Thanks for your support and understanding, darthkiwi. What you mentioned is actually what will happen. Once Chapters 1 & 2 have been out for some time and we get a general idea on how people feel about them, we will re-approach Vivendi to discuss a commercial license. Their response at that time will determine whether the remaining chapters will come to fruition or not.
On the other hand, if the release of Chapters 1 & 2 create opportunities for the team to develop new products, we'll finally be able to pursue those, without having the burden of TSL on our shoulders any longer.
Chapter 3 is the only one that isn't so clear cut as the rest. If given the opportunity to develop it commercially, it will be a game. Otherwise, we'll really need to assess how worthwhile it would be to develop non-commercially. We know for sure that it would have to be made in an alternate format, in order to be released in a reasonable timeframe. But the bigger question is whether it would be worth the effort or not. We can't really commit to a Yes or No at this point, because the way we feel today might be very different from how we'll feel 6 months from now.
I know you have said you are going to do original games and you have probably answered this question before, but I can't seem to find it. Are your original games going to be anything like KQ or other adventure games?
We haven't decided entirely on what our first original game will be yet. All we know for sure is that it won't be based off of any Sierra-related intellectual property.
Is Peter Spear still writing the novel?
We haven't heard from him in a few years, so I'm not sure.
Secondly the blog says that Vivendi Universal currently owns Sierra.
Actually isn't it Blizzard Activision now? At least sierra.com redirects to Activision's website.
Even after the merge, Vivendi remains the majority shareholder with 52%. But you're right that the decision-makers the company employs today may be completely different from the ones there 4 years ago. On the other hand, there is no trace of any classic Sierra game on Activision's site.