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KQ Fan Game timeline variants.

Started by Baggins, February 01, 2011, 09:30:59 AM

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Baggins

I made a thread for KQ timeline variants based on official sources, here, this topic focuses on the ones for the fan games;

*AGDI timeline (timeline based on the material from the AGDI games)
*IA timeline (timeline based on the material in the IA games)
*TSL timeline/TSL timeline (classic)(timelines based on the TSL/Four Winds material)
*BI timeline (timeline based on Breast Intentions material)
*ZZT timeline (chronology of eras based on ZZT games)

This page is a page that offers links to all variations, for the alternate stories.
*Timelines (unofficial)

Note: For comparison; The timeline for TSL, places KQ7 at about 24 years after KQ1. Breast Intentions timeline places KQ7 about 22 years after KQ1. The AGDI timeline places KQ7 about 21 years after KQ1, and IA timeline places KQ7 about 23 or 25 years after KQ1.

I was looking at IA's  KQ3 time line again, and noticed that it would have unintended consequences with later games in the series, and the overall KQ timeline/s. For the sake of this discussion, I'm only discussing the game references only (and avoiding companion, hintbooks and novels).

The main timeline change in  IA's game is that that the move the "hat toss" from end of KQ3 to several months after KQ3.

This affects the timing of original KQ3 and KQ4 (multiple sources state that endings takes place shortly after the rescue of Rosella, as shown in the original KQ3).

The timing also causes a ripple effect that would affect given dates given for later games in the series; i.e. it pushes KQ4 several months after KQ3, would push it into winter (KQ3 and KQ4 actually took place during the summer a few weeks before the twins birthday, as stated in KQ3).

This would actually set KQ4 after the twins birthday, and Rosella would be 18 in KQ4 (yet KQ3, and several other sources, state that the twins were a few weeks short of eighteen during KQ3/KQ4).

Going further KQ5 is stated to take place during the spring, nearly a year after KQ4 in KQ5 manual (there is actually about 8-10 months between summer, and spring following year) If KQ4 takes place during winter as IA's KQ3 pushes it, this would push KQ5 to taking place during the summer, possibly early fall). KQ6 is six months after KQ5 (according to Cassima in KQ6, when you talk to her up in the secret passage, and show her Shadrack's letter).

I'm not quite sure how this affects KQ6, at the moment, as I haven't analyzed the seasonal facts surrounding that game in detail.

In anycase, each timeline variant offers alternate take on the KQ history, offering several alternate timelines.
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

KatieHal

The Green Isles' generally appear to be a fairly tropical climate, though, so winter might not affect things there all that much.

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

Baggins

#2
The green isles are magically tropical due to the Druids. It's actually quite far north even of the Serenia continent see Sierra's King's Questions. It keeps the weather pleasant all year round.

Though I think there are one or two references in KQ6 mentioning it being Summer. I can't remember were he refs are located though. Internally kQ6 takes place about six months after KQ5 according to Cassima.

The IA butterfly effect would essentially push it into spring the following year.
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

dark-daventry

I must say baggins, you certainly are a wealth of interesting information...
Founder of the (new) Left Handed Alliance Of Left Handed People (LHALHP)

Gay and proud of it!

Avid Adventure Game fan

KatieHal

Quote from: Baggins on February 01, 2011, 09:43:20 AM
The green isles are magically tropical due to the Druids. It's actually quite far north even of the Serenia continent see Sierra's King's Questions. It keeps the weather pleasant all year round.

I know they're far north on the map, but I always attributed the weather/map correlation to 'fantasy world need not adhere to your rules'. Where was it said the weather was from the Druids? (In a Companion edition, I've no doubt...)

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

Baggins

#5
QuoteWhere was it said the weather was from the Druids? (In a Companion edition, I've no doubt...)
It's mentioned in guidebook that comes with KQ6 briefly, see page 38, 39 under the section, "Hidden Islands and Other Worlds", as well as alluded to by a few of the comments within kq6.

QuoteOne popular tale seems to reflect the universal myths of harvest and planting. It is said that nearby exists a hidden island of priestly inhabitants who worship Mother Earth. These priests keep the weather and the tides in balance to insure safety from hurricanes and other forces of the sea and to plead continuance for the kingdom's bounty. It is said that these priests demand privacy above all and that they remain loyal to the Crown in exchange for secrecy. What a wonderfully conspiratorial tale!-Guidebook to the Land of the Green Isles, pg 38, 39

The companion also mentions it a tiny bit (but that is unimportant to this topic).

Kq5 describes a bit about the north seas and north lands.

Kolyma is described as being in the tropics and appears south of Daventry in KQ3 maps incidentally.

I haven't really been touching on companion in this discussion since it has its own butterfly effects on a couple of dates (kq6 is one year after kq5 for example). But if seasons, the companion discusses are brought up, it discusses traditional Arctic conditions of the far north near Great Mountains/north seas in the KQ5 related chapters/encyclopedia (that's from the book that was written with Roberta Williams help, 2nd Edition/3rd). It even brings up the Arctic, in one of the back stories.

At least from Roberta's perspective though Daventry is "earth" of 'long' ago, when there was magic, and apparently continents were in a different configuration than they are now. But apparently has a general earth like climate (at least with original intent of KQ4, even the same months/years, though 1400's aren't really that 'long' ago, LOL).

On a side note, in KQ6, its suggested while several of the islands are maintained as tropical setting by the druids (such as Isle of the Crown, Isle of Wonder). The druid island itself actually has England style cold foggy weather (and flora). Isle of the Beast appears to have temperate west coast Red Woods weather, based on descriptions in the game. Come to think of it, the ocean waters are described as being 'cold', in some of the death scenes (fitting the idea that its in the northern oceans).

Back on topic, I've put together a bit of a timeline for IA games (I'm hoping in the future that KoS will offer even more dates);

IA timeline

As of right now, i'm not sure based on information in IA's KQ3, when their game takes place in relationship to KQ1 and KQ2. Was the twins birth 1 or 2 years after KQ2 (or more) and when was KQ2 in relation to KQ1?.
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

Blackthorne

"You've got to keep one eye looking over your shoulder
you know it's going to get harder and harder as you
get older - but in the end you'll pack up, fly down south, hide your head in the sand.  Just another sad old man, all alone and dying of cancer." - Dogs, Pink Floyd.

Baggins

I've been working on timelines for all the various games, :). I just find these details interesting.
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

Klitos

Nothing in the original KQ3 tells you how long after Alexander's return the whole hat throwing exercise was. Multiple sources may say that, but who is to say what is canon and what isn't? I took the Star Trek approach, if it's on screen, it's canon. If it's not, interpretation can apply.

Besides, we tweaked it to add more narrative and have more lines for the awesome Josh Mandel to speak!

Take IA's version of KQ3 to exist in an alternate timeline, in the same way that Smallville and the Superman movies are different, our interpretation and the official Sierra timeline are not meant to line up.
Adriana: You were saying she's got a nice ass!
Christopher: I was trying to say something positive because she is your friend.

KatieHal

As I recall, it's pretty clearly immediately after they return. End of KQ3, they enter the castle, rejoice, Graham throws the hat, and that scene repeats at the start of KQ4. Heck, Alexander's still in his Gwydion clothing right through to the end of KQ4.

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

Baggins

#10
Katie, that is exactly how it plays out at the end of KQ3 into KQ4. The entire process is shown clearly on screen in KQ3.

Infact, as you get near the castle, Rosella points out that the castle in the distance, then Rumplestiltskin states that he's heading back to the castle to let the king and queen know you are showing up (so they can prepare for the reunion). He has the gates opened for you Alexander and Rosella, they then travel through the hall, and enter the throne room, for the reunion, and the hat throw. There are bits of narrative each step of the way, describing Alexander's travel from Rumple's house through the castle, and into the throne room.

Watch the original KQ3 ending here

Yes, of course the fan games are alternate stories, this means they create alternate timelines.

Edit: Was reading through four winds again, and noticed that Valanice interview follows what appears in KQ3/KQ4 almost directly (that is Alexander and Rosella returning to the Castle Throne room directly after defeating the dragon).
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

KatieHal

Yes, our timeline for the gap between KQ3 and KQ4 is the canon one (aka immediately following).

Not that I mind IA's ending. It was an interesting different choice to make, and I get their reasons for doing so narratively.

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

Damar

I liked the choice they made as well, and it makes more sense for the characters.  Plus, how much of a attention hog is Graham in the original canon?  "Well it's great to have you back son, and you saved my only daughter.  This is the best birthday you two could ever have.  But if I could make this about ME for a second, I think it's time to announce my retirement.  Now fetch me my hat that I may throw it in your general direction..."

Ultimately though, the IA timeline change doesn't have much of an effect depending on what canon you go for.  And when it comes to King's Quest, I guess there are different layers of canon.  You've got the games themselves, what the manual says, and then the Companion.  And while all may be "officially" canon, I tend to mainly look at what is in the games themselves.  The manuals sometimes contradict, and the Companion, while official, is more fanon to me.  Mentions of Lovecraft in King's Quest canon?  Really?  I mean, really?!?  Oh, and KQ7 might not have actually happened?  Really?

So if you go by the strictest canon, just the games themselves, it balances out any effect from IA's extended KQ3 ending.  And mainly it's KQ5 that balances it out.  It's unclear how much time passed.  It could have been years.  And Graham has gone gray.  Personally, I like to think that more time passes between 4 and 5 because in the world of the game, it gives the royal family more time to be together.  If you compress anything, then the fact becomes that Alexander and his family were never really together at all.  He comes home then he leaves again and lives in another land.  Yeah they're a family and they love each other, but they're also for all intents and purposes complete strangers to each other.  It's nicer to think that these characters had more time together.

Interestingly enough, if you go by just what's in the games, I think it's implied that KQ6 happens sooner after 5 than the official year that was stated earlier.  Valanice mentions to Alex in the intro that it's been months since he met Cassima.  While not really giving a timeline, colloquially speaking, who says "months" when a year has passed?  If it's anywhere near a year's time, even less than a year, people will just say, "It's been a year."  Then again, I'm giving this way too much thought.  But hey, sometimes it's fun to give fantasy a little too much thought, especially when it's like putting a puzzle together.

Baggins

#13
Quotethe original canon?
What do you mean by "original canon"? There is only one canon, there are no canonical reboots (not counting the KQ1 remake, which changes quite a bit, and ignores KQ3). There is only the "canon", and the fan games/fan fiction (non-canon).

Also technically the "Companion" isn't technically "fanon" as its authorized, and officially licensed material developed through Sierra's authorization/publishing contract, and even has Roberta William's assistance (see acknowledgements). This makes it "profic"(professional fiction), as opposed to "fanfic/fanon".

"Fanon" on the other hand is un-authorized, fan created material, with no "official" standing at all.

BTW, I've avoided using the companion, hintbooks or novels in this topic, I've stuck to the game references only. The official licensed material sources have yet more possible "butterfly effects" of their own on the series (and would just confuse things further, see here).
QuoteMentions of Lovecraft in King's Quest canon?  Really?  I mean, really?!?  
Abdul Alhazred?!?! You do know that's a Lovecraft reference right? These references really are no different than KQ referencing other fiction or some cases historical figures like the reference to Gregor Samsa (from Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis) (KQ7),  Davey Jones, Helen of Troy, Abram, William Shakespeare, Cleopatra, Socrates, Sun Tzu, and other fairy tales/myths a plenty, etc.

In anycase if you stuck to just the games themselves, they aren't always consistent between each game in the series either. At least perfectly consistent.

Case in point pay attention to the details of the ending of KQ3, and compare to the introduction of KQ4.

KQ4 lacks Graham's comments from KQ3, as he tosses the hat, and he picks up the hat from a completely different location.

Also keep track at how Daventry is remixed in practically every game in the series.

QuoteAnd mainly it's KQ5 that balances it out.  It's unclear how much time passed.  It could have been years.  And Graham has gone gray.  Personally, I like to think that more time passes between 4 and 5 because in the world of the game, it gives the royal family more time to be together.

A couple of points, if you ignore the KQ5 manual and push KQ5 way ahead by several years, then you'll be ignoring KQ7's which states that its set somewere between 1-2 years after KQ3 (Rosella is "nearly twenty years old", see the the introduction). So in fact Rosella is 19 in KQ7 (she and Alexander were almost 18 in KQ3) heading towards her 20th birthday. There isn't much more than approximately 1-2 years between the games (betwen 3/4 and 7).

So to push KQ5 way ahead would cause yet another 'butterfly effect'. So in no way can "pushing KQ5" way ahead "balance anything out".

No one is talking about 'ignoring KQ7' in this thread, except for perhaps you ;).

On a related note, ingame references within KQ5 states that that KQ3 takes place 20 years after KQ2 (for an additional ingame time reference)see here. In other words, the twins were born about two years after KQ2, and were almost 18 at the time of KQ3 (2 + 18 = 20 years).
Quotethink it's implied that KQ6 happens sooner after 5 than the official year that was stated earlier.  Valanice mentions to Alex in the intro that it's been months since he met Cassima.  While not really giving a timeline, colloquially speaking, who says "months" when a year has passed?  

As I stated earlier in the game, KQ6,  Cassima' says its been "six months" when you talk to her in her bedroom, and show her Shadrack's letter. It can be loosely rounded to a "year" or described as "months", but it's certainly pretty long period. Any changes earlier in the timeline, still causes a butterfly affect with later events in the time line (that's why there are more than two variations even in the Roberta William's penned material/Games).

That date actually makes Alexander somewhere between 18-19 years old in KQ6 (he can't be any older because Rosella is only 19 in KQ7, and they are twins). As is known Alexander is nearly 18 in KQ3 era. So again, there really isn't much time between KQ3-7 period.

But if one goes by game references only (see narrators, and assorted in-game references) within the canon KQ3 through KQ7, there really isn't that much time going on between KQ3-7.

In anycase the point of this discussion is not about trying to mush the two timelines together, but discuss how they diverge from each other into alternate timelines.
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

Baggins

Hmm, I was noticing in Four Winds issue 1 (article 1), that it says that the twins were born specifically '21 years' before the issue.

However, in the game, which takes place about a year after that issue, there is a banner in that's struck by lightning. If you read it, its a banner celebrating the twins recent 21st birthday.

Shouldn't that banner say 22nd birthday?

Or should the Four Winds mean say they were born 20 years ago?

The math doesn't seem to match up in its current conditions.
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

KatieHal

#15
The banner is the 'more correct' of the two--so the article should probably say twenty, yes.

Maybe we should start merging these various timeline discussions into one thread.

****

I've merged the thread for timeline variants, the IA timeline thread, and the latest question about the twins' birthday as given in the Four Winds vs. the game into. Please keep all questions/notes/etc about fan-game timelines in this thread.

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

Baggins

#16
Thanks, that bit was confusing me.

I found another confusing bit. One of the narrations  mentions that the town's economy has been booming the last few years, allowing the village to grow.

Yet, according to KQ6, the Four Winds, and a few other ingame references in TSL the economy was dead around the time of KQ6 (KQ6 is only about a 1-2 years before TSL based on other TSL references). In Four Winds article discussing the 'boom' it talks about the economy dieing three years before the article, due to closing of the ferry. The article mentions that economy is just starting to turn around (the article mentions that it's been "several months" since events of KQ6, and Alhazred's arrest).

So the bit of narration about the boom in the last "few years" is a bit confusing.

Hmm, another reference I found interesting, according to one of the narrative bits in TSL, TSL places KQ6 less than half a year after KQ5 (as opposed to "six months" date given in KQ6), if anyone is keeping track.

Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

Damar

Actually both KQ6 and Silver Lining would be right because KQ6 is both less than half a year and half a year after KQ5.   The intro mentions that Alexander sails for three long months, which means if Cassima later states it's been six months, that Alex's moping in the throne room occurred three months after KQ5.  So technically the game does occur less than six months after 5.  It just has a three month introduction after it starts.

Oh, and yeah, I remembered after I posted that Alhazred was a reference to Lovecraft.  Still, I would argue that there's a difference between an homage, like using the name Alhazred or Gregor Sampsa, and having a full blown inclusion in the series, like the Companion saying that Alhazred wrote the Necronomicon or that Cthulu ate the pirates.  Those references start to get a bit recent for a medieval timeframe, at least for me.  But that's personal opinion, I guess.  And yeah, I know there's always been some fudging on that, particularly with Shakespeare, but still.

Quote from: Baggins on February 02, 2011, 09:21:48 PM
No one is talking about 'ignoring KQ7' in this thread, except for perhaps you ;).

Touche.  I'd forgotten that Valanice mentioned Rosella was nearly 20 in the intro.  So yeah, that does compress the potential time between 4 and 5.  Unless 7 is actually a prequel, since I'm not sure there are any references to 5 or 6.  It could have happened before, or even simultaneously with 6.  Of course that's going by the strictest letter of what is mentioned and not mentioned as the spirit of the game is pretty clearly a direct sequel to 6.  And you really do have to take the spirit of the games into consideration too, otherwise the letter of what happens becomes meaningless.

snabbott

Quote from: Damar on February 04, 2011, 06:16:32 AM
Unless 7 is actually a prequel, since I'm not sure there are any references to 5 or 6.  It could have happened before, or even simultaneously with 6.
That thought never occurred to me! :o

Quote from: Damar on February 04, 2011, 06:16:32 AM
And you really do have to take the spirit of the games into consideration too, otherwise the letter of what happens becomes meaningless.
Excellent point! :D

Steve Abbott | Beta Tester | The Silver Lining

Baggins

#19
QuoteActually both KQ6 and Silver Lining would be right because KQ6 is both less than half a year and half a year after KQ5.  The intro mentions that Alexander sails for three long months, which means if Cassima later states it's been six months, that Alex's moping in the throne room occurred three months after KQ5.  So technically the game does occur less than six months after 5.  It just has a three month introduction after it starts.
Ya, I suppose the "less than half a year" and six months would be about same. Just one makes it sound more like less than six months (5 months or less), the other one sounds more specific.

Basically from in-game dates in KQ6, we learn that Cassima has been safe in her room for "six months" (it's not a direct reference to being "six months" after KQ5 however, just the period of time she spent in seclusion), Jollo mentions that after Cassima's return directly after KQ5, she learned of her parent's death, but there is an undisclosed period of time that she spent with Jollo telling him of all the events that transpired under Mordack, and meeting the Royal Family of Daventry, and Jollo filled her in on all the details of what transpired while she was gone (though probably could have taken less than a week, and likely no more than a month). Shadrack's letter is dated about 1 month before "present time". After which she was forced into 'seclusion'. Alexander traveled for three months before "present time". So technically, all the periods put together is between 6-7 months give or take.

QuoteThose references start to get a bit recent for a medieval timeframe, at least for me.  But that's personal opinion, I guess.  And yeah, I know there's always been some fudging on that, particularly with Shakespeare, but still.
Come to think of it actually, there are several more real life "recent" references in KQ4. Several of the tomb stones have the names of real people on them. One mentions the boxer Simon Byrne mentioned on one for example was a real boxer, who killed a man in the 1800's. Another tombstone mentions seidlitz powder which was a brand/product name from the 1800's, the city of Chelt'nam and its waters, a place in England known for a mineral spa. Count Dracula in KQ2 (most certainly inspired by his Victorian era counterpart from Bram Stoker's Dracula, set in 1897, even down to the Bela Lugosi clothing)?

The stuff in the fisherman's shack in KQ4, is pretty much late 1800's to early 20th century technology, the stove, the cans of food, the coffee pot. The inside of the gingerbread house in KQ1AGI, is also late 1800's, early twentieth century, as is the inside of the Woodman's cottage. The water pump outside of the woodman's cottage in both versions is late 1800's, similarly there is another one of those water pumps in KQ8 in the Swamp. The inside of Grandma's house is also c. late 1800's in furnishings. Almost everything in the haunted house in KQ4 is also late 1800's in furnishings. Actually even the log cabin style of the woodcutter's house (although appearing less modern) in the remake is late 1700's-early 1800's in style if I remember my architectural history correctly .

As an archaeologist/historian maybe i'm trained to spot these differences more, but there are many things that are not "medieval timeframe" in origin. But as someone with some understanding of this stuff, they certainly glaringly 'modern' to my perception (perhaps more so than even the occasional historical/fictional name drops).  Since these are kinds of details that give a form of relative dating when trying to figure out the age of a site in real life.

Seriously though, you must really dislike the real-world references in fan-game KQ2+ (Elvis presley, Teddy Ruxpin, George Lucas,  etc). That game is spilling out at the seams with real world references. ;) :p.

QuoteTouche.  I'd forgotten that Valanice mentioned Rosella was nearly 20 in the intro.  So yeah, that does compress the potential time between 4 and 5.  Unless 7 is actually a prequel, since I'm not sure there are any references to 5 or 6.  It could have happened before, or even simultaneously with 6.  Of course that's going by the strictest letter of what is mentioned and not mentioned as the spirit of the game is pretty clearly a direct sequel to 6.  And you really do have to take the spirit of the games into consideration too, otherwise the letter of what happens becomes meaningless.
Well I think this clearly causes some issues, I think the whole point of why Valanice is wondering when Rosella is going to get married, is because her brother was already married. At the end of KQ7, Rosella decides she will stay in Etheria for a time (who knows how long).

If you place KQ7 before KQ5, it kinda destroys the build up to KQ5-6, which doesn't show Rosella seemingly dating anyone (Rosella obviously loses track of Edgar at the end of KQ4 as she is in a hurry), and Alexander appears to be the first to do so.

We also know obviously that the developers had intended the series to be chronological in nature (obviously if a fan chooses to ignore intent, it is clearly unofficial, and that doesn't make their reinterpration "correct", the developers intended way is the "correct" way). Intent is very important. Based on on the family's comments at the end of KQ6, it seems they were too worried about their son's safety over the three months he was missing, that Valanice probably wouldn't have been thinking of trying to hand off her daughter that soon. Though I think KQ7 does occur shortly after KQ6, so that they would occur "about the same time". Still the time between KQ3 and KQ7 is limited.
QuoteAnd Graham has gone gray.
BTW, you mentioned the 'gray hair' in KQ5, Actually go back and play KQ4, Graham's hair is an even lighter shade of gray in that game, than in KQ5. But obviously, KQ5 isn't set before KQ4, ;). It's also pretty darn gray in KQ3 as well.

See Here. (KQ4)

and here (KQ3)
Though with IA's KQ3's rewritten plot (with the extra months/year between KQ3-4), you could probably set KQ5 between 3 and 4 chronologically (during that "get to know each other period), and still get a timeline that would "work" within its retelling. KQ5 is pretty stand alone, and doesn't make any direct references to KQ4 (if you ignore the obvious backstory elements given in the manual, and in the game's menus). So ya a fan could probably pen a story with a convoluted order of 3, 5, 4, 6, 7 or 3, 5, 4, 7, 6 and still make a narrative work (but either way its very convoluted) ;).
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg