Metal Jesus Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 (edited) In this video we sit down with Ken & Roberta Williams in their house in Southern California for an exclusive chat about Sierra On-Line games including some of their biggest hits and some of their failures and disappointments. We discuss the making of the popular games like King's Quest, Leisure Suit Larry & Phantasmagoria...but also some of the hidden gems and nuggets from Dynamix, Papyrus, Coktel Vision and more. Check it out! WATCH >> https://youtu.be/LAemLilaNjk Edited March 18, 2022 by Metal Jesus 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cebus Capucinis Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 LOL, when I read the title I thought there was going to be a Flashback console for Sierra games - maybe a tiny PC or something! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metal Jesus Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 40 minutes ago, Cebus Capucinis said: LOL, when I read the title I thought there was going to be a Flashback console for Sierra games - maybe a tiny PC or something! Um...that would be AMAZING! A mini Dell or Micron Pentium 100 loaded with Sierra games and other classic PC games?! Sign me up! ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris+++ Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 Wow -- great interview to score, MJ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cebus Capucinis Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 22 minutes ago, Metal Jesus said: Um...that would be AMAZING! A mini Dell or Micron Pentium 100 loaded with Sierra games and other classic PC games?! Sign me up! ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 For being one of the more famous people in classic computer gaming history, I was surprised at how approachable Ken was. I've e-mailed him several times with questions and he's always emailed me back eventually. I've never had a chance to speak to Roberta, but from what I understand she likes her privacy so that's understandable (plus I imagine she gets bothered more for her prominence of being one of the earliest female game designers). I'll have to watch this when I get a chance. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metal Jesus Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 31 minutes ago, Tempest said: For being one of the more famous people in classic computer gaming history, I was surprised at how approachable Ken was. I've e-mailed him several times with questions and he's always emailed me back eventually. I've never had a chance to speak to Roberta, but from what I understand she likes her privacy so that's understandable (plus I imagine she gets bothered more for her prominence of being one of the earliest female game designers). I'll have to watch this when I get a chance. They really are approachable and very down to earth. We went out to dinner and a lunch, did some shots of tequila and just talked both on camera and off. It was pretty cool. I hadn't seen them since a mid-90s Sierra Christmas Party... yet they treated us like family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeatari1 Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 1 hour ago, Cebus Capucinis said: LOL, when I read the title I thought there was going to be a Flashback console for Sierra games - maybe a tiny PC or something! I thought the exact same thing!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 41 minutes ago, Metal Jesus said: They really are approachable and very down to earth. We went out to dinner and a lunch, did some shots of tequila and just talked both on camera and off. It was pretty cool. I hadn't seen them since a mid-90s Sierra Christmas Party... yet they treated us like family. You worked for Sierra at one point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 Wasn't there a PC/DOS Flashback device in the planning a few years ago, possibly right before the pandemic? I'm not sure the market demand vs the cost to make one is favourable so perhaps that project didn't move on, regardless if they could license Sierra or other games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metal Jesus Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 33 minutes ago, Tempest said: You worked for Sierra at one point? From 1992 - 1998. I was like employee #5 or #6 when they moved the corporate HQ from California to Seattle (Bellevue more specific) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metal Jesus Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 11 minutes ago, carlsson said: Wasn't there a PC/DOS Flashback device in the planning a few years ago, possibly right before the pandemic? I'm not sure the market demand vs the cost to make one is favourable so perhaps that project didn't move on, regardless if they could license Sierra or other games. I believe so! And there have been C64 and upcoming Amiga minis...but nothing specific to DOS, which would be killer. I guess that's kinda what the MiSTer turned into...but it would need that classic beige shell to complete it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CapitanClassic Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 Great interview. If you haven’t read Ken’s book, Not All Fairytales Have Happy Endings, it is available for free with Kindle Unlimited (I only found out because I got a cheap deal for KU of less than $3 a month). https://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Tales-Happy-Endings-Line-ebook/dp/B08KG2XLMR There are other options as well, PDF, printed copy, etc. https://kensbook.com/faq/ The book covers the founding of the company to after the sale of the company from mostly Ken’s perspective, with chapters here and there thrown in from other company employees (including Roberta). 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papalapa Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Great! Many thanks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hwlngmad Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 On 3/18/2022 at 12:39 PM, Metal Jesus said: I believe so! And there have been C64 and upcoming Amiga minis...but nothing specific to DOS, which would be killer. I guess that's kinda what the MiSTer turned into...but it would need that classic beige shell to complete it. The PC Classic has long since been defunct (https://unitetechno.com/dt_catalog/pc-classic/), but the concept is seemingly there for the taking depending on what games you can get onto a unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smith Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 I remember reading that Roberta was featured on some of the box art. Some of the earlier stuff was quite risque, like this one LOL!!!! ? I wonder if she and Ken have any regrets? LOL!! ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metal Jesus Posted March 21, 2022 Author Share Posted March 21, 2022 20 minutes ago, Leonard Smith said: I remember reading that Roberta was featured on some of the box art. Some of the earlier stuff was quite risque, like this one LOL!!!! ? I wonder if she and Ken have any regrets? LOL!! ? Ken & Roberta talk about this very game in the video...and also a PR department that wasn't exactly thrilled to work with them and their games. I think you'll find the discussion pretty funny. ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColecoGamer Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 On 3/18/2022 at 10:13 AM, Metal Jesus said: In this video we sit down with Ken & Roberta Williams in their house in Southern California for an exclusive chat about Sierra On-Line games including some of their biggest hits and some of their failures and disappointments. We discuss the making of the popular games like King's Quest, Leisure Suit Larry & Phantasmagoria...but also some of the hidden gems and nuggets from Dynamix, Papyrus, Coktel Vision and more. Check it out! WATCH >> https://youtu.be/LAemLilaNjk @Metal Jesus, whatever happened to the game Ken Williams was developing on his boat? It’s like it vanished into obscurity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColecoGamer Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 If I remember correctly, the Two Guys from Andromeda were also working on a Space Quest-like game, but that project has disappeared too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metal Jesus Posted March 21, 2022 Author Share Posted March 21, 2022 5 minutes ago, ColecoGamer said: @Metal Jesus, whatever happened to the game Ken Williams was developing on his boat? It’s like it vanished into obscurity. Funny you should mention that... it's the real reason I flew down to Southern California last week. Stay tuned ? 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColecoGamer Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 1 minute ago, Metal Jesus said: Funny you should mention that... it's the real reason I flew down to Southern California last week. Stay tuned ? Now this I have to see! Thank you for the update. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metal Jesus Posted March 21, 2022 Author Share Posted March 21, 2022 (edited) 7 minutes ago, ColecoGamer said: If I remember correctly, the Two Guys from Andromeda were also working on a Space Quest-like game, but that project has disappeared too. Lori and Corey Cole who made the Quest for Glory series rebooted it a few years ago called Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption. I haven't played it but I've heard good things : https://www.hero-u.com Edited March 21, 2022 by Metal Jesus 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColecoGamer Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 Just now, Metal Jesus said: Lori and Corey Cole who made the Quest for Glory series rebooted it a few years ago called Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption. I haven't played it but I've heard good things : https://www.hero-u.com Oh, Hell yes! I had no idea this reboot was developed and published! Thank you again! I’m a big fan of Sierra games, as you can tell. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
AtariAge on Instagram
Watch us on YouTube
Chat on Discord
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.