Playing with Balance: Game Economy Design

Playing with Balance: Game Economy Design is your guide to understanding why games are unlike any other medium: they are built on verbs, not nouns. Players don’t just watch or read – they do. Every choice, action, and interaction forms part of a living system designed to engage, challenge, and reward.

Great game economies are about far more than numbers or virtual currencies. They are intricately designed systems that blend anticipation, frustration, fear of missing out, and the relief of su...