Tolga is currently unavailable
Tolga Ay
Verified Expert in Engineering
C++ Developer
Istanbul, Turkey
Toptal member since October 8, 2018
Bio
Tolga is a seasoned developer who built his own game —Remnants of Naezith— in three years. This game works on multiple platforms such as Nintendo Switch, macOS, Windows, Linux, and was published on Steam. This allowed Tolga to master C++ since the project was built without a game engine. His most vital skills currently lay in the C++ area, but he's pretty handy with SQL and Node.js, as well. All in all, Tolga is a code perfectionist who always ensures that he meets project deadlines.
Portfolio
Komodo Platform
Front-end, Amazon Web Services (AWS), CSS, HTML, JavaScript, Blockchain, React...
Red Disk Games
Steam, Git, Jira, GameMaker Studio, Unity
Remnants of Naezith
Front-end, Linux, MacOS, Windows, CSS, HTML, React, JavaScript, MySQL, Node.js...
Experience
- C++ - 5 years
- C - 5 years
- SQL - 3 years
- JavaScript - 3 years
- Web API - 3 years
- Node.js - 3 years
- Blockchain - 3 years
- React - 3 years
Work Experience
Senior C++ Developer | MERN Stack Blockchain Developer
2018 - PRESENT
Komodo Platform
- Made the entire Antara Smart Chain Composer using the platform's tech, React, Node.js, MongoDB, AWS, and more.
- Made the Antara Gaming SDK using the platform's tech, C++, SFML, and more, together with a partner.
- Built the AtomicDEX Pro desktop wallet application using the platform's tech and Qt, together with a partner.
- Learned the required new tech for new projects at a very fast pace.
- Took heavy responsibility and completed projects alone or with a single partner.
Technologies: Front-end, Amazon Web Services (AWS), CSS, HTML, JavaScript, Blockchain, React, Electron, Node.js, QML, Qt, C++
Game Developer
2017 - 2018
Red Disk Games
- Developed a 2D game prototype in GameMaker Studio.
- Ported the project and immediately adapted it to new technologies after the company decided to switch from GameMaker Studio 2D graphics to Unity and 3D graphics.
- Coded the gameplay aspect of the game, including combat and movement mechanics, AI, and more.
- Collaborated closely with the game designer and graphic artists.
- Helped the game's team to publish the product on Steam.
Technologies: Steam, Git, Jira, GameMaker Studio, Unity
Solo Game Developer
2014 - 2018
Remnants of Naezith
- Solely developed, managed, and published the Remnants of Naezith game and its related websites. Coded the game with C++ and SFML only; sans a game engine.
- Self-published the game, which has gained strong and overwhelmingly positive reviews (97%) and pushed to keep the game's quality at its highest without the need of a post-release big bug fix patch.
- Implemented a level editor that allows players to make their custom levels. Made a custom level section to support levels made by the community with a rating system and leaderboards functionalities.
- Made a React and Node.js site—Hub.naezith.com—that shows players, levels, leaderboards, and world records used and appreciated by the community. Built a Discord bot that syncs in-game ranks as Discord roles and reports world records to chat channels.
- Coded the game to be cross-platform—supporting Windows, macOS, and Linux—, adding a wide range of controller support on all platforms in a way that all players can compete in the same leaderboards.
- Optimized the game so that it ran smoothly at the highest graphics on a low-end laptop. Added a speedrun mode that lets players play the whole game without any UI interruption.
- Developed a replay system that lets players watch the gameplay of all other players (any level) on the leaderboard and implemented highly detailed leaderboards and global rankings where players are constantly competing on.
- Implemented a replay validator that constantly checks if all the top entries are perfectly recorded without any glitch or cheat. Coded an incredibly strong anti-cheating system that prevents any cheater from entering the leaderboards.
- Managed a team of freelance artists, musicians, testers, and level designers. Collaborated closely with a ~300 player closed-beta community within a feedback loop of 3.5 years.
- Maintained the development log and did the marketing of the game on Twitter, Reddit, and TIGSource forums. Presented the game in gaming conventions in Istanbul and Berlin and participated in many interviews.
Technologies: Front-end, Linux, MacOS, Windows, CSS, HTML, React, JavaScript, MySQL, Node.js, SFML, Cross-platform App Development, C++
Game Developer Intern
2016 - 2017
Crytek
- Implemented new features for the powerful game development platform—CRYENGINE.
- Developed a project that implemented Vessel Dynamics for the engine.
- Made 2D and 3D ship simulation projects for experiments.
- Coded a top-down entity control system that works like a strategy game.
- Tested and experimented with virtual reality (VR).
Technologies: C++
Software Engineer Intern | Student Assistant
2015 - 2016
Yildiz Technical University
- Learned how to use NVIDIA CUDA promptly and used it efficiently on 2D image data.
- Managed a team and developed an image processing toolset with C++ and NVIDIA CUDA.
- Programmed four image processing algorithms for the project.
- Created a controller with a camera for AR Drone 2.0 using its C++ API.
- Developed a program for voice recognition with Java.
- Helped an assistant professor on his projects by making him a website.
Technologies: CSS, HTML, JavaScript, C, C++
Project History
Remnants of Naezith
https://store.steampowered.com/app/590590Remnants of Naezith is a fast-paced precision platformer oriented around grappling hook mechanics.
Rush through levels and swing around obstacles, improve your skills to climb the leaderboards, or even create your own levels. The fun of swinging with grappling hooks and the amazing feel of acceleration makes a great combination during gameplay.
It was developed with C++ and SFML on the client-side and Express Node.js and MySQL on the server-side.
Rush through levels and swing around obstacles, improve your skills to climb the leaderboards, or even create your own levels. The fun of swinging with grappling hooks and the amazing feel of acceleration makes a great combination during gameplay.
It was developed with C++ and SFML on the client-side and Express Node.js and MySQL on the server-side.
AtomicDEX Pro Desktop Wallet
AtomicDEX is a secure wallet and non-custodial decentralized exchange rolled into one application. It allows users to store coins and trade peer-to-peer with minimal fees without giving up control over their digital assets.
I made the front-end GUI with Qt/QML while my partner made the back-end API.
I made the front-end GUI with Qt/QML while my partner made the back-end API.
Antara Smart Chain Composer
A web application that lets anyone customize and deploy a smart chain in just minutes. Singlehandedly completed the entire web application using React for the front end and many techs, including Antara's, Node.js, MongoDB, and AWS for the back end.
Antara Gaming SDK
https://github.com/KomodoPlatform/antara-gaming-sdkA kit which includes everything a game needs.
The main goal was to have a game engine that also had a blockchain database, for example, a leaderboard. I developed it with a partner. We used EnTT, SFML, Box2D, ImGui, Lua, and more. I made a 3D demo with 2D rendering. https://youtu.be/k1vNYGzpHZ8
The main goal was to have a game engine that also had a blockchain database, for example, a leaderboard. I developed it with a partner. We used EnTT, SFML, Box2D, ImGui, Lua, and more. I made a 3D demo with 2D rendering. https://youtu.be/k1vNYGzpHZ8
Monstrous
https://store.steampowered.com/app/748820Monstrous is a melee-combat-oriented action-adventure game featuring gothic horror characters entangled in fragile alliances and settling rivalries—all set within a free-roaming city amidst the industrial revolution.
The game uses C# and Unity.
The game uses C# and Unity.
hub.naezith
An open-source ranking website for the Remnants of Naezith game that allows players to browse other players, world records, global rankings, levels, and leaderboards.
The game uses React and Node.js.
The game uses React and Node.js.
Education
2013 - 2017
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering
Yildiz Technical University - Istanbul, Turkey
Skills
Libraries/APIs
SFML, Standard Template Library (STL), React, Node.js, Web API
Tools
GitHub Pages, Git, Code::Blocks, Xcode, GameMaker Studio, GitHub, Jira, Microsoft Visual Studio
Languages
QML, C++, C, CSS, SQL, JavaScript, HTML, Python
Frameworks
Express.js, Unity, Unreal Engine 4, Qt, Electron
Paradigms
Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Generic Programming, Functional Programming, Procedural Programming
Platforms
MacOS, Blockchain, Linux, Steam, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Windows
Storage
MongoDB, MySQL, MariaDB
Other
Front-end, RESTful Web Services, Optimization, Gameplay Development, Cross-platform App Development, Computer Engineering, Full-stack, Security, Physics Simulations, Web Development, Speech Recognition, Discord Bots, Game Physics, Game Development, Game Design
Collaboration That Works
How to Work with Toptal
Toptal matches you directly with global industry experts from our network in hours—not weeks or months.
1
Share your needs
Discuss your requirements and refine your scope in a call with a Toptal domain expert.
2
Choose your talent
Get a short list of expertly matched talent within 24 hours to review, interview, and choose from.
3
Start your risk-free talent trial
Work with your chosen talent on a trial basis for up to two weeks. Pay only if you decide to hire them.
Top talent is in high demand.
Start hiring