at any review for that game and compare it with other games of the same genre, other games from the same company, and of course other games by the same designer.
Let's see other games by that same genre. Well it actually outsold any other adventure game that year, it received many good reviews. Grim Fandango was the second best selling adventure game that year (though Grim Fandango had a better rating, however it was fairly common for Lucasarts to edge out Sierra in ratings generally).
Other games of the same company. It sold as well if not more than Gabriel Knight 3, and QFG5 which were released around the same time. All three did not do well compared to games from other genres. Yes companies based their sales figures on how well other genres outside of adventure games sold, if a game didn't reach sells of say a First Person Shooter, it was a failure in their eyes, when to most companies it would have been seen as astounding as far as Adventure genre goes.
It received equal if not better ratings than QFG5, as I recall. For example Gamespot actually liked MOE over QFG5. MOE had a slightly higher rating by .2% or so.
GK3 received only slightly better reviews than MOE, with about 79% being 70% or higher. Going by gamsranking's list, obviously not a coplete list of reviews but shows a good sampling of reviews at the time.
Games by the same designer, it sold equal to if not more than any previous King's Quest game. Roberta herself was actually quite happy with how well it sold, if she had been in charge of the company she would have made a 9th game. Her expectations just weren't as high as Havas Interactive.
Interesting enough it was still one of the best selling adventure game even in 2001 in the top 20, competing against many of the newer adventure games at the time.
I've read lots of reviews of the time it got usually got 70% or higher ratings. KQ7 received 70% or higher ratings during its release as well. Sure there were reviewers who gave both games less than stellar reviews as well.
Let's take an example, from well respected adventure game site, Just Adventure, they actually gave MOE a higher rating than they did KQ7. They gave KQ7 50% rating, and MOE an 80% rating.
For those reviewers that lambasted the so called "mistakes" in MOE, there were many more than "praised" them as "innovations"... For those reviewers that felt it deviated from the series roots there were many more than felt it stayed true to the series spirit and lineage. Like anything reviews are built upon opinions, and not everyone agrees with each other.
So, now you have a game called The Silver Lining.
Look, I get this impression from you that you think discussion of how well MOE, did or didn't do. It appears you take it as a slight against your game...
Well let me guarentee it isn't a slight against your game. I wish your game great popularity, and a very high download rate. I can't wait to play it myself. I'm just stating the facts as I have read them about what happened with MoE(it has no baring on your game). Hopefully to try to dispell certain myths people perpetuate about MoE, and let them in on more detailed history of what happened. It is not meant to deter any success of your game.