Huh. It starts out a *little* slow, but I didn't mind that at all: the pace picks up *very* quickly, since everything is growing exponentially. I thought the game balance was more or less fine until the final quartz stage, where it all falls apart. But that's the *end of the game* (for now), so no one can fault you for that. It's a very well made game! Even the balance felt good. I was seriously impressed.