Author Topic: What got you interested in The Silver Lining? (Read 2267 times)

Gianthogweed · « **on:** November 30, 2011, 04:21:01 PM »

Browsing these forums I was surprised at how young many of the posters are (late teens/early twenties). Maybe I shouldn't be surprised by this, but I'm 32 and was quite young when the original King's Quest games were being released. In fact, I couldn't even read when the first game came out. KQ7 came out in 1994, and Mask of Eternity came out in 1997, so I wasn't really expecting much younger people than myself to be playing this game.

So how did you get introduced to The Silver Lining?

I'll tell you my story, probably typical of people near my age. In 1987 my father brought home our first computer, a Tandy 1000. We had one game, The Black Cauldron. We played that game to death, until we got Space Quest, which quickly became a favorite of ours. Eventually, for my 8th birthday, I got King's Quest 3. This was my first King's Quest game and I found it to be the most challenging, yet interesting game I had ever played to date. I eventually went back and got all of the King's Quest games (by then 5 was already out, but my computer couldn't handle anything past kq4). It quickly became one of my favorite series of games. Eventually, when we got a 486 I was able to play KQ5-7. I loved them all, but KQ6 in particular really impressed me and was a favorite of mine for a long time.

By the time Mask of Eternity came out I was already in college. As a long time King's Quest fan, I got it and played through it. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't my favorite since it didn't have much to do with the characters we've grown to love. In 2002 I heard that a group of fans were working to create sequels to my favorite sierra game series, Space Quest and King's Quest. I had heard what happened to Sierra a few years earlier and was sad that SQ7 was canceled. I was going for a computer science degree at the time and even became involved in the SQ7.org project. Since I was still an amateur programmer with no experience in game design, I was a bit overwhelmed by it all, and wasn't able to contribute much of anything.

The SQ7 project ultimately didn't go anywhere, but I was delighted to see that the KQ9 project actually developed a demo several years later. As I played the demo memories of KQ6 came rushing back, I was eager to see more, but didn't want to get my hopes up. Last year when episode 1 came out, I played it, but was somewhat disappointed. Although the cinematics were wonderful, it didn't seem like much of a game, and the atmosphere seemed a little too dreary for King's Quest, still I held out hope that the next episode would make up for it. I had forgotten about it for a time until just last summer, when I had heard that episode 2 was out. I decided to check it out and was pleasantly surprised at the vast improvement. Now this was King's Quest. I've been hooked ever since, making sure to download each episode as it's released. It has resparked my interest in the old Sierra games and I even started recording Let's Plays of the originals with my nieces and nephews. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybtWyj2_luU

So what's your story?

tessspoon · « **Reply #1 on:** November 30, 2011, 04:51:05 PM »

I'm 23. The only KQ game we had growing up was KQ7. When I was 18 I was flipping through our case of video games and decided to replay it, and then was curious about the first six games and if any had come after. The 2006 KQ compilation was released about that time, so I bought it and fell in love with the earlier games. TSL popped up on a google search, so I created an account and a few months later started posting.

Fender178 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 30, 2011, 08:41:50 PM »

Well got me interested in TSL is the some what of a cliffhanger at the end of KQ7 What happened to Rosella and Edgar at the end of KQ7? Even the KQ companion never really cleared any of that. This is game would hopefully tie up what KQ:MOE failed to do. I have been a fan of the games since KQ1. I was 4 or 5 when I truly started to play the games and Im 27 now.

Fierce Deity · « **Reply #3 on:** November 30, 2011, 11:12:52 PM »

My story is rather short, insignificant, and common among a lot of the King's Quest fans. I came home from school one day and saw that my dad got a new computer. He was setting it up, and I noticed that he got some games with the computer. They apparently were free with the computer. Some of the games sucked, but King's Quest VI stood out to me. Regardless of the fact that I wasn't good at the game (and probably accidentally found every death sequence in the game before beating it), I was enthralled at the moment I started playing it. I couldn't beat the game till I got the Companion, but the experience was legendary all the same. So legendary that I've become a lifelong fan of classic adventure games.

Also, I was interested in TSL when I googled King's Quest IX, and found that there was an actual project to create a new King's Quest. The rest is history . . .

Lenny318 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 30, 2011, 11:57:36 PM »

Same story as everyone else; my dad got a new computer and he heard that the King's Quest games were good so he got King's Quest VII. I know it's not everyone's favorite game of the series but I was 5 or 6 so the cartoon-ish/almost Disney vibe (especially the song at the beginning haha) won my attention and heart super fast. My dad enjoyed the puzzles so he got KQI-KQVI in a different package for a good price and we played the rest starting back at I. As I was not very good at typing yet, I mostly sat either on my dad's lap or in a chair next to him and my brother watching them play and applying any fairy-tale knowledge I knew that was applicable to the games. So when MoE came out and we bought it and finished it but of course it didn't really feel like a satisfying ending to the King's Quest series.

I believe it was my dad who went looking up King's Quest on the internet one day and stumbled upon the very early site for the Silver Lining. I was stoked, my brother was kinda like "I'll be excited when I see it."

and then many years passed...

Now I'm 21 and in my last year of undergrad college work and while everyone else on campus was excited about playing Skyrim and Skyward Sword over Thanksgiving break, I was excited to complete Chapter 4 of TSL.

Arkillian · « **Reply #5 on:** December 01, 2011, 12:19:29 AM »

I'm an old school gamer- I dont' play modern game often (the edging on TSL is novel to me

I actually really like that there's imperfections in the 3D cause it makes the effort they do put in SO noticeable)

My brother played KQ3, and 4 on the old XT computer on the 3 1/4 disks. Could only fit one game on our computer in those days

I use to watch my brother play KQ3 and 4. I remember it being a scarey game. I guess it was my first introduction to lets plays, except I had to be silent while he gamed or he'd shoo me away T.T I didn't get to play them myself till my brother got the 386, and I was given the XT. I played KQ5 first. I had no sound card so Cedric never put me off. I tell you, KQ5 without sound when you're not use to sound is a TREAT. Cedric's annoyingness was actually fun. I didn't play KQ3 or 4 till I got older though cause they were too scarey, and I hated the security thing in KQ4.

When my parents heard about TSL, they asked if it was that game I use to play all the time about the prince (KQ6)

I LOVED that game. I never had sound though playing that one. Just text. The first time I played them all with the sound they should be was in the last year when I got the games all on the King's Quest Collection off Amazon. I had never played KQ5 or 6 with sound, and it was the first time I had played KQ7 cause it was SVGA, and my brother didn't get it cause he hated the art style. I'm.... not a fan of the cartoon either, but I enjoyed the game. KQ6 IMHO was King's quest at it's best, and I also loved KQ5's art. Both were beautiful games

I found out about TSL through Deviantart. I randomly search King's Quest I think and saw all the original concept stuff from back when it was King's Quest 9. I followed it via DA till there was no more updates and I looked it up and there was a cease and desist- the first one. It's what inspired me to hunt out the old King's Quest games though

How did I get back into it though.... I think someone by mistake updated their DA page or I did my yearly hunt of all things TSL in boredom. That's when I found out that the first game was finally released and VIOLA! I'm here!

I've actually followed this game a long time despite not being active. IT's REALLY awesome to see how this game progressed :3

DawsonJ · « **Reply #6 on:** December 01, 2011, 01:03:05 AM »

My story is roughly the same as most. In 1988, my dad started using a computer for work. About 2 years later, I started teaching myself how to use it, and to play a fan version of Street Fighter 2 (with Andy Bogard. LOL). Eventually, a friend of mine offered me a game that came with his computer - KQVI. I found it to be very enjoyable. Later, I bought a fold-out package of utility CDs, which happened to include KQV. Despite Cedric the Suicide-Inducer and the Stack Overflow crash at the end

, the game was fun. In time, I saw the KQ Compilation for sale (1-6) and soon after, I found KQVII. So, I played 7 and eventually used UHS (the Universal Hint System) to walk me through the early games. I abhorred III, though, so I left it until last - after I bought and finished MoE ("Mutilation of Entertainment", IMO).

Anyway, I can't remember for the life of me how I learned of TSL, but I joined the forums shortly after Episode 3 was released and I'm glad I did! I've definitely enjoyed the story and reminiscent gameplay.

Rosella · « **Reply #7 on:** December 01, 2011, 01:27:55 AM »

I'm 19 and my first introduction to the series was just because my family had KQ5 and KQ7 lying around. Both the fully voiced versions, and Cedric lends himself quite well to childhood nostalgia in my opinion.

I'm not quite sure why I took to it so much, but I did. I joined the Sierra forums for King's Quest at around...I want to say 9, and started giving my parents back my allowance money and begging to use their credit cards to get the rest of the KQ games off eBay. I bought KQIV, KQV, KQVI, and KQVII separately, and then the KQ collection 1-6 as well (I had a bad habit of scratching discs at that age). Since I later bought the KQ Compilation, I bought most of the series at least 3 times.

When I was in 4th grade, I learned that there was an 8th King's Quest game and convinced my mom to take me to the computer store to buy it. This was a few years after the game came out, so I'm sorta surprised I found it, but it was there. I picked up the box, looked it over, decided it had nothing to do with King's Quest and walked out empty-handed. I remember I was convinced that the game would star Valanice since she'd only had half a game to star in so far.

I know at some point I stumbled across the KQIX site, in all of its light blue glory. I downloaded some of the music tracks and tried to keep up with it for a while, but there were no updates, so I didn't really bother until some point when I was 11. It wasn't until one of the more prolific members of the Sierra forums said he was leaving for this KQIX thing that I felt compelled to look it up (Hi, CC!) I kept up with both forums for a while, but I found a home here.

All the same, that means I've been on these forums for almost 8 years. I feel compelled to apologize for all of the growing pains all of the other members have had to deal with me having.

But in short, the games were around; they were fantastic, and Google is your friend.

All that said, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if KQ, TSL and the forums kind of shaped the career path I'm on now. I know it's a bit off topic, but King's Quest is what got me into adventure gaming, which is what got me into fanmade adventure games, which is what got me into the idea that creating your own games is something that's a real possibility, and I've been pretty much trying to create a magnum opus (Or at least a really awesome portfolio piece) ever since.

Pretty much for most of my conscious life, King's Quest and I have been intertwined. There's a reason I go by Rosella pretty much everywhere on the internet.

Jafar · « **Reply #8 on:** December 01, 2011, 11:40:00 AM »

Once upon a time, in an age when the forum was still blue...

...A big hairy pterodactyl dropped me through the chimney, and everyone's been stuck with me ever since.

Spoiler (mouse over to reveal):

writerlove · « **Reply #9 on:** December 01, 2011, 02:29:58 PM »

I'm 23 as well. I played Kings Quest the first time when I was 11. We used to have the old walk through we printed around 1999. My dad got the Roberta Williams anthology (I don't know what prompted it...) I remember I used to play Colonel's Bequest and KQ 1 to 4 with my Backstreet Boys and NSYNC cds in the background. I had the voiced versions of 5, 6, and 7. I probably played them in order since we got them all at the same time, lolz.

I found TSL at the end of 2008. I was super excited since KQ is one of my favorite things in the whole world. But I didn't avidly follow until I saw Episode 1 was coming out. I'd check every once and awhile but once I saw the second C&D I thought it was dead. Then I came back late June of last year after the C&D was lifted.

PapaSmurf · « **Reply #10 on:** December 02, 2011, 03:23:02 PM »

I'm a little older than some of you. When I was out of the military for a few years, I got my first PC, and soon after that I upgraded it to color. (Back then, color video was an expensive option!) I bought my first game, "Kings Quest, Quest for the Throne" and was surprised at how big it was--about 1 mb!! Some years later, MoE came out about the time Sierra Development (??) announced "King's Quest 9: Every Cloak has a Silver Lining". I waited for that one; unfortunately it became abandonware. A couple years ago, I learned, on this site (which I found by accident), that The Silver Lining was in development. I could hardly believe it. I have been following this game since.
In my understanding, the King's Quest was one of the pioneering games of what is in the market now. This game is, probably, a classic.
(There, I've put my 1 1/2 cents in there; anyone else??)

waltzdancing · « **Reply #11 on:** December 02, 2011, 07:10:32 PM »

I'm 24 and I have been playing computer games since I was 4 years old. I don't remember when we first got Kings Quest, I just remember watching the into to Kings Quest 7 and being hooked on it. I was maybe 7 or so and watching my mother play it because I couldn't figure it out.

My sister got the full collection 1-7 for her birthday and we played them all using the hint book when needed. When I was 11 Kings Quest 8 came along and our mother got it for our birthday. It scared us to death and we didn't play it again until I was 16.

I didn't discover TSL until College, and it was my sister doing a random search while at work. I didn't log into the forums for months until I got over being so shy. Everything else is history. I thank my sister every day for finding TSL, as it has fully changed my life.

KatieHal · « **Reply #12 on:** December 02, 2011, 07:49:27 PM »

PapaSmurf--actually, (Unofficial) "King's Quest 9: Every Cloak has a Silver Lining" WAS this game's original title

We shortened the title, took out the KQ direct reference, and took an axe to large chunks of the script, and now, voila, The Silver Lining

It was never a Sierra product, though, now or then.

Gianthogweed · « **Reply #13 on:** December 04, 2011, 12:36:57 AM »

Quote from: Rosella on December 01, 2011, 01:27:55 AM

Lots of cool stuff

Very interesting. Have you done any fan games yet?

Rosella · « **Reply #14 on:** December 04, 2011, 12:49:39 AM »

I like your paraphrasing.

And no, actually. Most of the things I've completed are either recreations of actual games (e.g., Clue), or in one case a crappy little RPG with terrible graphics and no plot.

An interesting idea about fangames is that it at least gives you plot to work from, but I'm still hung up on graphics, as I am not a graphic designer by any means.

Gianthogweed · « **Reply #15 on:** December 04, 2011, 12:54:28 AM »

Quote from: Rosella on December 04, 2011, 12:49:39 AM

I like your paraphrasing.

And no, actually. Most of the things I've completed are either recreations of actual games (e.g., Clue), or in one case a crappy little RPG with terrible graphics and no plot. An interesting idea about fangames is that it at least gives you plot to work from, but I'm still hung up on graphics, as I am not a graphic designer by any means.

That's the one thing holding me back from finishing games as well. I have lots of story ideas and music, but the art and animation takes me forever to complete, and I'm not a very good artist to begin with.

PoweroftheFans81 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 27, 2012, 07:14:03 PM »

While I was never as emotionally invested in KQ as I was, say QFG or SQ growing up, KQ 5 and 6 were games I did enjoy, with KQ6 being my very first CD talkie game ever, and admittedly, I can't watch Beauty and the Beast without explaining to people about the "Prince Alexander Connection", having said that, I was intrigued by the prospect of we, the fans, deciding the fate of these beloved characters, I even played through the first 7 games to get up to speed, MOE just didn't "do it" for me, but I brushed up on the "basics", and it seems similar to "Quest for the Crown" in basic plot.

So far, I consider TSL a worthy send off to the Daventry Family, just as I consider "Incinerations" the much needed Space Quest finale! (VSB serving as a "bridge" of course!)

Haids1987 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 28, 2012, 08:51:25 AM »

Long ago, in a castle in a kingdom called Daventry...

Wait, no, that's the beginning of a different story. I'll restart.

About four years ago, on a random Google search in a suburb of Seattle....
I think I was about 20, 21 (don't remember) when I decided to Google "kings quest 9" one hot summer's day in July. Miraculously, the first result yielded me to a website called The Silver Lining, so I followed the link, saw that there was a beta version of the game, and downloaded. I swear: trumpets blared, angels sang, and the lights dimmed and spotlighted on the screen of the old Lappy. I was soooooooooooooo excited that there were other King's Quest geeks out there like me! My First Post Ever was a gushy thank-you post, and that was it until like...wow, I waited a long time to post after that, probably not until Thanksgiving-ish. All you old-timers seemed so big and scary.

A N Y W A Y...yeah. Most of you know my King's Quest glory story (me at three years old, sitting on Dad's lap and him allowing me to move King Graham around with the arrow buttons, etc), so I've been a die-hard KQ fan since I was itty. TSL just made it better.

mgiuca · « **Reply #18 on:** March 24, 2012, 04:41:24 AM »

I watched the intro on YouTube (Rosella and Edgar's wedding). As a "long time" King's Quest fan, that pushed all my buttons. To see the overhead rendering of the Green Isles, the interior of the castle, and the rows of KQ 6 and 7 characters lined up. And finally closure on the Rosella and Edgar story. That was amazing. (I've only just started playing TSL today -- I wanted to come on here to thank the developers.)

I say "long time" fan because I never actually played KQ as a child. In fact, I first played KQ last year when I bought them all on GOG. So I've really only been a fan for a year. But I did play through all the games (ugh, except MoE, I'm struggling through it) so I feel I deserve to call myself a KQ fan now

Really looking forward to playing through TSL.

GrahamRocks! · « **Reply #19 on:** March 24, 2012, 11:44:07 AM »

What got me interested? One word: Paw. Yes, the guy who did the King's Quest retrospective a while back. He also did an LP of KQ 5, AND some live streams of the AGD Remakes of KQ 2 and 3 (although sadly, not 1 as of yet), and he mentioned something called The Silver Lining. I'd also read something about it on TV Tropes, and as I started to learn more and more about it, plus Paw said he was enjoying it (even Roberta Williams likes it!), and learned of the development history behind it and how hard Pheonix Online Studios was working on it for several years. My interest finally peaked, when I saw the TV tropes article on it, and saw "Hey! Someone did a Lets Play of it!" and I was introduced to Toegoff (and a short time later, Rosella500)... and the game has really peaked my interest. And, this is coming from someone has NEVER picked up a KQ game AT. ALL. Only knowing it from Paws Retrospective, his Lets Plays, Toegoff, Rosella500, and Hercrabbiness doing a VERY good Lets Play of KQ 6 (seriously, it's hilarious, and seeing as they have the voices turned off, she and Latebit have to voice everyone and they do a GREAT job, especially with characters like Captain Saladin, Abdul Alhazred, Cassima and Shamir!). I just hope that The Silver Lining has a good ending... I would be so saddened if it ends with someone dying or if the quest is all for naught...