
At IYK Inc., we ventured into the realm of "phygital" goods, blurring the lines between physical products and digital assets through NFC technology. Our innovative approach, dubbed "Proof of Proximity," ensured that NFT ownership could seamlessly transition to the person in closest proximity to the physical product. This initiative aimed to marry the tangible and the intangible, making digital ownership more intuitive and grounded in the physical world.
My journey continued at Colle Inc., a luxury goods marketplace that leverages the power of web3 and NFTs to introduce unparalleled transparency into the gray market. Here, our focus has been on luxury watches as our first vertical, with plans to expand into other areas of luxury goods. We're at the forefront of integrating soulbound tokens and preparing for a cryptocurrency airdrop, aiming to revolutionize how authenticity and ownership are perceived and managed in the luxury segment.
Unified Vision for Blockchain Technology
As I reconnect with Hive and share the latest chapters of my journey, it's clear that my adventure with Colle Inc. is just beginning. Having laid the groundwork during the bear market, Colle is perfectly positioned to thrive in the emerging bull market. The timing couldn't be better; as the market re-energizes, we're ready to introduce our innovative luxury goods marketplace to the world.
This phase of my journey is not just about continuing my exploration of blockchain's potential but also about realizing the vision my team and I have for Colle. We're on the cusp of something truly special, poised to make a significant impact at a time when the world is most receptive to the solutions and transparency that blockchain can offer.
To Hive, my steadfast companion through this journey, and to everyone who's been part of my story: I'm excited for what's ahead. As we gear up for this next phase, I'm eager to share and grow alongside this community, proving that our collective exploration of blockchain's possibilities is far from over. Together, let's embrace the burgeoning energy of the market and make our marks.