Overview
- Her son, William Heineman, confirmed to Ars Technica that she died November 17 in Rockwall, Texas after a battle with adenocarcinoma.
- A 1980 national Atari Space Invaders victory made her the first formally recognized U.S. video game champion and launched her industry career.
- Heineman co-founded Interplay in 1983 and later founded Logicware, Contraband Entertainment, and Olde Sküül, with credits on roughly 67 games including The Bard’s Tale III and Dragon Wars.
- Her final GoFundMe update said doctors halted treatment and that remaining donations would fund funeral arrangements handled by her family.
- Figures and studios across gaming—including Brian Fargo, Obsidian Entertainment, and Atari—posted tributes, highlighting her technical influence and LGBTQ+ advocacy recognized by Gayming Magazine’s 2025 Icon award.