Passionate game industry professional with over 15 years of experience as a Game Designer, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer. Skilled in growing startups, securing funding, and leading diverse teams. I specialize in creative direction, game design, product development, and strategic planning. My focus is on creating engaging and top-grossing free-to-play games through effective leadership and innovation.𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬:•Game Design & Development: Expert in designing innovative game mechanics and systems.•Creative Direction: Skilled in setting and maintaining a cohesive artistic vision for games.•Monetization Strategies: Proficient in developing and implementing effective in-app purchase models.𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:•Launched 12+ top-grossing free-to-play games, significantly driving user engagement and revenue growth.•Played a key role as Lead Game Designer on Game of War: Fire Age at Machine Zone, contributing to its $1B+ revenue.𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐌𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭:I bring a unique blend of creativity and strategic insight, enabling me to lead teams to success and develop games that captivate players and drive business growth.𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭:I’m always excited to connect with fellow professionals in the gaming industry. Reach out to me on LinkedIn or via email at Pauljleydon@gmail.com.
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Cco At Lila GamesLila Games Oct 2019 - Apr 2024Led creative direction and product development, growing the company from inception to a top-performing game studio.• Secured $2.8M in Seed funding and $10M in Series A funding with fewer than 20 investor pitches• Designed all company branding and collaborated with videographers to create corporate videos, posts, and an online presence that enhanced employee trust and elevated hiring conversion• Hired 35+ employees after interviewing hundreds of candidates, ensuring the selection of top talent• Directed the art style for our flagship product, earning praise from investors and employees• Developed key game features, ensuring successful free-to-play monetization and player retention through a well-designed core loop and game direction• Managed remote work across 8 different time zones for over 3.5 years, maintaining high team morale and productivity -
Director Of DesignSega Jan 2016 - Jan 2018Provided creative direction and strategic guidance on game design and monetization, collaborating with teams across multiple studios worldwide.• Guided system and monetization strategy for various Sega games during visits to gaming studios worldwide• Collaborated with Sega to identify and secure an affordable and capable outsourced development studio• Pitched and secured initial approval for an original IP at Sega• Served as the creative vision and lead designer for "Golf of Fury," a casual skill-based soft currency betting game, building and leading a small team alongside an outsourced development studio• Conducted in-person playtests with structured questions, observing users in a professional testing environment -
Lead DesignerB Spot™ 2015 - 2016Integrated real money wagering into mobile games, enhancing user engagement and monetization.• Mastered and implemented real money wagering in smaller mobile games during the rise of Draft Kings and Skillz• Co-designed and enhanced the onboarding process for real money wagering platforms• Integrated wagering mechanics into various small apps, including match-3 games, runners, and casual games, creating a comprehensive library of wagering games• Conducted market research in LA, studying gambling behaviors and the use of prepaid gambling cards, applying insights to product development -
Lead Game DesignerFunplus Feb 2014 - Jun 2014Led the design and development of a 4x March Battle Strategy Game, contributing to the success of King of Avalon.• Designed numerous core game features, setting the tone and direction for the game's systems and overall layout• Trained and led designers, fostering a skilled and cohesive team• Collaborated with Art Directors on character, environment, and key feature designs -
Lead DesignerMachine Zone Jan 2012 - Jan 2014Directed the design and development of Game of War: Fire Age, a top-grossing mobile game generating over $1 billion in revenue.• Guided the design team for Game of War: Fire Age• Developed numerous game features, including skill trees, troop training, hospitals, events, and live operations• Managed live ops events and sales for major holidays and special occasionsLegacy WorkLost but not forgotten, I contributed to 8+ older mobile games games in content design, feature design, sound design, and a lot of scrappy startup work towards top-grossing games such as iMob 2, Race or Die, Original Gangstaz, iVamps, iKnights, and more. Mostly feature-evolving text-based MMOs, which were all top-grossing at their peak.
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Qa Lead / DesignerMachine Zone 2010 - 2012Contributed to the quality assurance and early design stages of multiple top-grossing games.• Conducted rigorous game testing within a small team to ensure high-quality releases• Created IAP SKUs and managed sales for earlier apps• Interviewed and onboarded the entire QA team, facilitating a smooth transition from QA to Design
Frequently Asked Questions about Paul Leydon
What is Paul Leydon's role at the current company?
Paul Leydon's current role is Creative | Business | Art | Expert in Free-to-Play Strategy | Guiding and Mentoring Creative Minds.
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