Hello, my name is Uriel Spears.
When I was a boy my parents purchased a new IBM computer. Horribly outdated by todays standards but quite nice back then. I had barely seen a computer before that time and to own one was really something. Included with the computer were several programs and a copy of Kings Quest VI. The concept of computer games was foreign to me. I popped in the CD, installed the game and begin to play. That moment sparked my lifetime love of computer games, adventure games, and Kings Quest.
The Kings Quest series is not merely a simple group of games. It is something much, much more. They are an amazing and wonderful story. A fantastic tale of a man who faced danger and death for the sake of adventure and love and who spawned a legacy. The series is a chronicle of one of the greatest families to ever emerge.
I played the Kings Quest games and loved them. When Mask of Eternity was released I felt as many of you did, and was horribly disappointed. To me it signaled the death of adventure games and, even more heartbreaking, the death of Kings Quest.
Years passed but my love for the royal family of Daventy never dwindled. One day, when discussing Kings Quest with a fellow adventure game fan, and Kings Quest enthusiast, he told me a rumor. A rumor about some fans, disappointed with the way the series ended, had banded together and were developing a Kings Quest IX. Was it true? I raced home, did a search and discovered the old Kings Quest IX website. I was thrilled. Finally, a group of people who loved the Kings Quest series as much as I had taken it upon themselves to not let the dream go quietly into that dark night.
I followed the progress of the next few years. I visited the website every so often to get glimpses of the upcoming game. I shied away from forums and chatrooms though I did pop into a chatroom once. Not many people were in there, just some of the developers. I told them how much I appreciated the work they were doing and how greatly I was looking forward to the game coming out. One question always hung on my mind though...legality. How could they do this without some big business, perturbed that they wouldn't be getting any money, throw a cease and desist order and wreck all the hard work being done?
My question was answered. One day I brought up the website and read the devastating news that Vivendi had shut them down. I was heartbroken. Graham, Valenice, Rosella, and Alexander would be lost forever without the grace and dignity owed them. It was indeed a black day.
Again, time passed. While playing an online game, one owned by Vivendi ironically, I met a fellow Kings Quest enthusiast. We struck up a conversation. He had not heard of the plans to resurrect the Kings Quest series or if its bitter halt. With much dismay I informed him of the grim circumstances. We agreed it was a horrible loss and that the series and the fans deserved better.
It was this conversation that got me nostalgic. I decided to search and see if the Kings Quest IX site was still around. At the very least I could read the goodbye message and dream about what might have been. I typed "Kings Quest IX into Google to bring up the past.
My heart leapt at what I discovered! Kings Quest IX was given permission to proceed! My God! Words cannot express my joy! When I read the news not long ago, I knew I could no longer remain a silent fan that lurked at the website over several years. I had to express myself.
To the developers who are giving their heart and soul into this game; I thank you. Your work on this project means so much to so many people. You are giving the Kings Quest series the send off that it deserves. Write well the last chapters of Daventry's greatest family. I for one, will never forget the tale.
