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Yes, like Brandon said, I was asking only about CD-ROM games. I don’t think the CD version of KQ5 retained the copy protection, because it wasn’t integrated in the game like it was in KQ6 and Freddy Pharkas. About QFG4 I’m not sure, because while it was more integrated than KQ5, it wasn’t as integrated as in KQ6. As for SQ6, I don’t know… some say it’s copy protection, others say it’s a badly designed puzzle (because some copies were distributed without a manual). If it’s indeed copy-protection, I suspect that SQ6 is the only CD-only Sierra adventure that have manual-check copy protection. No one knows of other games?
Please note as you answer guys that the original poster’s question related to copy protection for CD games, not for disk games. If my memory here at work of the KQ5 manual is correct, the symbols actually have a transparent red layer over them, to make copying the manual harder since obviously that was the easiest way to pirate a game, just by copying the manual. I’m not sure if CD version of KQ5 also retained this copyright protection. Some of Sierra’s early CD games I’m certain didn’t include the copyright protection that was in their disk version counterparts, based on the assumption that the CD format wouldn’t lend itself to copying. Later Sierra games like KQ6, SQ6, etc made the copyright protection more ‘integrated’ into the game and a part of the game’s puzzles, instead of just requiring you to look up a word or symbol at the start of the game or during gameplay. You had to use the symbols or information in the manual or supplemental book to solve a puzzle. I would still consider this a copyright protection.
Darren, welcome here! Thanks so much for dropping in to say hello! It’s always cool for us here to hear from people who used to work at Sierra, no matter what they did or how long they were with the company. I will send you an email regarding some archival work we are doing with former employees.
Brandon Klassen, Sierra Archivist
SierraGamers.com admin/dev teamIn the beginning of KQ4, you need to look up certain words on page X, paragraph Y. PQ1, EGA, you need to open Sonny’s locker with the game score. I can’t think of any for the QfG series except 4 where you need the ingredients for Dr. Cranium’s potions. LSL, there’s a few. I think it might be on 5 where you need a ticket at the airport or something. On some other lsl’s, you need phone numbers.
When you say ‘manual-check’ do you mean, you have to check the manual to pass the security feature in the game? KQ5 has it where three times in the game you have to look up in the book some spell symbols. Once when you push the boat out to sea and when you try to crowbar the gate at the castle and I think when you scare the snake at the mountain pass. I wish they had made the symbols a little more different from each other. I wonder if it was made the way it is to prevent copying of the manual?
You won’t remember me, but I’ll never forget you and the company that
changed my life. My main tour of duty was with Coktel Vision in
France. My first project was Gobliiins, I joined the team
sometime in late 1990, and I helped with the in-game musical
arrangements. From there, I went on to help with Gobliins
2. At some point, around 1992-1993, I was able to make a
short-lived move to the US Oakhurst facility, I was only there for a
few months. I did background musical work on a few games at that
time. I remember my excitment when I was able to seek a seat in
on one of the late King’s Quest planning sessions, although I was not
on the team, and listen to some of Roberta’s amazing concepts.
After my short stay in the US, I moved back home and stayed with Coktel
Vision for a short while longer.Although my time at Oakhurst was brief, I was able to meet dozens of
amazing people. A small handful of these I have kept in
touch with through the years, but sadly, I have lost touch with
most. I am still in ‘the industry’, and I will never forget the
time I spent and the lessons I learned during my Sierra days.
Glad to hear that you and Roberta are doing well, and enjoying your
well-deserved retirement.God bless,
Darren KraneCorey, it’s a delight to hear from you here! Thanks for posting your recollections on this one, little trivia tidbits like that are always fascinating.
Quote:
…JASON.MORE@xtra.co.nz, 2005-11-30 17:05:59Hi Ken
What role if any did you play in the production?…Jason…
Not an easy question. I’d say ‘either very little, or a whole lot, depending on how you look at it, and who you ask.’
I tended to have a few different roles on projects. My most important one, was that I got to decide which projects were funded, and which ones weren’t, and pick the key creative people on the project.
During development, I was usually involved in games both directly, and indirectly. I did periodic progress reviews, where I would look at the game, and try to give the team ideas. I also met with the technology group, to give them ideas for cool new technologies to put in. On rare occasions, these were ideas of mine, but most of the time I was really just cross-pollenating good ideas that I had seen in other development groups at Sierra, or in competitors products.
We tended to have 50 or more products in development at any one time — so, realistically, my involvement in any one game was very limited. Even though I didn’t spend much time on particular projects, I do believe that I was able to impact each project in some significant way (positively or negatively depending on who you ask)…
-Ken W
The one from the ‘QG Web Team’ is really misleading. To the best of my recollection, the only blackbird in QG1 is the one in the brigand leader’s treasure room. I think we just told the artist — Jerry Moore — to put some interesting, valuable-looking things in the room. The magic carpet was the only specified item (other than the room layout). When Jerry put in the Maltese Falcon, we loved it and wrote it into the rest of the series.
Jerry’s touch can also be seen in the appearance of the Starship Enterprise — on the shelf of the QG2 magic shop, and I think there was also one in QG1, perhaps in Erasmus’s house or maybe it flies past the carpet in the closing credits. It was one of his ‘signature’ art touches that he managed to sneak into several Sierra games.
– Corey Cole
Well Sierra will go down in history as the most successful developer and publisher of adventure games of all time. They must have been doing something right if they made more money and games than Lucas.
I bought a set of 3 Space Quest comics from Brandon and wanted to post about what a great experience it was. He showed me pictures of the 3 comics I would be getting as well as outlined any flaws he could find, however negligible they may be. He packaged them really nicely and they arrived in the same condition as described. He even refunded some of my shipping money since the cost turned out to be less than he thought.
The best part is that he shipped them out on the 25th and they arrived on the 28th! Although that may not be directly relatable to Brandon, it just made me even happier with the sale.
If you want a set of comics I urge you to purchase one. They are really cool and this was the first I’d ever heard about them.
Anyway, that’s my experience with Brandon and urge others to get a set while you still can if you’re the least bit interested.
Where did Scott and Josh said this? And did you ever consider the possibility that they said it only to cover up the fact that some releases of this game were shipped without the manual?
I don’t know… I took a look at it and I don’t see how you can stand a chance of solving this puzzle without the manual. And beside this puzzle, there’s another puzzle for which you need the periodic table, which is also in the manual. How can you solve this one without it?I’ve never had any bugs running the Windows version under Windows 98 or
Windows ME (Windows XP is a different story entirely, lol)As for the dialogue windows, I suppose it’s a question of taste.
What do you mean by technical section? If you go to ‘Sierra Games’ under ‘Bulletin Boards’, you’ll find the ‘Bugs / Tech Help’ section for discussion of bugs and technical issues with Sierra games.
I cannot recommend the Windows version of KQ6 over the DOS version.
Not only is the Windows version prone to crashing, but it seems to have some kind of optimisation problem resulting in it running slower than the DOS version (both tested on a decent PC).
The Windows version is also more prone to bugs.
Regarding the character portraits, the high res portraits of the Windows version, in my opinion, doesn’t fit the art style of the rest of the game at all. Rather than prove immersive, they tend to take you out of the game whenever one pops up because it just looks so very different.
The portraits in the DOS version reminds me of those in KQ5 and some of the QFG games, and fits the graphics in the rest of KQ6 perfectly.
The bottom line is, KQ6 DOS CD runs fine through DOSBox, and remains a class game, and I would recommend it over the problematic (though this could depend on your setup) Windows version.
My compliments as well to the Williams.
I was first introduced to Sierra On-Line in 1991, with The Castle of Dr. Brain, EGA version from Egghead Software (anyone remember them when they sold software in stores?). I played it on a 286. The imagination was so obvious – whoever wrote these games were geniuses.
This was the era of Sierra On-Line and LucasArts. Both developers made the adventure games that people loved.
I can still remember playing Kings Quest V on a 486. I couldn’t stop playing. I even beta tested Power Chess at the time. Got to usability test Master Cook as well. Went to Sierra’s studio in Bellevue in 1998. Too bad Ken and Roberta had long left the company by then.
I hope that Ken and Roberta are doing well in Mexico. I still have great memories of living in the Seattle area, mostly of the great games that came out of that city just south of Redmond…
Your genius shaped many people. I’m very glad to see that you two are still active in the community.
Take care,
Alex Smith
Nashville, Tennessee (formerly of Kent/Covington, Washington)Another point worth to note on the DS are the RPG´s that are coming (from the 90´s) like Shinning Force and Phantasy Star. they are not Adventure games but are part of us just like we were part of that decade.
JULIO.
eBay would certainly be your best bet, probably as part of the King’s Quest Collection or the Roberta Williams Anthology
Keep in mind that playing the Windows version of of King’s Quest VI,
which contains much better artwork in dialogue windows, is problematic
in Windows XP. Your choices are to play the DOS version (with lower
quality dialogue box art), to use a version of Windows earler than XP
(possibly by dividing your hard drive into two partitions, one loaded
with XP, the other loaded with an earlier version), or running Windows
3.1 through Dosbox (which, of course, requires getting your hands on a copy of Windows 3.1).Another possible solution to running the Windows version of the game under XP can be found here, but I found this solution to create too many bugs to play the game properly. It may work better for you, though.
Would anyone be willing to email PQ 1-3 and LSL 1 & 3? The email address is rlane97@yahoo.com
Ken, I’ll put you down for a set, because you should have them. I don’t expect a lot of bites. Besides my own original copies (I bought them back when they were first released!) and a set of near mint archival copies that I’m keeping, I have a few sets for sale plus some extra issues for sale that don’t make a full set of three comics.
They are quite rare. I don’t like to sell on eBay because you never really know when you’re going to reach fans who want them. You might list an auction and it runs for 7 days, and no one buys it but a month later someone looking for the comics goes onto eBay. Also, every time you list eBay charges you a small amount, as well as a commission if you make the sale. Secondly, you never know when you are going to get a good price on eBay. You can set a minimum bid or a buy-it-now option, but at one time during the year you might sell for a low bid and another time of the year you might sell for a high bid. Lastly, when I first announced this I announced it on Frans’ site as you can see from my first post in this thread. I really thought they’d all sell but I only sold one issue. I guess all the collectors there already had copies. I’m hoping by announcing it again here that I’m going to directly reach the collectors out there who want copies. If they don’t sell, well, I will list them on eBay, or maybe just hang onto them a while longer.
Anyway. I want these to go to good homes, and it’s the time of year when one needs money to buy Christmas presents and I saw these sitting on my shelf again, so maybe there’s some more interested people out there. A set of these would make a great Christmas present! And I trust that the people in this community are good people so with the security of a Paypal payment I’ll happily sell these outside of a system such as eBay.
If anyone needs to check MY reputation you can view my eBay feedback at the link below. Also, the process I listed above of sending you various photos of the actual comics you’ll receive and your package of comics should put anyone at ease who wants to buy from me.
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=bpklassen&ssPageName=STRK:ME:UFS
