Playing with Balance
Game Economy Design — the three loops of engagement and why ethical design is a commercial necessity.
CRC Press →
Work with meOscar Clark
Keeping games in balance.
Game design, LiveOps and monetisation advice that puts players first — and keeps the studio standing.
Hello, I'm Oscar.
Know what to release next.
Predict the impact it will have.
As Chief Strategy Officer at Arcanix, I'm working with the team to build a platform to help game developers know what to release next — and predict the impact it will have.
Discover Arcanix →I've spent decades helping studios design games people love to return to. Since 1998, I've worked across online, mobile and console gaming, from BT's Wireplay and Three UK to Sony's PlayStation Home, NVIDIA and Unity.
Along the way, I've had some unusual adventures. I helped keep the original Counter-Strike developers going by buying them new computers when they ran out of money, developed the first mobile in-app purchase, and founded a team with the rights to make a rhythm dance game based on The Rocky Horror Show, complete with a successful Kickstarter. I even helped greenlight Subway Surfers, although it became so successful that the publishers only needed two hours of consulting!
I've worked with amazing teams from AAA to indie studios, co-founded a publisher and literally wrote the book on "Games as a Service", followed by my recent book "Playing with Balance" on game economy design. I'm a regular speaker, podcast host and panel moderator, and a proud ambassador for SpecialEffect.
I still help teams with game economies, LiveOps and the delicate art of earning revenue without losing trust.
Books
Two books on making games that last.
Both published by CRC Press.
Games as a Service
How Free to Play Design Can Make Better Games — from wasteful products to sustainable, trustworthy services.
CRC Press →Shows & lessons
The latest shows and posts, newest first.
Let's find your balance.
Workshops, design reviews, economy audits or a friendly chat — tell me what you're working on.
hello@stormlantern.net