Sierra Remakes

[Constantin35]

Hello!

While collecting boxes I started to wonder about the Remakes... As all of you know, Sierra did Remakes of PQ1, LSL1, SQ1 and KQ1. In a rather short timeframe and as far as I recall somewhat 4 years after their initial AGI-Releases. Looking back, I think this was a rather... bold... move. Re-releasing more or less the same games (from a puzzle and storyline perspective) with "only" some beefed up graphics.

And, as far as I know, none of them was a wild success.

So I was wondering, what made them think, that this would be a succesfull strategy in the first place? And why not just try it with only 1 Remake, and see, where it leads to? Instead of making 4 of them at the same time? That seems to me like a rather big risk to take for a "small" company with limited dev resources? Or was the remake that easy to do? Take a couple of artists, repaint the backgrounds, and have a AGI->SCI converter, which would do the development efforts automatically on-the-fly?

Is there anybody knowing more about this chapter in Sierra's history?

Kind regards,
Constantin

[OmerMor]

I can't really answer your question, but I wanted to remind you that there were 2 more remakes: QfG1 and Mixed-Up Mother Goose (which was actually remade 3 times!)

[Collector]

I can't really answer your question, but I wanted to remind you that there were 2 more remakes: QfG1 and Mixed-Up Mother Goose (which was actually remade 3 times!)

Actually MMG was remade 4 times. The original AGI and 3 different of SCI -- the earlier SCI EGA (probably SCI0), SCI1 MPC and Deluxe.

[Tawmis]

I imagine their idea was - to release the games FIRST ones in a series - with new graphics, sound, etc - to try and capture a new audience. Someone's more inclined to start a series from the start than picking it up in the middle.

It's the same idea comics do - comics will get to like issue 200 or something, then reboot the series with a #1 to snag the attention of potential new readers.

Sierra was probably trying to capture new gamers.

[Constantin35]

I can't really answer your question, but I wanted to remind you that there were 2 more remakes: QfG1 and Mixed-Up Mother Goose (which was actually remade 3 times!)

Actually MMG was remade 4 times. The original AGI and 3 different of SCI -- the earlier SCI EGA (probably SCI0), SCI1 MPC and Deluxe.

Actually OmerMor statement is correct. It was MADE once, as an AGI Game. And then REMADE 3 Times.

Tawmis is probably right that they tried to adress a NEW audience, and not gamers, who have played the original release before. Still I think it was a risky, and probably unsucessfull, move, to remake so many games almost at once, and not testing it with maybe just one release.

[OmerMor]

Actually OmerMor statement is correct. It was MADE once, as an AGI Game. And then REMADE 3 Times.

Thanks Constantin - that's exactly what I meant.

[Collector]

I just missed listing one. The SCI1 VGA floppy version that was released before the MPC CD-ROM version.

[Tawmis]

Tawmis is probably right that they tried to adress a NEW audience, and not gamers, who have played the original release before. Still I think it was a risky, and probably unsucessfull, move, to remake so many games almost at once, and not testing it with maybe just one release.

Well, I think back then Sierra was doing well enough that they could afford such risks. The problem with testing it with one release is each of them seemed to target a specific "audience."

If they released LSL1 and it did well; what if they released KQ1 and it flopped? What if it was the "adult humor" of LSL that interested new gamers that were not interesting in some king's quest to collect a few magic items. Or what if they released QFG1 and it did well, because there was a spike in CRPG folks who were interested, but LSL1 flopped because the adult audience had already moved on to actually downloading p0rn rather than playing a simulation.

I think releasing them all at once, when I believe the company was still doing well (over all) - was a nice way to net as many people from different audiences.

[Constantin35]

On a slightly related topic:
I know that Sierra released at least the Remakes of Space Quest, Kings Quest and Leisure Suit Larry early on in the "old" boxes, and simply putting a sticker on it (like 256 colour version, different HW requirements, enhanced graphics etc.).
Is it known, if they also did that with the remakes of Police Quest and Quest for Glory? I haven't seen yet any of those, though.

Kind regards,
Constantin

[Collector]

Not as far as I know. Perhaps Rudy wold know.

[QuestCollector]

On a slightly related topic:
I know that Sierra released at least the Remakes of Space Quest, Kings Quest and Leisure Suit Larry early on in the "old" boxes, and simply putting a sticker on it (like 256 colour version, different HW requirements, enhanced graphics etc.).
Is it known, if they also did that with the remakes of Police Quest and Quest for Glory? I haven't seen yet any of those, though.

Kind regards,
Constantin

I've never seen them. I'm 99% sure they don't exist either. You've seen a Leisure Suit Larry pink box with a vga release? I don't think I've seen that either.

[envisge0ne]

I agree. LSL VGA had it's own box. If it was in an old ega version box then it probably wasn't an official Sierra release

[Constantin35]

Then be surprised...

[Rudy]

Not as far as I know. Perhaps Rudy wold know.

Yes, yes, it exists, I'm sure. I've seen the box once, not so long ago even!

[Collector]

Smart ass