With Oscar Clark at a conference panel in 2019
Last December 2024, I was interviewed by Oscar Clark for his new book, Playing with Balance: Game Economy Design. I’d met him years ago and had been a fan of his ever since, attending his webinars and masterclasses on live ops (with my whole design team in tow).
I was thrilled when he asked me to share my perspective on game balancing for his book. I was excited to talk all things game design with him, and the hour flew by fast. A few weeks ago, I found out not only is his book published, but our full conversation is now live on YouTube! Among many other things, Oscar and I talked about:
Why I call myself a “feels designer” and describe game balance in words, not just numbers
How and when game balance comes in during game development - from pitch and prototype to full development and live ops
Why we love roguelike games like Balatro and Slay the Spire (interestingly enough, I went on my 100+ hour playthrough of Slay the Spire AFTER this interview)
Disclaimer: I was still working at my previous studio when this was filmed. But the design principles remain the same. For example:
“The player experience has to come first, and the numbers match that, not the other way around.”
Watch the full interview below:
Thank you, Oscar, for a great conversation - and congrats on your new book!
Be sure to follow Oscar Clark on Bluesky to stay updated on his work. While you’re there, follow me, too :)
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