Rebecca Heineman (1963 – 2025) was one of the true pioneers of the video game industry. She was a programmer, designer, co-founder of influential studios, and a courageous LGBTQ trailblazer. Her journey began in 1980 when she won the very first official Space Invaders National Championship in the United States at just 16 years old. That victory made her the first formally recognized video game champion in America and set her on a lifelong path in game development.

Rebecca’s deep understanding of computers started at a young age. She taught herself programming by reverse-engineering games, dissecting how they worked internally, and learning low-level code. This curiosity led to her first professional job as a game programmer as a teenager, proving not only her talent but also her determination to shape the future of interactive entertainment.

In 1983, she co-founded Interplay Productions, one of the most influential studios in computer gaming history. Interplay became known for groundbreaking role playing games such as Wasteland, Fallout, and The Bard’s Tale. Rebecca was deeply involved in this creative movement and was the lead designer of The Bard’s Tale III: Thief of Fate, which pushed the limits of RPG storytelling and technical capability in its time.

Rebecca was not only a designer, but also a master of porting games between very different systems. She worked on conversions of iconic titles such as Wolfenstein 3D, making them run efficiently on hardware never originally intended for them. She handled programming across Apple II, Macintosh, 3DO, PC, and early consoles, showing her extraordinary ability to make games accessible across generations of technology.

Over her career, she contributed to more than 65 published games, covering programming, design, audio implementation, and project leadership. She later co-founded additional studios, including Logicware and Contraband Entertainment, and remained active in game development for more than four decades. She continued to work as a consultant, leader, and mentor, advising teams on optimization, system-level programming, accessibility, and preserving classic games.

Beyond her technical contributions, Rebecca was a visible and respected LGBTQ figure in the gaming industry. As one of the earliest openly transgender women in game development, she spoke proudly about her journey. She helped create a more inclusive space for future generations, advocating for respect, representation, and acceptance long before such issues were broadly acknowledged in the tech world.

In October 2025, Rebecca shared that she had been diagnosed with aggressive adenocarcinoma. She passed away on November 17, 2025, at age 62. Developers, studios, fans, and industry veterans around the world paid tribute to her brilliance, her kindness, and the path she helped pave.

Rebecca Heineman’s life tells the story of innovation, courage, and passion from arcade champion, to game making visionary, to advocate and mentor. Her work and her spirit continue to live on in the hearts of gamers and creators everywhere.

The Bard’s Tale III: Thief of Fate

Designed and programmed by Rebecca, this final chapter of the original trilogy expanded the scope of C64 RPGs with multi world travel, richer writing, and systems that rewarded patient, thoughtful play.

Dragon Wars

Spiritually a successor to Bard’s Tale, Dragon Wars used a new engine, deeper combat, and a harsh mythical setting to show how far C64 party based role playing could go.

Mindshadow

One of Interplay’s earliest originals, Mindshadow mixed parser commands with evocative C64 artwork and an amnesiac hero, showing Rebecca’s feel for mystery and atmosphere.