Difference between revisions of "Ralph Koster"
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| − | + | {{Person-Infobox|| | |
| − | ''' | + | |NAME=Raph Koster |
| + | |PORTRAIT=Raph_Koster.jpg | ||
| + | |CAPTION=Raph Koster | ||
| + | |BIRTHNAME=Raphael Koster | ||
| + | |BIRTHDATE=September 7, 1971 | ||
| + | |BIRTHPLACE=Long Island, New York | ||
| + | |NATIONALITY=American | ||
| + | |OCCUPATION=Game Designer | ||
| + | |BIOGRAPHY= | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | '''Raph Koster''' (born on September 7, 1971) is a professional game designer and frequent writer on issues of virtual world design. He is known for his work designing the seminal online world ''Ultima Online'', as well as his work with Sony, the makers of ''Everquest'', and his work with designing ''Star Wars Galaxies''. He has written widely reprinted and influential pieces such as "Declaring the Rights of Players", "The Laws of Online World Design", and "A Story About a Tree". He also is a frequent speaker at the Game Developers Conference on issues of online world design, particularly in the area of community building. In addition to this, he has written a book titled ''A Theory of Fun for Game Design'' that was published in 2004 by Paraglyph Press and is used in several university courses as study material <ref name="bio"> http://www.raphkoster.com/bio.shtml </ref>. | ||
==Early Life== | ==Early Life== | ||
| − | + | Born in Long Island, Raphael (Raph) Koster moved to Massachusetts, and then Peru (where his mother was stationed for her work with [[Wikipedia:Unicef|UNICEF]]). He also lived in Barbados and Haiti before moving back to the U.S. to finish high school with his father in Florida. Afterward high school, Raph attended [[Wikipedia:Washington_College|Washington College]] in Maryland, where he studied English and Spanish. Later, he went on to receive his Masters of Fine Arts in Poetry from the [[Wikipedia:University_of_Alabama|University of Alabama]]. He enjoys art and graphic design <ref name="bio"/>. | |
| − | Born in Long Island, Raphael (Raph) Koster moved to Massachusetts, and then | + | |
| − | + | ||
==Work== | ==Work== | ||
| − | + | Raph works primarily as a lead game designer. His first video game was [[Wikipedia:Pong|Pong]], but he is best known for designing [[Wikipedia:Ultima_Online:_The_Second_Age|''Ultima Online: The Second Age'']] and ''Ultima Online Live'', and for his work as creative director of [[Wikipedia:Star_Wars_Galaxies|''Star Wars Galaxies'']]. He has worked for [[Wikipedia:Origin_Systems|Origin Systems]] and in 2000 joined [[Wikipedia:Verant_Interactive|Verant Interactive]]. In 2003 he became chief creative officer and began working in business development for [[Wikipedia:Sony_Online_Entertainment|Sony Online Entertainment]] until 2006, when he left to pursue work on virtual worlds <ref name="bio"/>. | |
| − | Raph works primarily as a lead game designer. His first video game was [ | + | |
| − | + | ||
===Writings=== | ===Writings=== | ||
| − | * ''[ | + | * ''[[Wikipedia:A_Theory_of_Fun_for_Game_Design A Theory of Fun for Game Design]]'' — <ref> [[Wikipedia:A_Theory_of_Fun_for_Game_Design]] </ref> Foreword by [[Wikipedia:Will_Wright_(game_designer)|Will Wright]] (ISBN 1-932111-97-2) |
** This book, written and illustrated by Raph, discusses his theory about the correlation between games and real life. His belief is that games are 'edutainment'; they teach players real-life skills in a safe environment. A good game is "one that teaches everything it has to offer before the player stops playing."(p. 46) | ** This book, written and illustrated by Raph, discusses his theory about the correlation between games and real life. His belief is that games are 'edutainment'; they teach players real-life skills in a safe environment. A good game is "one that teaches everything it has to offer before the player stops playing."(p. 46) | ||
* [http://www.raphkoster.com/gaming/playerrights.shtml "Declaring the Rights of Avatars"] | * [http://www.raphkoster.com/gaming/playerrights.shtml "Declaring the Rights of Avatars"] | ||
** This is a 19 point declaration in which Raph explains what he believes the contents of all MMORPG code of ethics should contain. He writes that "avatars are the manifestation of actual people in an online medium, and that their utterances, actions, thoughts, and emotions should be considered to be as valid as the utterances, actions, thoughts, and emotions of people in any other forum, venue, location, or space". Each of his points are rules explaining how avatars should follow the same type of laws as real people in the real world. | ** This is a 19 point declaration in which Raph explains what he believes the contents of all MMORPG code of ethics should contain. He writes that "avatars are the manifestation of actual people in an online medium, and that their utterances, actions, thoughts, and emotions should be considered to be as valid as the utterances, actions, thoughts, and emotions of people in any other forum, venue, location, or space". Each of his points are rules explaining how avatars should follow the same type of laws as real people in the real world. | ||
| − | * [http://www.raphkoster.com/gaming/essay1.shtml A Story About A Tree], (May 1998), about the ''[ | + | * [http://www.raphkoster.com/gaming/essay1.shtml A Story About A Tree], (May 1998), about the ''[[Wikipedia:A_Story_About_A_Tree |Karyn incident]]'' |
* [http://www.raphkoster.com/gaming/lawsindex.shtml "The Laws of Online World Design"] (GDC 1999 presentation) | * [http://www.raphkoster.com/gaming/lawsindex.shtml "The Laws of Online World Design"] (GDC 1999 presentation) | ||
* Koster, Raph. "Geek Fun Isn't Frivolous; Alien Swarms of Thundering, Flashing Games Hit Town This Week. They're Here to Make Us Smarter." <u>Los Angeles Times</u> 15 May 2005, sec. M1. | * Koster, Raph. "Geek Fun Isn't Frivolous; Alien Swarms of Thundering, Flashing Games Hit Town This Week. They're Here to Make Us Smarter." <u>Los Angeles Times</u> 15 May 2005, sec. M1. | ||
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===Games=== | ===Games=== | ||
| − | * ''[ | + | * ''[[Wikipedia:LegendMUD|LegendMUD]]'' (emeritus implementor, 1998) |
| − | * ''[ | + | * ''[[Wikipedia:Ultima_Online|Ultima Online]]'' <ref> [[Wikipedia:Ultima_Online]] </ref> (lead designer; [[Wikipedia:Origin_Systems| Origin Systems]] 1997) |
** This massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is a fantasy game and played by players worldwide who pay monthly fees. It was first released in 1997 and was the first MMORPG to reach 100,000 subscribers. Since then, it has lead the way for newer games. It had its most subscribers in 2003 and since has been declining in popularity. Recently, UO has become outdated, but in 2007 a new version was released: ''Kingdom Reborn''. In total, UO has had seven expansion packs and many free content updates. | ** This massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is a fantasy game and played by players worldwide who pay monthly fees. It was first released in 1997 and was the first MMORPG to reach 100,000 subscribers. Since then, it has lead the way for newer games. It had its most subscribers in 2003 and since has been declining in popularity. Recently, UO has become outdated, but in 2007 a new version was released: ''Kingdom Reborn''. In total, UO has had seven expansion packs and many free content updates. | ||
| − | * ''[ | + | * ''[[Wikipedia:Ultima_Online:_The_Second_Age|Ultima Online: The Second Age]]'' (lead designer; Origin Systems 1998) |
| − | * ''[ | + | * ''[[Wikipedia:Star_Wars_Galaxies:_An_Empire_Divided|Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided]]'' (creative director; [[Wikipedia:Verant_Interactive| Verant Interactive]] 2003) |
| − | ** ''[ | + | ** ''[[Wikipedia:Star_Wars_Galaxies:_Jump_to_Lightspeed| Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed]]''<ref> [[Wikipedia:Star_Wars_Galaxies]]</ref> (creative consultant; [[Wikipedia:Sony_Online_Entertainment|Sony Online Entertainment]] 2004) |
** ''Star Wars Galaxies: The Total Experience'' (creative consultant; Sony Online Entertainment 2005) | ** ''Star Wars Galaxies: The Total Experience'' (creative consultant; Sony Online Entertainment 2005) | ||
** SWG is based on the movie Star Wars, and is a MMORPG Raph developed in 2000 with Sony Online Entertainment and was published by LucasArts and released in 2001. | ** SWG is based on the movie Star Wars, and is a MMORPG Raph developed in 2000 with Sony Online Entertainment and was published by LucasArts and released in 2001. | ||
| − | * ''[ | + | * ''[[Wikipedia:EverQuest_II| EverQuest II]]'' (chief creative officer; Sony Online Entertainment 2004) |
| − | ** ''[ | + | ** ''[[Wikipedia:EverQuest_II:_Desert_of_Flames| EverQuest II: Desert of Flames]]'' (chief creative officer; Sony Online Entertainment 2005) |
| − | ** ''[ | + | ** ''[[Wikipedia:EverQuest_II:_Kingdom_of_Sky |EverQuest II: Kingdom of Sky]]'' (chief creative officer; Sony Online Entertainment 2005) |
| − | * ''[ | + | * ''[[Wikipedia:Untold_Legends:_Brotherhood_of_the_Blade |Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade]]'' (chief creative officer and editor; Sony Online Entertainment 2005) |
| − | * ''[ | + | * ''[[Wikipedia:GripShift |GripShift]]'' (chief creative officer; Sony Online Entertainment 2005) |
| − | * ''[ | + | * ''[[Wikipedia:Frantix |Frantix]]'' (chief creative officer; Sony Online Entertainment 2005) |
| − | * ''[ | + | * ''[[Wikipedia:Champions:_Return_to_Arms |Champions: Return to Arms]]'' (chief creative officer; Sony Online Entertainment 2005) |
| − | * ''[ | + | * ''[[Wikipedia:Field_Commander |Field Commander]]'' (chief creative officer; Sony Online Entertainment 2006) |
| − | + | ||
[[Image:RaphKosterComic.png|500px|thumb|right|Real Life Comics]] | [[Image:RaphKosterComic.png|500px|thumb|right|Real Life Comics]] | ||
| − | == | + | ==Personal Life== |
| + | On May 10, 1992 Raph married Kristen. Kristen also works as a game designer and has worked with Raph on projects with Origin Systems. They have two children, Elena, age 10, and David, age 9 <ref name="bio"/>. | ||
| − | + | Raph is currently a member of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, IGDA, ASCAP, and Omicron Delta Kappa. He enjoys music, art, and graphic design. He resides in San Diego, California with his wife and their two kids. | |
| − | = | + | Raph has a blog that can be followed on [http://twitter.com/raphkoster Twitter] or on [http://www.raphkoster.com/ Raph Koster's Website] <ref name="bio"/>. |
| − | + | ==External Links== | |
| + | [http://www.reallifecomics.com/archive/091204.html] | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | + | <references/> | |
| − | + | [[Category: Male]] | |
| + | [[Category:People]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Video Games]] | ||
| − | + | ([[Topics|back to index]]) | |
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Latest revision as of 03:21, 11 December 2012
Raph Koster
| Birthname | Raphael Koster |
| Date of Birth | September 7, 1971 |
| Birth Place | Long Island, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Game Designer |
| Biography |
Raph Koster (born on September 7, 1971) is a professional game designer and frequent writer on issues of virtual world design. He is known for his work designing the seminal online world Ultima Online, as well as his work with Sony, the makers of Everquest, and his work with designing Star Wars Galaxies. He has written widely reprinted and influential pieces such as "Declaring the Rights of Players", "The Laws of Online World Design", and "A Story About a Tree". He also is a frequent speaker at the Game Developers Conference on issues of online world design, particularly in the area of community building. In addition to this, he has written a book titled A Theory of Fun for Game Design that was published in 2004 by Paraglyph Press and is used in several university courses as study material [1].
Early Life
Born in Long Island, Raphael (Raph) Koster moved to Massachusetts, and then Peru (where his mother was stationed for her work with UNICEF). He also lived in Barbados and Haiti before moving back to the U.S. to finish high school with his father in Florida. Afterward high school, Raph attended Washington College in Maryland, where he studied English and Spanish. Later, he went on to receive his Masters of Fine Arts in Poetry from the University of Alabama. He enjoys art and graphic design [1].
Work
Raph works primarily as a lead game designer. His first video game was Pong, but he is best known for designing Ultima Online: The Second Age and Ultima Online Live, and for his work as creative director of Star Wars Galaxies. He has worked for Origin Systems and in 2000 joined Verant Interactive. In 2003 he became chief creative officer and began working in business development for Sony Online Entertainment until 2006, when he left to pursue work on virtual worlds [1].
Writings
- Wikipedia:A_Theory_of_Fun_for_Game_Design A Theory of Fun for Game Design — [2] Foreword by Will Wright (ISBN 1-932111-97-2)
- This book, written and illustrated by Raph, discusses his theory about the correlation between games and real life. His belief is that games are 'edutainment'; they teach players real-life skills in a safe environment. A good game is "one that teaches everything it has to offer before the player stops playing."(p. 46)
- "Declaring the Rights of Avatars"
- This is a 19 point declaration in which Raph explains what he believes the contents of all MMORPG code of ethics should contain. He writes that "avatars are the manifestation of actual people in an online medium, and that their utterances, actions, thoughts, and emotions should be considered to be as valid as the utterances, actions, thoughts, and emotions of people in any other forum, venue, location, or space". Each of his points are rules explaining how avatars should follow the same type of laws as real people in the real world.
- A Story About A Tree, (May 1998), about the Karyn incident
- "The Laws of Online World Design" (GDC 1999 presentation)
- Koster, Raph. "Geek Fun Isn't Frivolous; Alien Swarms of Thundering, Flashing Games Hit Town This Week. They're Here to Make Us Smarter." Los Angeles Times 15 May 2005, sec. M1.
- "As Seen In Modern Lair" (October 2007)
Games
- LegendMUD (emeritus implementor, 1998)
- Ultima Online [3] (lead designer; Origin Systems 1997)
- This massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is a fantasy game and played by players worldwide who pay monthly fees. It was first released in 1997 and was the first MMORPG to reach 100,000 subscribers. Since then, it has lead the way for newer games. It had its most subscribers in 2003 and since has been declining in popularity. Recently, UO has become outdated, but in 2007 a new version was released: Kingdom Reborn. In total, UO has had seven expansion packs and many free content updates.
- Ultima Online: The Second Age (lead designer; Origin Systems 1998)
- Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided (creative director; Verant Interactive 2003)
- Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed[4] (creative consultant; Sony Online Entertainment 2004)
- Star Wars Galaxies: The Total Experience (creative consultant; Sony Online Entertainment 2005)
- SWG is based on the movie Star Wars, and is a MMORPG Raph developed in 2000 with Sony Online Entertainment and was published by LucasArts and released in 2001.
- EverQuest II (chief creative officer; Sony Online Entertainment 2004)
- EverQuest II: Desert of Flames (chief creative officer; Sony Online Entertainment 2005)
- EverQuest II: Kingdom of Sky (chief creative officer; Sony Online Entertainment 2005)
- Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade (chief creative officer and editor; Sony Online Entertainment 2005)
- GripShift (chief creative officer; Sony Online Entertainment 2005)
- Frantix (chief creative officer; Sony Online Entertainment 2005)
- Champions: Return to Arms (chief creative officer; Sony Online Entertainment 2005)
- Field Commander (chief creative officer; Sony Online Entertainment 2006)
File:RaphKosterComic.png
Real Life Comics
Personal Life
On May 10, 1992 Raph married Kristen. Kristen also works as a game designer and has worked with Raph on projects with Origin Systems. They have two children, Elena, age 10, and David, age 9 [1].
Raph is currently a member of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, IGDA, ASCAP, and Omicron Delta Kappa. He enjoys music, art, and graphic design. He resides in San Diego, California with his wife and their two kids.
Raph has a blog that can be followed on Twitter or on Raph Koster's Website [1].
