Games of Yesteryear

Below is a handful of my favorite classic computer and video games that have been thoroughly discussed in other articles on The Grig Post. I have included snippets from those articles here. I decided to present them in chronological order because I just cannot seem to bring myself to number them.

Chrono Trigger

I first played Chrono Trigger in 2000; one year after the "Year of Lavos." Technically, I first played it on PC, since I used an emulator (Snes9x). Before I played Chrono Trigger, I was not much of an RPG fan. I had a few friends that were very much into RPGs, however. They strongly suggested that I play a few. I was blown away by the depth of Chrono Trigger.

Nintendo Rhapsody (World 6: It's About Time):

What is time? We like to think of it as a straight line from past to present to future, but our hearts and minds often dwell exclusively in the past or future. We rarely exist in the present moment. Time, it would seem, is merely an earthbound construct. It was the year 2000 AD in actuality, but my mind was fixated ever in the past. 1995 AD to be more precise. I was trying to hunt down a copy of Chrono Trigger for the Super Nintendo. I was very unlikely to still find the game in any store, and virtual console services would not exist for another six years. Thus, I settled on an emulator for Windows 98. I downloaded Snes9x alongside a ROM of Chrono Trigger. I would eventually find and purchase the Sony PlayStation compilation with Final Fantasy IV and the Nintendo DS version of Chrono Trigger, but for now, emulation appeared to be my only option. Chrono Trigger begins with a legitimate sense of joy and wonder. Crono is a carefree boy just out to have fun with his friends on the morning of the Millennial Fair. A stark contrast from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past in which Link's adventure begins with a frantic quest in the midst of a storm. Both story techniques work effectively in their respective games, but Chrono Trigger does a far better job of building tension, and boy does it deliver on surprise twists. From the moment Crono's mother drew open his bedroom curtains, I knew that I was in for something special. Lucca, one of Crono's dearest friends, is a dedicated scientist and a rather talented inventor. Her latest invention, a teleportation device, was about to take the Millennial Fair by storm.

Gary Owens Signing Off

I had feared Gary Owens may not have much time left. I will always remember him best for his narration duty on Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers and Space Quest VI: The Spinal Frontier, but if only because that was where I first heard him. He had such a long list of TV and radio credits! And with a legendary voice like his, it is no wonder. He was reported to be the narrator of ‪‎SpaceVenture‬, but offhand, I do not recall if any recording took place (aside from an interview with Chris Pope). Those are mighty big shoes to fill! Rest in peace, Mr. Owens!

Gary Owens, Space Quest IV: "The powerful quad-quark drives rev to life. Time and space bend under the fibrillations of the time-rip transfluxers. Your adrenaline (and stomach) reel with the hyperbolic hyperbole. And finally, finally..." I hope something amazing happens!

Source: Variety.com

Interview with Ken Allen

Ken Allen composed computer game music for Sierra On-Line in the early 1990s, and later, for Parallax Software in the mid-1990s. During this period of his career, he is perhaps best known for his Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers (1991) soundtrack. He also composed music for The Colonel's Bequest (1989), King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder! (1990), Space Quest I: Roger Wilco in The Sarien Encounter (1990) and Descent (1994), among others. Later, he would become employed at Atari, where he took on the role of Senior Producer for RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 (2004). Finally, in January of 2013, he returned to his music composer roots with the launch of his Under The Half Dome album on Kickstarter. Ken happened to read a few of my articles about Space Quest and SpaceVenture, and asked if I would conduct an interview with him. My answer was a resounding "YES!" What follows, after the Space Quest IV soundtrack, is that interview. I recommend listening to it while reading.


Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers Soundtrack (MT-32)

SpaceVenture 1: The Fan-tastic Encounter

Space Quest. Two words that cause reflection on the past with a certain degree of reverence. Especially when used together.


"Do You Remember Space Quest?" (by Stacy Davidson)

I have written every which way about the Space Quest series. I shared some of my personal memories in The Treasure of the Sierra On-Line (SQ), explored my sarcastic side in Space Quest 7: Buckazoids from Andromeda, came to my senses in Space Quest: A Greatly Exaggerated Tale of Adventure, and chose the spiritual successor to Space Quest, SpaceVenture, as my number one game of 2013 in The Year of the Adventure Game. You might think that, by this point, I would have nothing else to write about it. Call me a real pantload for punishment, I guess.

The Year of the Adventure Game

Something miraculous happened last year. Tim Schafer of Double Fine Productions asked for $400,000 on crowd funding site, Kickstarter, to make an old school point and click adventure game, and the world gave him $3.3 million. In doing so, he and his company bypassed the usual publisher route needed to secure funding for a game, and maintained full creative control of their project. People just about everywhere took notice. Among them, a number of past and present game developers from such origins as Access Software, LucasArts, Revolution Software and Sierra On-Line. They all wanted a chance to take another stab at the adventure game genre, which until then, had been regarded by publishers as a genre that did not typically generate a significant amount of revenue. Translation: It did not make as much money as Call of Duty. Could lightning possibly strike twice? Not only did it strike twice. It struck again and again and again. It was a bit like the end of It's a Wonderful Life, with an angry CEO at Activision, Electronic Arts or some other such place playing the part of Mr. Potter. And as a teacher once said, every time a bell rings, an adventure game developer gets his paycheck.

With that said, Happy New Year! This year is going to be very special because all those adventure games that we Kickstarted last year are going to be released this year. To celebrate, I decided to put together a list of adventure games being released in 2013, including a few that were funded beyond Kickstarter.

Space Quest 7: Buckazoids from Andromeda

I originally posted this article on May 28th, 2012 in an effort to boost awareness of Mark Crowe and Scott Murphy's Kickstarter campaign for their up-and-coming game, SpaceVenture. Just like their earlier Space Quest games, I went heavy on the sarcasm. I shared this article with Scott via Facebook, and was a bit shocked when he said that I caught him by surprise. I assumed that he meant something was off with the article itself. Perhaps the things I wrote about him in particular. It was just a misunderstanding, though. Scott was surprised merely by the way that I notified him on Facebook. Not knowing this at the time, I quickly put the article under wraps, and within a day, I had written a new one with a more serious tone (Space Quest: A Greatly Exaggerated Tale of Adventure). With SpaceVenture fast approaching, I thought that I would re-share this article, and encourage everyone to check out guysfromandromeda.com for updates. Also, if you happen to have one of those iDoodads, be sure to check out their Cluck Y'Egger app. The original Space Quest 7: Buckazoids from Andromeda article begins below.

Two Guys SpaceVenture (by the creators of Space Quest)

Alright, guys and gals, this is your final chance to pledge for Mark Crowe and Scott Murphy's SpaceVenture. What is SpaceVenture, you ask? Well, I have written a few blogs on that very subject. Check them out here: Space Quest: A Greatly Exaggerated Tale of Adventure, Two Guys SpaceVenture Kickstarter, and The Treasure of the Sierra On-Line (SQ). This is a project that I truly believe in, and time is running out to see it funded. 24 hours to be precise.

Link: http://www.tgakick.com



That link again is TGAKICK.COM!

Space Quest: A Greatly Exaggerated Tale of Adventure

If you, like me, were a child of the 1980s and/or 1990s, you may have heard of Sierra On-Line. A software development studio that released such classics as King's Quest, Leisure Suit Larry, and Quest for Glory. In 1986, they released the first of a six chapter saga known as Space Quest. It was led by Mark Crowe and Scott Murphy. They wanted to design a funny science fiction adventure game. One that would lampoon popular film and television series of the time. Think Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, and Star Wars. They would go on to develop three sequels together. Space Quest II: Vohaul's Revenge, Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon, and Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers. Following the release of Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers, Mark Crowe and Scott Murphy went their seperate ways. Mark took a job at Dynamix, and was given the green light to design Space Quest V: The Next Mutation from there. For Space Quest VI: The Spinal Frontier, the design duties were handed off to Josh Mandel. When Josh left Sierra, Scott was asked to step in and finish development.


Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon

Two Guys SpaceVenture Kickstarter

In the immortal words of Gary Owens: The powerful quad-quark drives rev to life. Time and space bend under the fibrillations of the time-rip transfluxers. Your adrenaline (and stomach) reel with the hyperbolic hyperbole. And finally, finally...


Two Guys SpaceVenture Kickstarter

Yes, time jockeys, the "Two Guys from Andromeda" have launched their Kickstarter, and are well on their way to funding their next big space adventure! I will have more to say on this at a later time (I nearly spit out my coffee this morning when I read that it had been launched), but for now, be sure to read my post about Space Quest, especially if you are unfamiliar with this duo of computer game developers.

EDIT: Apparently, I am so excited that I forgot to format this post in HTML! Fixed.

The Treasure of the Sierra On-Line (SQ)

Inspired by Al Lowe and Jane Jensen's recent Kickstarters, I have decided to write a blog about Sierra On-Line memories. Scott Murphy and Mark Crowe have also returned!

Today, we venture into the hallowed halls of Sierra On-Line, or should I say, the hollowed halls of Sierra On-Line. Sierra has existed in name only for more than a decade. In the 1980s and 1990s, however, they were arguably the greatest developer of PC adventure games under the sun. Notice, if you will, how I said arguably. These days, fans of the adventure game genre usually stand behind the assertion that LucasArts was better, and there are some very good reasons for that. For one thing, LucasArts' adventure games were typically a lot less buggy. For another, LucasArts did not punish you for dying. In fact, most of their games lacked death altogether. Personally, I still love both companies' games equally, and yes, I know that I will get a lot of flack for saying that.

I believe that Sierra On-Line has just as much merit in gaming history as LucasArts. Sure, their games may have generally been buggier, and they may have punished you for not picking up key items, but in my book, that does not make them a sacrificial lamb (bonus points if you get the game reference). For me, it was all about the beautiful worlds that Sierra crafted, and the stories that they told within them. Oh, and let us not forget about the amazing musical scores. I still get them stuck in my head to this very day! Sure, they made a few mistakes along the way, but you have to remember that computer games were still a very new thing when Sierra first came onto the scene in the early 1980s. LucasArts came later, and that allowed them to have a less rocky start with a more refined system in place.


Sierra Logo

Top 11: Video Games

This is my attempt to list my 11 favorite video games (of all time!).

1. Chrono Trigger (SNES)
I first played Chrono Trigger in 2000; one year after the "Year of Lavos." Technically, I first played it on PC, since I used an emulator (Snes9x). Before I played Chrono Trigger, I was not much of an RPG fan. I had a few friends that were very much into RPGs, though. They strongly suggested that I play a few. I was blown away by the depth of Chrono Trigger. I still don't own a legitimate copy, but plan to when I pick up the DSi.

2. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
I first played "ALttP" in 1992. It was not the first Zelda game that I ever played, mind you. I played The Legend of Zelda (NES) a few years earlier, which was also a good game, but nowhere near as great as this one. Furthermore, I have not played a Zelda game since then that has matched it. Until I played Chrono Trigger, A Link to the Past was my favorite video game of all time.

3. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
I first played Super Mario Bros. 3 on Christmas Day 1990, as evidenced by these two YouTube videos. The addition of items, map screens, and warp whistles set it apart from Super Mario Bros. and Doki Doki Panic: Mario Edition...Okay, Super Mario Bros. 2U.

4. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles (GEN)
I first played Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in 1994. By itself, it was very much an underwhelming game, but when locked-on to Sonic & Knuckles, it transformed into something of beauty. Knuckles became a playable character, Super Emeralds could be collected (unlocking Hyper Sonic/Knuckles and Super Tails), and additional levels were available.

5. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES)
I first played Super Mario RPG in 2000. It was around the same time as Chrono Trigger, and also via Snes9x. You can save the rotten tomatoes, though. I recently purchased the game on the Wii Virtual Console.

6. Sam & Max Hit the Road (PC)
I first played Sam & Max Hit the Road in 2004; a few days after the cancellation of Sam & Max Freelance Police. The outcry made me wonder just how good the original game was, so I decided to play it for myself. Of course, I was sad afterward.

7. Psychonauts (PC)
I first played Pi...Pyc...Psyco...Psychonauts in 2005. I am not afraid to admit that I couldn't spell Psychonauts until I bought the game. The game itself is mind blowing (literally). You can't expect anything less than awesome from Tim Schafer. Who knows, maybe Brütal Legend will make my list. That is, if a PC version is released.

8. Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers (PC)
I first played "SQ4" in 1996. I found it in a bargain bin at Price Club for five bucks, so I was not expecting much. It was better than I originally anticipated. Although, it did take several months to complete the Galaxy Galleria sequences due to timer issues. I still consider Space Quest IV my favorite in the series, seeing as it was the first one that I played. I later picked up Space Quest V and Space Quest VI individually, and the "prequel trilogy" (Space Quest I, Space Quest II, and Space Quest III) in the Roger Wilco Unclogged Collection.

9. GoldenEye 007 (N64)
I first played GoldenEye 007 in 1997. For me, it was the pinnacle of first person shooters. Perfect Dark would have made my list, but looking back, it was more of a retooling of what made GoldenEye 007 so good.

10. Star Fox 64 (N64)
I first played Star Fox 64 in 1997. I was never a very big fan of rail shooters, but this was one of the best. Of course, it does also contain a few free roaming stages.

11. Donkey Kong Country 2 - Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES)
I first played Donkey Kong Country 2 in 1995. I actually played this one before Donkey Kong Country. "DKC2" was the high point of the series for me. It fizzled a bit with Donkey Kong Country 3, and became mediocre with Donkey Kong 64.