 ![[U. S. A.]](images/flags/usa.gif) Sierra On-Line, Inc
History
In 1980, Ken and Roberta Williams founded On-Line Systems. The
company changed its name to Sierra On-Line in mid-1982. They later
bought Dynamix. Their development section was spun off as Yosemite Entertainment and
originally killed off in 1999, but it was later bought by Codemasters and is still in business.
As a publishing house, Sierra is still very much in business, even
though it has changed hands several times. It was originally
privately owned under Ken Williams, then sold to Cendant, and is
now owned by Havas Interactive.
Packaging
Their early games, up to Time Zone and Softporn Adventure, were
made under the On-Line Systems name. All the adventure games that
were originally marketed under On-line Systems came in small
square folders in ziploc bags. They were rereleased as by
SierraVenture in 1982 and had much more professional-looking
folders (approximately 8" X 11"). The action/arcade games were
released under SierraVision for a while. Some of the earlier games
like Mystery House, Wizard and the Princess and Cranston Manor,
have been released with more different cover art variations than
you'd care to know.
SierraVenture and SierraVision had an older Sierra On-line type
logo employed on the back of the box, on the disk labels and the
disk sleeves, and all of it was dumped around 1984, when Sierra
employed a new Sierra logo, the more familiar one, and began
packaging their games in grey boxes with plastic trays. In 1987,
they began using the thin slipcover case. A standard two piece tan
box with the Sierra mountain logo on it and a slipcover with the
game's artwork. Around 1990 (after King's Quest V) the slipcover
became double width to fit the games that had more disks, as
Conquests of Camelot and Colonel's Bequest really packed it into
the smaller boxes. The two-piece box itself was plain white.
Nowadays (1998) they have a new logo and boxes nearly as big as
their old ones (Time Zone, etc) used to be.
Hint books are available for at least some of their games.
Technology
All the SierraVenture games were written using different
frameworks. Starting with King's Quest, Sierra started using a
common interpreter called AGI which made their games much more
portable.
Their "enhanced versions" and presumably later releases as well
are written in a programming language called SCI (Sierra's
Creative Interpreter).
There are inofficial sites about Sierra On-Line, Inc: They are or have been distributed by All American Adventures and IBM.
They distribute Dynamix and Coktel Vision.
For more information, see Dynamix, Yosemite Entertainment and Codemasters.
HiRes Adventures/SierraVentures
This series was published 1979-1982, and contained around
ten games. The official numbering stopped after #6.
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 0: Mission Asteroid
Type: Drawn graphics
Written 1980 (rereleased by SierraVenture in 1982) by Roberta Williams and Ken Williams.
Runs on:
Notes: This was actually released after #1 and #2 but it was a tutorial
adventure and as such it was given the low number.
Comments: Prevent an asteroid from hitting Earth and destroying it.
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 1: Mystery House
Type: Drawn graphics
Written 1980 (written during 1979; rereleased by SierraVenture 1982) by Roberta Williams.
Runs on:
Notes: This was released into the public domain at Sierra's 10th
anniversary (around 1987-88 (?)). This might have been the
first graphical adventure written. The graphics were actually
black and white line drawings with stick figures for people
but that didn't stop the game from being an instant success.
The game eventually sold 10,000 copies at $24.95 and
established Sierra.
Comments: Search an old house for a treasure while learning who's killing
off the house's members. You even get to kill two people (one
completely innocent) before the game ends, but of course that
doesn't make you a murderer!
For more information, see EduWare Services, Inc
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 2: The Wizard and the Princess / Adventure in Serenia
Type: Graphics
Written 1980 (rereleased by SierraVenture 1982) by Roberta Williams.
Runs on:
Notes: This is usually regarded as the first adventure game with
color graphics. It was definitely Sierra's first. Ultima had
color graphics around the same time, but that's an RPG.
Serenia was later used as the town in King's Quest V.
It was released for the PC as Adventures in Serenia, copyright
On-Line Systems 1980, IBM 1982.
Comments: Wander around the land of Serenia in search of a princess
imprisoned by an evil wizard.
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3: Cranston Manor
Type: Graphics
Written 1981 by Harold DeWitz and Ken Williams.
Runs on:
Comments: Search the mansion of a late millionaire for sixteen treasures.
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 4: Ulysses and the Golden Fleece
Type: Drawn graphics
Written 1981 (rereleased by SierraVenture in 1982) by Bob Davis and Ken Williams.
Runs on:
Comments: As Ulysses you must travel ancient Greece in search of the golden
fleece.
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Softporn Adventure
Type: Text only
Written 1981 by Chuck Benton.
Runs on:
Notes: This is the only text-only adventure that Sierra has released.
It was released sometime during Ulysses and Time Zone, but did
not carry a number and was not really considered a part of the
hi-res series (though it was billed as such). It was marketed
for less than a year although it later became a lot more
popular when it was rereleased with graphics as Leisure Suit
Larry.
It's been released with two different folders, one in color
and one in black and white.
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 5: Time Zone
Type: Graphics
Written 1982 (written 1981; probably rereleased by SierraVenture in 1982) by Roberta Williams.
Runs on:
Notes: It originally retailed for $99.95 (which, unsurprisingly, hurt
sales).
Time Zone came in an 8.5" X 11" box, including the a large
manual with jacket holders for the 6 disks and a fold-out
poster of the cover art with the slogan "Therein time... lies
the answer." Six disks was very much at the time.
Comments: From the opening lines of the game "A terrestrial guardian or
keeper, of sorts, has chosen you for the task of securing the
earth's future by destroying the evil ruler of the distant
planet Neburon and offers you the ability of time and space
travel in order to do so." On your way, you get to explore 7
continents-Europe, North America, South America, Asia,
Australia, Antarctica, and Africa during 7 different time
periods 400,000,000 BC, 10,000 BC, 50 BC, 1000 AD, 1400 AD,
1700 AD, 2082 AD, plus Neburon, 4082 AD.
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 6: Dark Crystal
Type: Bitmap graphics
Written 1982 by Roberta Williams.
Runs on:
Notes: It is based on the Jim Henson animated movie of the same name,
which it follows closely. This is the first of the numbered
hi-res adventures to begin production under the then new
SierraVenture line. It is also the last hi-res adventure to be
numbered.
The Apple II version includes two disks, a large manual and a
fold-out poster. Both the manual and the poster feature the
artwork that was used for the theatrical poster for the film.
Comments: As Jen, the good Gelfling, find and restore the missing shard
of the Great Crystal that will stop the evil Skeksis and their
henchmen, the Garthim, from taking over the world. Jen finds
help in the female Gelfling, Kira, and her pet ball of fluff,
Fizzgig.
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The Gelfling Adventure
Type: Bitmap graphics/Multiple choice
Written 1984 by Al Lowe.
Notes: This was a simplified version of Dark Crystal intended for a
younger audience. It featured the same graphics and storyline
as the original, but the puzzles were all menu oriented. You'd
get three choices and via the spacebar pick the one that you
thought would advance the game. In 1985 it was marketed by
Encyclopaedia Britannica in an abridged version including a
student booklet and a teacher's manual. Both versions are on
one 5 1/4" disk.
The Space Quest games chronicle the adventures of Roger Wilco.
More information can be found in the The SpaceQuest FAQ.
Meet Larry. He's just turned 40, and he's still single. If you can
get past the glow of his Grecian formula, you can see his hairline
beginning to make a hasty retreat from his forehead. Larry's
leisure suit is of the highest quality (100% manmade material,
permanent press too!). He wears at least 11 gold chains and his
freshly-capped teeth could blind you in a bright light. Down at
the singles bar he tells all the chicks, "Sure, I'm single... I
got in a fight with my ol' lady and she threw me out." He doesn't
tell them the "ol' lady" was his mom, or that he was 38 at the
time.
This series is written by Jim Walls who is a police man in
real life (although he retired before he started writing
games). Daryl F. Gates who has written the later games is a
retired chief of LAPD.
In the roaring 20's, seemingly mousey Laura Bow is a detective in
the very best Jessica Fletcher sense of the term. That is,
whenever she drops in on the party, people drop like flies. The
first game is pretty tight, and rather logically reasoned, but the
second is poorly executed and involves more guesswork than it
does actual deductive skills. No further Laura Bow games are being
planned, apparently, as Amon Ra was released 6 years ago (1998).
 Mickey's Space Adventure
Written 1984 by Roberta Williams.
Runs on:
Notes: This was a joint project with Disney, before they worked on
Black Cauldron. Intended for kids and doesn't belong in any
series.
The PC version comes on two 360KB 5 1/4" disks.
Comments: Same format as Winnie the Pooh.
 The Black Cauldron
Type: Moving character graphics/Multiple choice
Written 1984, rereleased 1986 by Roberta Williams [design], Mark Crowe, Scott Murphy [programming] and Ken Williams [programming].
Runs on:
Notes: This game was aimed at kids and followed the Disney movie
pretty closely.
The original booting version copyrighted 84, 85 with
CGA/PCjr/Tandy support. Re-released as DOS-based in at least
two different versions, both copyright 86, 87 and supporting
CGA/EGA/PCjr/Tandy. All versions feature enhanced sound for
PCjr/Tandy, and the booting versions feature 16 colors on PCjr
and Tandy.
 Winnie the Pooh in the Hundred Acre Wood
Type: Interactive graphics
Written 1986.
Runs on:
Comments: Similar to the very early Sierra games. Dark Crystal-like. How
does that go together with Interactive Graphics?
Dragon's Keep
Notes: I don't know if this really is an adventure.
Comments: Mainly text-based interactive reading adventure for younger
children.
Troll Tales
Notes: I don't know if this really is an adventure.
Comments: Mainly text-based interactive reading adventure for younger
children.
 Mixed-up Mother Goose
Written 1987, 90 by Roberta Williams.
Runs on:
 Mixed-up Mother Goose (enhanced version)
Type: Moving character graphics/Music
Runs on:
Notes: This is the same game as the above, but with improved
graphics. The Amiga version was on two disks instead of one.
 Gold Rush!
Written 1988 by Doug MacNeill and Ken MacNeill.
Runs on:
Notes: This was one of the last Sierra games to use the AGI
interface.
Comments: You play a man from New York who decides to go to California
during the height of the gold rush. Middle portion of the
game revolves around your transport to California via three
methods (two by sea and one by land).
 Manhunter: New York
Written 1988 by Dave Murry, Barry Murry and DeeDee Murry.
Runs on:
 Manhunter 2: San Francisco
Written 1989 by Dave Murry, Barry Murry, DeeDee Murry and Barbara Ward.
Runs on:
 Codename: Iceman
Type: Moving character graphics
Written 1989 by Jim Walls.
Runs on:
Comments: You have to take the role of a secret agent. This game had a
pretty good submarine simulation that was a bulk of the middle
of the game.
 Conquests of Camelot: King Arthur, The Search for the Grail
Type: Moving character graphics/Music
Written 1989 by Christy Marx.
Runs on:
Comments: A love affair between the famous knight Lancelot and King
Arthurs wife, Gwenhyver, has set off a series of disastrous
events that has put Britain into despair. And now, three of
the Round Table's most renowned knights have vanished. As
Arthur, you must go on a long journey, taking you all the way
to Arabia, to save the knights and find the Holy Grail.
 Eco Quest 1: The Search for Cetus
Runs on:
Notes: Mix between educational software and adventure.
 Eco Quest 2: Lost Secret of the Rainforest
Written 1991.
Runs on:
Notes: Mix between educational software and adventure. There is both
a DOS and a Windows version of this.
 Conquests of Long Bow: The Adventures of Robin Hood
Written 1992 by Christy Marx.
Runs on:
 Freddy Pharkas, Frontier Pharmacist
Written 1993 by Al Lowe and Josh Mandel.
Runs on:
Notes: Apart from the game, the package contains a manual called
"Modern Day Book of Health and Hygiene" and a registration
form.
 Torin's Passage
Written 1995 by Al Lowe.
Runs on:
 Urban Runner
Type: Video clips
Written 1995.
Runs on:
Notes: Mostly live action video.
Comments: Horrid game.
 Phantasmagoria
Written 1995 by Roberta Williams.
Runs on:
Comments: You play a young female writer who has bought an old house,
which (surprise) turns out to be haunted. Drama (and endless
grainy video shots) ensues as your not-too-likeable boyfriend
turns into a madman and tries to kill you.
This game received a lot of attention prior to its release due
to the fact that it contained an unprecedented amount of video
sequences and came on a whopping 7 cd's. Supposedly it was
four years in the making, but the effort was wasted. The story
totally lacks originality, the acting gives a whole new
meaning to the word "dreadful", and there's just nothing to do
but to follow the very linear storyline. Apparently Roberta
Williams was trying to get away from her cutesy King's Quest
image, so the game has some quite gory sequences, which can be
turned on and off. I seem to recall that Sierra put a
self-induced age limit (15) on the game.
 Phantasmagoria II: A Puzzle of Flesh
Written 1996.
Runs on:
 Phantasmagoria Stagefright
Written 1997 or 1998?.
Notes: From the cover, it seems to contain both the Phantasmagoria
games.
 Rama
Written 1996.
Runs on:
Rama (limited edition)
Runs on:
Notes: This version was packaged with a copy of Arthur C. Clarke's
novel "Rama II".
 Lighthouse
Written 1996.
Runs on:
 Shivers
Written 1996.
Runs on:
 Shivers II: Harvest of Souls
Written 1997.
Runs on:
Notes: Runs under SVGA in 256 colors. Comes on 2 CDs.
Comments: You take the role of a wannabe rock star who has planned an
encounter with your band in a small desert town. However, when
you turn up in the town, everybody has vanished. Gathering
clues from a number of your own rock videos, you slowly
discover that an old Indian curse has made the town's
inhabitants disappear. The game is very much in the vein of
The 7th Guest, which means that you have to roam the city to
gather information and solve logical puzzles along the way.
The game is a definite improvement over both its predecessor
and T7G, as the storyline is fairly non-linear, the interface
is a delight to use, and the story and characters work quite
well.
 Betrayal in Antara
Written 1997 by Peter Sarrett.
Runs on:
Notes: Comes on two CDs.
 Mixed-up Fairy Tales
Runs on:
 Castle of Dr. Brain
Written 1991.
Runs on:
Notes: This is a borderline case of adventure. It takes place in a
castle, but it's merely a question of solving logical, mathematical puzzles.
Contents: 8 disks plus 1 demo disk (1991 Coming Attractions),
256 Color Read Me Flyer, Castle of Dr. Brain Game Manual,
Castle of Dr. Brain Hint Booklet, Fantastic Book of Logic Puzzles by Muriel Mandell, illustrated by Elise
Chanowitz, Sterling Verlag, New York 1986: 128 pages pocket book (just bonus, has nothing to do with
game), Sierra product catalog
Island of Dr. Brain
Runs on:
Turbo Science
Notes: Kind of Educative.
 The Roberta Williams Anthology
Notes: It containes Mystery House, The Wizard and the Princess,
Mission: Asteroid, Time Zone, and Dark Crystal as Apple II
images (Dark Crystal was added at the last minute and isn't
listed among the other games). It also contained Kings Quest 1
(both the old and the new version), King's Quest 2-7, Laura
Bow 1 and 2, Mixed Up Mother Goose (both versions) and the
first chapter of Phantasmagoria (not the whole game).
It also contains background information about Roberta Williams
and King's Quest, a few videos (including a sneak preview of
King's Quest VIII), and box covers and the KQ VIII art as jpg
files.
Pepper's Adventures in Time
Type: Point-n-Click
Runs on:
Comments: Pepper travels back in time to save history. A kid's adventure
with historical figures like Benjamin Franklin.
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