Forum Replies Created
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Posts
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(re: re: re: Why was there never a third game?)
Ken, I’m sure you’re right about this one. I heard about the situation second-hand several years ago, while you actually lived it. It’s also a likely possibility that “arguments over the direction of the series” is a more “image-friendly” version of the bidding story (or non-bidding in this case) from Evryware’s side.
Are you saying that if you had it to do over again, you would be less rigid with the no-bidding rule? Would bidding higher for the games you mentioned have definitely been profitable for Sierra? Or would that have compromised the company’s values and been detrimental in the long-run?
Also how did you get so business-savvy? Did you read up on the subject a lot, have some good mentors, or was it just instinctual and you learned as you went?
(re: Has there ever been a CD Talkie of Robin Hood?) Speaking of the Conquests series – I would appreciate hearing more background info about it. Though I didn’t think much of “Conquests of Camelot” (bad puzzles and sloppy plot, IMO), “Longbow” was a huge improvement – not only did it have beautiful graphics and music (ranking among Mark Seibert’s best, in my book) but the puzzles were also an elegant mix of genres – adventure, action and even a little strategy. And I liked the way the character of Robin Hood developed according to the player’s actions. Yes, the game was a little too easy, but I was always hoping for a sequel in the series, dealing with another folklore-figure.
BTW the series’ designer, Christy Marx, keeps a website at:http://www.christymarx.com/
She’s a very prolific TV writer, and interestingly, an episode she wrote for “Babylon 5” deals with a man searching for the Holy Grail!
(re: Non-Compete Clauses, and More)
Considering how many times you’ve contacted them and haven’t heard back, and considering what Al has said about how his negotations with Vivendi have been drawn out over so many months, I don’t think it’s unreasonable at all for you to defer the meeting until April — especially if you’re volunteering your time! Don’t feel bad about it. April’s not that far away.
I used to have to travel a lot for work, and it was so draining. Don’t have to as much anymore but I still do occassionally. I just got back from a 5-day trip and even though it wasn’t that long, I’m completely drained and disoriented. I can’t imagine going back to that type of travel on a regular basis!
-emily
(re: Original King’s Quest (mainly to Orat, vintage-sierra.com))
I might wind up doing that (downloading a cracked copy) for Dagger of Amon Ra, but I would prefer to find a manual if I can. My Freddy Pharkas didn’t come with a manual and I’m glad I found a PDF online, because it was a lot of fun to read.
Funny — I played the CD version of PQ4 and never understood why there was a manual in there, either. Didn’t even occur to me that it would have been for copy protection! I recently picked up a floppy disk version — I bet the manual is needed to play that one. Maybe I’ll load it up just to see how it’s implemented.
Out of curiosity, what’s the copy protection for GK1? I’ve only ever played the CD version.
-emily
(re: Non-Compete Clauses, and More)
Ken,
I like both ideas! No matter if you help Sierra, or start a whole new company, I for one would be waiting anxiously to see and hopefully purchase any game made by you and Roberta! It was just you and Roberta to begin with, so sounds like a great place to start….again!
Despite my childish excitment, I just wanted to say, go for it!!!
(re: Non-Compete Clauses, and More)
I feel you have the right idea, Ken. I’ve been running small businesses for about a decade now, and all the local traveling and meetings, and finding this and that and so on and so forth . . . when do I have the time to spend the money? I guess that’s why I went back to college.
With who you are and such, starting a new company seems very encouraging, though retirement must be just as nice, or even better.
Picasso believed that by working all of the time, he’d live forever. He was 97 when in died in the ’70s. I guess he was right.
Picasso also believed great artist steal. But that’s another topic altogether.
People on this website, Al Lowe, video game chat rooms on Yahoo! and AOL are all complaining, time and time again, that video games are either sports games, lousy extreme games, first-person shooters, EverQuest clones, Mario 64 clones or Tomb Raider clones. What’s sad is both Mario and Tomb Raider games are not selling too well.
Lastly, in the last ’70s, you and Roberta did something that wasn’t possible to do on the computer. Then in 1984, you did it again. And in 1988. And in 1989. And in 1990. And in 1993, 1994, 1996 and then poof! I remember an old promo *.AVI file on the first King’s Quest collection that had somebody saying, “We were doing VGA on EGA, and we are doing SVGA on VGA–” then the clip switches from there to a similing Al I think. Hell, I watched all the *.AVI files on that CD. The in-sight was great, but the posting you do here really shares the actual work involved. The point is, though, you and Roberta have a magic touch in PC gaming that’s just hibernating and waiting for a comeback. What that is, I don’t know myself.
(re: re: re: re: Original King’s Quest (mainly to Orat, vintage-sierra.com))
SQ1 VGA came with a normal manual with an easily copiable copy protection in the middle of the manual. If you need it, jusy email me.
Since I have the CD versions of SQ4, KQ5 and GK1, I never knew why I had all of this other “stuff” in my box. So I never used it. Interesting reading, though.
(re: re: Why was there never a third game?) Hmmm… the comment that there wasn’t a third Manhunter because of disagreements with me over the direction of the series surprises me. It may be true, but it’s the first I’ve heard it. I’d be curious to know what we were disagreeing on, if we were. I don’t remember any disagreement.
My recollection is of having tremendous respect for the Murray’s, and wishing we could work with them forever. I think they left for Broderbund primarily because Broderbund offered them a materially higher royalty than Sierra for Ancient Art of War. I remember being hurt by this because I had been involved at the beginning of Art of War, and always assumed we’d publish it – but that when we started discussing contract, we were beaten out by Broderbund.
Over the years I had a series of what I used to call “Kens Rules” that served me well. One of these was “I never want to win a bidding war.” As soon as it became obvious that the Murray’s wanted both Sierra and Broderbund to compete for the publishing rights, I walked from the deal. I loved the product, but rules are rules. I wished the Murray’s success, but did not enter the bidding.
Here’s the issue, and another “Ken Rule” – I always believe in playing poker with my cards face up. In most deals, if there were ongoing negotiations, the deal got worse for the other side, not better. I usually lead with my best offer. Sierra’s economics were no secret. I knew what percentage of revenue I could afford for product development, marketing, manufacturing, etc. I also knew what level of profits I needed. If there were a way that a product could fit Sierra’s business model, and succeed, that was awesome – but, if it didn’t, we were better off to pass.
There were some awesome products that I always regretted passing on. I believe that if I been a bit more willing to deal, we could have continued to publish Richard Garriot’s products (we published the original Ultima), we once were within inches of publishing Westwoods products (Command and Conquer) and I also believe that I could have done the deal to publish Doom. But, these are exceptions. Generally, I think we succeeded in a tough market, because we did deals that were profitable for both sides. Everyone won – authors, customers – and, Sierra.
-Ken W(Non-Compete Clauses, and More) At the time we sold the company, both Roberta and I signed a five-year non-compete clause. We agreed to not do anything in the consumer software, or videogame, business for five years.
It’s standard practice when companies are bought. The acquirer paid a lot of money for Sierra, and didn’t want me to wait two weeks, set up a new company, and hire away all the employees.
That said.. the odds are that my non-compete wouldn’t have been binding. The company that bought Sierra confessed shortly after Sierra was acquired that it had been cooking its books (reporting more profit than it actually had). Given this, and the huge negative impact on the ex-sierra employees (ourselves included), I doubt any court would have blamed me for violating the non-compete agreement.
All of which is irrelevant now. The five year period is long gone, and we could compete if we wanted to. Roberta would like to do something again, and I’m starting to think that direction.
Roberta would like to see us start a new company, which we may do someday. I’ve got a few ideas about how the software behind this site can segway into games, but want to get it finished, and successful, on its current track before I start thinking about taking it some new direction.
A couple of weeks ago, I did contact Sierra. I saw an article that indicated they were struggling, so I contacted them to see if there was anything I could do to help.
We’re already off to a bad start though, and it’s my fault. They asked if I could meet with their CEO (last week) in Los Angeles or New York, and I asked if it were possible to just have a conference call. They felt it was critical that our first meeting be face-to-face, and our meeting was deferred until April when I was going to be in LA anyhow. I did nearly thirty years of jumping on planes every few days, and always hated it. Roberta and I still do a fair amount of travel on our own, but it’s at a much more leisurely pace, and we’re together – and I spend my days playing golf, or with my computer – not in meetings. I would love to see Sierra regain its leadership position, and will do what I can to help, but hopefully this won’t include riding planes or showing up for meetings.
-Ken W(re: re: re: re: Original King’s Quest (mainly to Orat, vintage-sierra.com))
An imperfect solution until you can find the manual would be to download an abandonware version of the game. It will be cracked. I own a couple of legitimate copies of KQ4, but use an abandon version to play, since I hate to have to drag out the manual, just to play the game. Same with The Colonel’s Bequest.
(re: re: ultimate pleasure pack)
But it is a speed bug. The speed bugs started showing up with the 486s. This specific bug is fixed with the patch.
(re: Why was there never a third game?)
The Murrys also have a website at http://www.evryware.com. They were called Evryware even when Sierra was publishing their games.
I corresponded with one or two of the Murrys in the past. They said that there were arguments between Ken and and them about what direction the series would be taken. The third game was to be Manhunter: London. Low sales supposedly was not an issue, as apparently the games were critically acclaimed and sold well.
There was a page on the Evryware website about Manhunter 3 a few years back (evryware.com/manhunter3 I think, it’s gone now). I guess one day they decided they were going to make it (the year 2000 or so). They had an email addressmanhunter3@hotmail.com . I remember when I e-mailed them, they mentioned that they were planning on remaking the first two games as well.
Just now I was snooping around on the Evryware site…you can click on the tiny icon in the lower left to view statistics on the site’s visitors, referring websites, etc. That led me to this page eventually: http://www.evryware.com/products.htm, which still has a mention of “Manhunter 3: Ultimate Online Adventure”. So that gives you a hint of what they were planning.
Anyway I’m sure all plans are long since cancelled, especially with the death of one the siblings. If anybody wants to try to contact them though, they might respond.
(re: RE: You fell off KENNY BOY!! YOU FELL OFF!!!) “I was locked out of the game business for five years”
Are we talking metaphoricly, or were you actually ‘locked out’. How did that work?(re: re: re: Original King’s Quest (mainly to Orat, vintage-sierra.com))
Are you talking about SQ1 VGA? I actually have an extra copy of the manual. Maybe we could set up a trade if you’re trying to get your hands on it. It has a little bit of writing on the back cover but otherwise is in perfect shape. Email me if you’re interested.
There was just a manual with codes for this game, no magazine. I got a shrinkwrapped copy earlier this year (and opened it!) so I’m sure of that. It’s SQ4 that came with the Space Piston magazine.
-emily
(re: Ken: King’s Quest PCjr copyright owners) I remember that the IBM contract for the PCjr version of Kings Quest was very non-restrictive for Sierra. IBM didn’t ask for any exclusivity, or ownership of anything produced.
Times have changed, but at the time, IBM was in the position that Microsoft is today. Even more so. IBM was so dominant that there were lots of rumors that the courts would break them up, as had just been done to AT&T. In our agreement with IBM, they bent over backwards to make sure that the agreement was absolutely fair to Sierra.
It has been nearly 30 years since I saw the agreement, but I would be very surprised if IBM has any rights at all to the code. My guess is that Vivendi, and VU Games, have 100% ownership of the code, characters, plot, trademark, copyrights, etc.
-Ken W(re: re: Original King’s Quest (mainly to Orat, vintage-sierra.com))
I have a copy of the game, and I’m looking for the manual. If I recall correctly, the copy protection was a magazine or something that I remember both Sierra and LucasArts doing lots of for many games (Playspy the one I recall, as well as Space Piston magazine).
(re: Original King’s Quest (mainly to Orat, vintage-sierra.com))
Thanks for the responses. My next question is, does anyone know where I can find the copy protection for Amon Ra? I looked around online a bit and couldn’t find it. It’s not on replacementdocs.com either. (I understand it has something to do with Egyptian history?)
I have the vintage-sierra site in my bookmarks but for some reason it didn’t occur to me to look there! I also found that all the Colonel’s Bequest stuff has been uploaded to sierragamers, but unfortunately the Amon Ra documentation has not…
-emily
(re: A web page is interesed…) Hi Mr. Williams!
Here are the questions, you can answer them when you want.
1- Those years when you used to work in Sierra: were they intense?
2- How was the first on-line experience back in the ’90?
3- You used to program your games in the beginning, why do you leave it?
4- What do you think about the new adventures?
5- How were the relationships with other companies? For instance, ERBE (Spain) or Dymamix.
6- You didn’t make a lot of purchases, but you did bought Coktel Vision. We didn’t hear anything from them since 1994. What happend with them?
7- What do you think of…?
Al Lowe?
Corey and Lori Ann Cole?
Jane Jensen?
Sierra nowadays?That’s pretty much it for now.
Thank you very much.
Guillem Rueda.An off-topic question:
Does Carlos Escobar speak spanish?(re: re: List of Sierra Products)
Josh,
Found another missing item.
Gabriel Knight – The Sins of the Fathers was re-released with a CD Version with voices in 1996 by SierraOriginals.
MikeP.
(re: re: Why was there never a third game?)
maybe an online mode would’ve been cool as well
you can also check this site:both parts on amiga roms.
i think they have sorted out the legal bits.(re: re: ultimate pleasure pack)
i’ll give the cendent progreammers the benefit of the doubt. i installed the game again to see if i could get to the point you mention, and mine went through. if must’ve been something, but i got the last pleasure pack for only ten or 20 bucks in 2001, the last time i ever saw it. i wonder what version of lsl6 is on it.
however, the bug you address is in Computer Player magazine (now defunct) and mentioned in a letters column in an old Next Generation magazine (also defunct) I also think an old InterAction may also have something, though somebody stole all my IA mags, and have no idea about that at all.
Couldn’t they at least have stolen my GamePros or something. IA was one of the best magazines, like Nintendo Power, worth reading every issue.
you could always ask the Al himself at his website allowe.com
(re: ultimate pleasure pack)
thanks for the replys. actually it isn’t a speed bug. the bug appeared on my old 486 that i still had(my first computer after my 486 was a pentium III, i was a little behind the times) when i bought the greatest hits and misses collection. sierra also knew about it at the time because you could download from their site saved games that restored right after the problem. but it wasn’t a speed issue, just a regular bug. i also had a regular copy of just lsl6 that i bought when it first came out, and that did work perfectly on my 486. anyway, im not looking for a solution to the bug, i was just wondering if they fixed it when they released the ultimate pleasure pack collection. thanks.
(re: re: re: re: re: Possible Reference to Space Quest in Half-life… Tell me what you think!)
Ah, you mean “Gordon Freeman” in HL would be a reference to that small in-joke in SQ? Not very likely, but okay.
(re: Looking for Shivers II soundtrack)
Go to the message boards of Quest Studios and ask there.
