King's Quest IV AGI

[stringtapper]

So I'm trying not to make this a "hey duz any1 have teh KQ4 agi downloadz" kind of thing, but at this point I guess that's where I am.

The thing is I do own AGI and SCI copies of KQ4. Tucked away in a storage unit are Apple IIe and Amiga versions of the game (along with just about every other Sierra game from about 1984-1994). I haven't ever gone to dig these out because I don't know of any way that I could get the games off of the discs.

So I'm wondering:

1) What is the status of this game? None of the abandon sites have downloads because it's still sold in the KQ Collection even though the AGI version isn't actually included! It seems like there's a grey area here.

2) How can I get the game just to play? I don't want to buy a boxed version because I already have one, just of a format I don't have the means to transfer to a modern computer.

Thanks.

[Tawmis]

1) What is the status of this game? None of the abandon sites have downloads because it's still sold in the KQ Collection even though the AGI version isn't actually included! It seems like there's a grey area here.

Not a gray area, at all really. I am pretty certain that all Sierra games, whether sold recently or not, are under the copyright protection thing (forgot the exact name of the digital agreement thing). This is why none of the abandon ware sites have King's Quest IV (nor should they have any of the Sierra games). I think the only exceptions are the extremely older games that are, for example, available on Al Lowe's website as free downloads.

2) How can I get the game just to play? I don't want to buy a boxed version because I already have one, just of a format I don't have the means to transfer to a modern computer.
Thanks.

Sadly, there's just about no other way. If someone's willing to ship you a copy, we ask that it not be made public. Take it to PM's if that's going to be the case. We have a strict rule about sending illegal copies of the game around.

The KQ4 AGI is very difficult to come by. That is for certain. I have a copy, only because when KQ4 originally came out, I had a Tandy back then - which couldn't run the other version. However, my copies are on 5.25" disks, if I remember correctly, which I have no way of extracting. (And like you, don't really want to dig in my storage for it).

[stringtapper]

From all of the sites I've been to it looks like the first installment of each of the Quest series is downloadable (KQ1, SQ1, and PQ1 are all available at Abandonia while the rest of their respective series' aren't). I'm guessing this is because all three of those have remakes included in their collections.

It really sucks because I'm pretty sure I had the files for KQ4 AGI a few years back when I first realized the old Sierra games could be played via DOSBox. I think I was able to get it then because it was right before the companies owning the rights started clamping down on the sharing. Unfortunately I lost the entire catalog of old game files I had amassed because of a backup mishap. I've been trying to build it back up ever since.

Oh well it was worth a shot. Thanks for you reply!

[Collector]

Discussion about abandonware here is allowed, but please, no direct linking. That said, I just got another copy of KQ4AGI off of eBay for $14.99. The seller, draconiansgames seems to have a few more. As pointed out by QuestCollector in another thread, the AGI version will have 3 3.5" disks and or 6 5.25" disks. This one seems to be the AGI version. Just email him first and ask if it says 256K on the requirements and not 512K.

[Tawmis]

Discussion about abandonware here is allowed, but please, no direct linking. That said, I just got another copy of KQ4AGI off of eBay for $14.99. The seller, draconiansgames seems to have a few more. As pointed out by QuestCollector in another thread, the AGI version will have 3 3.5" disks and or 6 5.25" disks. This one seems to be the AGI version. Just email him first and ask if it says 256K on the requirements and not 512K.

There you go! Listen to Collector! He runs the joint - I am just his minion - and of course, he has more information - well, because he is Collector and he's kinda awesome like that!

[stringtapper]

Discussion about abandonware here is allowed, but please, no direct linking. That said, I just got another copy of KQ4AGI off of eBay for $14.99. The seller, draconiansgames seems to have a few more. As pointed out by QuestCollector in another thread, the AGI version will have 3 3.5" disks and or 6 5.25" disks. This one seems to be the AGI version. Just email him first and ask if it says 256K on the requirements and not 512K.

Wow you really are the "Collector"! Thanks for this lead. I'm trying to remember if I even have access to a PC that has a 3.5" drive on it!! I was lucky enough to have access to my wife's old PC to help get the installs of the KQ/SQ/PQ Collections running in OS X.

[dotkel50]

Stringtapper check this out. http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-SBT-UFDB- ... B000ALM3RC
I have one just like it, works great.

[stringtapper]

Duh I should have known they would make something like this! Thanks for the heads up!