Ep.89 – The Quest For The Crown: Roberta Williams’ Coronation Through King’s Quest
King's Quest (1984)
A Trip Down Memory Card Lane · David Kassin and Robert Kassin
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Show Notes
In 1984, King’s Quest arrived on the IBM PCjr and transformed adventure gaming into something truly new. We revisit Roberta Williams’ journey from Mystery House and The Wizard and the Princess to leading Sierra On-Line through the turbulent early ’80s market crash. The episode highlights how IBM invested in Sierra to showcase the PCjr, how Roberta pushed for animated movement and simulated depth, and how the game became the first fully 3D-animated graphic adventure. Our conversation explores critic praise from the time, modern mixed retrospectives, and user reviews that remember it as both magical and frustrating. We also cover ports, sequels, the Williams’ eventual departure, and even the 2015 reimagining. Join us as we fetch treasures and crowns in Daventry on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.