The Thomas Brush Show Tom Francis: How He Sold 1,000,000 Copies Of His Games | Ep. #052
Aug 29, 2025
Tom Francis, a seasoned indie game developer known for titles like Gunpoint and Heat Signature, shares his insights on thriving in the game industry. He discusses the balance between structured planning and creative experimentation that drives unique gameplay. The role of AI in enhancing game design is debated, emphasizing human creativity's irreplaceable value. Tom also dives into the importance of setting for player engagement and the emotional challenges during beta testing, providing a glimpse into the artistry and technicalities of game development.
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Episode notes
Iterate Fast, Test Instincts
- Tom Francis iterates rapidly and tests instincts rather than sticking to rigid plans.
- He removes fear of consequence for players to encourage emergent, experimental play.
Prevent Snowballing In Progression
- Avoid mechanical snowballing that makes the good players even better than everyone else.
- Give all players equal core resources so challenge remains meaningful across skill levels.
Human Intent Matters In Games
- Tom believes AI can't yet replace human-driven intentionality and surprise in games.
- Human-created choices create a dialogue between player and creator that AI lacks today.