- This topic has 27 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 1 month ago by
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(re: re: KQ4 AGI)
I’m ‘sure’ it’s completable – AFAIK reading the various info available, KQIV was released in both AGI and SCI versions as Sierra considered that not all their customers would have the necessary requirements to run the new SCI engine. However, it was withdrawn soon after release and so it could be considered quite rare.
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(re: KQ4 AGI) It used to be available for download on abandonware sites, but Sierra’s lawyers cracked down on many sites a few years ago, so it’s probably harder to find now. If you don’t have an ethical problem with downloading a game that’s essentially impossible to find anywhere else, I’d recommend poking around online (start with Google!)
I read that Sierra tech support often sent the AGI game as a replacement for customers who were having problems running the SCI version. I played KQ4 on an Apple IIGS. I don’t remember exactly what the problem was, but we had a bad disk or something that we contacted tech support about. They said they’d mail us a new copy of the game — and they did — but it was a DOS version. We contacted them again and they sent us the Apple IIGS version, didn’t ask us to return the DOS one. That game sat around at my house for YEARS… but we didn’t have a DOS machine with a 3.5″ drive so we never bothered trying it. I’m pretty sure we reformatted the disks at some point. In retrospect, I bet that was one of the rare AGI versions… if only I’d known!
🙂 emily -
(re: KQ4 AGI)
I have the game, and it plays identically to the SCI version. It’s just the graphics and sound that are quite different. I found the troll in the cave behind the waterfall slightly easier to deal with in AGI, though (good grief, that part scared the living daylights out of me back then. Must’ve taken years off my live, just like being inside the ogre hut).
Does anybody know what the “secret code” was for? The one you got when completing the SCI version (don’t recall whether it was in the AGI version, too).
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(re: KQ4 AGI)
That secret code was part of a sweepstakes. A trip to the UK, if I remember correctly. When you won the game, you could write the code down on an entry card and send it in to Sierra to be entered in a drawing. Whether or not anyone won, I don’t know. As far as I know, this was only part of the first SCI version. The one I have on my KQ Collection doesn’t have a code, while my original disk version does. Anyone know if there are more than two SCI versions out there? Even between the two I have, there’s a slight graphics difference (not in quality, just detail).
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(re: re: re: KQ4 AGI)
> Anyone know if there are more than two SCI versions out there?
This relates to a question I have — I played KQ4 on the apple IIGS. I have read that there are significant differences between the IIGS version and the DOS version (different movies? no movies in the IIGS version but there are movies in DOS?)
i’ve now played the DOS version (years later) and I didn’t notice a difference. Does anyone know if there is a difference between these two versions, and if yes, what the difference is?
-emily
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(re: re: re: re: KQ4 AGI)
I also have the AGI version of KQ4 and I finished it several times, so it IS possible, I guarantee you. I don’t know whether it’s freeware or not, but someone told me recently. I’m really curious if this is true. If it is, I’ll probably make it available for download somewhere, since it’s a real fun game!
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(re: KQ4 AGI)
I own the AGI version of KQ4, but only used it a few times for some nostalgic fun on my old PCjr… Neer finished it though.. I remember when I “accidentally” bought it at a local used game store, I was wondering what in tarnation I was installing, but after all was said and done, I felt like I had stumbled upon a treasure! I really love the fact that this version exsists, it’s almost a homage to I-III to me! These games nver get old to me. The only games that look bad these days are bad 3-D games.. Like N64 games or Ps1 games… Simple graphics are just that. Simple. Simple is often beautiful. But Bad graphics are BAD..
Anyways, always nice to think of better times!
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If anyone is interested in a copy of KQIV AGI I’m willing to share with those who haven’t had luck finding it on the net.
It’s only about (1.24 Mb), included in the file i have is also a note on how to bypass the copy protection screen with a simple keystroke.
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Get the collection that was released for windows xp 3 years ago. It has 1 – 7 and is automatically able to work once installed so there’s no need to bother with DOS Box. It was 20 bucks at release so if you check ebay its probably even cheaper now. If you must have the old version, ebay is still a great choice and most of the games can be gotten cheaply.
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Rather than repeat all of the problems with this release, I’ll link this:
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You have the abandonwarez version of the game that is floating around on the internet that is missing one of the disks. I am not sure where you can get a legitimate copy of the game. It is fairly rare and most sellers on eBay wouldn’t have the slightest idea which version that they have. Even if they did, they would probably ask an arm and a leg for it.
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Good News! I have found the Original AGI version for the PC on Ebay about a little over a week ago and have just today received it in the mail and YES it is the real for sure copy and I only paid $20 for it. Anyway, I ordered it so that I can run a Complete and fresh and clean install of this game, because I really would like to distribute a fair and complete copy to anyone who is interested in owning this version. The Game Works Great, i have found NO errors with it! I have taken the complete install of the Game File from my hard drive and have compressed it into a Zip file, I can also include in the Zip File a copy of all the 3- 3.5inch diskettes into seperate folders, so you could even run the install yourself. I have already tried contacting abandonia to donate this game to them, and im trying to find ways to share this so this game will never be a problem for any fans to find anymore. Can anyone help me get this game out to everyone? 🙂
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Nice, I didn’t even know there was an AGI release of KQIV for the PC before this thread. I’d submit it to The Underdogs. They’ve got a huge archive of abandonware and it’s my favorite spot for finding old stuff.
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I can definitely appreciate that you want to share this rare gem with as many King’s Quest fans as possible but we have to keep in mind that it is still a copyrighted work belonging to Activision. Whether classified as ‘abandonware’ or not, distributing the game to others without Activision’s consent is illegal.
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The term abandonware has no legal meaning. It doesn’t matter what intrinsic value, or lack there of, that you think
these games have. The ESA has gone after many sites in the past.
ScummVM had its own legal battles with LA and they weren’t distributing
any of the LA games. Outside of games that have been released under other licenses like GNU, the only ones that can be freely distributed are ones that have been placed in the public domain or ones that have been made freeware. Both of these events are purposely done by the IP owner, not by time. With the so called Disney laws, copyright has been extended to ridiculous extremes. The owner of an IP can sit on it for decades with doing nothing, if he chooses. “Abandonware” exists only because either the owner no longer cares or the people distributing it have not been caught, yet.If Activision will shut down a fan project like TSL, which only borrows the KQ theme and names, what do you think their army of lawyers would do to someone distributing their IP, especially when they are making money from the old Sierra IP via GOG and Steam?
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You are quite right about IP and how it relates to abandonware, but it’s also not a black and white thing. Technically, a lot of stuff on this very site violates Activision’s copyrights. The scans of game boxes, logos, manuals, magazines…Basically, anything that has a copyright by Sierra On-Line is owned by Activision. What is the distinction between that and a 20 year old game that was swept under the rug soon after release?
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At least as far as I see it the Software Publishers have actively defended their copyrights on the actual games. Beyond that there is still a potential revenue stream back to the copyright holders which I’ve personally always felt was a good place to draw the line. If it is possible to purchase a game in such a way that the money makes it’s way back to the legal copyright holder than I will always do that and it should be done that way. On that same hand I see little distinction between downloading and purchasing a used copy of a game through Game Stop or EBay. In both cases the money never makes it way back to the copyright holder (I doubt many EBay sellers are sending royalty checks to Activision).
Long story short Sierra Gamers won’t host any game files because while the ethical and moral questions aside there is very little question that doing so we would capital-I Illegal. That being said I would personally have no problem whatsoever with finding, downloading and playing a copy of the King’s Quest IV AGI since there is no legitimate way to purchase a copy in such a way that the money returns to the copyright holder. I think your efforts to find and secure a stable copy for the Sierra community is laudable. If I know this message board well enough I feel certain that a few people will likely be contacting you to get a copy for a Digital Archival project I know is in the works.
Andy
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