<( a: a: w -CJ) O ver the lasl Len years, Roberta a nd I have received thousa nd of leller from customers. Complim nlS from fans, sugges tion from u ers, and occasional complaint leuers are still routed lo us, and I work hard Lo make sure each gelS read and res ponded lo.
L rough the leuers we've rece ived, we've found good uggestions on ga me improvements, spoued developing problem within the company, and been in pired and molivaled by your co ntinuing enthusiasm for our ga me .
Inth e beginning, Roberta and I collected the besl leuers and planned on pulling them in a scrapbook. I'm sorry lo say Lhal mosl of my favoriles have been lo l ove r Lhe years.
/ remember some of the leller though, as if I received them ye lerday. And a precious few I have kepl on the wall of my office.
Ttiis one wa dated May 23, 1981: ". . .1 had a well-publicized airplane crash in February. Fortunately, we are all doing well and I still enjoy flying. I have no memories of the crash or the Jive weeks following (total amnesia) but have been told of the crash and the hospital stay. Pictures show me in the hospital playing on an Apple with your new game, which I was totally unable to put down ...
2 b ank you so much for the happiness that you brought into my life. I hope that you find no bounds to your creativity."
Sincerely, Steve (W oz) Wozniak
who are familiar with Apple Computers' history recognize the na me Steve Woznfak as the creator of the ori ginal Apple computer. For me, Steve was a hero of the first degree. The consummate hacker, a successful business man, and even a ge nuinely ni ce guy.
letter came to me at a very important time in my life. When I originally envisioned starting a business to publish software, I wanted to write " erious busines applications." Roberta was the games advocate. I sort of thought they were silly. To be hones t, I was even a little embarrassed that of all the businesses and companie I had been involved with, my mo t ucce sful venture came from computer games.
I n his letter, Steve let me know that what I was doing had a lot of va lue. The tex t of the letter stressed how happy he was that companies like mine were building fun, creative applications. He even aid that our game was " the clo e l application lo that for which I really designed the computer. " It made me fee l a whole lot more comfortable with the path that the company was taking. The support of a man like Woz really gave me pride in what I wa doing al a time when I really needed it.
3 Roberta, remembers a letter that she had framed years ago. It was a handwritten letter, originally about four pages long but only the front page had been framed . We don't remember the name or hometown of the writer anymore. (The letter burned, along with our home, in a fire several years ago.) However, we can both recite one passage from memory. The passage had been drawn over with a yellow highlighter, and Roberta loved it. It came from one of our very earliest customers, way back in 1981. 4 Tenth Ten t h Ten t h ANNIVERSARY
' it read:· ''... The kid; almost nei;er 11'.alch television now. They 're always playing Wizard and the Ptincess br one f!f y9ur other computer games. They think the televi:sion· is boring. because you just -sit there and watch it. ·They say that it doesn't challenge Jhem and it's just not Jun anymore ... ''
If you'v6 heard ·Roberta tall< ·on a ·radio or TV program, ~r read one of her magazine interviews in the last six years, you know that Roberta .. now sees the repl~Cement .of . ,. '· television as a primary goal .for Sierra.
•' . . . When·you come to the Sierra offices today, you can feel the ' . Our ~usici~ns . ~aot to beat th~ malnstr~am . rec~rdi~g arti·sts~-. (~ . few main~tream . ·. recording artist~ . have even come. on board to ~assist us.) Our ani~tor.s a~e -.yor!Ong. to ~at.· - the poor excuse tb11t passes for animation on ·~aturday· morning tel~visi911 these days. (The. hardware is holding us ·back, but we are ~till gaining on television.) Our programmers ~ know that .this isn't a database or a spreadsheet they'~e woiking on, but a piece of ., cinem~tic art that wi.11 li~ly ·oefi.ne an· in'IJX?rtan( new. industry for decad~s.. . . ·' 1 would like, on .thi JOth anniversary of Sierraj tu take this opportunity to j:re;son.aJJy thank.Steve Wozniak.and also the unknown woman with th~ non-.couch potato kids and all of t~e. hundreds and. thousands of game piayers out there f9r your enc~uragement ~rtd .. su{>po~ over t11e lasf ten years. Your words h'ave 'brought direction aruf drive to this . company. The :Secret- of our succyss is you, and .Robert.a anq I want to keep hearing from · . . you ..· Pl~se. keep those cards and lette_~s coming,· Sincerely, · · ~d ·: Ken Williams ·. President Sierra 0)1-Line, ,Inc. · 5 II Into The Third Dimension 'IBM came to us and asked us to design a co/or adventure 'In 1979 I had worked as a Four bestselling games later, game to show off the Roberta and everyone else programmer trainee, but it capabilities of a new com wasn't really something I en who was paying attention Lo puter they were developing. joyed. I wasn't sure I liked the brand new computer It was all very top secret .. .' game field knew the answer computer games - I wasn't even sure I liked computers.' to that question. Roberta and Ken Williams had taken corn- Roberta Williams was soon puter games to new horizons to change her opinion of corn- and new heights. puters and computer games. When her husband Ken brought home a terminal from The computer was the IBM PCjr, and the game was venture games, King's Quest. For the first Roberta soon time ever on a computer, found herself characters in a game had the hooked. When freedom of the entire screen, she and Ken went moving in front of and behind looking for more objects in their surroundings. computer games It was the beginning of the to play, they 3-D Animated Adventure. found only a few, and nothing that really appealed to them. Software From The Kitchen 'I don't think we thought at that time about actually start ing a software company ... but it did cross my mind: 'It would be fun to try to write something like that ... so I wrote up a design at the proverbial kitchen table .. ./ drew all kinds ofpictures . 6 A Crowning Achievement e first King's Quest ame shipped in 111984, marking a new era in the history of both Sier- ra On-Line and computer graphic adventures in general. The availability of such a colorful and ophisti cated game for the IBM operating system helped sell computers, and increased computer sales increased the market for Sierra games. each taking advantage of the In King's Quest IV: The King's Quest/: Quest/orthe latest developments in com Perils of Rosella, the prin Crown is the story of Sir puter hardware and Sierra' cess Rosella sets out for the Graham and his quest for own game development land of Tamir, where she three magical treasures oftware, to push the limits of must find a magic fruit to that must be returned to the what games were capable of. restore the health of her Kingdom of Daventry. Jn King's Quest/I: Romanc father, the ailing King r:f!~~ Graham braves ogres, Graham. Many familiar ing the Throne, Graham - trolls, dragons and giants to fairy-tale elements combine ~ · now King of Daventry, goes win the treasures, restore to test her resolve and en- them to Good King Ed on a search for a Queen to ward, and claim his share his kingdom. To find reward. her, he must journey to a distant part of the world Three sequels to the original and seek her at the top of a 'King's Quest' followed, tall tower. On the way, he will be chal lenged by many dangers, not the least of which is the dreaded Dracula him self. In King's Quest Ill: To Heir is Human, a Where will the royalty young man named Daventry go adventuring Gwydion must free next? Only Roberta Wil himself from a wily liams knows for sure. One wizard, using the thing for certain; future wizard's own magics 'King's Quest' games will against him, and make continue the tradition of ex a perilous journey to citing and involving interac far places in search of tive gaming action for which his true name, his she and 'King's Quest' have identity, and his royal become justly famous. destiny. 7 'We got together while we being killed or worse. were both working on 'The 'There was an overwhelming Black Cauldron', and started response to the game. There throwing around the idea of were a lot of people who en collaborating on a space Two Guys Strike joyed what we were doing theme project. We both have Again! t he futuristic theme, the a real strange sense of humor-there was a market humor .. .' What do you get when you out there for this kind of combine artistic talent, game.' programming skill, the Accidental Hero ability to tell a whopping Back For Round good story, and the wildest It was never Roger Wilco's Two sense of humor in the idea to save the galaxy, first Just when you thought it was known galaxy? If you 're from slimy simian Sariens, safe to go back into space, lucky, you get the Two then from the voluminously Roger Wilco returned in Guys From Andromeda, vulgar Vohaul, and most 'Space Quest II, Vohaul's better known around these recently from those playfully Revenge', to defeat the plans parts as Mark Crowe and poisonous Pirates of Pes Scott Murphy. tulon. Roger just Mark and Scott have been seems to have a working together since talent for getting 1986, creating their special himself into messy brand of excitement and situations. laughs for thousands of In 'Space Quest: fans of the Space Quest The Sarien saga of Roger Witco, Encounter', Mark everybody ' s favorite and Scott's first ven broom jockey turned ture into outer-space galactic hero. hijinks, the player becomes Roger Wilco, an apprentice janitor aboard the re search vessel Ar cada. Caught napping in the broom closet when invaders board the ship, Roger must use his wits (not exactly something he's had a lot of practice at) to foil the bad guys' destructive plans and save himself and everyone else from 8 Bob Siebenberg - we were in awe of his talents.' Save Those Two Guys! of the terrifying and 'Space Quest Ill: The thoroughly unpleasant Pirates of Pestulon' set a Sludge Vohaul, escape cer new graphic and sound stand tain death in the lair of the ard for Sierra games. The Labion Terror Beast, and /tX brilliant and detailed pic save the galaxy from an in high-resolution game inter tures, whimsical storyline vasion of genetically en preter, SCI (Sierra Creative and dazzling music were an gineered insurance salesmen Interpreter), which also made insant hit with the game-play Roger goes in search of the who were not going to take it possible to put full musical ing public. enslaved game designers, 'no' for an answer. scores to Sierra games. using hi s ship's targeting This time Roger Wilco is on Supertramp's Bob Sieben and navigational systems. a mission of mercy. Sinister berg was signed to compose Danger is his constant Roger Wilco Meets software pirates have kid the 'Space Quest Ill' score. companion, and death Supertramp napped the Two Guys From lurks at every tum, but the Andromeda, and unless Two Guys are counting on 'We never expected to make a Roger can storm their stron- our hero. third installment, but we ghold and free the intrepid 'We feel fortunate that didn't want to kill the charac game designers from a Sierra trusted us to take off ter ojf. .. by 'Space Quest Ill', lifetime of forced employ- in our own direction with though, we thought about ment churning out second the Space Quest games and it ... it got harder finding new rate arcade scenarios for the be crazy, let our imagina ways for Roger to die, new Scumsoft boys, there will tions run wild. That's real aliens for him to encounter. be no hope for the galaxy, ly been what's made these Now we know why George no joy in Mudville, and NO 'The music and the high projects fun Lucas hasn't made any more MORE SPACE QUEST resolution graphics were Star Wars movies .. .' GAMES! really exciting to us , kind of When it was time to design spurred us on ... kept our the latest sequel, Sierra was minds working creatively ... it beginning to use their new was a real joy to work with ADVENTURE IN REALITY 'One thing that we did during happened yesterday. This game design was to stick guy is trying to kill you ... ' strictly to sound police proce He met Ken Williams, who dure. If you didn't use sound encouraged him to write his police procedure, you law enforcement experiences couldn't get through the into a story that could be con game.' verted into a design for a Sier The POLICE QUEST series ra 3-D Adventure. The result is at once an exciting corn- was Police Quest: In Search puter adventure and an in- of the Death Angel, the most sightful and revealing look into the day-to-day life and duties of a police officer. Police departments using it for procedures training have called it 'a serious training program ' and ' ... a hi g h powered training tool '. It's also dynamic and challeng ing adventure, and hours of powerful gaming enjoyment. True Adventure Gaming Jim Walls was a California Highway Patrol officer when he was first approached about c designing a new kind of game for Sierra On-Line. Jim was on leave following a shoot out in Central California - an experience that left him a changed man. The experience of that shootout ... it's never going to go away - it's just like it 10 ficers, the first Police Quest even know how to tum a game explored unknown ter computer on. Roberta helped in more ways than me quite a bit. It was . an interesting experience .. .' Defying The Death Angel Police Quest 2, The caped again ... He was Ve ngeance, Sonny Bonds' sentenced to prison for 23 worst nightmare comes to years, and when they life: The Death Angel has es brought him back for retrial, caped from jail, with a list of he escaped again. He was people he wants dead, and it's gone over two years that up to Sonny to put an end to time... They caught him in a series of revenge killings Florida. They arrested him, before he becomes one of the put him in the patrol car, and while the officers weren't looking, he escaped 'This was also based on from the car. They caught fact. The guy that I was in him and extradited him back volved in the shootout with to California. had escaped from jail ... While he was awaiting 'The series is all based on preliminary hearing, he es- these true stories. ' unique animated adventure to come along in a long time. Jim Walls - designer of the Police Quest series. In Pursuit Of A New Experience In Police Quest: In Search of the Death Angel, rookie patrol man Sonny Bonds must use all the law enforcement skills and knowledge he can muster to bring a drug dealer to justice. Patterned closely 11 Quality Adventure Games For Young ' ... most children (in the If you take a look at the total U.S.) under the age of 12 computer sofrware market spend almost half their - even today - the number of waking hours in front of the games for young children is tube ... Ken and I think this is sadly small. Almost all the a disturbing trend, and we products targeted for the are working to change children are ''education it ... This age range is really sofrware '' and it's hard to important to the kids' future find anything that's real fun development. If we can get to play. kids comfortable with turning on the computer From time to time, Roberta instead of the television set, I has taken a sabbatical from think they 'II continue to her successful series to choose interactive produce products aimed at Graphics and music were entertainment for the rest of these children. enhanced with help from the their lives. I want to make Disney team. Finally , the sure there is proper software Roberta remember reading Lloyd Alexander's " The entire finished and available to greet prereaders programmed design was and young elementary school Chronicles of Prydain" as a child, and her own sons actually tested with young kids when they get a players. The final product computer in their home. enjoyed the book years later. When Walt Disney began was certified "kid friend Iy " work on an animated feature before it was shipped out the film based on the novel , she door. wanted to get involved. She wanted to take it one step Now, years after the initial further with the development release of Disney 's animated of an interative version of feature ''The Black the story. Cauldron," the movie is out of release. The Black ™ Cauldron computer game is The Black Cauldron still a strong seller for The Black Cauldron was Sierra, though , and is still Roberta 's first try at one of the few for young developing a new adventure children. game "from the child up ." A system to give wrinen ln the meantime, Roberta instructions to the computer has set her sights even was re-implemented to " lower" in her quest to require no text input so pre rescue youngsters from typing kids could play . Six Couch Pota toism. arcade sequences were Prereaders and early reader installed into the game. were the next target. 12 e ·children Mixed Up Mother "Mother Goose doesn't have For school use, up to twelve • Goose: A Game For a Saturday Morning TV students could save their Very Young show, and they don't sell games on one disk. Mother Goose t-shirts and Words were accompanied by Children lunch boxes .... the children I pictures. The word "cow", Roberta's work with "pretyp talked to had picked their for instance, would appear i ng" children in Black fa vorite fantasy characters with a picture of a cow, as Cauldron taught her a lot based on the 'thirty minute would all items in the game. about how children thought toy commercials' they saw on and played computer games. Saturday mo rning .... I A wall poster of Mother Prereading kids were an even wanted to put Mother Goose Goose rhymes was included greater challenge. back in children's minds in each package. Remem where it belongs .. ." bering a unique Christmas Roberta started her young card she got as a child, she children's game project with The final design for "Mixed designed a map with win the idea of using a Mother Up Mother Goose" was in dows in it that a child could Goose theme, thinking that tended to entice young open to get hints for the game. most young children know children into the world of She even posed for the photo Mother Goose. Surprisingly, Mother Goose. Once the used on the box cover - some her early research found that game was up and running, thing she doesn't do for her young children were much kids could immediately take other games. more likely to know "GI over because only a very few keys (or a joystick) were nec ln a 1988 study by a group of essary. Children chose television advertisers, it was an onscreen character found that families with a that looked like them, computer in their home, on including hair color average, watch less television and ethnic heritage. It in one week than the average was simple for children family does in two days. to save their games in Roberta thinks this means progress. 13 Westward, Ho! Choose one of lhree excit- Expedition #J - Become a ing mid-nineteenlh.century seafarer, and take a long The Gold 'Rush is on! Sell modes of travel to get from and .' dangerous voyage your land, pack your .bags, the. East Coast to the Wes.t. from the Ea~t Coast down and grab lhe next ride out, tot.~e . tip9fCapeHom , then because fortune ljes just .Expedition#I -Take a ship ba<;:k up to California.· Like 3,000 miles.:aw·ay. · A · from New York. and sail real ·ma.riners .o'f the chance .to relive one of through the Gulf St.ream to nin'eteenth 1:;entury, you'll America's most exciting. P.anama. then proceed on· a face scurvy, starvation, and eras is prov.ided in this ac- perilous trek through the ·the dangers of the .deep lion-packed adventure in rugged 'jurigles oi· Central . before you reach safe har the tradition of King's America .. Avoid quick- bor in San Franeisco. · · Quest! sand; p,oisonous snakes, and hostile natives a~ you Entertainm~nt That Become young Jerrod \Yil: trav.erse 'the lsthmu_s of son of Brooklyn, New ·Panama on foot. Educates York, as he makes lhe most Gold Rush! ·is ·historically Expedition #2 - Travel by important. dei:isio!l of· his and geographically ac life: remain in his safe and· stagecoach, canal ·boat, curate, .to. make learning steamer; and wagon train as stable life in lheeast, ortake history fun for . everyone. you cross lh!! .heartland of off for danger, excitement, Perfect for home or sphool America towards the wild and J)ossible riches in lhe use. wild west of lhe late 1840' s. west . Many difficulties lie in .waif, fo~luding cattle Includes a beautiful histori Three Complete rustlers, Indian.s, and cal map-showing the routes . Adventures In One lhieves. Geographiccll 'bar to the gold country. Also Package riers, changing· climates, ·included .is the book and other obstacles chal-· 'California Gold', the true · lenge even the most rugged story of the gbld rush yea~s ~ frontiersman. · and the re~I people who made it .live. Here are lhree complete quests, featu'ring entertainment for the entire .family that will enrich your understanding of life on the American frontier. l4 '/'ma card player, so I really 'It's a point and click inter lookedforward to working on face, or you can play it with this project. I picked the arrow keys. You don't have A Friendly Game of games I liked the best ... well, to type in any sentences, so a I had never played Gin small child can get the hang Cards Rummy before, but 1 can play of it pretty easily. My three , Back in the mid-eighteenth it now. I had to de velop a year-o/d, Christina, plays century, a fellow named Ed system for card games within Old Maid. She's also one of mond Hoyle compiled the the Sierra system. The pro the characters you can play basic rules of play for card gram had to include not only against. You can also play i games in one book - the rules, but the strategies against me, though in ac 'Boyle's Rules of Games·:· that the computer will use tuality you' re playing against against the player.' Times have changed, the me all the time.' games have changed, but 'ac Match Wits with TI" "Jloylr" lrudrmark a11d lh t' Card· IJack cording to Hoyle' still means dt'!. 1g n au 1Ht'd undu liant r frvm l/(}ylr l;ruducb'. a dfruum of Hru.,..n & Bi1:rlf>I•'. In c. 'by the book'. Sierra's new your Favorite card game program for the Sierra whole family, Boyle's Book Characters of Games,'" Volume One, 'You get to play the game combines 'by the book' rules against your choice of char of play with that special Sier acters, which are very ra brand ofhumor and fun for diverse. King Graham, the friendliest game of cards Rosella, Roger Wilco, Larry, around. Colonel Dijon from 'The 'Boyle's' designer and Colone/' s Bequest' , Sonny programmer Warren Bonds, and a couple of Schwader has an association original characters, 'The with Sierra On-Line that goes Kid' and 'Lenny'. Eighteen back a good many years: characters in all. There's a lot ofdifferent dialog and dif 'I was living in Wisconsin in ferent personalities .... but the 1980, when Ken (Williams) characters don' t get in the called me up and asked me if way ofplaying the game.' I'd like to move to California. He'd seen this game/' d done Sierra' s high resolution called 'Smashup' ... a very graphics add to your game early Apple game .. As far as enjoyment. You ' ll enjoy I remember, I was the first using the highly detailed and programmer they hired.' realistic playing cards as you ------1 test your card-playing skills The Perfect Way to against 18 opposing players, __L_ e_a_m__ a_n _d_P_la~ __ , including many Sierra game Warren and his team of artists characters. Play Hearts with have created hours of enjoy King Quest IY ' s King ment for your entire family as Graham or Gin Rummy with you learn and practice six Princess Rosella, or Crazy popular card games, from 8 's with Roger Wilco, hero of Gin Rummy and Old Maid to the Space Quest games. Or Hearts, Cribbage and Klon challenge yourself with a dike Solitaire. game of Klondike Solitaire. Terror In The Year 2000 Where in the world do you go to find new horizons when you 're the author of two of the most exciting and realistic graphic ad- ventures ever written? lf you 're Jim Walls, designer of Police Quest and Police Quest 2, you go out of this world to an intriguing and sometimes chilling near-future of political terror and high-tech escapades. In Codename: Iceman, Jim has combined the best of the intrigue genre with the newest in simulation technology to create a new kind of computer entertainment. 'I wanted to see if I could do something completely dif- ferent .. .something besides a police game. I knew this guy who'd served four years on a nuclear sub, and he'd tell me hese stories .. .it was really in triguing. So I came up with his story about a secret sub- marine mission to rescue a kidnapped ambassador .. .' Operation: Hostile Recovery A hostile nation holds the life of an innocent man in their grasp. A wait ing world listens for word of war. A nuclear allack sub nation. His marine navigation simulation runs silently goal -- a nest of fanatical to give the player a sense of eastward for a res Codename: ICEMAN takes terrorists armed with total control as Johnny cue operation. or a you from the sunny beaches advanced weaponry. Westland navigates the At- rendezvous with of Tahiti to the halls of the 1antic and prepares to death. One man Pentagon and beyond. Secret Undersea penetrate a harbor bristling can make the Agent Johnny Westland with deadly security devices. difference - attempts to crack the deadly Action Codename: security of a terrorist base 'It was hard for me, because ICEM11N. and rescue a hostage it was out of my realm of ex ambassador in the most perience. I had to do a lot of critical assignment of his research ... / talked to people career. who had served on nuclear submarines, and did a lot of Using a nuclear-powered at my own research besides, tack submarine, a one-man and I got a lot of information diving vehicle and sc uba from the Navy ... '' gear, Westland must penetrate the electronic har Codename: ICEMAN in bor surveillance of a hostile cludes state-of-the-art sub- A diving vehicle must be maneuvered through sensi tive magnetic fields without being detected and destroyed. 'There are a lot of layers to this ... layers of political in trigue ...a global oil shortage, a middle-eastern country with a surplus of high-1:rade oil. superpowers each trying to 1:et as much of it as they can .. .The terrorists kidnap a U.S. ambassador, hoping to provoke an incident with the United States. always want to do the same Enter Laura Bow thing. People love murder mysteries, and it's not a It's a dark and stormy night in genre that's being done much the spring of 1926. As Laura in computer games. Bow, college student and amateur detective, you are looking forward to spending A Fresh Look At An the night in your roommate Lillian's old family mansion, Old Favorite where a gathering of friends Computer adventure game In 1988, Sierra gave Mystery players the world over know House over into the public Roberta Williams as the domain, but the idea of a mur designer of the bestselling der mystery game - one that King's Quest series, but 5 was as complex, interesting years before the first King's and sophisticated as the cur Quest game was published, rent line of Sierra games - Roberta Williams was al still seemed like a good one. ready making computer The elements that had made game history with Mystery Mystery House so intriguing House, the first computer ad - a spooky old house, suspi venture to combine graphics cious characters, a buried and text. treasure and lots of murders, were good beginning in 'No-one had any idea how it gredients ... should be done - using text input and graphics together I thought it was time for a - because no-one had ever murder mystery. We had done it. Ken had to develop done one, but it was so long a system from the ground up ago, most people probably for a whole new kind ofgame . wouldn' t remember . It We put ads in computer seemed to me that it was time magazines, and it got a really to expand ourselves in the great response. Within a storytelling area - we don 't month, I knew I had to design another game.' and relatives is taking place. responsible, they aren't like clues, but it's much more A ferry transports you across ly to take kindly to a would story oriented than our pre a dismal wamp and deposits be private eye snooping vious games, and the charac you on the grounds of the around, so you'd better be ters are much better dreary and run-down Dijon careful as you discover facts developed. There's a lot of plantation. It will be back in (and falsehoods) about your dialog .. .you can carry on the morning, but the murders fellow guests and their conversations with them. It's begin at midnight. relationship to the old man really more of an interactive I think everybody has a bit of whose money will be in story. natural detective in them ... herited by whoever survives Will you be able to keep from Who is killing the relatives him. being the murderer's next and associates of rich and ec victim as you explore the centric old Colonel Dijon, When Is A Quest ~. . gJ plantation for clues to the one by one? Is it the sneaky Not A uest? killer's identity? Will you ... \ ' l\. - lawyer, the drunken doctor, This game is unusual, I think, know who to believe when ' the slick gambler ... or did "1' - compared to what we' ve you talk with the Colonel's •. the butler do it? Whoever is done before - it's not quite family and friends, each of as 'puzzle oriented' . whom is hoping to inherit the There are puzzles, - fortune? Danger, adventure, Roberta Williams and mystery with a touch of voodoo await you when you attempt to olve the mystery of The Colonel's Bequest. 19 You Want ogress Baba Yaga arrived To Be with dark magic and ev il curses, and a cloud of gloom A Hero fell over Spielburg. The The world's not always an accomplish the quest: 'Save baron's children have disap easy place for a would-be the land and become a Hero'. peared and monsters roam the hero; either you 're battling countryside ' ... until a hero Hero's Quest game designer dragons, fending off magic from the east frees the man Lori Cole came to Sierra from spell s, or on the run from the from the beast, the beauty a background ideally suited local brigands. Sometimes from the band, and rids evil for game design ... it's all you can do just to get from the land ... ' through th e day ... But a 'In addition to teaching and A Do-it-yourself hero's gotta do what a hero's designing role -playing gotta do. In 'Hero's Quest I games, my background in Hero - So You Want to be a cludes animation, theatrical 'The game has a lot of Hero', players will find experience, stage directing , decision making, right from themselves facing challenge stage designing ... I think of the start. Do you want to be after challenge, using wits, my game as a play that's a fighter? - give yourself muscle and skill to taking place on the com more strength. Do you want puter ... you construct your to think a bit more? - give scenes so that your charac yourself more intelligence. ters are always visible, but so Whichever character-type that it doesn't look you choose, you will play the deliberately staged. ... game differently. The skills that work for a fighter won't A Champion necessarily work for a magic Foretold user. It calls for different dozen years ago, the kinds of decision-making.' barony of Spielburg was a For the first time in any Sierra peaceful land of majestic adventure, players will con mountains and sleepy val struct a characte( from the leys, ruled by a brave and ground up, combining basic respected ruler. Then the attributes o f Strength, A Ii • Intelligence, and Charisma into game charac ters that will gain skill and abilities as the game progres ses. Special combat and 20 magic systems, developed specially for Hero's Quest, 1 enable players to interact with the game environment 'It's a combination of fantasy as realistically as possible, role-playing with the basic while over a dozen 'quick adventure game concept of commands' take the place of going Lo a world and explor typing in complex sentences. ing it, finding things, solving A Task puzzles ... It's important to know when to fight and when Undertaken to run away .. .There' s a skill 'We've designed a fantasy to making these decisions.' role-playing system within Can you free the land of the game system to allow Spielburg from its curse and your skills, your statistics to earn the title 'Hero'? Can increase as you go along, you survive combat with your strength, agility etc to dragons, goblins, brigands, get better as you use and and the great bear who guards practice those skills.' the kobold's cave? There's You can play Hero's Quest imly one way to find out if again and again, using your you' ve got what it takes, and enhanced skills to solve dif that's to enter the world of ficult game problems.or by 'Hero's Quest'. creating an entirely different kind of character who will ap proach the problems in a dif ferent way. ,· - ' . . I - . , ORDERING IN.FOR · AUON - SIERRA PRODUCT OUTLETS additional Sierra product at time of initial shipment. Shipping on hardware items is separate and listed below. Sierra products are available in over 10,000 retail outlets For Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico in the U.S. and Canada, and are distributed internationally in over 20 countries. Your local software retailer is the quickest For priority shipments the charge is $6.00 for the first Sierra product, and $2.00 for each additional Sierra product and most convenient way to find the Sierra products you want. at time of initial shipment. If you can't find the Sierra software product you 're looking for at your local software store, you can order it directly by For Canada mail or by phone: For priority air shipments into Canada, minimum charge is $30.00 for the first Sierra product plus $3.00 per additional TO ORDER BY MAIL item at time of initial shipment. Please fill out all information on the order form complete SHIPPING FOR HARDWARE ITEMS ly. Lnclude your check or money order (payable in U.S. funds only), or credit card information. Please do not send cash. No In the Continental U.S. COD orders are accepted. Those ordering from outside the The following shipping charges apply for hardware items: Continental U.S. and Canada, and those wishing to receive Roland MT-32: $12-UPS Ground their products by a priority shipping method, should note the $20-2nd Day Air pecial instructions below. AdLib Music Card and $ 6--UPS Ground TO ORDER BY PHONE Game Blaster Card: $10-2nd Day Air Please call (800) 326-6654 (United States) or (209) These charges include insurance and reasonable packing 683-4468 (outside U.S.) between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Pacific materials for shipments of fragile components. On music card Standard Time. To order by phone, please have your credit orders, checks must clear before order is shipped. card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express) and order Outside the Continental U. S. information ready. We cannot accept COD or other forms Our International Shipping Policy applies to hardware of payment. items to be shipped outside the continental U.S. Please see Those ordering from outside the Continental U.S . and INTERNATIONAL SHLPPING for more details. Canada, and those wishing to receive their products by a priority shipping method, should note the special instructions NOTE REGARDING 2ND DAY SHIPMENTS and charges as itemized below. Phone orders are entered the same day. Mail orders are (For cu tomer service, please call (209) 683-8989 , 8 a.m. entered the day they are received by Sierra's Order Desk. to 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Friday.) Please allow four to six working days for filling your order. REGULAR SHIPPING AND HANDLING INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING Regular shipping and handling methods for Sierra Due to the large variations in shipping cost for various products are delivery by U.S. mail or UPS Ground for the international destinations, and the fluctuating cost of delivery Continental U.S., and delivery by U.S. mail for delivery to to some locations, all international orders will be by credit APO, FPO and into Canada. Regular shipping is free within card only. Actual shipping and handling charges, including a , the continental U.S. and Canada except for hardware items small fee for customs stickers and insurance (when necessary) (see SHIPPING HARDWARE ITEMS). will be added to the credit card total on sendout. Most orders are delivered by air mail/parcel post. PRIORITY SHIPMENTS Sierra products are distributed to retailers worldwide. You Within the Continental U.S. may want to consult with your local retailer before ordering For 2nd Day shipments within the Continental U.S. the from Sierra. Any questions regarding Sierra's International charge is $5.00 for the first Sierra product, plus $1.00 per Shipping Charges policy should be directed to the Sierra Order Desk (209) 683-4468. 22 MENTION THESE PROMOTIONS BY NAME WHEN YOU ORDER BY PHONE! (800) 326-6654 (U.S.) 209-683-4468 (Outside U.S.) OR YOU'LL MISS THE DEAL! (You can order them by mail, too) FREE SIERRA 3-D ADVENTURE GET NEW SILPHEED OR BOYLE'S T-SHIRT (1990 EDITION) BOOK OF GAMES FREE! WITH EACH PURCHASE OF $75 OR MORE! WHEN YOU BUY A GAMEBLASTER OR ADLIB (Bu y from Sierra or direct from your retailer) MUSIC CARD DIRECT FROM SIERRA Let the world know that you 're a Sierra Adventure game The addition of a music card to your MS-DOS computer fan with the new 1990 edition of the Sierra Adventure T-Shirt! is important, so when you bu y your first music card from Sierra, we 'll give you your first game soft ware product with It 's free when you purchase $75 or more of Sierra product music suppon FR EE. Please specify the product you choose direct from your dealer, or direct from Sierra. to receive in the area marked FREE MS-DOS SOFTWARE. Those purchasing through the Sierra catalog should circle the total purchase price and indicate the correct size in the box OR that reads FREE T-SHIRT. GET TWO FREE SIERRA GAMES! Those purchasing Sierra products from a retail store should send in the ORIGINAL sales receipts with their completed WHEN YOU BUY A ROLAND MT-32 MUSIC CARD warranty cards. Be sure to include your name, return address DIRECT FROM SIERRA and T-Shin size (SM, M, L, XL). Please include one sales To entice you to make the the ultimate step into . tereo receipt per order. music, Sierra is offering not one BUT TWO free Sierra games This promotion good only for those products purchased (a total value of over $ 120) when you buy a Roland MT-32 between September I, 1989 and December 3 1, 1990, and must music synthesizer direct from Sierra. Select any two products be postmarked no later than January 3 1. 1991. Additional from Sierra's product line when you make your purchase. charge of $3 for overseas and APO shipments. Void where Pl ea~e specify the product you choose to receive in the area prohibited. marked FR EE MS-DOS SOFTWAR E. Offe r good through March 3 I, 199 1. 23 Revised March 1990 SIERRAORDERFORM P.O. BOX 485, COARSEGOLD, CA 9361 4 FOR FASTER SERVICE CALLS00-326-6654 (U.S.) From outside the United States call 209-683-4468 7 A.M. TO 9 P.M. (PST) Monday through Friday Remove this entire order form, carefully complele all necessary areas and mail 10: Sierra Sales Department, P.O. Box 485, Coarsegold, CA 93614. MS DOS (256K required unless no1 ed). All products are A.TA Dt ~T lmjn =-··- .c;:n ar - --·· jr...d\ o . : •• {lf y TMo l shipped with both 3.5'' and 5.25" disks e 11 c/o.red. support Atari ST Sim•le-sided Disks EGA. CGA, VGA. Herrnles Monochrome, MCGA (PS2) and Kinn 's nues1 I 49.9 '> Tandy Graphics modes. unless noted. All 512K games sup- Kinn 's Ouesl II 49.95 porr music cards. Kinn 's nuesl Ill 49.95 Manhunter - New York 49.95 MS DOS Pr ice Q uan- Total Manhunler-<:an Francisco 49.95 titv ~ """" """°' I 49.95 Kin• 's Ouesl I 1256K\ 49.95 Snace Ouesl II 49 9'> Kino's nuesl I 15 12K\ 59.95 Police Ouesl I 499'> Kino 's Ouesl II 49.95 o.i: •• f'I., ~ , 11 69.9S Kino 's nues1 Ill 49.95 Leisure <:uil Larrv I 49.95 Kin• 's Oues1 IV 1256K\ 49.95 Leisure Sui1 Larrv H 69.9S ,.,_ • .1 _.,n "-''-• • l"! n~• Kino 's Oues1lV 15 12K\ 59.95 29.95 Hero's nues1 15 I 2K \ 59.95 The Black Cauldron 39.95 Gold Rush! 39.95 The Black Cauldron 39.95 • •·-' <:T n ...... _. ,.. . .. n :.L. Snace Oues1 I 49.95 Kino 's Ouesl IV 59.95 Sn.1ce Ouesl II 49.95 Hero's nues1 - 2nd "lr. 5995 Sn:•ce Oues1 Ill 15 12K\ 59.95 Colonel's Benues1 - 2nd nir. 59.95 Colonel 's Benues1 t512K\ 59.95 ronnues1s or Camelo! - 2nd n1r. 59 95 Police nues1 I 49.9'> Manhunter-San Francisco 49.95 Police "uest II '512K' 59.95 Snoce nues1 Ill 59.95 r'n.ln ~·---- • •·-· ~"I ? I(\ '>9.9'> Dn l ; ~P n.,P., II 59.95 Con"ueslS ofCamelOI '512K' <9 9< rode Name: Iceman - 2nd ntr. 59.95 Leisure Suil La~ I 39.95 Leisure <: uil Larrv II 59.95 ' ·' ..... ~ .. : . ' ·-· II I< l?lt\ 59.95 I .Pi< .. rP ~ .. ;, I •rrv Ill - ?n,1 · ·- 59 9< Leisure Suit La~ · UI 15 I 2K1 <9.95 Hovle's Book of Games - 2nd ntr. 34.Q'i Keeping Up With Jones, (5 I 2K) 49.95 MACINTOSH. 512K and dual-sided disk drive required unless 2nd qtr. - MCGA, VGA only (no Tandy Graphics Suppon) 720K noted. All nroducts work in co/or 011 Mac II u11/ess noted with an*. 3.5" and 1.2 me• 5.25" disks enclosed. MACINTOSH Price Q uan- Total ""· '"· " "l?I<\ _ 1 ... "" 34 95 titv Manhunler - New York 49.95 Kino 's Ouesl I 49.95 Manhunter - San Francisco 49 95 Kin n 's nues1 II 49.95 Gold Rush! 39 9< v : •• 'o 0 .. PN Ill 49.95 " '··-"·"" •• - -'--,f"!nno- 29.95 Kino ·s Ouesl IV - 41h n1r. 59.95 Mixed-un Mo1her Goose '5 I 2KI 39.95 Snace nuesl I 49.9'> Thexder** 34.95 ~ . ... , f'l .. M O 11 49.95 <:;lnhePSpace Quest I 9.95 /28K unle.'is otherwise noted. Soace Ouest II 9.95 APPLE II SERIES Price Quan- Total Soace Quest Ill 9.95 titv Pnl ;"" Ouest I 9.95 l(;nn's ()., ..,I 49 95 Police Quest II 9.95 Kin• 's Ouesl II 49 95 Code Name: Iceman - 2nd atr. 9.95 Kin• 's Ouesl Ill 49.95 The Rl •r• r . .. 1,1mn 9.95 l(;nn 's ()., ..,IV 49 95 Leisure Suit Larrv I 9.92 Sn.oce Ouesl I 49.95 Leisure Suil Larrv II 9.95 Snace Oues1 II 49 95 I .;. .. ~ c;:,, ;, I •m• Ill 9.95 The Black Cauldron 39 95 Gold Ru sh! 9.95 Leisure Suil Larrv 39.95 Manhunler - New York 9.95 Gold Ru sh 39.95 U nn h""'"' - <;: "" Frnnrisrn 9.~ Poli ce Ouesl 49.95 Sierra Merchandise Price Quan- Total l M' .." -un U n• h.. r.n~ • 29.95 titv Manhumer - New York 49.95 c;:; Prrn J"""" rnffpp M IQS 6.00 Thexder 34.95 Leisure Suit Larrv Beach Towel 21.95 -· ;. " "·'"" '"'IK\ 14 .95 The Official Book of Kino's Quest 10 .~ Smart Monev 79 95 c;:;. rro M,,<;r n..mn r"«""" I 95 APPLE llGS (512K required) Price Quan- Total Sierra Video Casseue Ca1aloo 4.95 titv T-SHIRTS (specify size) Price Quan- Total Kin• 's Ouesl I 49.95 titv "'"" '< o,,.. , II 49.95 Leisure Suil Larry 1s M L XL 9.95 Kin• 's Ouesl Ill 49.95 <;:; prrn ArlvnnllirP CS M t XLI 7.95 Kin• 's Ouesl IV 49 95 Colonel's Beouesl cs M L xu 7.95 Soace Oues1 I 49 95 Kin e's Ouesl IV 1s M L XLl 7.95 <;:n-. rn ()""SI II 49.95 Police Ouesl II s M L xu 7.95 Police Ouesl I 49.95 Hero's Ouesl ts M L XL 12.95 Mixed-uo Molhcr Goose 29.95 Note: Leisure Larrv & Hero's Ouest hare Ion~ sleeves Th ~ Rl nr• r . ,,1 ... ,nn 39.95 MUSIC CARDS Price Quan- Total Leisure Sui1 Larrv I 39.95 IBM & compatibles litv Manhumer - New York 49.95 Ad Lib Music Synthesizer 175.00 r,nl... O .. ohl 39.95 Card* Thexdcr 34.95 Ad Lib Music Synth esizer Card 245.00 Silnheed 34.95 wi th Vi sual ComDOser* <;:m,.n Mnnnv 79.95 Game Blaster* 129.95 AMIGA (512K required) Price Quan- Total LAPCI * 425.00 titv <;:nunrlhh soe r* 239.'15 Kino 's Ouesl I 49.95 Roland MT-32 Sound Module* 550.00 Kin • 's Ouesl II 49.95 Roland MT-32 650.00 Kin• 's Ouest 111 49.95 (Micro Channell* Ki11P '< (),, ~ ,IV - ?n" ni. 59.95 NOTE: We recommend th al all MT-32 and LAPCI orders be Hero's Ouest 59.95 placed by phone to insure the proper model fo r your computer is Colonel's Beouest - 2nd a tr. 59.95 shipped. At minimum, please call 800-326-6654 prior to ordering <;:norn ().,.,, I 49.95 to verify lhe order informalion. Soace Oucs1 II 49.95 * See next oa~ e for shinnin.e details. Snace Ouesl Ill 59 95 I . ; . .. ~ <;:ui• I .,_., I 39.95 THE SIERRA NO RISK GUARANTEE Leisure Suil Larrv II 59.95 Leisure Suit Larrv Ill 59.95 lf you are not completely satisfied with any product you Pnl; rn ().,.,. I 49.95 purchase from ourcalalog. for any reason, return it within IOdays Poli ce Ouest II - 2nd ntr. 59.95 and we will prcmptly exchange the item or re~ your purchase Black Cauldron 39.95 price. A software product is only as good as the canpany behind it Mi xed-I Jn Molher Goose 29.95 For more than ten yean; Sierra has been making quality software Gold Ru sh! 39.95 Manhunter - New York 49.95 for use in homes, schools and businesses. We stand behind our Manhunter - San Fmncisco-2nd atr. 49.95 software with product warranties and customer support which Thex""' 34.95 exceed nonnal industry standards, to maximize your utility and Hovle's Book of Games 34 .95 enjoymcru of your microcomputer. We thank you for yoursuppon. Adventure Game Hint Books Price Quan- Total Hardware items like the Roland Mf-32, l.APCI, AdLib Music 1. titv Kin•'s Oue..i I 9.95 Can!, Game Blaster, and the Soundbla~ter are provided by ~r ' I('"" 's o,, .., ll 9.95 canpanies for resale by Sierra. While Siena attempts to insure the Kin• 's Ouest Ill 9.95 value of these items, it makes no warranties or claims for them Kino 's Oues1 IV 9.95 above those of the original manufacturer. Siena will refund or rnln..nl's """""'' 9.95 exchange any hardware item provided it is returned within 10 Hero's Ouest 9.95 Conquests of Camelo! - 2nd atr. 9.95 days in its original packaging. 25 r------·------·------, SIERRA CATALOG ORDERS Total Merchandise P.O. BOX 485, COARSEGOLD, CA 93614 California residents add 6% sales tax Massachu setts residents add 5% sales tax FOR FASTER SERVICE CALL Priority Shipping and Handling (optional) 800-326-6654 (U.S.) Music Card Shiooing and Handling 7 A.M. TO 9 P.M. (PST) Monday through Friday TOTAL PAYMENT From outside the United States call 209-683-4468 Free MS-DOS software with any music card order SHIPPING AND HANDLING Offer ends March 31, 1991. (See details on page 22) Roland MT-32 Enter product names U.S. AND CANADA Select any two games I. from the order form. 2. Sofh1arc Ad Lib Music Card Circle one: ' FREE regular shipping and handling, except for hardware or Silpheed • items (please check one) Game Blaster Hoyle's Book of Games D U.S. Mail or D UPS to Continental U.S. 0 U.S. Mail to APO, FPO and Canada Free T-SHIRT if your order totals $75 or more Offer ends December 31 , 1990; postmark January 3 1, 1991 ' For FASTER ervice, priority shipping and handling is Circle the size desired I S M L XL • available for an additional charge: D UPS Priority (phone number required) ORDERED BY ( ) First Each Name product additional product Address Continental U.S. $5.00 1.00 City State Zip Code Ala ka, Hawaii , & Puerto Rico $6.00 2.00 Daytime Phone Number. including Area Code (Required for credit card orders: desired for all orders) Canada $30.00 3.00 SHIP TO (if different from above) Harch1arc ltcms1\Jusil' ( ·ards Continental U.S. Name UPS Ground 2nd Day Air Address Roland MT-32 $12.00 $20.00 Ad Lib Music Card $6.00 $10.00 Ci ty State Zip Code Game Blaster $6.00 $10.00 METHOD OF PAYMENT Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Canada D Check/Money Order (payable to Sierra On-Line Inc.) International Shipping Policy applies (see below) D Vi a D MasterCard D American Express INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING POLICY Account Number Sofh1 arc and Harch1 arc Items • Due to the large variation in shipping costs for various • international destinations, and the fluctuating cost of , delivery to some locations, all international orders will be Expiration Date OJ;OJ : by credit card only. Actual shipping and handling charges, ' including a small fee for customs stickers and insurance • (when necessary) will be added to the credit card total. Authorized signature (required for credit card orders) • Most orders are delivered by air mail/parcel post. ' Thank you for your order. ' L ------26 ------....J ' f ------\ , . . CUSTOMER ~ SUPPORT DISK UPDATES AND HINTS REPLACEMENT 1. CALL FOR A HINT (United States only) Sierra currently has three full-time people working in its For callers outside California dial: 1-900-370--KLUE returns department. They are responsible for helping cus For callers within California dial: 1-900-370-5113 tomers update and replace their Sierra software products. This service i available 24 hours. The charge is 75 cents If your Sierra software product should stop working for any and 50 cents for each additional minute. (You must have reason, Sierra will replace it. Just send your Disk #I along yourparents'perrnission to call this number if you are under with $5 for the 5.25 disks or $10 for the 3.5 disks_ 18.) The contents of all the messages are solely the respon If you update or replace a program within 90 days of the sibility of Sierra On-Line. Hints will not be given on other purchase date, you pay nothing at all. Sierra telephone lines. SIERRA TELEPHONE 2. USE YOUR MODEM FOR A HINT SUPPORT Sierra On-Line BBS: 1-209-683-4463 Sierra BBS supports both 2400 baud and 1200 baud. If Sierra currently employs 11 representatives who work all our 2400 baud lines are busy try calling back at 1200 full-time answering incoming calls for customer support. baud (it is not auto-switching). They can be reached any time during regular West Coast busine s hours by calling (209) 683-8989. SETITNGS; 2400 BPS , 8 DATA, N PARITY. I STOP BIT SETI!NGS: 1200 BPS , 8 DATA , N PARITY, I STOP BIT There are also several BBS services that can provide you CUSTOMER SUPPORT with clues for Sierra games. Sierra personnel regularly Should you have any question regarding an order you monitor these commercial Bulletin Board Systems: have placed directly with us, the Customer Support Depart COMPUSERVE ment will be happy to help you. Sierra customer service PRODIGY representatives answertechnical questions on Smart Money PC LINK and HomeWord productivity products, and will handle any GENTE questions you may have about other Sierra products. APPLE LINK 3. BUY A HINT BOOK TECHNICAL SUPPORT You can order a hint book directly from Sierra by calling Technical support i also contacted through the (209) 683- our Sales Department at 1-800-326-6654. Outside the 8989 telephone number. Technical support people will work United States please call 1-209-683--4468 or visit your local with you to solve problems with hardware compatibility or disk Sierra On-Line dealer. problems. Lf our software doesn't work with your hardware for 4. WRITE TO SIERRA ON-LINE, INC. any reason, our technical support staff will solve the problem, If you prefer to write to us for a hint, please use the or your money back. We guarantee it. following address and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope: Sierra On-Line, Inc., Attn: Customer Service, P.O. Box 485, Coarsegold, CA 93614 DISCLAIMER 30 DAY MONEY BACK OFFER! Please allow up to four weeks for delivery. Some items may be If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with this 1 out of stock or not available for shipment at the time of this publica product, Sierra On-Line, Inc. will gladly refund your purchase price. tion. Sierra may refuse any order for any reason. Price , including Simply return the program to Sierra. along with your dated sales stated shippping charges, may change without notice. All checks and receipt (showing the store name and address), within 30 days of credit cards are subject to verification before order can be proce scd. purchase. Also enclose a statement as to why you were not completely All charges to be paid in U.S. funds only. satisfied, as we are always upgrading our products. Void where taxed, restricted or prohibited by law. Dealers. wholesalers and their imme diate families are not eligible. 27 Live the grandest adventure Game designer Christy Marx professional partner Peter in hi story. Experience the turns back the hands of time to Ledger, who designed the responsibilities and rewards transport you into a mag graphics for 'Camelot', Christy of Chivalry. Return to the nificent era of wizardry and extensively researched both the glory that was Camelot in the enchantment, of valorous mythology and the history of King Arthur adventure, knights and daring quests. early Britain to give the game as 'Conquests of Camelot'. Working with her husband and much realism as possible. Conquests Of Camelot I came to game design from a background of writing for c animation, live action tv, and places and face tests of comic books. In that kind of courage, skill and wisdom - nningfantasy ~aga c writing, the writer deter for the Grail is not a prize to the best oftraditional mines where the characters be won lightly - only to one re gaming with the best go, what they do, what the truly worthy will it reveal it storyline is .. .it' s very dif self. ical storytelling for t ferent from game design, '/ wanted to require more of computer entertai which is non-linear ... you than mental delibera l you have never have to think of all the vari tion ...ethics, sacrifice, the ables and choices and you need before. kind of things that were noble have to think of all the things and chivalrous, that a char rically accurate, yetfil the player can think acter like King Arthur would of ..that's very challenging, the myths and lor actually have to do.' and I really quite enjoy it.' ryCamelot. .._ A Land Afflicted The Greatest tiful graphics and supe Reward Of All Camelot is dying. There sound capabilities for u have been visions of The From the magical kingdom of te enjoyment. Holy Grail that will heal the Camelot to the Holy City of land of its affliction, but three Jerusalem and beyond, brave knights have gone to players will live the ex search for it and never perience of Arthur, as he sets returned; it falls to Arthur to out on a quest that will re complete the quest and save quire more loyalty and more hi s kingdom. courage than any man has ever been asked to give. Ifhe '/decided not just to stick to succeeds, his kingdom will the parts of the Arthurian grow strong and joyful once legend that are best known more - if he fails, all is lost. today ... the legends themsel ves are a mixture of different mythologies .. .I took the es sence of these mythologies and created a new story to take advantage of those ele ments, and added new things to make it a whole new adven ture. Both of us have a back ground in pre-medieval history ... we like to do a lot of research ... to get the details right.' 'TM second lArTY game is WbeD tteo o llobelU wu- designed around the charOC· rer .. .it emphasized the humor -=.Mister pOpularity 1iam1 ...,, the ~ Al bad ..mueo. tbeY biled hi1P to rather than the sex and t.arrY Laffer never ~ work for Sierra designinl debauchery .' he'd \1llll to be such a out educatiCJ08\ softWale· SolOC In the sequel to the first popular man-about-town. ear\Y games be designed were PIOlll bumble beginnings in 'IAm'· 'Leisure Suit Lan1 Goes Looking for Lovi . Al 1981 as a laugbabte loser in put bis hero through his Sierra's Leisure Suit Lan1 comic paces as he wins a mil ill n o)th lion dollars and the dream .,.,,.. thrOU jsure S Goes Looking for Love, UIT'Y has gone on to the heights of fame ~ and fortune. From Entertain ~to ment Tonight to the Wal\ 'Ken wanted convert a Street Journal. Leisure Suit game called SoftPorn that Larr)' is the man they can't Sierra had published back in the early 80' s. Mark Crawe stop talking about. and l wanud to do a game Al Lowe is best known to tltat was fun"Y· I hadn't -en uter actventure gaJOC h"""'' doM successfully in a ayers as the designer of the computer game. and I'm a stsel\ingLeisure Suit Larry pretty funny sort of person. s · es, but he got his start The more we worked on it. the de igning software for funnier it got.' About the time I was designing uisure Suit Larry II, my family and I took a vacation to Mexico, and some of the things that hap pened... the mad rush to the airline ticket counter ... a really ter rible plane ride ... a resort that was so heavily landscaped, we kept getting lost .. found their way into the game.' ori ~ - s~ jungl~ · ~land, 'l .~hojaht . it w~u_ld be fun to L;UTy n\ix4!5 l&'up w,ith sii;iisttir hove a fe""!le J~ar-J charj c- uisure Suit Larry~/} is splc:s. • mad seientist a,rid ter .....tv play t~f! ga'!'e from· . firsr Sief!Ci adventy~ tropical islan4 .beauijes. Will ·111,-P';rspectiv.e. of a woman.. allow players tp .,W· ·he escape,. ftqin the i;ecret 'Fhai' s how I c·ame up wit~ . in.mid-game an.d~ th lat!ontory o.f the' evil -Dr. Passionate'P.Otti.' " ·. • from someone else'.s of Nonooky? Will h,e .win the ·· · · view. 'rn this tiist ever·ro1C-: girl of pis dream.s? Wil) he rn the third ·iaw-Y,' 'game: switchingidv'enture..youwili Uy!! tQ ·get off the is\andJ . · Larcy 'is pursuing Passionate eY ....rience ·anew dlmension ...... faui,- but his luck. wl {ti ·-r-· '.womoo is run~ing' about. like of ~tet adv.~ptu~ as · ··. ... . · · • both I:.arry, Jooking•(or his. . ·.· Role Re~ersaf .. ? usual. · . • · · · missing ·~ff.esteem iit the . . with the unqu~lified Sue;: from th; seam)"stripclubs~r J>Qrilous 'irfterior o( a tr'opi cess of the fi tll;t iwo gi,tmes, Nottonyt Island_to the slCamy <:al island, and his newest • it . was . natliral to suspect' .jw1gle,ruled by arnawn can-'. obS°es$i"n, the lovely Pas that Al Lowe w01,1ld have. oibal women, Larryl..a(fer is sionate Patti, who',s' on .a · more ,ad.ventl!res .for · L~ry, . ·of( ·on. the ~dve!1ture of l)is . quest fqr the man that got '· 'to eiqreri~ce: • ,.. ., ·· · · · life, with th,e woman of his aw!ly. . . •. '.• ..... 31 In 'Manhunter: New York', players were treated to an alien invasion of The Big Apple by a swarm of ugly alien eyeballs who soon had their human captives work If you're Dave, Barry and Adventure Game Interpreter ing against each other for the DeeDee Murry, you plan the system. In 1988, Sierra benefit of the new order. At next one! released the first in the hor the beginning of the game the rori fie Manhunter series, player is a manhunter spying Dave and Barry Murry got 'Manhunter: New York', for the aliens. Overhead started de igning computer designed by Dave, Barry, and maps of New York and a games in 1980. They their sister DeeDee Murry. handy laptop computer aid de igned an air traffic control the manhunter in his search imulator, but decided that I Love NY for renegade humans. But games would be more fun. sooner or later, a decision When IBM relea ed its first 'We picked New York for the must be made? Stay safe as a PC, they developed 'Sierra first game because we Championship Boxing'. wanted a gritty, bleak futuris spy for the invaders, or risk everything by turning against After the success of their tic landscape and New York them? games 'The Ancient Art of seemed to fit well with that. War' and the We like the city real well. It has a lot of recognizable landmarks ... the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Build ing, Central Park. t..------We took location pic tures to make it as realistic as possible, then set the story six een years in the fu ure.' reenacted the game one scene at a time and took pic tures to keep it realistic.• In 'Manlwnler: San Francisco' the horror is back. It i th~ year 2004, and San Francisco is under the rule of the aliens They' re Back ... we all know o well from Ma11h11nter : New York . Not content to rest on the Aided by their killer robots dubious accomplishment of and the traitorous humans invading New York, Dave, who work for them, the in Barry, and DeeDee and co vaders have transformed the designer Barbara Ward magical city by the bay into a decided it was time to bring dark nightmare of tyranny their special brand of fun to a and death, where unknown city closer to home ... San creatures stalk the streets. Francisco. 'One of our goals was to try 'For the sequel we picked San to push the boundaries of Francisco because we what games have done. and wanted it on the west coast, to surprise the player by and that city had the most recognizable landmarks. We trying to do unexpected things. We wanted to have a went down there after we had lot of visual impact. Jn a few the story almost done , went to each of the locations and spots, we went for the gross out.' 'Manhunter: San Francisco' u es the same no-typing in terface and multiple view point perspective format as Manhunter: New York, for over 250 detailed game scenes of fast-paced, death defying adventure. History of Sierra and Japanese Games "When I scheduled myfirst trip that Japanese eh ildren di s Ken' s first 'sales' trip to to Japan, my intent was to set played was simply amazing. Japan ended not with selling up methods of selling Sierra What impressed Ken most of to the Japanese, but with products there. I quickly real all though , was the finding a product he thought ized I (and American software craftsmanship of the games. he wanted to buy. Ken also publishers in general) had a lot found that he could learn a "From the moment I was to learn ... " lot about how to make shown the first computer products from the Japanese. In 1986, Ken Williams made game, I knew I was hooked. this knowledge was even his first trip to Japan. He went There was a multi-voice tually used when he went to with a rather limited under- stereo soundtrack and an work with hi s R&D group to standing of their market. His elaborate cartoon to start the develop Sierra's proprietary opinion was that the Japanese game, and the animation and development language now had a lot to learn about the graphics were simply in know as SCI (the system future of personal computing credible. I couldn't believe used to build such hits as - and he was just the guy to what I was seeing. This King's Quest IV and Space teach them. wasn't programming - this Quest Ill). was an artform!" In studying the Japanese market, Ken found that the hot machine over there was the Thexder: Sierra's First Japanese Import I A ' Nintendo Famicom'. It was described to him as a 'cartridge Hit In America based video game machine' and Ken has always held such During Sierra's first machines in contempt. trip to the orient, no product stuck in his When Ken left for Japan the mind as much as a very first time, few deceptively simple ar Americans had ever heard of cade game called Thex Nintendo. When he arrived der. Built on the there, he was si mply amazed premise of the 'trans to find that Famicoms had forming robot' concept found their way into over 4 that was just becoming million Japanese homes and popular for U.S. games like 'Super Mario children's toys, Thex Brothers' were practically a der had both a good national pastime. ' hook' and a good The fact that Nintendo had design. penetrated o much of the Like all truly success market, and woven itself into fu I arcade games, the very fabric of Japanese Thexder was simple to society, ab olutely fascinated get into; the moment Ken. The video gaming skills you sat down to play, you felt like you 34 ------ knew what you were doing. It reasons; I thought it would be was fun to play - the challenge a good game and I desperate never stopped and the action ly hoped that after debugging moved at a furious pace - and, the game for IBM, I/GS, etc, most of all, it was deep. Ken the programmers and quality had been politely shooed out ass11rance people might get so Silpheed: Computer of three Japanese computer sick of seeing it that they Game - or Interac stores for monopolizing a would get back to 'work'. tive Music Video?? computer Lo play the game, Thexder debuted in computer and he had yet to see even the By the time Sierra personnel stores late in 1986 Uust in fourth level (there were at got their first look at Silpheed, time for Christmas) and wa least 8 more). Ken not only th e Game Arts people and Sierra's bestselling game title bought a Thexder game, but Sierra had cemented their of 1987. The product con an NEC 8801 personal com fri endship. Sierra had hired tinued to be a great seller, and puter to play it on. not only Ed Nagano (Ken's - unfortunately for Ken - the shopping companion on hi s "We managed to wire the Th exder game mu s ic con first Japan trip) as a Sierra NEC to run on US electrical tinues to roll out of program U.S. Ambassador for Japan, c11rrent, and the Sierra ming department computers but also a Japanese program Programming department during breaks and lunches. mer, Mickie Lee, for Sierra's gro11nd to a halt for weeks .. ./ Then disaster reall y struck, in U.S . offices. Japanese think I decided to acq11ire the form of another Game products were regularly Thexder from Game Arts (the Arts product. This one is demo'd for the U.S. program Japanese Publisher) for two called Silpheed. ming staff. Mickie helped to translate directions and menu choices and Ken actively pointed out the options, fea tures and general polishing of the games while periodically stating " We need to add something like this to 011r games". Later, a translator, Akiko Skellerup, would be added to the staff to assist Mickie, and as an entirely un forseen bonus, to te ach Japanese language classes to the Sierra taff. Where Thexder had been a productivity drain around the Sierra programming area, Sil pheed was a po itive di - cipline problem. Each level of 35 Silpheed had a different song attached to it. Every time a new level wa reached that hadn 't been heard before, a crowd soon developed around the creen. The NEC to its source. There, silting in eventually was moved out of the dark with ajoysrick and a th e department and into a Pepsi, was not one of my locked office undern eath a programmers, but my Chelf stairway. Programmers (and Financial Officer, Ed Hein all other Sierra employees ex bockel. Ed was really gelling cept for Mi c ki e who into the game! .. . He won't programmed on the NEC), admit to it, but I would swear were forbidden to walk into he was even making 'missile the room during regular busi blast' noises with his mouth ne s hours. If you went into while he played.. .Anyway, I the office at ni ght though, knew we had another hit on you could hear the sound of our hands." Silpheed, which Ken licensed, was eventually Silpheed echoing under the stairway. released in April of 1989 for K.K. has been doing business the U.S. market. As of this out of small office in Tokyo "I remember coming into the writing, it is too early to say for just a very few months, office one night at about mid whether Silpheed will beat with Ed Nagano serving as night and hearing the sounds the s uccess of Thexder shacho (president) of the sub of Silpheed echoing through (which is still one of Sierra's s idi a ry corporation. the halls. The speakers ar best-se llers) but program Sierra's SCI based games, tached to the computer had ro mers and quality assurance and it's MS-DOS conver have been turned up full people still play the game. sions of the popular Thexder blast! I traced rhe music hack Most of Sierra's personnel and Silpheed action games, have now heard the 18 songs are actively sold into the that accompany the 18 levels Japanese market now, and of play, but the fabulous ac Japanese language editions tion of the game brings them of Sierra products will soon back over and over again. be shipping for the Japanese It should be noted that, three NEC 9801. Along with the years after Ken's first 'sales sales, the staff of Sierra Japan trip,' Sierra actually does sell still works to acquire the very products in Japan. Sierra Japan best Japanese game designs. Their lastest coup, though, isn't an action game. 36 ber of Japanese game Sorcerian would look and publishers scrambled to cash play like. ·n on the new success of At this G's in Japan. American writing, it looks as publishers began releasing though the first version of the ,....,,..._...., apanese versions of their Sorcerian for U.S. fantasy-role playing games market will be for MS due or (The Wizardry, Bard's Tale, DOS, in February Might and Magic and Ultima March of 1990. True to the serie are all widely available wishes of Nihon Falcom, it will likely ship only for for Japanese computers). No Action and Fantasy R e- ·laying competitor though, could EGA/VGA/MCGA and only on 1.2 meg floppies. Games Merge in a New Japanese Import match the s trength and Owners of 8-bit machines popularity of the Sorcerian may never able to see the About the same time that Ken Fifteen separate role-playing game. Even now, a number of be product for their machines Williams made hi s first sales scenerios were included in years later, Sorcerian due to Nibon Falcoms rigid trip into Japan, a then small the game, providing a depth products continue to company named Nihon Fal of play that the Japanese - so dominate in the popular RPG rules regarding grappic · and music. com released the first install used to arcade games - had market segment. ment in what was to be a never experienced before. We at can't wait til Today, Nihon Falcom i not Sierra megahit Fantasy Role-Play The fact that each of the fif you feast your eyes on only one of the largest com Sor ing series. Sorcerian, as it teen scenerios featured a and we continue to puter game makers in Japan, cerian, was called, was one of the large number of screens, and look for other landmark but is in fact is one of the very first fanta y-role-play even a larger range of music Japanese products for im largest computer game pub ing games ever designed for and sound effects, was equal port to American machines. li shers in the world. Sierra is Japanese computers. It was an ly impressive. relatively small compared to Look for Sorcerian in early immediate s uccess, and Players loved the fact that to mid 1990 in American launched a new craze in Falcom, so we were both they could actually choo e surprised and delighted when computer store , and look Japanese gaming known col for future Japanese hits the characters that they would Nihon Falcom gave us the go lectively as ' RPG'. from in the pages of play in the game, and that ahead to begin conversion of Siem this catalog. Unlike mo t games available they could choose how the Sorcerian to U.S. computers. at the time, Sorcerian com characters would prepare The catch was that Falcom bined action, elements of themselves mentally and had a rigorous et of demands graphic adventures, and equip for battle. The very first on what the U.S. versions of sophi sticated role-playing. It Sorcerian players were ab was truly a breakthrough. solutely amazed with the realism as they watched their On top of design innovation, young heros move to middle the game featured graphics age, and again as their hair that were absolutely stun and beards filled with gray. ning, even by the high stand Each time they lost a hero to ards of the Japanese - and old age or battle, they ex featured a soundtrack that perienced an emotion border was so incredible, it has since ing on grief - an odd feeling been rerecorded by a sy m indeed for player used to phony orchestra and released 'shoot-em up ' and 'ki ll or be on compact di sk. It was a tri killed' arcade games. umph in computer ci nematography. Sorcerian quickly shot to the top of the sales charts, and a The Peaceful Medium Between Price and Performance Since rhe hirrh of rhe Complller Age, software publishers have displlled rh e issue of price 1•s. pe1formance in complller sofrware. Power Comes at Idiot Proof Great Cost Software (Software In one comer stand the corn - Only an Idiot Will Use) panies developing programs In the other comer are th e for u ers who demand ul - developers bent on delivering timate performance from oftware fo r th e most com computer software, and are puter illite rate of users - willing to pay hundreds of software th at is un compli- do ll ars for it. Most well - cated, but ineffi cient. A pro known productiv ity programs gram with layers on layers of are priced out of reach of most prompts and menu s is not so users, but even if money were much ' fri endl y' a bothe r no object, the complexity of ome. In their eagerness to most ' professional quality ' shi eld the novice user from software is still a problem. the complexity of powerful •---· _ • programs, th ese pub I ishers may limit the producti vi ty of ::::.:•:.::-::""::=- some features, and eliminate o the rs e ntire ly as ' confusin g'. A Question of Balance... As with most things in li fe, soft ware costs less than $ 100, all , it contain s those features th e demands of the majority the re is a middle ground. doesn't require the user to in that are most useful and con- of computer users that find And as with most thing , It 's stall optional hard ware, and is venient, and does away with them elves caught in the a sense of balance, rather than intuitive. In stead of leading those that are expen ive and middle of the war between com p rom ise, th a t makes the user by hi s nose through difficult. power and approachability. things run smoothl y. the program , it patie ntly Our resulting product peak teaches him how to u e it. Its For almost I 0 years now, fo rthemselves. We think a well balanced S ierra ha been produ cing features and opt ion are easy p iece Of produc tiv ity soft ware th at stri ves to meet to access and operate. Most of 38 SOFTWARE. . ,; . ~ .- . . . HomeWord II: Home Word Plus quickly be came the number #1 selling An expandable Spelling Dictionary and two-mode The word processor available Spellchecker. Evolution of a through the largest retail Full Thesaurus Revolution chain in the nation (Tandy A View Page option for previewing page layout before Computer Centers) and a lead printing. Way back in 1983, when the Outlining feature with 6 outline levels. microcomputer industry first seller in other outlets. Footnote function including editable footnote buffer. began to realize that not all of Six years later, with the The ability to integrate graphics from drawing programs those computers they were release of HomeWord fl , into text files . Full Search & Replace capabilities with 7 combinable selling were going into busi Sierra has created the best Search functions. nesses, Sierra was there to balance of power yet found in Headers and footers consisting of date, page number lead the industry with a new a word processor. and/or your choice of text, aligned to left, right or center brand of productivity Although Home Word Il con of the printed page. software we then called "user Optional Mouse support. tains not just a powerful word friend ly" (back then it was a Supports most major printers (including la er printers). new word, not the industry processor, but also and on- The ability to create logos consisting of any combination joke it is now). 1ine thesaurus and a spell of text and/or graphics. checker, the package is Margins and text alignments that can be changed any HomeWord, the industry's shipped with documentation number of times on the same page. first word processor targeted that is only 24 pages long (in specifically for non-business cluding index and glossary). users, was introduced in mid- Most users never even need 1983 and quickly became one to open the manual to under- of the best-selling products of tand the program. that year. The product would quickly garner sales of over Homeward II is a true one hundreds thousand units, WYSIWYG (What You See and would be picked up for Is What You Get) word distribution by both Tandy processor. Most users with a and rBM (two of the worlds need for a multi-featured word processor will find what largest producers of they 're looking for in this microcomputers). program. While including all HomeWord went through the features standard to basic three major revisions, and word-processing programs, was eventually replaced by HomeWord 11 also includes HomeWord Plus, a new many capabilities not found release of the word processor in other programs costing that featured a spell checker. under $100. For Instance: Features Au1oma1ic hill paying. Au1orna1ic check wr11ing. Complclc If you've spent any time Smart Money was designed adjust your accounts with a shopping for financial with the power and perfor simple "yes" entry by you for management software, mance you'll find in business each cleared transaction that you've probably noticed that accounting products, but i appear on your bank or your choices are fairly tailored for your personal use. credit card statement. Addi limited. You can go with the Unlike most personal finance tion and subtraction errors be $300 Acme Mega-Account software packages which come impossible with Smart ant (if you can program this simply take the drudgery out Money. It does all the calcula thing, you'll never have to of finance management, tions you usually do yourself, think again!). You can settle Smart Money handles the and presents you with the to forthe bare-minimum, and be really hard tasks, like loan tals. confident that if nothing else, amortization scheduling and If your finances have out your checking account i in long term inves tment grown your paper and pencil, good hands. Or you can get strategies. try Smart Money. We guaran Smart Money. Smart Money features auto tee that you will find it to be Many of u juggle two or matic payment entry, and an a comprehensive and con three bank accounts, several automatic reminder of pay venient financial manage credit cards, real estate in ments due. You enter the ment tool. vestments. and/or stocks and basic information once for bonds. We may perform transactions you make on a hundreds of business transac regular basis-weekly , tions each month. It can take monthly, quarterly, annual literally thousands of ac ly-and indicate how often counting steps to put our the payment comes due. finances When you boot Smart in order. Money, the program will sig At each nal you if any payment is step, there within six days of being due. is the pos When you want to enter that sibility of payment, Smart Money will error. present you with a transaction Any such screen already filled in . error can Minutes or even hours are cut cost us from the time you spend time and paying bills each month. money Smart Money also features later. complete double-entry book keeping, and will fill out and print checks for you. It will 40 Sierra's On-Line The simplest-to-use modem software ever! There are hundreds of terrific Using a modem can be con reasons to add a modem to fusing - but it doesn't have your computer system. Using to be. Sierra's On-Line is your modem, you can take ad designed to take the frustra vantage of convenient home tion and guesswork out of shopping, meet new people, modem operation. With On download free software, even Line, you'll be up and run make instant airline reserva ning in minute - not hours tions. However, there is one - and you won't be over excellent reason you may whelmed or limited by its have contemplated the idea range of options. and rejected it: Communica FEATURES tions software tends to be an Never ha modem software * Pull down menus. mouse noyingly difficult to use. included so many advanced support, push button selec features, yet been so amaz tion, make Sierra's On-Line Many of us have been aware ingly easy to use. On-Line's the easiest to use communica for years that the world of push button interface, pull tions program ever offered. electronic communications is down menu and step-by-step out there waiting for us. But Supports a large range of lessons enable the user to go * if you ' ve ever picked up a optional hardware including online and download valu communications software 300 to 9600 BAUD modems, able free software within package, you probably printers, and all major minutes of in tailing the pro dropped it again. Rather than graphics cards. gram. trying to wade through the Supports a wide range of muck of unclear terms and On-Line supports a large * industry standard transfer impossible instructions, you range of modems, printers protocols. Send and receive decided it wasn't worth the and graphics cards. Three files easily. bother. Until now, the con separate communications venience of communications modes, including a special * An easy-to-use, built-in has been virtually unap split-screen mode for easy editor creates script that save proachable to most of us be conferencing. Swap infor you time by automatically ac cause it's been such a mation with other user , or cessing outside services. nuisance. communicate with giant mainframes. * Talk to large mainframe Because of a complete lack of computers using the VTlOO "friendly" communication Built in transfer protocols and mode capability. Lets your programs on the market, a wide range of system set computer emulate a terminal many users have been in tings all ow the user to com when connected to timidated by the unpleasant municate across town or mainframe computers. ness of these programs and across the world. Lncludes have been deprived of a tool free subscription packet and * A special mode for on-line conferencing splits which can make a personal online time for CompuServe input from responses. computer as useful and en Information Service, a $15 riching as the telephone. value. 41 Li sten! Is that a symphony with the support of a variety Again'), but when he was orchestra playing in your of oftware manufacturers, asked to compose a full score li ving room, or is it perhaps it 's beginning to sound like for an interactive computer the William Goldstein score an idea whose time has come. adventure, he knew he was in for King' s Quest IV? Could for a real challenge. For one Here at Sierra, we're doing that be a thunder tonn out thing, without s pecial our best to stay on the leading side, or is it Roger Wilco in hardware and software, com edge of the music and sound danger of being fried by a puters are not equipped to trend with help from our own monster li ghtning bolt? The make real music. Because award-winning music crew so und of a Sierra game Sierra wanted music scores and such musical luminaries played on your stereo wi th a for their games, and because as William Goldstein and hi gh-quality music card is Bill Golds tein wa nted to Bob Siebenberg. certain to be like nothing write som e of them, you've ever heard from your Goldstein and Goldstein and Ken Williams Sierra Take a approached the Roland Cor poration about a peripheral If you haven't heard a lot of Giant Leap that would make IBM PC's information about mus ic Forward and compatibles able to pl ay cards. modules and other the kind offull musical scores music synthesizers fo r home William Goldstein has a long they had in mind for Sierra computer before now, it ' s and successful hi story as a games (Atari and Amiga si mpl y because the idea is a Hollywood composer (in computer were a lready relatively new one; but it 's cluding the Fame TV series MIDI-compatible). Roland spreading like wildfire. And and the feature film 'Hello, 42 Miracles Performed responded with the MT-32 S ie rra's ow n mu s ic a nd and we were on our way t~ sound crew put all the pieces combining the art of game together int o a fi nal product. Sound Module. Attach one of design with the art of musical In addition to creating a sys these to your system and fas composition, and the beauti tem th at woul d synchroni ze ten your seatbe lt ; your next ful score to Ro b e rt a a ll the e le m e nts, th ey computer gaming adventure Williams' King's Quest IV. programmed perfect coor will propel you into a sensory Everyone who watched the din a ti o n be t ween gam e event s, the accompany in g world beyond imaginati on - game play with the score and experience it once and you' ll so und e ffects added was po rti ons of th e score. and nel'er go back. more th an impressed. Here overtwo dozen sound effects. was not only a thrilling musi The end product was an in Game Blaster Card cal composition and a sensa c redible coordin ati o n of ti onal new interactive 3-D talent that earned them, and Game Blaster, from Creati ve adv enture, but an entirely Bob Siebenberg, Computer Music Systems, enhances the new dimension in computer Gaming Wo rld Magazine's musical capabilities of your enjoyment. award fo r Excell ence in computer, increasin g your Musical Achievement. In the gaming enjoyment. Sierra Music Department A full 12-voice synthesizer, the re's a s ig n th at reads Game Bl aster is a half-size ' Miracles Performed While card th at easil y plugs into any U-Wait '. It 's onl y the truth. internal slot in your lBM The next bi g game on the standard PC, XT, AT, PS/2 Sierra drawing board was Sierra Brings It (25/30), Tandy 1O OO (not Space Quest Ill, latest sequel Home To You EX/ HX ), 3000, 4000 and in a tremendously popular Because we kno w you ' ll compatibles. Includes built series by Mark Crowe and want to hear it fo r yourself, in power amplifier (2.5 wans), Scott Murphy, also known to Sierra presents three quality built-in volume control , stereo their fans as the Two Guys o und produc ts fo r your output (all 12 voices can pan to From Androme d a. Bo b ho me comput e r : ri ght or left channel) and con Siebenberg (part of the well Game Blaster, by Creati ve Music nectors for headphones, exter known rock band Super Systems; the Adlih Music tramp), who 1iv es in the nal speaker, or your stereo Card; and the Roland MT-32 system. Includes a disk of 40 Sierra Nevada foothills not far from Sierra On-Line's headquarters, signed on to compose the Space Quest Ill score, and the outcome was a mind-blowing combination , of talent resulting in some of the most exciting sound ever to accompany a computer game. From the drama of a wasteland trek in a deadl y thundersto rm to the li gh thearted theme of an inter ga lac ti c to urist trap, the Space Quest Ill score was a feast for the ears. 43 Roland MT-32 pre-recorded songs. System requirements: 256 KB RAM Sound Module minimum, DOS 2.0 or higher The Roland MT-32 is at the (5.25" drive, 3.5" optional), head of its cla s, producing and CGA, MCGA, EGA OR perhaps the best so und VGA compatible graphics you' ve ever heard. It will take board. Creative Music Sys you millions of miles from tem, sold separate ly , is a your computer as you hear package a ll owing you to the first melodiou note . learn/play/compose your A 32 voice synthesizer (ac own mus ic, create s ing tually 8 yn the izers in one, alongs, and add music to with a percussion sound presentations. module) designed for profe - sional mu icians, the MT-32 AdLib Music plug into the MT-32, allow S nthesizer Card has 128 preset sounds, a rhythm section with 30 preset ing you to play along with the The Adlib card makes your percussion sounds, and ac games or play your own com computer come alive with cepts up to 32-voice positions through this power music. You ' ll experience polyphony. Each synth part ful ynthesizer. room-filling sound as your operates on an individual living room becomes a mini MIDI channel (2-9), with the You Won't Believe concert hall. rhythm part preassigned to It Till You Hear It c hann e l 10 . The EASE An I I-voice synthesizer for There's a new world of enter software package, shipped use with IBM PC and com tainment waiting for you with the MT-32, is designed patibles, the Adlib is a half when you order one of these specifically to help you com ize card that fits into any fine music products from pose your own songs. expansion slot on the PC Sierra. Order direct now and Depending on your computer motherboard, complete with receive free bonus products type (see order form), you volume control and an audio as our way of showing our will need a card and/or cable jack for headphones, external appreciation of your support. to connect the MT-32 and speakers or your stereo sys your computer. Your MIDI tem. Includes a disk of 25 or guitar keyboard can also pre-recorded songs. Al so available through Sierra is Visual Composer software, (SP I 0), a sequencer program designed specifically to assist you in composing songs with your Adlib Mu sic Syn thesi::er Card. Based on FM technology, the AdLib is designed to com bine the use of white noise generation with FM synthesi to create such percussive sound a bass drum, tom tom, cymbal and hi -hat. Free Entertainment Software When You Music Demo Major Software Order From Sierra Cassette Publishers Sierra has prepared a music Support Sound Order either the AdLib or I Order a Roland MT-32 and demonstration cassette which Products* Game Blaster and get either get any two games produced includes samples of Sierra Hoyle ' s Book of Games or by Sierra. game soundtracks performed t Silpheed. 1l! on a IBM computer using the ,. ~ .,, -~~--~ Roland MT-32 and the AdLib Publisher :3.,, ..~ -a" Music Synthesizer Card. < "' Compare for yourself the dif " ferent sounds. The only charge is $1.95 to cover ship Accolade y y y ping and handling. Activision y Ny Dynamix y y y Electronic Arts y N y Epyx YN N Lucas film yy y Microprose y N N Mindscape yy N Origin yy y Sierra y y y * Y= Yes, some products will support this board Music Drivers Available On Sierra BBS N= No. no products sup port this board at this time The Sierra BBS - (209) 683- availability) are the CMS as your Sierra game and re- 4463 - has additional sound (Creative Music System) run the INSTALL program. drivers available to download driver, the Yamaha FBOI , You should see a selection This information for your computer. Among the Roland D-10, D-110 and not previously available; provided courtesy of the drivers currently avail- D-120, plus a Sierra generic select it and hear wonderful Computer Gaming able on the BBS (and we are driver file. Download the ly orchestrated music. World con ti nu ally upgrading driverintothesamedirectory 45 I J The Most Controversial ;,,: _ j Product In The __!~ Hint Books Finally History Of Sierra Available (And They Are A Success) Fin all y, around Christmas of 1987, Sierra debuted it 's first No it 's not Le isure Suit Larry Hint Books Begin There was also the fru strati on Hint books. Yes, there were - it 's hint books. Some people factor. Most people pl ay their tho se s ill y and impati ent were viole ntly opposed to To Make Sense adventure games at ni ght, and people that used them to pl ay them when the idea came up In 1985, the call s to Sierra 's we didn ' t have o pe rators through the game in one sit in the earl y I 980's. Roberta hint lines began clogging all workin g th en to take th eir ting(andtheyonly hurtthem Williams best argued the case the wires into Eastern Madera hint req uests. (We do now. selves). There also have been again t hint book. with thi s County. Every avail able cir hut that's a different story.) less long distance phone bills statement: cuit was busy each day with And, because all of the avail- and less fru strated people. able phone lines into town "/put puzzles in my games so a Sierra call. Neighbors in our This story ends on an interest were already taken each day people will wrack their mountain town were begin in g a nd confu s in g no te . by Sierra, an increasing num brains try ing to solve ning to complain th at they Recentl y, the unit sal es for couldn 't make or receive a ber of customers compl ained them ... ./ don ' I want them 10 one Sierra hint book actuall y of busy signals. be able to just open a book!" ph one call during business met, and then overtook, the hours, and that something Hint Lines unit sales fo r the adventure T hroughout the company, had to be done. game it was written about. there was the worry th at these The debate got hot. It took Outside California dial: book s wou ld become Could it be th at some peopl e "cru tches·· all owin g players another year for someone to 1-900-370-KLUE love the hint books so much to play th e game practicall y work out th at hint books were Within California dial: th ey are buyin g two? wi thout stoppin g. They were an obvious solution. 1-900-370-5113 worried th at players would The cost of a long distance lose thei r enjoyment from the call to Coarsegold from most products if the books were of the country would cost al avail able. After all - what fun most as much as a hint book is a puzzle if you' ve got all - and th at's onl y if the cus the answers in front of you? tomer needed just one hint! Fi nall y, the idea of hint books wa s put to res t, but it woul dn't rest fo r long. Adventurers of all ages will look great in Sierra's quality Hit The Beach T-shirts. Attractive and some With Larr ! times amusing, these shirts tell the world how much you You'll be the hit of the beach enjoy Sierra 3-D Animated with this colorful, heavy Adventure Games. Choose duty. giant (a }iii/ JO" x 60 ") from these stylish designs: Leisure Suit Larry beach towel. Be the first one on your block to own a life-size Larry- he'sjust what you've always dreamed of! Great •llliiiill••iliiiiiiil•ll gift! $2 1.95 Sierra On-Line- Multi-color Celebrate Sierra ' Adventure Game Fanatic' design on white T-shirt. $7.95 Ja an! Sierra On-Line is always Leisure Suit Larry in the Land ready to conquer new fron of the Lounge Li zards- White jersey-blu e or yellow ti ers. Our latest move in that direction has been our recent sleeve . $7 .95 ex pansion into th e interna Police Quest 11- Multi-color tional market. We are proud design on navy blue T-shirt. to announce our new sub $7.95 s idiary, Sierra Japan, in King's Quest IV- Beautiful Tokyo, Japan. He lp us multi -color ' Perils of celebrate the newest member of the Sierra family wi th this ~~--..lllJ~ ·~'ll Ro se lla ' design on white T beautiful Sierra Japan coffee shirt. $7.95 mug. An attracti ve addi tion to Sierra 3-D Helicopter- Blue, your home or office. $6.00 black and white 'S ie rra Helicopter School' logo on The Official Book gray T-shirt. $7.95 Of King's Quest Daventry And Be ond! The Official hook of King 's Quest - Da1•e111ry and Beyond is the perfect coll ector's item for al l King's Quest fans young and old. You'll enjoy informative histories, detailed maps, and helpful Front 011d had• .fhnwn hints to each game in th e King's Quest series. $10.95 47 SIERRA ON -LINE , INC . • P.O. BOX 485 • COARSEGOLD, CA 93614 BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID Oakhurst, CA Permit No. 3g • NEW pRoouCISI • oVER 1EN 'f f,A.RS Of RE oEDIC.A.1ED sof1\JJ ,A. EXPER1\SE\ ierra On.Una I 000007740® isaregit s ered trademark of s· ' nc. © Sierra On-Line, Inc . 1989 Prmted . in the U.S.A.