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(re: Space Quest EGA Original Disk) Hi
I know about it, you have to use the copyIIpc program to backup diskette. It will helping. Wink !(re: Space Quest EGA Original Disk) I don’t know if this will help or not, but I had a similar problem when trying to fix a bad DOS 6.2 upgrade disk years ago. I could not name it to what the installer wanted by just labling the disk, but I found that if I labled a disk when I formatted it I could. Just right click on the floppy drive in Explorer and choose “Format…” Lable it in the dialog box before you format it. You can then just copy the files over to the new disk.
Another option would be to just make a direct disk copy (right click on floppy drive and choose copy disk.)(re: KQ8 – please help :))
Put the axe away before you leave the millhouse, switch to 1st person view then leave the millhouse. After the cut scene with the henchman you can change back to 3rd person view. This solution seems to work for most people who get this freeze.
(re: KQ8 – please help :))
Try changing your graphics mode. Go into Options, click on graphics, then click on something other than DirectDraw. I don’t know if it will work for you, but it worked for me.
(re: re: re: Avatars) PS – I just re-read this .. it makes me sound REALLY old (which I kind of am .. my 49th birthday was yesterday … this time next year I’ll be SUPER depressed)
Ken, I couldn’t help making a comment about your birthday. I’m older than you by 5 years, so perhaps you should listen to the wisdom of the ancients (that would be me)! Neither this year or next year at this time should you consider yourself old and get all depressed about it. You should consider yourself mellowed like a fine wine but still kicking with a flavorful bouquet.
Sue (who did not grow up on Sierra games, but rather who raised her children on Sierra games, specifically Roberta’s King’s Quest games. Now don’t you feel younger already, Ken, knowing that there is a gramma on your mailing list older than you?)(re: re: re: re: Avatars) If I would have known it was your birthday I would have been on to say- “Happy birthday!” so….
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!…Anyway, if you are going to add avatar pics for people on this site, I would suggest that they give a url location instead of uploading a picture. Unless you have quite a bit of space to hold them all! Plus, make sure the size is limited (maybe 120×120). It does add a bit of personality to posts to see something.
(re: Space Quest EGA Original Disk) As you’re a regular here, I’m sure you own the disk! Anyways, try and locate a copy of Anadisk IF you can get hold of it, it should do the job. Have you tried DiskDupe (wow, that takes me back!)?
(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
(re: re: re: re: KQ4 AGI)
Oh, that’s right. You can type “BEAM ME” outside the prison cell after killing Lolotte and you end up in a Sierra space station or something :))
(re: re: re: KQ4 AGI)
I have the AGI also. In this version you can do the pretty cool easter egg that’s not in the SCI version. Also when it asks for the copy protection there is a way you can bypass it. I can’t remember at the moment what it is you do.
(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).
(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).
(re: re: re: Avatars) Ken
Just read your P.S. on the last message about your b-day. That was kinda weird cause in half-price-books today I saw an Oil’s Well game on the shelf, and for some odd reason, that made me think – I wonder when Ken’s B-day was – completely random.. then I get home, and boom you mention that you just had one. So is November 1st the official day then?
-Brad(re: re: Avatars) Ken,
How did you learn to program? Did you take classes or just learn on your own? I have been into computers since I was 5 and have always wanted to program and create my own stuff. I was just always too lazy to do so. I am going to college now, and am going to make my Bachelor’s computer technology. It consists of Java, C, etc. I have gotten a little into QBasic(a long time ago), and assembly. I just wanted to know how you got your start. What languages would you recommend at this time; since computers have advanced a lot since you started. Thanks.Posted by: James on 11/2/2003
Roberta and I were married very young (I was 18 by four days). I was in my second year of college, majoring in Physics, when we discovered that I was about to be a dad, and that it was time for me to get serious about finding a job.
At the time, computers were just being born. I saw my first pocket calculator in college and remember being fascinated by it. I also visited UCLA on some school field trip, and saw my first real computer (a big mainframe). They didn’t invent PCs until many years later.
So..
I decided to quit college and do a nine month intensive course in computer programming – Control Data Institute – they used to advertise on late night TV. It worked for me! I learned Cobol, RPG and assembler. My first job was as a computer operator, on a mainframe computer – but, I was programming in no time.
Finding a job in Los Angeles, in those days (the mid 70’s) as a programmer was super-easy. I had a series of programming jobs, and finally wound up in compiler development – doing mostly C and assembler. My last job prior to starting Sierra was as the head of engineering for a company that was doing corporate tax returns on a remote computer for big companies. I credit this job with having given me the business skills, and financial foundation, required to be “more than just a programmer” when I started Sierra.
Today: I’m not sure what I’d recommend. I’m biased towards C and C++ – but, there are plenty of Java and ASP jobs out there. If your goal is to build games for a living – then performance is everything, and other than on handhelds, or cell phones, where you have no choice – I don’t think Java has the performance required to build great games.
-Ken W
PS – I just re-read this .. it makes me sound REALLY old (which I kind of am .. my 49th birthday was yesterday … this time next year I’ll be SUPER depressed)(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: Avatars) Ken,
How did you learn to program? Did you take classes or just learn on your own? I have been into computers since I was 5 and have always wanted to program and create my own stuff. I was just always too lazy to do so. I am going to college now, and am going to make my Bachelor’s computer technology. It consists of Java, C, etc. I have gotten a little into QBasic(a long time ago), and assembly. I just wanted to know how you got your start. What languages would you recommend at this time; since computers have advanced a lot since you started. Thanks.(Avatars) Have you thought about allowing avatars(pictures) when you post?
James:
I’ve thought about it … and, have a lot of code in to handle it … but, want to hold it for the next release. I already have more features in this next release than I should have.
Here’s some advice for all the developers out there:
Think in terms of small incremental releases. The ability to hit a ship date declines exponentially with the number of changed or added lines of code. In other words, if you only fix/add one feature at a time and do a series of small releases, you are millions time more likely to hit your final release date than if you try to gang up tons of little features into a major release. Multiple small releases are always better than one big release.
I should have read this message before I started to work on the next upgrade … I’ve been all weekend chasing bugs, and feel farther from release than I was last weekend.
Argh…
-Ken W(re: Kings Quest 6 Corrupt Floppies!) Thanks alot! I’ll recheck the disks and see which ones I need, and then email you shortly! KQ6 (disk version) one of the best games sierra has ever made IMO 🙂
Keith
(re: Kings Quest 6 Corrupt Floppies!) Hello Keith II,
I have the disks you need, thanks to the fact that my silly Sierra collector self had to have all 4 colors of the King’s Quest 6 boxes!! 🙂
email me at
Link:crownofiron@hotmail.com (mailto:crownofiron@hotmail.com)
and let me know which disks you need, I’ll e-mail the files, if that is at all possible!
Anything for a fellow Sierra memory kid,
Yours,
Rygar(re: re: Sierra Video Catalog) That KQ4 promo video was excellent, i didn’t even know there was a contest 😉 As for the Larry video, I couldn’t view it (only hear the audio) since the video I guess used a codec for which I didn’t have nor could get.
Keith(re: re: Good old Sierra-Times, Thanx to Ken & Roberta!) Hi Ken,
thanx for the answers. It’s a pleasure, that you answer to me.
At this time, I think that no companies do develope new adventure games. The most companies say that there were no people who will buy it. Sierra for example do the same. Have you take a look of the new Larry-Trailer ? It will be an action-adventure in 3D. That isn’t another Larry-Game! It’s a new (other) Larry game! The companies say, that no one will buy a new adventure game, which will be made like old adventure games (in 2D-view). But I (and also some other companies) didn’t think so. Best example is the game called “RunAway”. Ok it is a bit in 3D, but the view looks like an old adventure (in 2D). And the game has a lot of success. So the developer is stil creating the second title. And I think that other games like this example will have also a lot of success.
I have download the engine of Jeff and will have a look on it in the next time. 100 $ is a very low price. (Oh, when I think at Jeff and Dynamix I think also to the great Game-Row “The incredible Machine”… 😉 ). Is GarageGames the company of Jeff?
I understand what you doing right now. You were a successful company-owner and you have reached many many things (all?). If I were at your positions, I will do the same. But I am not at your position ;). My company is very small at this time, and we work hard each month – each day – each hour ;).
I will put two shots of two games from us. There will be much more games, but this shots are from the newest games. The first screenshot is a shot of Legend of Zord, the other a shot of our actually strategy-game called “Game Tycoon”, which was released two month ago. Have fun with it.
Many greetings to you and Roberta.
Regards, MarcoA shot of the game called Legend of Zord.
A shot of Game Tycoon, our actually game!
