Eric Goldberg (game designer)
Eric Goldberg designed Commando, a man-to-man game of tactical combat which also included systems for character creation and skills. This project appeared under the banner of Simulations Publications, Incorporated. The company published DragonQuest in 1980 as its largest role-playing game design from that era. Goldberg contributed to Thieves' World in 1981 through Chaosium. He created Eric Goldberg's KURSK, which became the second edition of SPI's original 1971 game. That specific project arrived on shelves in 1980.
Goldberg had been friends with Greg Costikyan for years before they began their collaboration. They worked together at SPI while discussing Dan Gelber's local game group design called Paranoia. Gelber gave his notes to both men so they could develop those ideas into a full manuscript for an RPG. The trio later licensed their Paranoia game to West End Games after Goldberg started working there in 1983. Ken Rolston helped rewrite the rules before it was published in 1984.
Goldberg started working for West End Games in 1983 as its new Vice President of Research & Development. He designed Tales of the Arabian Nights in 1985 for the publisher. This storytelling board game relied on written paragraphs rather than traditional combat mechanics. Costikyan and Goldberg left West End Games in January 1987 to form their own short-lived company named Goldberg Associates. Their departure marked the end of that specific chapter within the larger organization.
West End Games declared bankruptcy in 1998, triggering a legal struggle over intellectual property ownership. Scott Palter, the founder of West End Games, resisted efforts by Costikyan and Goldberg to recover the rights to Paranoia. A judge eventually gave the rights back to the creators in 2000. Costikyan and Goldberg then licensed Paranoia to Mongoose Publishing, which began producing new books for the game in 2004. Varney, Goldberg and Costikyan reached out to and actively collaborated with Paranoia's online fan community through an official blog during this period.
In 2019, Goldberg and Raph Koster founded a new company called Playable Worlds. They are currently developing the MMO Stars Reach as their primary project. The team continues to work on expanding the scope of this massively multiplayer online experience. This venture represents a shift from tabletop design into digital interactive entertainment spaces. The partnership between Goldberg and Koster signals a continued commitment to creating complex gaming systems.
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Common questions
What game did Eric Goldberg design for Simulations Publications, Incorporated in 1980?
Eric Goldberg designed Commando, a man-to-man tactical combat game with character creation and skills systems. This project appeared under the banner of Simulations Publications, Incorporated alongside DragonQuest published that same year.
When did Eric Goldberg start working at West End Games as Vice President of Research & Development?
Eric Goldberg started working for West End Games in 1983 as its new Vice President of Research & Development. He later designed Tales of the Arabian Nights for the publisher in 1985 before leaving to form his own company.
Who helped Eric Goldberg develop Paranoia after receiving notes from Dan Gelber?
Greg Costikyan worked with Eric Goldberg on developing Paranoia after receiving Dan Gelber's notes. Ken Rolston subsequently rewrote the rules before the game was published by West End Games in 1984.
In what year did a judge return intellectual property rights for Paranoia to Eric Goldberg and Greg Costikyan?
A judge gave the rights back to the creators in 2000 following a legal struggle over ownership triggered by West End Games bankruptcy in 1998. Scott Palter had resisted efforts by Costikyan and Goldberg to recover the rights until this ruling.
What company did Eric Goldberg and Raph Koster found in 2019 to develop Stars Reach?
Eric Goldberg and Raph Koster founded Playable Worlds in 2019 to develop the MMO Stars Reach. The team continues working on expanding the scope of this massively multiplayer online experience as their primary project.