Raph Koster

CEO at Playable Worlds, veteran game designer

Raph Koster, CEO of Playable Worlds

Raph Koster is a veteran game designer and the current CEO of Playable Worlds. He has been professionally credited in almost every area of the game industry, including leading the design of massive titles such as Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies.1

Key Facts About Raph Koster

Veteran game designer with experience in online worlds, game systems, narrative design, and creative direction1
Author of the influential book "A Theory of Fun for Game Design"1 3
Named an Online Game Legend at the Game Developers Conference Online in 20121
Previously served as President of Metaplace, Inc., a venture-backed company acquired by Playdom/Disney in 20101
Worked as Chief Creative Officer and Creative Director at Sony Online Entertainment from 2000-20061
Lead designer on Ultima Online and Ultima Online: Second Age at Origin Systems from 1995-20001

Koster is widely recognized as one of the world's top thinkers about game design and is an in-demand speaker at conferences around the world.1 He is known for his innovative ideas and contributions to the game industry over the past two decades.2

Highlights

Jun 28 · Wccftech

Stars Reach Q&A – Raph Koster Dives Into Every Aspect of Its Sandbox MMO with a Fully Simulated Galaxy - Wccftech

Jun 28 · VentureBeat

Playable Worlds unveils Raph Koster's new sandbox MMO Stars Reach - VentureBeat

Experience

Chief Executive Officer at Playable Worlds, November 2018 - Present

Advisor at ArtCraft Entertainment and Bit Fry Game Studios, Inc.; Independent designer and consultant (2013-2018); VP of Creative Design at Playdom; President at Metaplace, Inc.

Education

MFA in Creative Writing from University of Alabama (1992-1995); Bachelor's Degree in English and Spanish, Magna cum laude, from Washington College (1989-1992)