VGA graphics - Always pushing the leading edge of game technology, Sierra will be featuring stunning 256 color VGA graphics in many of its new titles for the second half of 1990. These visually compelling new graphics from
Sierra and Dynamix provide a feast for the eyes, with scenes so real you might think you were watching television. Using Sierra's proprietary language, SCI, Vice President of Creative Development Bill Davis and his
staff of over 30 computer artists are exploring the limits of the technology as they create the newest Sierra games. Davis, an Emmy winner with almost thirty years of television, motion picture and advertising experience, has assembled his staff of illustrators, animators, and background painters from around the country.
Scheduled for release in 256 color VGA format this year are: King's Quest V, Space Quest IV, Keeping Up With Jones, Oil's Well, Red Baron, Rise Of The Dragon, Heart Of China, and Stellar 7.
<<<<NEWS>>>>
CD-ROM - Sierra actualizes the long-time dream of CD-ROM (Compact Disk, Read Only Memory) applications with its re-introduction of Mixed Up Mother Goose for CD-ROM. Attractive 256 color high resolution background paintings combine with delightful animation, a charming stereo soundtrack and
digitized speaking and singing voices to bring a new experience in computer gaming to young children.
Ken Williams, Sierra President/CEO says, "Our games have basically outgrown what can be put in one box. When you are shipping fifteen disks per game the question of space becomes critical, and to reach the heights we want in
terms of quality and true interaction, the logical next step was CD-ROM."
This amazing quantum leap in technology means that the goal of true interactive "film-like" entertainment is within the grasp of every computer owner. With each CD storing as much information as 1,800 5.25" diskettes,
Sierra has been able to add whole new dimensions to its CD products. Sierra's CD-ROM products that are scheduled for release this Christmas include Mixed Up Mother Goose and King's Quest V, which will be on 2
compact disks.
News Item (5/19/90) <<<<NEWS>>>>
NEW AND IMPROVED CLASSICS
In addition to the groundbreaking technology of upcoming games, Sierra will also be bringing you brand new versions of 2 best-selling classics, King's Quest I and Mixed Up Mother Goose. Now in higher resolution with completely
redrawn graphics, the re-released games take advantage of Sierra's SCI technology to bring Sierra players an improved gaming experience, including enhanced soundtracks and major sound card support.
In King's Quest I, players venture with Sir Graham, the bravest knight in Daventry, as he sets out on a quest with a royal reward. Whether you are already a fan of the King's Quest series, or a newcomer to the adventurous land of Daventry, you'll enjoy this perennial favorite in its "new look".
Sierra combines Roberta Williams' master storytelling with the classic rhymes of Mother Goose to create Mixed Up Mother Goose - a children's adventure game so simple that once you start the program, even a young child can take over. These new versions will be available this fall.
News Item (5/17/90) <<<<NEWS>>>>
SIERRA REPORTS 49% RISE IN EARNINGS
Sierra On-Line, Inc. reported a 49 percent increase in net earnings before extraordinary items and a 38 percent increase in revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1990. Net earnings for fiscal year 1990 were
$5,079,000, $1.38 per share, compared to net earnings before extraordinary items of $3,413,000 or $1.09 per share, for the fiscal year 1989. There were no extraordinary items applicable for fiscal year 1990. Net earnings after extraordinary items for fiscal year 1989 were $4,113,000 or $1.31 per share. Revenues totaled $29,107,000 and $21,137,000 respectively for fiscal years 1990 and 1989.
Net earnings for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 1990 increased 69 percent and revenues increased 51 percent when measured against the comparable quarter of the prior fiscal year. The current fourth quarter net
earnings were $.32 per share and totaled $1,183,000. Earnings before extraordinary items for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1989 were $.19 per share or $701,000.
News Item (5/17/90) cont. <<<<NEWS>>>>
Revenues for the fourth quarters of fiscal years 1990 and 1989 were $6,395,000 and $4,228,000 respectively. Ken Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer, said "The conclusion of this fiscal year also marks the conclusion of our first decade as a software publisher. By the end of the decade, we had achieved and exceeded every major goal I set for the company, both from a product perspective and
financially. I look forward to our second decade in which I hope to clearly establish Sierra as a major force within the entertainment industry."
Keeping Up With Jones
Sierra takes you one step further into "real life adventure" with an adventure about real life. In Keeping Up With Jones, you and up to three live or computer opponents vie to be the first to achieve your goals of
money, happiness, education, and career, encountering plenty of real-life problems along the way.
Keeping Up With Jones, Sierra's first game written for 256 color VGA, is a wholly new entertainment experience that is fueled by ambition and competition for the prize of success and satisfaction in life. When you're Keeping Up With Jones, you will get a job, obtain an education, invest, get mugged, buy food, pay bills and deal with the uncertainties of life.
Using a point and click interface, Jones features digitized animations of live actors that travel around the on-screen "game board" that makes up the world of Jones. Players will visit game locations and talk to "live" actors
while getting through each week the best way they can. Scheduled for release this summer.
King's Quest V
The greatest adventure in history is about to commence: Roberta Williams presents chapter five of the thrilling King's Quest saga. Brave King Graham is back in the biggest and best adventure ever. Over 10 megabytes of game data make King's Quest V the largest computer game ever, with hours of digitized speech (CD-ROM version only), brilliant 256 color VGA graphics, superior animation, and yet another breathtaking soundtrack.
After selling over 1,500,000 copies worldwide, the King's Quest series has become the most popular adventure game series in history. The drama, excitement, and challenge of these games are unmatched in computer adventures, and the superior graphics, animation, and sound of each King's Quest game in turn have remained on the cutting edge of computer game technology. Roberta Williams' King's Quest games are known the world over as the best in interactive entertainment.
King's Quest V is no exception; the first game to employ Sierra's new "cinemagraphic" technology utilizing sophisticated Hollywood animation techniques, this game is more like an interactive movie than any game on the market. King's Quest V promises to be the most successful King's Quest game yet. Scheduled for release this fall on floppy disk and CD-ROM.
Space Quest IV
The award winning team (SPA Best Role-Playing/Adventure 1989) that has taken you across time and space with interplanetary janitor Roger Wilco are at it again. Those Two Guys From Andromeda, Scott Murphy & Mark Crowe, have
created a new chronicle of intergalactic hilarity for spaced out gamers with a soft spot for humor.
Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco And The Time Rippers will place our reluctant hero right in the thick of things as he tries to make his way back to his home planet of Xenon. Standing in his way are the Sequel Police, a crack
team of intergalactic assassins from the future who are out to snuff Roger and put an end to all this Space Quest nonsense once and for all.
All is not lost though; with the help from the Latex Babes of Estros and the Time Rippers, a mysterious band of rebel fighters who's only goal is to save Roger's life, he will find the answer to questions like: Can Roger save Xenon? Will he find true happiness with the love of his life? Where did they come up with this ridiculous plot? Find out all this and more in Space Quest IV.
Space Quest IV features 256 color VGA graphics, and the first scrolling screens ever in a Sierra adventure. It will be available this fall in both CD-ROM and floppy disk formats.
Hero's Quest II
The vast, uncharted deserts of Arabia are the setting for Hero's Quest II: Trial By Fire, the sequel to last year's runaway hit (over 100,000 sold), Hero's Quest I, So You Want To Be A Hero. This phenomenally successful new series mixes the best of role-playing and adventure games to create a new gaming genre. Designed by Hero's Quest I designer Lori Cole and her husband and co-designer Corey Cole, Hero's Quest II will feature and improved
combat system that adds a new level of realism and complex character interaction.
The second in a four-part series, Hero's Quest II: Trial By Fire takes the player to the mysterious desert cities of Shapeir and Raseir for the continuing adventures of a self-made hero. New features include more complex character development and interaction, and a larger game world with more animation than ever.
In Hero's Quest games, players choose from three character types - Fighter, Magic User, and Thief - each approaching game problems differently, and experiencing a significantly different game. New players can create a Herofrom scratch and experienced players can bring their seasoned Hero's Quest I Hero back for another exiting adventure.
Multiple game solutions and endings make Hero's Quest II exceptionally re-playable, and Sierra's SCI high-res graphics, superior animation techniques and stirring original soundtrack make for a rich game experience not found in other role-playing games.
Oil's Well
One of Sierra's early arcade games is currently being redesigned by the Sierra team, in cooperation with Banana Development. Programmers and artists are hard at work as of this writing, creating a new and improved
version of Oil's Well. New features will include completely new graphics (this time in 256 brilliant colors), a lively original soundtrack, and
entertaining animated sequences between game levels.
When Sierra and Banana got together in 1989, the Oil's Well redesign was in the conceptual stages. Sierra wanted to create an arcade game that was simple, captivating, and above all, fun. And when Sierra first saw Banana's terrific 256 color public domain arcade game, Bananoid, we knew these guys were made for the Oil's Well job.
Geologists have located one of the largest oil deposits in North America - on your land! As you attempt to drill your fields for oil, envious oil barons will be busy planting land mines and "Oozies" (horrid little creatures who eat through your drill pipes) in your way. Your objective: successfully drill your fields before the competition can sabotage your operation.
The same fun, yet challenging arcade game it was in 1982, with graphics, animation and sound befitting a Sierra game of the 1990's, Oil's Well is sure to be a hit with families everywhere. Look for Oil's Well to be
released this summer.
Hoyle II: Solitaire
Following closely on the success of last year's Hoyle I: Book of Games, Sierra's latest offering from card game ace Warren Scwader, Hoyle II: Solitaire, features 28 different solitaire games. Each game comes in easy
and hard versions to challenge computer card players.
From familiar favorites like Klondike, Canfield, and Pyramid to exotic exercises in strategy such as Eliminator and Beleaguered Castle, this exceptionally varied game program truly offers something for everybody.
Designer/Programmer Warren Scwader has even included two NEW games, Slide and Bowling. All games run in full color or monochrome, and make perfect laptop games, too.
Hoyle I: Book of Games has already sold more than 250,000 copies worldwide, bringing hands-off electronic card playing to PC users everywhere. Users choose between Keyboard, Mouse, or Joystick interface for their favorite
style of game playing.
FireHawk: Thexder 2
An animated mini-movie sets the scene for this second dynamic installment in the Thexder series. It's 4 years later and an invasion of bloodthirsty aliens threatens earth. Thexder players will fly their transforming battle
suits in 9 different combat missions and one practice mission. A thrilling soundtrack with 11 different songs enhances the excitement of this spectacular arcade encounter from Game Arts of Japan.
Sierra's ONLINE
Sierra's ONLINE is "The easiest-to-use modem software ever!". Electronic communications can be complex but with Sierra's ONLINE, your computer becomes a gateway into this exiting world with ease. Sierra's ONLINE supports a large range of optional hardware including 300 to 9600 BAUD modems, printers and all major graphics cards. Easy-to-use data compression programs are included so you may compress files for faster transmission (saves on your phone bill). Programs are also included that
allow you to unsqueeze compressed data that you receive into usable form.
Features of Sierra's ONLINE:
* Supports Xmodem, XmodemCRC, Xmodem 1K, Ymodem, Ymodem Batch, Ymodem-G Batch, WX modem, ASCII, and CIS Quick B+ (CompuServe) file formats. ON-LINE also has the option of adding your favorite External Protocols.
* You can program Sierra's ONLINE to perform complex tasks, then walk away. Sierra's ONLINE will alert you with an audible alarm when the task is cof game data make King's Quest V the largest computer game es of digitized speech (CD-ROM version only), brilliant 256 color VGA graphics, superior animation, and yet another breathtaking soundtrack.
After selling over 1,500,000 copies worldwide, the King's Quest series has become the most popular adventure game series in history. The drama, excitement, and challenge of these games are unmatched in computer adventures, and the superior graphics, animation, and sound of each King's Quest game in turn have remained on the cutting edge of computer game technology. Roberta Williams' King's Quest games are known the world over as the best in interactive entertainment.
King's Quest V is no exception; the first game to employ Sierra's new "cinemagraphic" technology utilizing sophisticated Hollywood animation techniques, this game is more like an interactive movie than any game on the market. King's Quest V promises to be the most successful King's Quest game yet. Scheduled for release this fall on floppy disk and CD-ROM.
Space Quest IV
The award winning team (SPA Best Role-Playing/Adventure 1989) that has taken you across time and space with interplanetary janitor Roger Wilco are at it again. Those Two Guys From Andromeda, Scott Mu
