Part Dan. Part Matt. All Derp.

Derploid® Entertainment was founded by Dan Vicarel and Matt Samardge. After meeting at a Cleveland Game Developers social in summer 2017, they quickly determined that their shared interests and complementary skills could support an independent game development studio: Dan had the programming experience and familiarity with game engines to build a game, while Matt had the visual and musical background to give it polish. By August, they had registered Derploid Entertainment, LLC in the state of Ohio and were ready to make games!

Throughtout the following years, Matt and Dan methodically built up their skills and portfolios. They both had day jobs to work around and families to support, but they always found time to participate in game jams, collaborate with fellow Cleveland Game Developers, and attend conferences like GDEX and Origins Game Fair. In May of 2020, Derploid took on its first professional contract with Solidplasma Studios, contributing artwork and building out the entire cloud infrastrucute for Solidplasma's game, Farmageddon: A Cattle Royale, released in 2021. With the success of that game, Matt and Dan were ready to devote themselves to an original project.

Matt had worked at Jack Casino in Cleveland for several years, so he pitched the idea for a simple mobile game to help players recognize Poker hands faster. This idea would grow into High Hand Hold'em™, described above. Still navigating family life and day jobs (at Spectrum and Amazon, respectively), Matt and Dan are working hard to release the game in Q2 2025. After that, you'll have to wait and see!

Derploid® will always be committed to making the world a better place with engaging and stimulating game experiences. We firmly believe that games should be fun and lucrative without being exploitative. If our skills or values align with yours, maybe you'll consider becoming part of our story!