David Hope
Principal VR Contributor at Cat Claw Studios
David is an indie developer and Unity VR specialist with deep expertise in computer graphics and physics simulation. His passion lies in pushing the boundaries of VR performance through cutting-edge optimization techniques and delivering immersive, high-performance virtual experiences with clean, maintainable code architecture.
Before David's commitment to Cat Claw Studios, he gained valuable technical experience helping other companies tackle complex technical challenges. He worked on an Android utility app, developing skills in mobile development with Android Studio. He also contributed shader work and Quest 2 optimization for a VR project, where he researched DOTS, GPU instancing, and compute shaders to improve rendering performance. These work-for-hire projects allowed him to refine his technical expertise before beginning his journey as an indie game developer.
Now, as a principal contributor to Cat Claw Studios, David has found his home in indie game development. He's focused primarily on bringing the itch.io Jame Gam award-winning game "Be Positive!" to Steam and SteamVR, where he's applying his VR optimization expertise to create a polished, comfortable VR experience. He also contributes heavily to other technical challenges across all studio projects, including dynamic GPU grass deformation systems and articulated creature physics simulations. As a core member of the team, David is dedicated to crafting innovative virtual experiences that showcase both technical excellence and creative vision.
Specialties
Experience
David has pursued programming and game development as a passion for most of his life, and contracted for various technical projects over the years before bringing his skills and expertise to Cat Claw Studios.
ChicoHope - Android Utility Development (Contract)
Contributed to development and marketing of Bluetooth Leash Pro, an Android utility app on the Google Play store. This work-for-hire project involved Android development with Android Studio, giving David experience in mobile platforms outside of game development.
FLOAT VR (BrainSwitch Labs) - Shader & Optimization Work (Contract)
Performed research and development into DOTS, GPU Instancing, Compute Shaders, and other targeted optimizations for Quest 2. This contract-based experience helped David refine his skills before transitioning to indie game development.
Education
Current Work
David has been a principal contributor for Cat Claw Studios since its inception in 2025. He's now focused primarily on bringing the award-winning puzzle game Be Positive! to Steam and SteamVR, where his expertise in VR optimization, computer graphics, and physics simulation shines. He's dedicated to creating smooth, comfortable, and immersive VR experiences through cutting-edge optimization techniques while maintaining clean, extensible code architecture.
Beyond Be Positive!, David contributes to a wide range of technical challenges across the studio's projects, including developing dynamic GPU grass deformation systems and implementing articulated creature physics for other projects in development. As an integral indie contributor at Cat Claw Studios, David is committed to crafting innovative virtual experiences that showcase both technical excellence and creative vision.