Sierra to make comeback....

[Rock Knight]

https://www.oneofswords.com/community/1os/blog/2014/08/12/sierra-returns-with-geometry-wars-3-dimensions-king-s-quest-and-more

SIERRA RETURNS WITH GEOMETRY WARS 3: DIMENSIONS, KING'S QUEST, AND MORE
Posted by OneofSwords in One of Swords on Aug 12, 2014 7:54:35 AM
Thirty-five years after its inception, Sierra has returned and with it, modern reimaginings of renowned series King's Quest and Geometry Wars. Introduced this week at Gamescom, Sierra will bring a new focus on indie game development of both new IP and revamped classic titles.


Beginning this holiday season, Lucid Games will breathe new life into Geometry Wars with Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions — a fully 3D incarnation of the arcade series that adds singleplayer, cooperative, and online competitive multiplayer gameplay. It will offer both dynamic and persistent progression and spans 50 missions and 10 battle modes, including old favorites like Pacifism and King, as well as five series firsts, like Claustrophobia, which places players in an ever-changing maze.

Then, next year, The Odd Gentleman studio will bring back King's Quest with a contemporary art style, new puzzles, and a new story. It centers around legendary adventurer King Graham as recounts and relives his greatest adventures with his granddaughter Gwendolyn.

Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions arrives later this year on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, and PC for $14.99. For more info on Sierra, check out Sierra.com.

[Rock Knight]

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-08-12-sierra-quality-and-passion-will-always-pay-off

Sierra: "Quality and passion will always pay off"
By James Brightman
TUE 12 AUG 2014 2:30PM GMT / 10:30AM EDT / 7:30AM PDT

The new Sierra explains why it's pursuing indies and how small teams can create high quality experiences too

Earlier today, Activision Publishing officially lifted the veil on the brand-new Sierra. Fostering independent development may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Activision, but the megapublisher is hoping to change that perception with the reborn Sierra label.

Shortly after the news broke, GamesIndustry.biz chatted with Bob Loya, senior director of external development, to find out how Sierra was given new life and what it's planning for the future. Regardless of your memories of the classic Sierra, Loya believes the new Sierra's focus on indies will enable it to resonate with a wide-ranging audience, even those too young to remember King's Quest.

GamesIndustry.biz: Can you tell me how the revival of Sierra came about? Whose idea was it? How long has it been talked about? What ultimately led to Activision giving it a thumbs-up?

Bob Loya: Launching a new indie-focused Sierra has really been a team effort across all of Activision. There's a group of us here at Activision that have really enjoyed many of the indie games that have been released over the past couple of years, so we started to evangelize the idea of creating an indie label where we could help developers create and distribute great games. We had already been talking to Lucid Games about doing another Geometry Wars title for some time, and we have always wanted to work with The Odd Gentlemen so were given the thumbs-up to start pre-production with each.  The final decision for the new Sierra label was given when we presented early demos of each game to some key decision makers at Activision and they loved what they saw.

"we firmly believe you do not have to be a huge team to create a high quality gaming experience. You can create smaller, more focused experiences that are equally fun and memorable in their own right"
GI: Reviving Sierra with a focus on indies and digital distribution seems contrary to Activision's "fewer bigger better" stance. Why is the publisher changing course?

Loya: Before I go into more detail, I think it is fair to point out that while Sierra is a part of Activision, the Sierra team operates somewhat separately from the rest of the other franchises. That said, Activision's core business will continue to focus on our big franchises such as Call of Duty, Destiny and Skylanders. But as the digital business has continued to grow year over year, we've seen some amazing games coming from smaller studios, and Sierra's goal is to help amplify these indie studio-created games by giving them the visibility they deserve. At Sierra, we firmly believe you do not have to be a huge team to create a high quality gaming experience. You can create smaller, more focused experiences that are equally fun and memorable in their own right. From a business standpoint we believe that quality and passion will always pay off. Just look at some of the indie titles that have released on XBLA, PSN and Steam over the past year.

GI: You got Ken Williams' blessing so to speak, but will Ken or Roberta be actively involved in any upcoming projects, especially with something like King's Quest?

Loya: Ken and Roberta Williams are not involved with the new Sierra. However, Ken is aware of our plans and has expressed his excitement for the new King's Quest and what developer The Odd Gentlemen are going to do with it. As you know Ken and Roberta are living a life outside of the gaming industry and if they ever wanted to come back, we'd welcome their input and any opportunity to work with them. Until then, our focus is building a new King Quest adventure that lives up to the excellent standards they created.

GI: Is the hope to revive more old Sierra IP besides King's Quest, or is the goal really just to fund new IP from talented indies?

Loya: Both, we are really focused on working with talented indies on great IP, regardless of whether the IP comes from Sierra or elsewhere. The key for us is to match the right indie developers with an IP they are passionate about.

GI: Do you look at this new Sierra as Activision's smaller, experimental side, similar to how Ubisoft has worked on small projects like Child of Light?

Loya: I have a ton of respect for what publishers like Ubisoft and 505 Games are doing in the digital space. Child of Light and Brothers are fantastic games that I really enjoyed. I would say that our initiative is similar, as it does allow us to work with different teams and genres, on unique and interesting projects. We pride ourselves on having great creative talent at Activision, and the new Sierra initiative will allow us to work with very talented, independent developers on a variety of new, fun and entertaining video games.

GI: Who do you see as the target demographic for the new Sierra? Does it worry you that a 20-something year-old may not even recognize Sierra?

Loya: Sierra's target audience is anyone who enjoys unique and well-crafted video games. We expect the Sierra label to be appealing to a broad group of gamers, because the games will be engaging and edgy and fun to play. We definitely want to respect the older fans who remember the classic, fan-favorite titles, but also welcome in a new era of Sierra gamers.

"We are looking at each partnership on a case-by-case basis, but our goal is to have long-term relationships with the indie studios we work with. We're certainly open to the idea of indie devs retaining ownership of IP"
GI: How much money will be invested in indie projects through Sierra in the next few years?

Loya: I won't go into detail on financial specifics for how Sierra plans to operate the business, but I can say Sierra will bring the proper level of support to each indie developer/project.

GI: Obviously certain old IP like King's Quest or Geometry Wars remains the property of Activision, but will Sierra let other indie devs keep the IP rights if something original is made?

Loya: We are looking at each partnership on a case-by-case basis, but our goal is to have long-term relationships with the indie studios we work with. We're certainly open to the idea of indie devs retaining ownership of IP, but again, this will really come down to what makes the most sense for each project.

GI: What's the advantage in bringing back the Sierra label, besides nostalgia?

Loya: It certainly helps that there's a generation of gamers  and developers who are fond of the label. More importantly, the Sierra name has a "feel" to it that really helps everyone align with the objective of creating truly special, independent games. It just works well when we talk with potential indie developers about Sierra's vision.  We really like the idea of developers being able to interact and be represented by a brand they have a personal connection with.

GI: Given that these games will be digitally released, is it fair to assume that they're not as large as AAA projects like Call of Duty, and that they will be sold at lower price points?

Loya: Every Sierra project will be viewed on its own merits, depending on title, genre, featureset, etc. However, it is safe to say we will see different price points and project sizes.

GI: Platforms mentioned that Sierra will concentrate on include digital storefronts on console and PC but not smartphones or tablets? Why is that?

Loya: Sierra's focus is on console and PC games for now, but I would not be surprised if some of our product eventually moves into the mobile space. We're taking things a step at a time.

[Rock Knight]

Sierra Is Back!!!
The New Sierra Launches with an Exclusive Focus on Indie Game Development

The Epic Return of King's Quest and Geometry Wars3: Dimensions
Headline the List of New, Fan-Favorite Titles Planned to Launch Under the Sierra Brand

August 12, 2014 11:31 AM Eastern Daylight Time
KÖLN, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With a renowned history that's served as the origin for many nostalgic video game characters, worlds and experiences, Sierra™ continues on today in a return to form that fans of great games will love. A part of Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq: ATVI), Sierra's focus is on indie studios developing innovative, edgy and graphically unique games, including new IPs and contemporary reimaginings of beloved Sierra classics. Headlining Sierra's slate of indie games is an all-new King's Quest™ experience in 2015, and a new Geometry Wars™ game planned to launch this holiday season. Additionally, the Sierra team is well underway exploring other indie projects to potentially launch later this year, and in 2015 and beyond.

"In addition to Lucid Games and The Odd Gentlemen, we're in talks with a large number of other indie devs, and can't wait to share more details with fans in the near future."

In development by the beloved and quirky studio The Odd Gentlemen (The Misadventures of PB Winterbottom), King's Quest is a fully reimagined version of the fan-favorite Sierra game fit for both the old and new generation of King's Quest players. Huge fans of the original King's Quest series, The Odd Gentlemen are crafting a charming new adventure with an awe-inspiring art style, engaging puzzles, and a wondrous interactive narrative brimming with humor. In the new story, King Graham – revered as the greatest adventurer to ever live – shares his life's adventures with his curious granddaughter, Gwendolyn. It is through these tales that Gwendolyn discovers the true greatness of her grandfather. King's Quest is expected to make its heralded return in 2015.

Today's news about the future of Sierra was met with excitement from its original founder, Ken Williams. "We're very proud of what we created all those years ago with Sierra Online, and today's news about carrying Sierra forward as an indie-specific brand is very encouraging," said Williams. "We look forward to seeing Sierra's independent spirit live on, and are especially excited to see what The Odd Gentlemen will do with King's Quest."

Sierra began in 1979 with a single 8-bit Apple II microcomputer, and founders Roberta and Ken Williams' love for storytelling and new technology that drove a revolution in the adventure game genre, and forever changed the industry. Today, a new wave of independent artists and entrepreneurs are using the same inventive attitude and latest tech to create amazing gaming experiences, and that's where Sierra comes into play. With the popularity of digital platforms like Xbox Live, PlayStation Network and Steam, the new Sierra will cater to the unique needs of each indie studio, ranging from aiding in game development and first party relations, to PR, marketing and digital/retail distribution. Sierra will help foster today's talent to create amazing video games as it has so many times before.

"Sierra's goal is to find and work with talented indie developers working on their own amazing projects, or passionate about working on great Sierra IP, and leverage our expertise to aid them in bring these fun and exciting experiences to gamers with the level of visibility and awareness they deserve," said Bob Loya, Sr. Director of External Development. "In addition to Lucid Games and The Odd Gentlemen, we're in talks with a large number of other indie devs, and can't wait to share more details with fans in the near future."

The first title set to launch under Sierra is Geometry Wars3: Dimensions from the team at Lucid Games. Geometry Wars3: Dimensions is an exciting new evolution of the fast-paced, frenetic Geometry Wars gameplay fans love, and will introduce full 3D action and both cooperative and competitive multiplayer for the first time in the franchise. In addition to a full single-player campaign with 50 unique challenges and over 10 battle modes – five of which are brand new to the series – Geometry Wars3: Dimensions features dynamic and persistent progression, offering players a consistently new experience each time they play. Geometry Wars3: Dimensions is planned to launch later this year.

"Thanks to Sierra, we're planning to release Geometry Wars3: Dimensions on more platforms than ever before," said Pete Wallace, Studio Head, Lucid Games. "We're thrilled to work with the indie team at Sierra to bring the next generation of Geo Wars gameplay to our passionate and loyal fans, and look forward to seeing you all online!"

For the latest information on Sierra, including additional details on King's Quest and Geometry Wars3: Dimensions, be sure to check out the official Sierra website at www.sierra.com.

About Sierra

Developer-lead and player-focused, Sierra publishes highly curated titles that embody best-in-class efforts from indie developers. From providing development funding and deep first-party relations to marketing and retail distribution, Sierra caters to the individual needs of each indie studio. Sierra will primarily publish on digital distribution platforms including Xbox Live, PlayStation Network and Steam for PC.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, mainland China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activision.com.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140812005879/en/Sierra-Back!!!#.U-o05ONdVoM

[ThunderChild]

Get ready for King's Quest tower defense on the iPhone

I was actually thinking more of the latest "Dungeon Keeper" . . . 

[Numbers]

[GrahamRocks!]

*nods*

[stika]

A friend told me today the new King's Quest game is going to have combat? That's... unexpected o.O

Will it be like Monkey Island combat or combat-combat?

[daventry]

King's Quest is Back 

Man if they throw the Sierra Logo with the KQ Title, i will freak out.

I think in Today's Industry, Games sell more with an RPG Style, so this KQ could be something like Skyrim witch i have.

Sadly People prefer Blood and Gore with Violence and Swearing, so if all that can be avoided, could we see Graham do something like this. 

[stika]

I don't know about you, but a God of War style game where Graham beats giants and cyclops with pies sounds like my kind of game 

[daventry]

http://daventrychris.deviantart.com/gallery/51596054/King-s-Quest-2015

[JDHJANUS]

To my knowledge, there have been no official announcements as to what sort of gameplay the new King's Quest game will have. I have been checking both The Odd Gentlemen's and Sierra's site for any new updates, but it's been pretty quiet since the first announcements.

What we DO know is that The Odd Gentlemen have said that it won't be a traditional point-and-click game, but they insisted it would still be an adventure game (and let's be honest...this makes sense considering that it is going to be a multi-platform game). I'm guessing the controls will be something along the lines of Portal (i.e. able to move about with a controller) with hotspot action interfaces (when you approach something that you can interact with, either a menu will pop up that allows you to select what you want to do, or you will automatically take whatever action you would be expected to do). This is all just speculation on my part, but it is totally possible.

As far as combat, based on what The Odd Gentlemen have said, I doubt we're going to be seeing anything like Mask of Eternity. I wouldn't be surprised if there are in fact bad guys roaming around (even the early King's Quest games (I-IV) had villains that you could either dispose or avoid through various different methods), and while you may choose to try  to fight those villains, I don't think it will be anything super action-oriented. Again, this is just speculation, but I have a feeling it will have more of a focus on exploration and puzzle-solving than on fighting and combat.

Talk to you later!

JDHJANUS
Josh

[stika]

I remember seeing the Odd Gentleman mention that it won't be a point and click adventure. It never really bothered me as technically only two King's Quest games are point and click.

I'm curious to see what the game will be like. This may sound like sacrilege, but I'd even be fine with a puzzle platformer. 

[daventry]

Let the Fan Made KQ 2015 Artwork Begin

http://daventrychris.deviantart.com/art/KQ-2015-Opening-Sequence-490216543

[stika]

haha, It's Elsa

[GrahamRocks!]

Awwww!!!!

[daventry]

I dont know if this is allowed, but could i have the TSL Models and Sceneries please and i mean everything from Ep1 - Ep4 The things i could make, oh i just dont know how to make Characters or Creatures Poseable though. .obj Models i can work with, but Poseable Models i have to make up by using other Models around the Internet. Its funny that i havent seen a single TSL Model flowing around the Internet

I dont know if you guys have heard about Tomb Raider, but in Tomb Raider 5 there were Cutscenes of People telling Stories about the Character Lara Croft in witch we would Play those Never Before seen Levels that was never in previous Tomb Raider Games. Is that what Sierra will maybe do where in a Cutscene Gwendolyn would hold an Object of Graham's Past in witch he would tell her the story where we play that Level from KQ125

[stika]

Which one is tomb Raider 5? The Last Revelation or Chronicles?

[daventry]

Tomb Raider Chronicles, have you played Tomb Raider 2013

Did you know that Rise of the Tomb Raider will come out at the end of 2015 but as an XBone 1 Exclusive

[stika]

Yeah I've heard it's going to be an Xbox one exclusive, but only a temporary one. I don't have a lot of TR games, I like them but need to play them sparingly or else I grow frustrated.

Been meaning to play the Saturn version again though.