Are you one of the 350K Facebook users still addicted to playing Jetman? Well, this week we are profiling Christian Montoya, who has worked on a number of awesome applications including Jetman and Pop Answers. We met Christian at f8 in July after he left SGN, and he has now landed a position with the good folks over at Appsavvy as their Senior App Developer. Christian also works on his own social games under the aegis of Mappdev (check out Haiku!).
1) I majored in: Electrical & Computer Engineering at Cornell University. I tried once to transfer into Information Science, but I didn't want to do the five-year plan. I completed my degree on time and swore never to touch circuits again.
2) I'm most well-known for: I still don't have my "one big thing," but if I had to decide, it might be my blog at christianmontoya.com. I've been blogging since September 2005 and it has allowed me to have a voice in the Internet industry long before my career started. I still take advantage of the relationships that I built through blogging and I also use my blog to announce my latest projects. Plus, it helped that I was once featured
on Lifehacker after making it to the top of Digg for my advice on "how to pull an all-nighter." To this day, Google still considers me an expert on that.
3) How did I end up in NJ? My fiancee graduated last May and her job brought her to NJ. I followed her after I finished my work with SGN in Palo Alto. It was what you would call "perfect, unexpected timing."
4) When I'm not working on Mappdev I'm: putting my best work into my day-job at appssavvy in NYC, or burning calories at the gym.
5) One thing about me few people know: I didn't learn programming until college. When I got to Cornell, my only experience with software was making websites in Microsoft Frontpage. I struggled with programming for two years until I finally managed to make sense of all the concepts that were thrown at me as a freshman.
6) The thing I love most about my job is: User interface design. I love making software super easy & fun to use. I write a lot of code but my true passion is design. I'm constantly showing my work to others and getting feedback about how to make every detail better.
7) Website worth checking out: WeTheRobots.com is my favorite web comic. I want everyone to read it.
8) Best candy: Andes Chocolate Mints. I grew up with these and still keep a fresh pack in my kitchen every week.
9) Best trip: I went to Hungary with my family when I was in high school. I realized I like Europe a lot and still want to go back.
10) Favorite Facebook app: Pet Society
11) 3 gadgets I can't function without: Macbook, iPod Touch, iPod Shuffle.
12) My future plans include: Launching new games, turning Mappdev into a full-fledged games company.
13) In 2007 I: In May I graduated from Cornell University after a very exhausting senior year. I had a job offer from InvestorGuide.com in Fairfax Virginia, but I postponed that for two months to work on
CourseHero.com with a group of Cornell students in Sunnyvale, CA. I then moved to Fairfax Virginia to start my job, but I soon realized that I was wasting my time there. I spent my free time learning the
Facebook platform with a friend I met at Course Hero, Yaowei Yeo, and we built a Facebook game called DotA which SGN wanted to buy. Yaowei wouldn't sell, but I left my job to join SGN.
14) In 2008 I: Started working at the SGN office when it was still a part of Freewebs in Silver Spring, Maryland. I was responsible for applications like Jetman and Fight Club when they were still some of the biggest games on Facebook. When SGN became a separate company, I moved with them to Palo Alto, CA and worked there until July. After I left, I started my own company, Mappdev, and released my first game, Pop Answers. I then moved to New Jersey to live with my fiancee, and when she told me to go out and make some real money, I went to appssavvy in NYC. I knew the team from my days at Freewebs and now I'm working as their Senior Application Developer. I still put my free time into new projects with Mappdev.
15) In 2009 I: don't plan that far ahead! I just pray that things will go well :)
Go Christian!
Posted by: Suleman Ali | December 16, 2008 at 06:09 AM
I heard he's a ninja in real life.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 16, 2008 at 06:12 AM
I couldn't agree with you more! And thanks for the blog award! I'm just thrilled to receive this award from you. I'll be sure to keep this blog an interesting place for my awesome readers, such as yourself, to keep coming back to!
http://www.pumashoes.cc/
Posted by: Yihuoda | June 22, 2010 at 06:16 PM
I couldn't agree with you more! And thanks for the blog award! I'm just thrilled to receive this award from you. I'll be sure to keep this blog an interesting place for my awesome readers, such as yourself, to keep coming back to! http://www.pumashoes.cc/
Posted by: Yihuoda | June 22, 2010 at 06:54 PM
Life is not fair, get used to it.Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping; they called it opportunity.
Posted by: discount coach | July 13, 2010 at 09:03 PM
I'm so envy of him. He sure invest all of his powers on learning the skill of programming and now he's doing something great which combine fun and computers, and sure don't sit in a dark basement doing some boring programming work.
Posted by: software testing services | July 23, 2010 at 07:20 AM
Looks like an interesting fellow and wonderful to do business with, no doubt I'd like to get his business card, somehow I have the impression he knows what he's doing:)
Posted by: business card scanner | August 31, 2010 at 02:41 AM
Behind each of strenuous efforts, there must be double the reward.
Posted by: coach outlet | December 21, 2010 at 04:30 PM
You have good insight on the topic, i have bookmarked your site. I have to show my buddy of mine this.
Posted by: Tuneup Utilities crack | January 11, 2011 at 07:42 PM
You find nice profile for your post.Christian Montoya you are doing really good job.I like your discussion and thanks for sharing your thought with us.I am impressed the way you answered.Youngsters have many things to learn from you.
Posted by: document imaging services | March 19, 2011 at 03:19 AM
Hi!I read your profile. Your ambitions are interesting. I appreciate your way of presentation. Wish you all the best.
Posted by: Forex reviews | June 02, 2011 at 12:08 PM
Mostly all the Websites are for the information purpose and you have also created such a great website here.Such a great ideas you have Provided here.Thank you for sharing
Posted by: Uggs Clearance | August 06, 2011 at 01:09 AM
finding your artical is surprised to me. i want to search for this imformation. thanks your sharing.
Posted by: ugg outlet | August 31, 2011 at 01:12 AM
Mostly all the Websites are for the information purpose and you have also created such a great website here.Such a great ideas you have Provided here.Thank you for sharing
Posted by: cheap uggs | September 06, 2011 at 11:16 PM
Hi!I read your profile. Your ambitions are interesting. I appreciate your way of presentation. Wish you all the best.
Posted by: gucci store | September 06, 2011 at 11:17 PM
If so, Where could i download this template? if not, how much does it cost? Thanks a lot!
http://www.piumini4moncler.com/
Posted by: piumini moncler | September 09, 2011 at 01:05 AM
"Thanks for sharing. This website is to I too have to help. Very good.
"
Posted by: nike air max 90 retro | October 12, 2011 at 07:43 PM
Love those! I enjoy following your posts on facebook and rss!
Posted by: supra shoes | October 14, 2011 at 04:46 AM
I am very impressed, so it has been found that you haveso well with so much class, subject and more. A top-notch, buddy! Really great thingshere. Thanks for you sharing..
Posted by: Moncler Outlet | October 19, 2011 at 01:02 AM
Asics Schuhe ist die beste Laufschuhe,Beste Verarbeitungen, hochwertige Materialen und ein unverwechselbares Design machen Asics Schuhe zum Liebhaber vieler Schuhfans, denn sie sind auch für den Alltag perfekt einsetzbar!
Posted by: Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 Baja Black/White | October 21, 2011 at 07:21 PM
Hope we can have a chance to make this dress for you.
Very nice and informative post
Good to know this, hope for future cooperation.
Thanks for your interest in our dress. hope for our cooperation!
http://www.weddingdresslove.co.uk/
Posted by: chiffon wedding gowns | December 14, 2011 at 09:45 PM
Good to know this, hope for future cooperation.
Thanks for your interest in our dress. hope for our cooperation!
http://www.weddingdresslove.co.uk/
Posted by: evening wedding dresses | January 10, 2012 at 05:10 PM
Very nice and informative post
Good to know this, hope for future cooperation.
Thanks for your interest in our dress. hope for our cooperation!
http://www.weddingdresslove.co.uk/
Posted by: maternity wedding clothes | January 16, 2012 at 07:23 PM
From your article, you can get a lot of meaningful knowledge and helpful information , this is the article I've ever seen one of the most exciting . Not only that , your article humorous style , it is fun . Thank you for sharing .
Posted by: Coach Outlet Online | January 16, 2012 at 07:44 PM