HI! I'M ARJUN GOPAL.
OR ARJ/GFORCE/G... AND SO ON!
I'M HUMBLE AND DON'T BRAG...
...BUT THIS IS MY WEBSITE,
SO, SCREW BEING MODEST. I'M FREAKIN' AWESOME! 😝💀 ALSO...
I'M AN AWARD WINNING GAME STUDIO FOUNDER AND CREATIVE LEADER, A PROCESS + PRODUCTION CHAMPION AND AN ACCLAIMED MULTIDISCIPLINARY CREATOR.
MY GAMES
JOURNEY
Since 2012, I've had the privilege of building and leading teams, and designing, producing, and shipping diverse award-winning titles across PC, mobile, and web. From chaotic typing games to educational AR apps, my journey has been driven by a passion for unique mechanics, polished production, and creating memorable experiences for players.
Here's a selection of the games that have received critical acclaim, won awards, and are dear to me.
HEADSTART
INTERNATIONAL
GAME & DIGITAL INNOVATION LEAD
Reporting directly to the CEO, I lead game and digital innovation for Australia's largest privately owned toy company, acting as the creative and operational bridge between physical products and digital ecosystems.
Strategic Leadership & Foundation:
I was brought on as the founding hire for the digital division to help traditional toy stakeholders understand the games business. Serving as part of the company's core strategic "brain", I collaborate closely with engineering and design leads to define engine workflows and establish the foundational pipelines to translate physical products and internal IPs into cohesive digital ecosystems.
Production & Co-Development:
I directed the full lifecycle development, milestone tracking, and budget compliance for 7 titles. I sourced and managed global co-development partners to optimise asset delivery pipelines while working hands-on in the trenches alongside developers, artists, and animators. I even stepped in to handle video editing and digital content production when needed.
Innovation & Cross-Functional Direction:
I act as the central "glue" across the slate. I actively break traditional development norms to foster unconventional technology adoption, encouraging internal teams and external partners to evolve and prioritise high-quality, user-first experiences despite resource constraints.
Organic Ecosystem Growth:
I scaled the Zoodio digital ecosystem, connecting mobile apps with a dedicated YouTube channel to generate over 50 million views and drive high cross-media engagement through organic reach.
SUPERSIKE
GAMES
CO-FOUNDER & STUDIO HEAD
I co-founded and bootstrapped an award-winning independent game studio. Here, I led a cross-functional team of 10+ through the full concept-to-launch lifecycle for five original IPs and major client projects.
The Indie Reality (Operations & Leadership):
I managed all end-to-end operations to bootstrap a self-funded studio. I built early-stage studio infrastructure from scratch, including project management tools, version control systems, production workflows, accounting, and HR. I also occasionally served as the resident food delivery person and floor mopper to support the team.
Culture & Teamwork:
I fostered a transparent, empathetic environment where teamwork was the ultimate driver of our success. We attracted and retained fixed talent against bigger studios by offering what mattered most: genuine creative freedom, ownership over the work, and a fiercely protective culture.
In-the-Trenches Development:
I managed cross-functional resource allocation across disciplines like game design, art direction, animation, programming, and audio to drive titles to critical acclaim (like winning Apple App Store "Best of 2015").
Partnerships & Industry Advocacy:
We secured high-profile development contracts for massive IPs like Sesame Street and BBC Action Media, and represented the studio globally as a regular speaker at international game conferences.
MUSIC
My journey in music production, performance, and audio engineering across various monikers and collaborative projects, institutions, and freelance work.
JALEBEE CARTEL
I was one quarter of a pioneering live electronica act that helped put India on the global dance music map. We built a massive organic global fandom and released countless singles, EPs, compilations, and albums on vinyl, CD, and digital media across high-profile labels. We performed at A-list music festivals, along with iconic venues and clubs across the globe. We consistently pushed innovative distribution boundaries, including releasing our seminal 2010 album ONEPOINTNOTHING on USB pen drives way before the streaming era.
A few highlight releases are listed below.
ELSE IF
Else If is my two-piece post-electronica act that draws inspiration from the sounds around us, live instruments, and technology. We use Ableton Live and its array of instruments, alongside samples, Gibson guitars, Moog synthesisers, and a fair bit of our imagination.
ILM ACADEMY - HEAD OF FACULTY
I built an educational ecosystem to mentor the next generation of audio professionals. I hired and trained the teaching staff, developed the core curriculum, and fostered a community of highly successful producers and performers. I continue to mentor upcoming talent and support them in any way I can.
FREELANCE
I've worked with brands like Marks & Spencer, Vero Moda, Jack & Jones, Samsung, Nokia, H&M, and a host of TV and radio shows and music festivals to develop marketing campaign ideas, compose and produce jingles and ads, scoring background music, mixing and mastering, and providing live sound engineering services.
RED FM 93.5
HEAD AUDIO ENGINEER & PROMO PRODUCER
I directed a 30+ member national creative team across 30+ stations. I managed the end-to-end production of award-winning audio content, shows, and campaigns, mastering the balance between high-volume creative output and large-scale team leadership.
During nearly a decade here, I filled practically every role that exists in the radio industry except sales! Here are a few of the roles I undertook.
Audio Engineer & Promo Producer
I was responsible for the sound of the station at first, and eventually the network. All ads, commercials, internal promos, and sound design went through me.
Music Manager
I managed the music for three years and during this period I was credited for the upturn in our ratings and success. I managed the DMT research and analysis, and followed it up with crucial improvements. I also trained the incoming Music Manager.
Content Manager & Show Producer
I oversaw the content for prestigious shows like the morning breakfast show, evening drive, and a few mid-day shows. During this period, I won a number of awards for show content. I was also the show producer for the national syndicated countdown show.
Voice Over Artist
Starting with simple voice overs for retail ads, my portfolio grew over time with major ad campaigns, station promos, and I eventually became the practical voice of the network for all English-related voice overs.
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
MORE...
Discopia, Soggy Waffles, Akiverse, Substrukt
If Discopia, Soggy Waffles, Akiverse, and Substrukt feel like words you'd like to know more about, please write to me. These are awesome projects that are either ongoing or have ceased to exist (for reasons 🤪). Not only am I always working on various projects, but I'm also constantly learning new things. Whether it's a new piece of software, a new programming language, or a completely new creative discipline, I believe in the power of continuous evolution. This timeline is a living document of what I've been teaching myself over the years.
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