Chris Priscott on Moving Moving Wild to Oink Games | BoardGameGeek News

by Oink Games Inc.

Editor’s note: Here’s a history of Oink Games’ late 2024 release Moving Wild, told in the form of a Q&A session. —WEM

The Making of Moving Wild

Q: Can you tell us about how Moving Wild came to be?

Chris Priscott: Moving Wild began as a passion project for me. The game originated as Zuuli, a small independent title I designed in 2020. I wanted to create a drafting game that combined my love for wildlife with strategic decision-making.

Over time, it evolved into a refined experience, and when Oink Games approached me about publishing it under their brand, I was thrilled.

Q: What is the premise of the game?

Chris: You are managing a national park and must carefully balance the habitats of various animals. Each round, players draft cards to create the best environment, ensuring their animals have the right conditions to thrive — but each species has its own needs, and space is limited.

Design Origins and Evolution

Q: What was the inspiration behind the game?

Chris: I’ve always loved nature and animals, so I wanted to make a game that captures the challenge of managing an ecosystem. I was inspired by drafting games like Sushi Go! and Draftosaurus, but I wanted something that had more depth and dilemmas. I also wanted to avoid downtime between turns, so simultaneous drafting became a key element.

Q: How did the game develop over time?

Chris: The first version of the game was called Zuuli, and it was much more complex, involving genetics and breeding mechanisms. I simplified it over multiple iterations, making it more approachable but still offering strategic depth. The core challenge remained: balancing habitats and managing animal interactions.

When Oink Games got involved, they helped refine the mechanisms further. We adjusted scoring, tweaked the drafting rules, and made sure every choice felt meaningful. The biggest shift was the change from a zoo-setting to a national park — something that felt more in line with conservation themes and gave the game a more open-ended feel.

Bringing Moving Wild to Life with Oink Games

Q: How did Oink Games get involved?

Chris: Oink Games discovered Zuuli at the UK Games Expo. One of their team members was intrigued by it and suggested we discuss publishing it. I had always admired Oink Games’ design philosophy — compact, elegant, and easy-to-learn games with strategic depth — so I was excited by the opportunity.

Q: What changes were made in the Oink Games version?

Chris: Some key refinements included:

—–• Streamlining the rules to be more intuitive.

—–• Adjusting the card balance so that no single strategy dominates.

—–• Introducing new habitat types, such as jungles and observation decks.

—–• Changing the name to better reflect the game’s theme of shifting animal populations.

The Challenges and Joys of Game Development

Q: What was the most difficult part of developing the game?

Chris: Striking the right balance between simplicity and depth. I wanted players to have meaningful choices without overwhelming them with rules. Oink Games helped a lot in fine-tuning this balance. Another challenge was ensuring that every animal felt unique and tied to real-world behaviors: bears prefer solitude, lions thrive in groups, etc.

Q: What was the most fun part?

Chris: Seeing players react to it! Watching people agonize over their choices, celebrate their perfectly crafted parks, and laugh at the chaos of unexpected moves — that’s the best part.

Q: What do you hope players experience with Moving Wild?

Chris: I hope it gives players the thrill of carefully planning while dealing with the unpredictability of nature. It’s a game about adaptation and balance, just like real conservation work.

Q: Any future plans?

Chris: I have ideas for expansions: new animals, new park elements, and even different environmental challenges. I’d love to keep exploring how players interact with these dynamic ecosystems.