Cory Ondrejka
Encyclopedia
Cory Ondrejka is a software developer best known as the former Chief Technology Officer of Linden Lab
, makers of Second Life
. With Philip Rosedale
, Ondrejka co-founded Second Life and played a significant role in the architecture of the product. After leaving Linden Lab, Ondrejka became Senior Vice President
of Digital Strategy for the EMI
Group until he left EMI in September 2009.
, where he helped to develop Road Rash 64 and built a core technology team to deliver titles to the Nintendo 64
and Sony PlayStation
consoles. Prior to 2000, Ondrejka also worked for the Department of Defense
and the National Security Agency
.
in 2000 and was the fourth employee retained by the company. During his tenure at Linden Lab (2000–2007), Ondrejka was chiefly responsible for the development of the Linden Scripting Language
, and reportedly spearheaded Linden Lab's initiatives in favour of user intellectual property
rights and open source code.
Ondrejka departed Linden Lab in 2007, a move initially rumoured in the virtual world
blog Massively and subsequently confirmed in CNET
and by numerous other sources following an official statement. Ondrejka's departure, which former Linden Lab Chief Executive Officer
Philip Rosedale
characterized in a BBC interview as amicable "differences... about how to run the company and how best we organise ourselves as a company going forward", was a source of controversy and speculation in the media and blogosphere
.
with the title of senior vice-president of digital strategy. Digital business president Douglas Merrill
commented on Ondrejka's appointment that, Ondrejka's experience in building virtual environments will be valuable to EMI in creating "new digital communities for fans and artists", specifically with a view to enabling people to find and engage with musical content.
to appear in the 3D world as the Flying Spaghetti Monster
. His activities in the world were characterized by Wagner James Au as "puckish" and playfully anarchic, often to the benefit of newbies.
. He earned a joint undergraduate degree in Computer Science
and Weapons and Systems Engineering, and has the distinction of being the first Annapolis graduate to do so.
Linden Lab
Linden Research, Inc., d/b/a Linden Lab, is a privately held American Internet company that is best known as the creator of Second Life....
, makers of Second Life
Second Life
Second Life is an online virtual world developed by Linden Lab. It was launched on June 23, 2003. A number of free client programs, or Viewers, enable Second Life users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars...
. With Philip Rosedale
Philip Rosedale
Philip Rosedale is an American entrepreneur, best known as the creator of the virtual world Second Life. Within the Second Life metaverse, his avatar is known as Philip Linden....
, Ondrejka co-founded Second Life and played a significant role in the architecture of the product. After leaving Linden Lab, Ondrejka became Senior Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of Digital Strategy for the EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
Group until he left EMI in September 2009.
Before Linden Lab
Before joining Linden Lab, Ondrejka served as Project Leader and Lead Programmer for Pacific Coast Power and LightLocomotive Games
Locomotive Games was a video game developer acquired by THQ in 1999 which develops games for a variety of game machines and consoles. Working with many of THQ's major licenses and franchises, their mission is to develop high quality content and experiences...
, where he helped to develop Road Rash 64 and built a core technology team to deliver titles to the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
and Sony PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
consoles. Prior to 2000, Ondrejka also worked for the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
and the National Security Agency
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
.
Linden Lab (2000-2007)
Ondrejka joined San Francisco-based Linden LabLinden Lab
Linden Research, Inc., d/b/a Linden Lab, is a privately held American Internet company that is best known as the creator of Second Life....
in 2000 and was the fourth employee retained by the company. During his tenure at Linden Lab (2000–2007), Ondrejka was chiefly responsible for the development of the Linden Scripting Language
Linden Scripting Language
Linden Scripting Language, or LSL, is the programming language used by residents of Second Life, a virtual world by Linden Lab.LSL has a syntax similar to C and allows objects to control the behavior of in-world objects of Second Life from the Internet via email, XML-RPC, and most recently, HTTP...
, and reportedly spearheaded Linden Lab's initiatives in favour of user intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
rights and open source code.
Ondrejka departed Linden Lab in 2007, a move initially rumoured in the virtual world
Virtual world
A virtual world is an online community that takes the form of a computer-based simulated environment through which users can interact with one another and use and create objects. The term has become largely synonymous with interactive 3D virtual environments, where the users take the form of...
blog Massively and subsequently confirmed in CNET
CNET
CNET is a tech media website that publishes news articles, blogs, and podcasts on technology and consumer electronics. Originally founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks' acquisition...
and by numerous other sources following an official statement. Ondrejka's departure, which former Linden Lab Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
Philip Rosedale
Philip Rosedale
Philip Rosedale is an American entrepreneur, best known as the creator of the virtual world Second Life. Within the Second Life metaverse, his avatar is known as Philip Linden....
characterized in a BBC interview as amicable "differences... about how to run the company and how best we organise ourselves as a company going forward", was a source of controversy and speculation in the media and blogosphere
Blogosphere
The blogosphere is made up of all blogs and their interconnections. The term implies that blogs exist together as a connected community or as a social network in which everyday authors can publish their opinions...
.
After Linden Lab
In 2008, Ondrejka was recruited to join EMIEMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
with the title of senior vice-president of digital strategy. Digital business president Douglas Merrill
Douglas Merrill
Douglas Merrill is the CEO and founder of , a financial services technology company that provides credit alternatives for the underbanked. ZestCash announced a $19 million round of Series A funding in July 2011 and was one of Forbes’ Names You Need to Know in 2011...
commented on Ondrejka's appointment that, Ondrejka's experience in building virtual environments will be valuable to EMI in creating "new digital communities for fans and artists", specifically with a view to enabling people to find and engage with musical content.
In Second Life
Ondrejka was known in Second Life as "Cory Linden," and notably created an avatarAvatar (computing)
In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...
to appear in the 3D world as the Flying Spaghetti Monster
Flying Spaghetti Monster
The Flying Spaghetti Monster is the deity of the parody religion the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster or Pastafarianism...
. His activities in the world were characterized by Wagner James Au as "puckish" and playfully anarchic, often to the benefit of newbies.
Education
Ondrejka is a former US Navy officer and graduate of the US Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
. He earned a joint undergraduate degree in Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
and Weapons and Systems Engineering, and has the distinction of being the first Annapolis graduate to do so.