Kings Quest 1-8

[Irishmile]

Some of you may not have played any or all of the games. So before you hunt down old copies on ebay or something that you may have a hard time getting to work on a newer system I would like to suggest this alternative... GOG.com offers all 8 original games for about $30 and they broke them into three parts....

Kings Quest 1-3 $9.99
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/kings_quest_1_2_3

Kings Quest 4-6 $9.99
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/king%E2%80%99s_quest_4_5_6

Kings Quest 7 and 8 $9.99
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/king%E2%80%99s_quest_7_8

as a second alternative you could buy a physical copy of the Kings Quest collection... This has only games 1-7... but in my opinion 8 is NOT really part of the series anyway its more like a spinoff action game set in the same world as KQ.... I mean even the character is not part of the royal family.
http://www.amazon.com/Kings-Quest-Collection-Game-Pack-Pc/dp/B000ZN6MHC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1298225107&sr=8-2

[Blooglspash]

It's also worth mentioning the the GOG version has only the AGI version of KQ1 and the Collection only has the SCI remake. Neither version has both.

[Irishmile]

The 15th anniversary has both... I own that too... but that doesnt include 7
http://www.amazon.com/Kings-Quest-Collectors-PC/dp/B00164CHN2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298228754&sr=8-1

the King's Quest games are probably the games I have bought different copies of the most.

I already know I will be buying TTG's Kings Quest on multiple platforms.

When I was a kid I tried to save up money to buy KQ V on the NES but when I had enough the store didn't have it... I was heart broken... This was the days before the net like it is now mind you.

[Spadge]

If you don't feel like playing the games, I might suggest watching some let's plays on YouTube.
Also Paw, a fan of the series recently started giving nice little summaries/reviews of the King's Quest games. Check those out. (http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/teamt/paw/kingsquest)

[Farlander]

To all the new-comers non-Sierra fans who don't really know about King's Quest - if you're a strictly adventure-game person, then yes, playing Mask of Eternity won't be your gig, so evade it. But if you like different genres, then I recommend playing MoE too, because, frankly, it IS an enjoyable action game (it's, well, it's actually a pretty good game). And, me personally, I enjoyed it more than I did half of the KQ adventure games.

[der_ketzer]

The collection is quite cheap on Steam (10€ gets you KQ 1-7)
KQ1-6 on GOG is 20€ alone. If you really must get Mask you should grab the collection on Steam and the third pack on GOG. For 20€ total.

If you don't feel like playing the games, I might suggest watching some let's plays on YouTube.
Also Paw, a fan of the series recently started giving nice little summaries/reviews of the King's Quest games. Check those out. (http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/teamt/paw/kingsquest)

and paw did an outstanding Let's Play of KQ5 too.

[Irishmile]

If you don't feel like playing the games, I might suggest watching some let's plays on YouTube.
Also Paw, a fan of the series recently started giving nice little summaries/reviews of the King's Quest games. Check those out. (http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/teamt/paw/kingsquest)

Nice.... I will have to watch those later.

[figmentPez]

and paw did an outstanding Let's Play of KQ5 too.

I agree, Paw Dugan is pretty funny, and his retrospective on the KQ games is shaping up pretty well.

He's about to livestream a play-through of King's Quest VI as I type. I'm looking forward to it.

[StingingVelvet]

If you get the boxed collection that came out years ago for Windows XP there are unofficial patches on the internet which update the Dosbox version used to play the games. This offers better graphics options and compatibility with Windows Vista and Windows 7. It also removes the disc check, which is nice.

I would link directly but I do not have the bookmark anymore, I just made backups of the files. A google search should find it though.

[Irishmile]

I have that disc too... does it allow you to use the nicer portraits for when the characters are talking in KQ6? or the flat looking ones?

[ATMachine]

I have that disc too... does it allow you to use the nicer portraits for when the characters are talking in KQ6? or the flat looking ones?
DOSBox uses the DOS version of KQ6, which has the low-resolution character portraits. If you want to get the high-res portraits, though, run the game as the Windows version in ScummVM.

[Farlander]

ScummVM runs SCI games now? O_o Heck, soon it will emulate EVERYTHING! :D

[KuroShiro]

ScummVM runs SCI games now? O_o Heck, soon it will emulate EVERYTHING! :D

Yes, it runs up to SCI1.1, so all the games until the Windows version of KQ6. The newer games are in development.

[Irishmile]

I am horrible at figuring this stuff out... any way you could give me a tutorial on how to get it to work on Scummvm ATMachine? I would greatly appreciate it.. I have not been able to play KQ6 like I did when I was a kid for way too long.

[Woodsyblue]

We actually own all the King's Quest games, and pretty much every major adventure game made during the '80s and '90s, though quite a few of them are on hard or floppy disc so are essentially useless. Does ScummVM play Sierra games as well? I never bothered checking.

Apparently Activision released the King's Quest and Space Quest collections on Steam but for some inexplicable reason they are unobtainable in Australia. This is annoying because I wouldn't mind having them tied to my account. I may just pick them up on GoG.

Edit: Looks like you guys were busy talking about ScummVM while I was posting anyway. And in the process answered my question.

[ATMachine]

I am horrible at figuring this stuff out... any way you could give me a tutorial on how to get it to work on Scummvm ATMachine? I would greatly appreciate it.. I have not been able to play KQ6 like I did when I was a kid for way too long.
Put the game files (including the stuff on the CD, if you didn't get it digitally) into a folder. Then download and install ScummVM (either the current stable release or the newest daily build will do). Start it up, click the "Add Game" button, point it to your KQ6 directory, and then select the Windows version in the preferences box. (It'll only work for the CD version, though--that is, the one with voices.)

There are a few VERY minor visual bugs but nothing major or game-breaking. It's pretty cool to see the high-res portraits again, after not being able to play the Windows version of KQ6 for years myself.

[Farlander]

Yes, it runs up to SCI1.1, so all the games until the Windows version of KQ6. The newer games are in development.

Is CD-Windows Quest for Glory IV among those newer games in development at the moment, by any chance?

[ATMachine]

Is CD-Windows Quest for Glory IV among those newer games in development at the moment, by any chance?
That runs fine in DOSBox as long as you have the timer code patches (http://www.sierrahelp.com/Patches-Updates/Patches-Updates-Games/QuestForGloryUpdates.html) installed. Personally, I prefer DOSBox for most games and ScummVM for what DOSBox can't run.

[KuroShiro]

I am horrible at figuring this stuff out... any way you could give me a tutorial on how to get it to work on Scummvm ATMachine? I would greatly appreciate it.. I have not been able to play KQ6 like I did when I was a kid for way too long.

Getting it to work is actually quite easy -- simply install ScummVM (version 1.2.1 or the daily build), and then find your original CDs/floppies and copy the contents to a folder on your HD. You can delete any .exe, .txt and .drv files if you want as they aren't required. Then just run ScummVM, click 'Add Game', navigate to the folder where you put the files and click 'Choose'. It should be added to the game list, and will run.

For the CD version you can also rip the audio track using a program like cdEx, rename it to 'track1', this will make the 'Girl in the Tower' song play properly at the end.

Is CD-Windows Quest for Glory IV among those newer games in development at the moment, by any chance?

Yes it is. All the SCI games are, though it may take a while :).

[Farlander]

That runs fine in DOSBox as long as you have the timer code patches (http://www.sierrahelp.com/Patches-Updates/Patches-Updates-Games/QuestForGloryUpdates.html) installed. Personally, I prefer DOSBox for most games and ScummVM for what DOSBox can't run.

Wait, DOSBox runs Windows 3.x stuff? O_o Since when? God I feel stupid :D

[ATMachine]

I'm not sure what an ATMachine is, but getting it to work is actually quite easy -- simply install ScummVM (version 1.2.1 or the daily build), and then find your original CDs/floppies and copy the contents to a folder on your HD. You can delete any .exe, .txt and .drv files if you want as they aren't required. Then just run ScummVM, click 'Add Game', navigate to the folder where you put the files and click 'Choose'. It should be added to the game list, and will run.

For the CD version you can also rip the audio track using a program like cdEx, rename it to 'track1', this will make the 'Girl in the Tower' song play properly at the end.
Yep. Oh, do make sure to select "Windows Version" instead of the DOS version in the preferences box of ScummVM, though.

And what's an ATMachine? Easy! That's me!

[ATMachine]

Wait, DOSBox runs Windows 3.x stuff? O_o Since when? God I feel stupid :D
Windows? I've always run Quest for Glory IV in DOS. I wasn't talking about the Windows version, I'm afraid.

EDIT: Oh, stupid me, I see you did say Windows version in the first place. What're the differences with the DOS version?

[Farlander]

Windows? I've always run Quest for Glory IV in DOS. I wasn't talking about the Windows version, I'm afraid.

I was talking about Windows version, though.

[ATMachine]

I was talking about Windows version, though.
Yeah, I saw, sorry. Are there any differences compared to the DOS version?

[KuroShiro]

And what's an ATMachine? Easy! That's me!

Haha, yes I realized that and edited it out :D :: feels stupid ::

Yeah, I saw, sorry. Are there any differences compared to the DOS version?

The differences are the high-res graphics in places, and the B&W windows icons I believe.

[Farlander]

Haha, yes I realized that and edited it out :D :: feels stupid ::



The differences are the high-res graphics in places, and the B&W windows icons I believe.

It also had less game-killing bugs than the DOS version (at least they didn't manifest themselves that much in any way) which is why I always preferred it.

Now that I think about it, I also remember that the DOS version didn't have that cool flaming sword effect for the Paladin.

[ATMachine]

It also had less game-killing bugs than the DOS version (at least they didn't manifest themselves that much in any way) which is why I always preferred it.

Now that I think about it, I also remember that the DOS version didn't have that cool flaming sword effect for the Paladin.
IIRC, the DOS version of the QFG4 CD release did include the flaming sword. It was the floppy disk release that left it out by mistake.

[Irishmile]

OMG I just updated my version of Scummvm and did what you guys said using my old old CD copy and clicked the talk bubble over the hill on the beach and viola..... "HELLO"

just so people can see what we are talking about if they are not aware.... here is the difference

Alexander saying Hello Windows on the left ... DOS on the right....
He once again looks like Kyle McLaughlin circa twin peaks era.
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/2531/hellof.jpg

I really hope TTG include the talking portraits to their game.... I know its less cinematic... but there is a certain charm to it.

[Lambonius]

Alexander looks like he's getting ready to smoke some pole. Must be the TSL version.

On a more serious note, I liked the dialog portraits, too, but I don't see them being relevant in a game nowadays. The main reason they were done in the first place was because of the low resolution and low detail on the game sprites. Most of the actual sprites in Sierra games didn't even have visible facial features. It's hard to relate to characters when you can't see their faces, and it makes conversations fall kind of flat. The dialog boxes were an integral solution to this. They aren't necessary in a game that actually has good graphics. ;)

[Irishmile]

Oh I am fully aware of the reasons they had them.... Sierra even got rid of them as soon as they could... but it would be kind of cool to have them in somewhere.

[Rather Dashing]

Oh I am fully aware of the reasons they had them.... Sierra even got rid of them as soon as they could... but it would be kind of cool to have them in somewhere.
Perhaps a talking portrait as a character that has a frame designed just like the frame for character portraits. =P

[Irishmile]

I personally think that would fit in rather well.

also on a related note... Kings Quest 6 was the very first CD I had ever owned we had just got a new computer my mom bought the game for me when she bought the PC... I didn't even own a CD player at the time... The CD-ROM seemed like some sort of space-age technology to me... I still own it.

[MusicallyInspired]

Yes it is. All the SCI games are, though it may take a while :).

No, it's not. QFG4 is an SCI32 (SCI2, or something later than SCI1.1 anyway) game and is technically not officially supported yet. Some games might open but there will be a myriad of bugs.

Wait, DOSBox runs Windows 3.x stuff? O_o Since when? God I feel stupid :D

If you have Win3.x you can install it inside DOSBox. That's what I did and I run all my Sierra Windows versions that way. There are tutorials on the VOGONS forums.

[KuroShiro]

No, it's not. QFG4 is an SCI32 (SCI2, or something later than SCI1.1 anyway) game and is technically not officially supported yet. Some games might open but there will be a myriad of bugs.



He asked if it was in development, not if it was supported. It is. :rolleyes: SCI2+ is currently being worked on.

[prizna]

So do the originals run on scummvm or not?

[KuroShiro]

So do the originals run on scummvm or not?

1-6 do, 7+8 do not.

[Irishmile]

The GOG.com 7+8 bundle for $10 works on newer systems though.

[philthethrill]

I used to have the King's Quest Collection 2 and it came with the Windows version of King's Quest VI. It had the DOS character portraits.

[Jennifer]

I bought the King's Quest Collection (1-7) when it was on sale at Steam for Christmas.

I'll probably pick up King's Quest 7+8 at GOG.com if it drops to $5 during a sale to complete the series.

I used to own a few King's Quest games back when I was a little girl, but I don't think I ever finished them. Of course, I thought the same thing about Space Quest, but when I played through Space Quest V I realized I completed it when I was younger, but forgot that I had. The only King's Quest game I ever got through far enough to maybe complete back then was King's Quest VI. I remember that game being my favorite.

I'm playing through the King's Quest games on ScummVM now, and I'm currently playing King's Quest V. Once I get to six I'll finally be able to find out just how far I actually did get in that game back then. :)

[Irishmile]

I used to have the King's Quest Collection 2 and it came with the Windows version of King's Quest VI. It had the DOS character portraits.

I believe its because they used DOS box to run.

[StingingVelvet]

I didn't know the early Sierra games were working well in Scumm now either... great news! I just copied all the files from my King's Quest VI CD over to my PC and got the Windows version working in ScummVM! Cool stuff!

Does anyone know how to get ScummVM to be fullscreen and yet also keep the image to a smaller centered box? DosBox does this and that is how I prefer to play these old games, kept a smaller image size yet with black around them to avoid seeing the desktop while I play.

Thanks in advance.

[Irishmile]

Black ducttape?

[prizna]

1-6 do, 7+8 do not.

Why dont 7 & 8 work?

[Simo Sakari Aaltonen]

I always adored the character portraits in Sierra games. It made the dialogues much more intimate somehow. A close-up in a 3D game never seemed to have the same charm for me.

[Jennifer]

Does anyone know how to get ScummVM to be fullscreen and yet also keep the image to a smaller centered box? DosBox does this and that is how I prefer to play these old games, kept a smaller image size yet with black around them to avoid seeing the desktop while I play.

Thanks in advance.
In the options menu, under the graphics tab, choose Normal (no scaling) for the graphics mode. Also click the fullscreen tab or press ALT+Enter when the game starts to get it to display full screen. :)

[jannar85]

And for those who purchased The Great Adventure Bundle 2010, they got all the KQ games in it. Also, there's the remakes of the three first games, which makes up for old graphics :)

Linkie:
http://www.agdinteractive.com/

The third one will be out this february!

[zmally]

And for those who purchased The Great Adventure Bundle 2010, they got all the KQ games in it. Also, there's the remakes of the three first games, which makes up for old graphics :)

Linkie:
http://www.agdinteractive.com/

The third one will be out this february!

Thanks for reminding me! I bought the bundle, but totally forgot until just now what was in it! Time to get playing afterall!

[Rather Dashing]

My bundle is giving me an error when I try installing it. Error opening bla bla bla license.txt. If I click, it goes through a list what I assume is every single file in the release.

[KuroShiro]

Why dont 7 & 8 work?

Because KQ7 is an SCI2+ game, which as mentioned is still in development and not yet supported. KQ8 will never work in ScummVM as it is a 3d game, and outside of its scope.

[StingingVelvet]

In the options menu, under the graphics tab, choose Normal (no scaling) for the graphics mode. Also click the fullscreen tab or press ALT+Enter when the game starts to get it to display full screen. :)

That stretches the image to fill the screen for me :(

[Sixkiller]

I got the collection off steam for $20 but I have to run it though Xp in boot camp (running a mac) I've only played 1-5 and I'll get around to 6 and 7 soon.

[Jennifer]

That stretches the image to fill the screen for me :(
Is "aspect ratio mode correction" ticked? If not, maybe unticking that might help.

[MusicallyInspired]

It might be a monitor or graphics driver issue. Some monitors have an aspect ratio toggle right on the monitor buttons and by default it's set to stretch. Or your graphics driver may be able to do it. That is, if "aspect ratio mode correction" doesn't help.

[newatgames]

The Kings Quest on Steam, if I get it will KQ7 work on windows vista? Don't want to get it if it won't.

[MusicallyInspired]

Yes it will. Just go to http://sierrahelp.com and download the appropriate patch for that version of the collection to ensure everything plays properly.

[ripper]

I have video walkthroughs for the 8 King's Quest games on YouTube in two playlists. I tried to post the links here, but Telltale Games didn't let me.

C'mom, people, what's the problem? I just want to show the evolution of King's Quest series to those who never played the 8 first games.

[philthethrill]

Let me try. Here's the playlist of ripper's walkthroughs for King's Quest I, King's Quest II, King's Quest III, King's Quest IV, King's Quest V, King's Quest VI and King's Quest VII. There's also a partial walkthrough of King's Quest VIII. http://www.youtube.com/user/ADVRipper4EVER#g/c/8EEA61F6A3C2CB56

The rest of the King's Quest VIII walkthrough can be found here. http://www.youtube.com/user/ADVRipper4EVER#g/c/5992C6CD69D7D4F4

[jannar85]

I'd play the remakes instead of watching this, or download the games through the boundle TT sold earlier last year.

[Valiento]

I'd personally say that the fan remakes are not a proper replacement for playing the true original King's Quest games, they take liberties to the original stories. There is no continuity between each team's versions of the games, as well (other than games made by the same team). if iyou are playing in order, you might find the differences confusing. It is a good idea to play the originals to see the stories as Roberta Williams and other Sierra developers originally intended.

Actually the only the VGA KQ1 remake is pretty much 100% an exact remake of the original KQ1 remake (as most of the other teams games add to and modify a few events from previous versions). The other remakes vary, remaining 30% to 90% similar to the originals.

They are great to play too, but definitely go through the originals. If you can play both, play both the original AGI King's Quest and the remake, they each offer a unique experience.

That being said, only playing the free remakes (while refusing to buy the originals) does take some money away from Activision. So its almost akin to pirating... So ya, if you play remakes, definitely go out and buy the originals! They are a completely different experience, and you will show support to the series, and its continuation!

[MusicallyInspired]

No, it's not akin to pirating. Those remakes are officially licensed and sanctioned by ActiVision. Meaning ActiVision is ok with you playing them for free. It's nothing like pirating. I know what you're getting at, but saying that makes people feel guilty about playing them and they shouldn't.

That said, definitely play the originals.

ActiVision has also allowed officially Sarien.net to host the first AGI games of each Sierra series streaming on the web in your browser. So you can play KQ1AGI for free.

[Valiento]

I don't mean it is actual 'pirating' (I know they aren't 'illegal'), I mean people shouldn't just play the remakes because they are 'free', while refusing to buy the originals (because they cost money). They don't replace the originals, and people should definitely still go out and buy the originals.

I've come across a few people who have asked why they should buy the originals, if the fan remakes were free. I've seen some who advised others to just play the free remakes, and avoid paying for the originals. I see this mentality as akin to 'pirating' (though its technically legal). Its an individual to individual circumstance.

'akin' doesn't mean, the 'same thing'.

[MusicallyInspired]

I'm just saying it's misleading. It's not just 'akin' to it, it's nothing like it. Saying it's like piracy is saying people should feel guilty for cheating the copyright owners out of money they deserve. But it's no where near that since they approved and sanctioned it. People get very antsy around the word "piracy." I'm just saying it was the wrong choice of words. I know why you said it, but it's more likely that people will avoid the remakes than play both of them, and that's not exactly fair. Piracy means there's something legally wrong with it. It's not "technically legal" it is legal in every way.

As far as it being "not right" to avoid the originals because you have the remakes, I agree. But that's something completely different.

[LeChuck1986]

I thought there were only 7, with another game which should not be named. Well, at least not as a numbered game......

[Radogol]

I thought there were only 7, with another game which should not be named. Well, at least not as a numbered game......

It's actually not a numbered game, which makes the whole thing even weirder.

[MusicallyInspired]

It is in Germany.

[Valiento]

Actually it wasn't numbered in Germany except on a third-party budget rerelease.

It was numbered in interviews with Roberta (she called it KQ8, and to this day its called KQ8 on Ken Williams website), in the KQ Collections, Sierra's magazine, and some of the material in the Activision/GoG collection (look at the desktop background/magazine advertisements) in the extras. Also my original release copy of KQ8 box had a sticker over the shrink wrap that called it King's Quest 8, and that's in the USA.

Pay attention though, it's not the first series to have unnumbered title in the title screens/game! Check out Quest for Glory: Shadows of Darkness. Only called QFG4 in side material. police Quest: Open Season, Police Quest: SWAT, Police Quest: SWAT 2. Only called Police Quest, 4, 5, and 6 in side material or in the file directories.

The Gabriel Knight, Laura Bow, EcoQueat and Dr. Brain series were only given numbered titles in side material (other than GK3 was the first to have a number in the title). EcoQuest 2 even dropped thr EcoQuest title except in side material! It was known as the Lost Secret of the Rain Forest.

Of course there were the games that originally didn't have numbers, but numbers were added in the remakes! 1 was added to KQ1, and Leisure Suit Larry 1 for example

[MusicallyInspired]

There is an official foreign language box art that has a big golden number 8 on it. I've seen it. And it used the original artwork. But now every time I try to look for it I can never find it...

[philthethrill]

Is this the one you meant? http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510Y108KNKL._AA115_.jpg (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510Y108KNKL.jpg) I found it on the German Amazon. You'll have to click on the picture to enlarge it.

[MusicallyInspired]

Ah. The 8 is smaller than I remember. Nevertheless, that's not what I remember. It just so happens to be up on MobyGames, though:

http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/kings-quest-mask-of-eternity/cover-art/gameCoverId,5358/

That doesn't look very third-party to me.

[Valiento]

The Back to Games grey box is definitely the 3rd party box, as far as I know.

The second box looks like a close up of the artwork from the Back to Games box, but with extra elements. It does look closer to the official release. It would seem so (here is the box with all the pack-in material);
http://www.thelegacy.de/pics/goodies/k/K_6872_1156319055_KingsQuest828Custom29.JPG

As I understand it (from someone from Germany), there was also the first edition box, that looks just like the American release, but in German. That one apparently didn't have the 8 on the box.

Here is the title screen!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYd6ZrSfVYY

This is a picture of the English box that has the KQ8 sticker I think.
http://content.answcdn.com/main/content/img/amg/games/drg000/g003/g00357f23uf.jpg

I GOG extras magazine advertisements/desktop backgrounds have the game listed as "King's Quest VIII" (rather than '8').