May 5, 1980. Ken and Roberta, after months of hard-work, finally release their first computer game - an adventure game called "Mystery House". The game was available in only 4 stores in the L.A county. Ken & Roberta transferred the software personally.

This was the very start of Sierra On-Line. Then, the game was released under "On-Line systems", Sierra in its early life. (First logo)

Around ~1981, "On-Line systems" changed its name to "Sierra On-Line", relating to the location of Oakhurst, in the Sierra-Nevada area. They also adapted to their new logo the shape of the famous Half-Dome, which is one of the most spectacular landmark, which is inside Yosemite National Park, not too far away from Oakhurst. (Second logo)

Around ~1984, "Sierra On-Line" changed its logo again, to the very one which we all know very well. This logo has a slightly different shape of the Half-Dome, and the caption "Sierra". (Third logo)

Around ~1994, "Sierra On-Line" (in mark of their 15th anniversary?) changed the appearance of their logo. It is now a purple-green stretch above which a variation of the previous logo is displayed. Most remembered on the bottom front of each CD case, box and manual... (Fourth logo)

After CUC bought Sierra On-Line in 1996, Ken left the chairman position of Sierra. About a year later he left the company for good. The following couple of years were marked with many acquisition of some game-developer companies, that specialized in sports, action and arcade. This finally led that in 1998, Sierra was split into sub-brands. Sierra (the mother company) changed its logo, and all the logos of the sub-companies reflected this new logo. (Fifth logo) This time, the "new" Sierra got rid of the Half-Dome.

Sub Brands:

Sierra Attractions; targeted the arcade and casual gaming area.(mainly for acquired developer Berkeley Systems  (Hoyle, You Don't Know Jack and 3-D Ultra series))

Sierra Home; the home-improvement software publisher. (acquired developer Books that work )

Sierra Sports; sporting games. (USM, Golfing..) (partially acquired Headgate)

Sierra Studios; responsible for the "big" games, acted also as a publishing brand-name for some of the recent acquired developer companies like Impressions Software and PyroTechnix, but not only.

Dynamix; Acquired far back in 1989, kept its own brand.

.......and of course the old "heart" of Sierra at Oakhurst, where all the quests were developed. Oakhurst were always "Sierra Publishing", but now with the brand-splitting they changed their name to "Yosemite Entertainment". I believe it was in order to preserve the Half-Dome, which is in the Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada area. Still, they were given a Sierra sub-brand - "Sierra FX", perhaps to enhance that this IS the Sierra the everybody knew, because Yosemite sounds like a new company. (in all their games from now on both of the logos will be used)

This ceased to be in February 22, 1999. ("Black Monday").  Sierra's managment closed Books that work, PyroTechnix, sold Headgate, stopped the interaction magazine. And, closed "Yosemite Entertainment". Dynamix was cut by 15% of manpower.

Now, with "Sierra Home", "Sierra FX" and "Sierra Sports" practically gone, Sierra Studios was the one who kept the brand. (Dynamix is still functioning)

Later in 1999, further re-organizations were made, and from now on Sierra acts mainly as software publisher. (i.e, gives the name and marketing for products from other developers)

14 August, 2001, Sierra closes Dynamix.

In the end of 2001, Sierra On-Line changed its logo - adding the Half-Dome. Just a few months later it changed its name to "Sierra Entertainment". (Sixth logo)

-gatherd by Eyal