Alan Hopkins

About Alan Hopkins

I build teams that turn player insight into action. As a Game Design Director with 15+ years in mobile and F2P, I specialize in early-stage concept development and systems design that uncover what’s fun and what scales. My approach combines creative direction, UX, and data-driven iteration to validate ideas through real player behavior, helping studios move from prototype to proof faster.Specialties include:• Game Design & Systems Design – Core loops, meta-progression, balance, economy design• Player Retention & Engagement – D1/D7/D30 metrics, onboarding, progression pacing• Prototyping & UX – Rapid iteration, wireframes, Unity scripting, data-informed A/B testing• Monetization & Live Ops – Reward systems, economy tuning, feature updates• Leadership & Collaboration – Building creative culture, mentoring designers, aligning with Product & Art

Experience

1. Design Director

   Peoplefun

   Jan 2023 — Present

   Defined long-term design vision for multiple new mobile titles, combining data-driven insights with creative intuition to improve cross-team alignment and iteration efficiency.• Led multidisciplinary teams from concept to early testing and partnered across disciplines to drive key mobile-focused features and product adaptations, including on-boarding, live operations, and retention systems.• Managed annual team budget and participated in hiring and onboarding to scale cross-functional capabilities and foster a culture of experimentation and learning.• Leveraged generative AI tools to accelerate prototype and ad creative production, reducing concept-to-greenlight timelines by over 60% and improving iteration velocity and team throughput.• Recognized with Outstanding Leadership award for Q1 2023.

Education

• Foothill College

  Computer Science and Graphic Design

  1999 — 2001