Sam is available for hire

Sam Lucyk

Verified Expert in Engineering

Game, Web, and Blockchain Developer

New York City, NY, United States

Toptal member since April 11, 2022

Expertise

Game Development Web Development Full-stack Development Back-end Development Third-party APIs Node.js MongoDB JavaScript Unity3D SQL Blockchain Polygon NFT Phaser

Bio

Sam is an accomplished game, web, and blockchain developer with over a decade of experience. He has recently worked for more than four years as the lead developer and product lead of an edtech gaming startup, building their product from the ground up. After the company's acquisition, he managed the transition of the product before ending his time there. He currently leads a game studio focusing on Web3 game development and is eager to work on new, challenging projects and goals.

Portfolio

Proof of Play

3D Games, Unity3D, Solidity, Blockchain Game Development, React, Node.js

Studio Garnish

Unity, Node.js, React, Solidity, Blockchain Game Development, Blockchain...

Shoelace Learning

JavaScript, Unity, Node.js, React, MongoDB, AWS Lambda, Unity3D, Python, Scrum...

Experience

JavaScript - 8 years Unity - 8 years Game Development - 8 years Node.js - 8 years DevOps - 4 years Blockchain Game Development - 2 years Solidity - 2 years Non-fungible Tokens (NFT) - 2 years

Availability

Part-time

Preferred Environment

Unity, Node.js, MongoDB, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Unity3D, C#, JavaScript, Full-stack Development, SQL, JSON, Async/Await, Unity2D, REST APIs, Databases

The most amazing...

...thing I've developed and designed is a real-time multiplayer strategy game used by more than three million students across the world.

Work Experience

Senior Software Engineer

2022 - PRESENT

Proof of Play

Developed the fully on-chain 3D game Pirate Nation.
Wrote smart contract code in Solidity deployed to Polygon and Arbitrum Nova to carry our complex gameplay logic.
Integrated the Unity game client with blockchain to allow questing, crafting, combat, and more!

Technologies: 3D Games, Unity3D, Solidity, Blockchain Game Development, React, Node.js

Founder and Chief Technology Office (CTO)

2021 - PRESENT

Studio Garnish

Developed game services used across multiple games for multiple clients for leaderboards and wallet integrations.
Managed a team of developers and artists to coordinate work and deliverables to meet aggressive deadlines for multiple clients.
Developed a Web3 play-to-earn and NFT game for the Doge Dash project.
Developed and designed a 3D Dungeon Crawler NFT game for a client to add value to their project.

Technologies: Unity, Node.js, React, Solidity, Blockchain Game Development, Blockchain, Non-fungible Tokens (NFT), Unity3D, Python, Leadership, Architecture, C#, Game Development, JavaScript, 2D Games, Full-stack, Full-stack Development, TypeScript, APIs, JSON, Third-party APIs, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Cryptocurrency, Mobile Game Design, CTO, Async/Await, API Integration, 3D Games, Multiplayer, Networking, Game Design, Unity2D, CSS, HTML, IT Project Management, Project Management, System Architecture, Application Architecture, REST APIs, Databases, CI/CD Pipelines, Security, Express.js, Amazon Web Services (AWS), DevOps, MongoDB Atlas, GraphQL

Lead Developer and Game Product Lead

2017 - 2021

Shoelace Learning

Led the development and design of Squiggle Park: Dreamscape, an educational reading game for grades 2 to 8 with more than 3 million registered users. Unity client with an API built with a Node.js serverless framework using AWS Lambda.
Headed the technical transition of the game Squiggle Park from Eyeread Inc. to Dreambox Learning.
Architected and maintained a MongoDB and event-tracking service for two applications to track progress toward goals and utilize feature design and prioritization.
Developed an MVP dashboard application using the MERN stack. Managed a team of developers and artists to meet aggressive deadlines while ensuring a high-quality user experience.

Technologies: JavaScript, Unity, Node.js, React, MongoDB, AWS Lambda, Unity3D, Python, Scrum, Leadership, Architecture, C#, Game Development, 2D Games, Full-stack, Stripe, MySQL, Full-stack Development, TypeScript, SQL, APIs, JSON, Third-party APIs, Mobile Game Design, Async/Await, Go, API Integration, Multiplayer, Networking, Game Design, Unity2D, Phaser.io, CSS, HTML, IT Project Management, Project Management, System Architecture, Application Architecture, REST APIs, Databases, CI/CD Pipelines, Security, Express.js, Amazon Web Services (AWS), DevOps, MongoDB Atlas

Full-stack Developer

2016 - 2017

Davoscript

Developed real-time web applications for SimCase using Node.js and MongoDB to be used by professors and students at the Kellogg School of Management.
Maintained and designed a database to be shared across multiple games.
Oversaw the testing and deployment process for the application.

Technologies: Node.js, MongoDB, React, Unity3D, Python, Game Development, JavaScript, Full-stack, Stripe, MySQL, Full-stack Development, SQL, APIs, JSON, Third-party APIs, Mobile Game Design, Async/Await, API Integration, CSS, HTML, System Architecture, Application Architecture, REST APIs, Databases, CI/CD Pipelines, Security, Express.js, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Experience

Dreamscape

https://www.playdreamscape.com/

Dreamscape is the first-ever video game that allows players to adventure, build, and imagine their way to enhancing literacy skills for grades two to eight. There is always something new to learn and explore with an ever-expanding universe of characters, stories, and rewards. I led the development and design of the product for four years at Shoelace Learning.

Doge Dash

Doge Dash is a play-to-earn game built on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC). The aim of the game is simple. Players have to dash as fast as possible through all of the ten levels while collecting coins along the way. Successful players who complete all levels will be rewarded with accumulated coins. I headed the game, smart contract, and NFT development.

Chicken-verse Game Demo

https://demos.studiogarnish.com/vids/CHKN-DEMO.mp4

Chicken-verse was an NFT project for which I built a 3D Dungeon Crawler demo. The game was used to promote the project and be built on in the future. I oversaw the development and design of the game. I also developed the NFT contract and minting page.

Galaxy Doge

Galaxy Doge is a small casual game I developed for a team launching a token project. They used the game as a marketing tool to promote their launch. I led the development and design of the game and leaderboard system.

Pirate Nation

http://piratenation.game

An on-chain role-playing game where the player can quest, craft, and battle other players across the high seas to discover treasure and unexpected surprises. It was built in Unity with smart contracts written in Solidity running on Abritrum Nova. There is a seamless contract integration hiding and creating gasless transactions for the player.

Education

2012 - 2017

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and Cognitive Psychology

Northeastern University - Boston, MA, United States

Skills

Libraries/APIs

Node.js, React, WebGL, Web3.js, Stripe, REST APIs

Tools

MongoDB Atlas, Spine

Languages

Solidity, JavaScript, SQL, Python, C#, CSS, HTML, TypeScript, GraphQL, Go

Frameworks

Unity, Unity3D, Unity2D, Express.js, Phaser.io

Paradigms

DevOps, Agile Software Development, Scrum, Mobile Game Design, Application Architecture

Platforms

AWS Lambda, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Blockchain, iOS, Android

Storage

MongoDB, JSON, Databases, MySQL

Industry Expertise

Project Management

Other

Game Development, Web Development, Blockchain Game Development, Non-fungible Tokens (NFT), Software Project Management, Lambda Functions, Full-stack Development, Game Back-end, Back-end Development, Data Architecture, Software Architecture, Web App Development, 2D Games, Full-stack, APIs, Third-party APIs, Async/Await, API Integration, 3D Games, Multiplayer, Networking, Game Design, IT Project Management, System Architecture, CI/CD Pipelines, Leadership, Architecture, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Cryptocurrency, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), CTO, Security, Solana

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