Sierra genre classifications

[Baggins]

So out of curiosity to what Sierra was classifying its own games, decided to go look at the various boxes of several games from Sierra's adventure franchises (or at least started as Adventures). The genre was often listed on the spine of the box. The genre listings occured on the box spine mostly in the 1996-1999 era of Sierra. To describe these more standardized boxes, sierra placed their company name inside a black bar, with a turquoise and violet bar along the bottom of the box.

Here are some examples with rather interesting genre classifications;

Quest for Glory V is classified as an Action/RPG. They didn't even bother to classify it as an adventure. This makes sense as there are next to zero puzzles in the game. While it has an inventory these are mainly weapons, potions, armor, and other gear. Most actions in that game do not involve solving puzzles, but rather fighting through hordes of enemies, and boosting stats.

The Beast Within. The second Gabriel Knight game was classified as a "Mystery". Adventure isn't even mentioned. This might make sense as most of the game was a somewhat linear interactive movie, although it does maintain adventure-like puzzles. ...and yet this isn't quite accurate, considering that Phantasmagoria is probably more linear and simplifed, and is classified as Adventure on its box.

Shivers is classified as simply a Mystery, much like GK2.

Gabriel Knight 3. The third game of the series was classified as a Mystery/Adventure. This is pretty straight forward.

Shivers 2 is classififed as a Mystery/Adventure much like GK3.

KQ: Mask of Eternity, is classified as a 3D Adventure. Roberta was apparently trying to define a brand new genre, one that merged Adventure with elements that could only be done in true 3D. This included physics, action, climbing, combat, etc. Ironically many of Sierra's earliest games used to be called "3-D Animated Adventure Games" (though they were actually 2-D).

It would be interesting to see what a game like Shadows of Darkness was classified when it was rereleased on CD-rom in the updated box (the original purple box, mostly just described it as an "adventure" in the back of the box blurb);

[dark-daventry]

Interesting. Quite interesting indeed. I would classify Mask of Eternity as an Action/Adventure game though. To me it fits better with that genre. Maybe that's just me though.

[Baggins]

It's a bit of a hybrid.

Well it's defintely got some similarties to Zelda which is an Action-Adventure.

It's not as robust action-wise as say Prince of Persia, or Tomb Raider, or Infernal Machine style action-adventures. Connor can jump, but he can't jump very far. Nor can he grab onto ledges like the heroes of those other series. His jumping is a bit better than Graham in KQ1 however!

http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/Jump

But the interface is equal parts KQ7 for the inventory-based puzzles (which as far as that type of puzzle goes, are more robust than the above games). The inventory is up at the top, more like the earlier KQ games. These types of puzzles are  likely why she was trying to still classify it closer to the classic Adventure genre.

Then there is a Diablo-like potion bar along the bottom mixed in.

There is a note in the controls references card in the game that gives this description/definition for the style of game its trying to be;

"Final Note: King's Quest: Mask of Eternity is an Adventure game. Follow the story, talk to everyone, explore, explore, and explore! If you see monsters, protect and defend yourself. If you find something you can take, take it! Most of all have fun, enjoy, and save often!

Other than the addition of "protect and defend yourself from monsters" addition, the explanation is very similar to the explanation made in the early KQ games (including the classic adventure game creed "Save early, save often", "leave no stone unturned"), which can be distilled down to Hereward (Graham's father)'s creed;

"Boy if I have learned anything in my life, I have learned this: When in doubt, or in trouble, pick up anything that is not nailed down, and if it is, look for loose nails or boards. Check carefully into, under, above, below, and behind things. Read everything; you might learn something. Wear clean undergarments, brush after meals, and always remember: nothing is as it appears."

Related information;
http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/Sword_Cursor