GeneralSpaceQuest 7'Prepareyourself for a Space Quest of gargantuan proportions! This thingis going to be so big you couldn't climb over it in a weekend! You'llsee Roger like you've never seen him before, or ever want to seehim again!'
Space quest free download - Planet Quest, Space Quest (Early Access), Space Time Quest, and many more programs.
- William Shockley (programmer for SQ7) inan interview.Early1997 -The Space Quest 7 project was started!In early1997 Sierra decided to make another Space Quest. The decision wasbased upon the relatively successful Space Quest 6 (which was releaseda while back in March 1995) and upon the feedback Sierra was gettingfrom fans all around the planet who demanded to see another RogerWilco space adventure. Whatever you might have heard about SpaceQuest 6 sales figures, the game was a success.
It solda lot more copies than Space Quest 5 did. However, it hadcost around 5 times more and unfortunately (I'm sure you saw thisone coming), it didn't sell 5 times as much. August1997- The team released some more information about Space Quest7Around August 1997, the team released this drawing you seehere to the left. It was made by the character designer RichardPowell. According to Leslie Balfour, Dougie is a slime monsterwho likes to hang out with his friends on the streets of PolysorbateLX to hassle passers-by. Maybe this tells us that Roger isreturning to Polysorbate (the highly polluted planet fromSQ6). Formore design sketches of the Space Quest 7 project!October1997- An interview with Jay Lee reveals more details about the SpaceQuest 7 projectThis is an interview with Jay Lee, a programmer for the Space Quest7 project.
It was conducted by Sterling Jones (webmaster of a popularfansite at that time) and took place on October 10, 1997:How did you get involved with Sierra?Way back in the Apple II days, I was into playing various gamesthat guys at college had obtained (ok, they were pirated). Amongthe games were Wizard & the Princess (from Sierra of course).Since then, I followed what Sierra was doing in the industry eventhough I was a big Commodore 64 and Amiga guy. I thought the Amigakicked the PC's butt in every way, but corporate America didn'tcare about that. Since my job required it, I began using PC's, andabout the same time, Sierra released King's Quest 5 and Space Quest4 with 256 color art.
Once I saw how beautiful the graphics were,I was convinced that the PC was going to be a viable gaming platform,so I started honing my skills in C, and then Windows, hoping perhapsthat one day I could get into the industry. Just over 2 1/2 yearsago, I answered an ad in Sierra's Interaction magazine, becauseI thought there may finally be a match between my skills and whatSierra was looking for. Sierra thought so too, and I left my previousjob of 10 years to start all over again in the R&D group inOakhurst, CA.Whatother projects have you worked on at Sierra?When I first got to Sierra, I worked in R&D, and we were responsiblefor SCI interpreter that all the adventure games were being donein. Among the more notable games that were released while I wasin R&D included Phantasmagoria, Gabriel Knight 2, Rama, Shiversand Lighthouse. I also did some specific engine work that was usedin Shivers 2 and Betrayal in Antara.
Sierra in Oakhurst made a decisionto go away from SCI, and as part of the change, many of the guysin R&D moved on to be lead programmers on various games. I becamethe lead on the Colliers Encyclopedia product.
I really wanted toget on a game though, so about half way through when there was areplacement for me, I moved to do engine work for Swat 2. Once I'mreleased from Swat 2, I will be full time on SQ7. The good newsis that much of the work I'm doing on Swat 2 will be used on SpaceQuest 7, so it is not as if Space Quest 7 is not making any progress.Howis the SQ7 project going?Not as fast as we'd like on the programming side since my currentproject, Swat 2, has yet to ship. We are trying to get our approvalprototype up and ready for early December. The design and artworkis proceeding however, and our art staff is set to ramp up nextweek.Howmuch of the programming is done on SQ7?Our biggest focus at this time on Space Quest 7 is getting it throughprototype approval. This means that we will build a small playableportion of the game for Ken Williams and the other executives toapprove. Our current push is to ship SWAT 2 and Quest for Glory5, and every resource has been focused on those two products.
Inthe short run that postpones Space Quest 7 development, but in thelong run we will have the same advantage as Quest for Glory andSWAT, because we'll be able to demand resources when we're at thecritical point in Space Quest's development.AroundOctober 1997- An interview with Scott Murphy reveals more details about theSpace Quest 7 projectThis isan interview with Scott Murphy. It was conducted by Neil Schuh (webmasterof a popular fansite at that time):Canyou tell us anything about how the production of Space Quest 7?How the production of Space Quest 7 is what? Come on now, Neil.Only I can type that way. You're the serious journalist.
I'm theeccentric artist-type and I can get away with more. Space Quest7 is coming along. We're in the very early stages of development.We're just getting some artists.
We hope to have a programmer ortwo in the not too distant future. We've been involved lately inproducing an AVI for the new Space Quest Collection, which willinclude Space Quest 1-6 as well as some other little ditties foryour amusement.Whatfirst inspired you to be a game programmer?The mere joy of making things happen on the screen. My first programmingwas in AppleSoft Basic. About a year or two later I got exposedto the programming part of the business. I got my first real tastedoing The Black Cauldron for Disney. (The fifteen hourdays sucked but you've got to do these things in this business.I was learning a lot from Ken Williams.
It came so easy to Ken andhe understood it so well that for me, learning from him was likedrinking from a fire hose. Al Lowe was there to, now that I thinkof it, but he just spent a lot of time pitifully shaking parts ofhis anatomy while smiling, and peeling the paint off the walls inhis own special way. (Hi, Al.)Whatfirst inspired you to create Space Quest?Well, since I'd gotten well into the company I wanted to do a spacegame. While working on The Black Cauldron, I got hooked up workingwith Mark Crowe who was doing graphics. We spent a lot of late nightsworking at Ken's house. We found out we had very similiar sensesof humor and interests in sci-fi.
We also liked to laugh. We talkedoff and on about how a space game could be approached and how toget approval to make it. We decided people needed to laugh. Allthe 'heroes' in games then were all way too noble princetypes. We wanted a hero for the rest of the world.Thus was born Roger Wilco, a normal (or less) person in extraordinarycircumstances. A path of least resistance kind of guy.Haveyou ever had an encounter with an UFO from space?I'm not sure.
Around here I've seen some UWO's, unidentified walkingobjects, and some USO's, unidentified sitting objects. They seemto be spread equally between artists, programmers, and especiallymanagement.Abouthow much does a programmer like you get payed a year?Get payed? They told me this was a priviledge and that I have topay. I think I need to have a talk with somebody!Howis 'multiplayer' going to be used in Space Quest 7?It will be used so that more than one person can play in a SpaceQuest game session. Actually, I can't tell you that at this timebecause it's a story secret.
Trust me, it'll be interesting.Whatnemisis will Roger be encountering in this game?There will be at least one old nemesis. Remember how we leftRoger in Space Quest 6? He also has female problems to deal with.He also has some personal demons to deal with. Boy, does he.Howchallenging are you trying to make Space Quest 7?Well, harder than a three year old finishing it off in 90 minutesand easier than a 25 year not being able to finish it within 500hours. Actually we try to appeal to everyone, which is difficult.We want players to see all we've dreamed up for them, but not insidea few hours. We want the vast majority to feel the toughness ofplay is just right.Whatis your average day at Sierra like?I am invoking the fifth amendment of the constitution of the UnitedStates so that I may not incriminate myself. I spend a lot of timecontemplating creative methods of suicide.
Between those thoughts,I try to work on the design of the game while listening to haughtywhining co-designers (Leslie Balfour), and prissy artists (RichPowell), as well as Project Managers who act like they own you.(Maybe that's why she was checking my teeth the other day?)Whenwill the Space Quest 7 website at sierra.com be up?It was supposed to be up in September but higher priority issuespresented themselves. The first, and somewhat raw, version of itshould be up before the end of October, or so I'm praying.Doyou have any parting words for your fans?Yeah, don't believe what anybody (Leslie Balfour) says about mebeing unstable, egocentric, or difficult to work with. That's suchcrap and these pea brains should be smart enough to understand that.Oh, and bye to all you fans. Thanks for your support and interest.That has been truly gratifying and we look forward to giving youmore fun at the expense of Roger Wilco. August1997- Space Quest Collection released with Promo MovieAround August 1997 Sierra released yet another Space QuestCollection which featured for the new Space Quest 7. The manual contains(40 KB)which features the release date for Space Quest 7: late1998. Things looked bright for the future of the ever-so-popularSpace Quest Series.Unfortunately,the new Space Quest Collection flopped.
It was soon to befound in software store's bargain bins for a buck or two.The guys at Sierra (read: management geniuses) now thoughtthere wasn't enough interest for another Space Quest.December1997 -Space Quest 7 project 'on hold indefinitely'The SpaceQuest 7 project was being put 'on hold indefinitely' aroundlate december, 1997. The reason why was given in this e-mail fansfrom all around the globe received. It was written by Scott Murphyand Leslie Balfour:Tothe Friends and Fans of Space Quest,As you all know, the path to Space Quest 7 has been long and bumpy,and we were never sure what we would find at the end of the road.The decision has been made, after much soul-searching and agonizing,to put Space Quest 7 on hold indefinitely.Thejoy for the team has been in the journey.
We've made many friendsout there, and it has been quite heartening to know that Roger Wilcohas so many fans. I look forward to continuing the friendships I'vedeveloped over the last year. But Sierra is in the process of manychanges, and we had to take a hard look at whether a Space Quest7 project made sense. Unfortunately for those of us who love Rogerand his stupid antics, other projects just have more to offer bothto the company and to our customers in general at this time.Pleasedon't worry about the team. We will all move to other projects atSierra On-Line. Many of us will go over to the Babylon 5 space combatgame, which will be coming out in Holiday 1998. Others will go overto the B5 adventure game, which will also come out in 1999.
Bothof these products will reflect Sierra's commitment to excellencein space games, and I hope you'll consider playing them if you havethe opportunity.I am sending this email to those of you who have sent me mail lately.Please pass the information on to any Space Quest fans I inadvertentlyomitted.Finally,don't be sad for Roger. Just think of him as weary from making uslaugh for all these years, ready for a break from his adventures.He and la Wankmeister want to settle down, raise a family. And perhapsas we look up in the sky, a distant star will remind us that somewhere,in a distant galaxy, Roger Wilco is probably getting pantsed.Thanksagain for all your support,TheSpace Quest Team-Leslie Balfour-Scott MurphyFebruary1998 -Scott Murphy fired?Long and bumpy the road was indeed. Two months later (around midFebruary 1998), rumours were spreading that Scott Murphy was fired.stated: 'Supposedly, Scott will bere-hired if the SQ7 project is ever restarted.' June1998 -Craig Alexander shares information with fans aboutmanagement meetingSurprisingly, in a meeting on the 22nd of June 1998, Sierra's managementbriefly discussed the future of Space Quest 7.
The story then ends, with Roger's fate unknown. Unfortunately, after opening the door, he comes face-to-face with a zombie. Dead island wiki.
Craig Alexander,General GM for SQ7 (whatever that means), told the following: 'It went okay, althoughwe only spent a few minutes discussing SQ7. In early July, I planto have another meeting and formerly pitch restarting the projectin early 1999.
The tides are definitely turning, in part becauseof the fans' support. However, there is a long road ahead of us.' August1998- Leslie Balfour left SierraLeslie Balfour (designer/writer for SQ7) left Sierra. Scott Murphy,however, would stay under contract if the project was to be restarted.January/February1999- The Space Quest 7 project was restartedThe team got back together and started working on Space Quest 7again.Februarythe 22nd, 1999 -Chainsaw Monday stabbed the limping Space Quest 7 project in thebackThen on February the 22th, 1999 (which is called 'Chainsaw Monday'by Scott Murphy) Space Quest 7 was finally axed.
Sierra closed downits Oakhurst California facility, firing two-third of the employeesthere. Scott Murphy, who was an old timer at Sierra, also had topack his bags as his contract had expired and was not renewed.
Therest of the employees has been given an opportunity to relocateto other Sierra divisions like Belvue Washington. The Oakhurst facilitywas the roots of Sierra. It produced games like Leisure Suit Larry,King's Quest, Quest for Glory and of course Space Quest. This actionof corporate consolidation was taken by the new owner, Havas, whichbought Sierra from CUC Software.
The following letter was writtenby the founder of Sierra, Ken Williams, in respond of Chainsaw Monday:Dear former Sierra employees,Roberta and I wish to express our deepest sympathies for the recentloss of your jobs. Hopefully, it will not be long before you resumework at Sierra in Seattle, or at some other company. Best free crossword puzzle solver. In Oakhurst,or elsewhere. According to tradition, I'm supposed to say somethinguplifting and motivational to help everyone feel better. Unfortunately,I have failed at this task. There is really nothing good that canbe said.
This is a sad ending to Sierra's twenty-year operatinghistory in Oakhurst, which at one time, represented over 550 Oakhurst-basedemployees. This story should have had a happy ending, but insteadhas had a long string of bad news concluding with the shutdown yesterdayof all of Sierra's Oakhurst-based product development activities.Theproblems began with the move of corporate to Seattle. The move toSeattle was mandated for several reasons, primarily due to the difficultywe were having recruiting senior management staff and software engineers.The relocation, although it was painful for Oakhurst, was instrumentalin our tremendous growth from 1993 through 1996. I remain convincedthat this relocation was the right decision for Sierra, and thatwe would not have prospered without it.I can't say the same about either the sale of The ImagiNation Network(INN) in 1993, or the sale of Sierra itself in 1996. When Sierrastarted INN in 1991, it was a decade ahead of its time. After investingmillions in INN, Sierra found that it did not have the financialresources to support INN's continued operations.
In 1993, AT&Tsought aggressively to acquire INN, promising to market the serviceand grow the company. Unfortunately, AT&T lost interest in INNand sold it to AOL, who to my great disappointment, shut INN down.Sierra,as you know, was purchased by CUC International in 1996. BecauseCUC was offering to buy the company at a price roughly 90% higherthan it was trading, the decision was out of management's hands.At the time of the purchase, we did believe that through consolidationwith several Sierra competitors (Blizzard, Knowledge Adventure,Davidson and others), Sierra would become a much stronger company.We had good reason to believe that the acquisition would cause usto grow faster, not shrink.
Unfortunately, CUC elected to transfercontrol of the company to Davidson, and shut down several groupsat Sierra. Later, as we all know, CUC was merged with another company,HFS, to form the Cendant corporation, with roughly 12,000 employees.A few months after this merger it was discovered that someone, orpossibly some group of people, within the former CUC organizationhad been fraudulently preparing financial statements. The actionsof this handful of people, who shall hopefully get their due, causedthe plunge in Cendant's stock price, and wiped out the net worthof many HFS and CUC employees, including many of you, as well asmuch of my own. Cendant was sued by its shareholders, CUC's formermanagement team was terminated and the decision was made to sellthe software business. It should surprise no one that morale sufferedthrough all of this anarchy, and although I have not seen Sierra'sfinancials for several years, my assumption is that the recent consolidationof operations is driven by a quest for restored profitability andstability. If this story were written as a book, the publisher mightseek to classify it as 'Fantasy', 'Science Fiction'or even 'Horror'.
It is much too outrageous to be true.But the bad news is that these events really did happen.I console myself in the following way, and perhaps it will helpyou to cope with what has occurred. Let's imagine that a strangerhad walked up to any of us, on the street, in 1979, and said: 'Wouldyou like to move to one of the greatest cities on earth? While youare there, you can play a key role in creating a company that justabout everyone will know and respect. Your grandchildren will beamazed when they learn that you once worked there.
You will be theenvy of your peers, because they will know that your team createdthe largest collection of hits ever to come from one company. Therewill even be years when you will have played a role in over halfthe products on the industries top ten lists!
You will be surroundedby incredibly intelligent, hard working people, who will work 20+hours per day when it takes it to get the job done. And, you willhave more fun than you ever thought possible. There's only one catchthough. This will only last for twenty years.' Even knowingit wouldn't last forever I would have followed that stranger anywhere.I'm disappointed that it didn't last forever, but, a 20 year rideon the greatest roller coaster on earth beats the heck out of lifein the slow lane any day.
Life may never be the same, but it alsoisn't over, and we all have some great memories we shall never forget.Good luck, and I miss you all.Thecancellation of Space Quest 7 shocked the fans. 'Save SpaceQuest 7' pages appeared everywhere and petitions were started.The image here on the left is the 'official' website buttonto save Space Quest 7. It was linked to a 'SAVE SPACE QUEST7' site where people could sign a petition. It's now long deadand gone. Even before the final blow that was Chainsaw Monday, severalSpace Quest websites had already launched 'Save Space Quest7' projects back in December 1997 when the project was put'on hold indefinitely'. One fan made a phony thread letter(image below). Niel Schuh (webmaster of the long-gone Wilco Burgerfansite) and Kevin Hord made when they heard about CUC closing down the Oakhurstfacility, it became rather well known.February7th, 2002 - First rumors appearedabout a new Space Quest gameA company called Escape Factory was hired by Sierra to work on anaction based Space Quest game for the Playstation 2 and Xbox.
Thoughit too was cancelled, information leaked about this highly secretproject. Formore information.