A Conversation with Roberta Williams (Phantasmagoria Reunion)

Watch Roberta & Victoria Hemingson (who played Adrienne in Phantasmagoria) reunite for the first time since 1995!
Join Victoria Morsell Hemingson, Paul Morgan Stetler and Daniel Albu as they talk to the one and only Roberta Williams!
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Welcome to "Conversations With Curtis" -- where we unbox the archives of gaming history.
Please join actor Paul Morgan Stetler (the actor who played Curtis Craig in Sierra Online's Phantasmagoria 2) and game developer Daniel Albu as they track down and talk to, the actors, writers, directors, developers, and composers from all your favorite retro games from the 90's and beyond.
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[@ZenSolipsist]

It’s incredible to see this historic reunion take place. Roberta Williams’s mind is still brimming with knowledge and memories. Incredible watch 🧡☺️

[@user-rd3rf3ft8e]

Why won't this have more views??? THE Roberta and THE Victoria? On Curtis's channel??? I feel so blessed to find this!

[@danielalbu]

We're doing our best to spread the word, but we need more people to like and share in order for this to really blow up!

[@TheTomimt]

I love that Roberta is more on the stage again. For the longest time, I've had a tremendous amount of appreciation towards her and her work and it's great that she's taking this time of talking of her games. I do hope she does another at some point, as Colossal Cave did prove she hasn't lost an inch of it.

[@cadepeterson2123]

I love Ken accidentally interrupting. haha! It only adds to the sweet appeal of these two.

[@bmwynn1983]

Phantasmagoria actually changed my life. It was my first experience with this type of game... i never looked back.

[@TM-pi2rn]

oddly enough it seems to truly be the best of it's kind too. i don't think the FMV style point and click horror games got big enough. it's not fair!

[@pko_2.0_pop7]

​@@TM-pi2rnwith the graphical advance of a game today, FMV are unnecessary element these day. Interactive movie of a game like say, The Last Of Us, Until Dawn & Taletale Games, totally take over any game with FMV element

[@TM-pi2rn]

meh. first of all, not "unnecessary", objectively speaking. you don't get to decide what's necessary in games, paying customer or not. so there is no "necessary". games are (should be) art pieces made by people to be fun and cater to certain styles of gamers, not generic, washed out corporate garbage. you are not entitled to decide what's in the game. if im not, so get your entitled consumerist ideas about "what's games need to be like" out of here. "FMV is a very specific vibe that won't sell very well but to cult fans of the genre" is what im going to pretend you meant to say, because that actually makes sense.

[@TM-pi2rn]

furthermore, if you needed good graphics to make a good game, there would be no successful indie games or are you also forgetting about indie games with your weird argument about GrApHicAl AdVaNCMeNT of A GamE@@pko_2.0_pop7

[@RichDuckKing]

Ken & Roberta Williams/Sierra On-line are just as responsible for my lifelong love of gaming as Shigeru Miyamoto, Yu Suzuki, Toru Iwatani, or companies like Atari, Nintendo, or Sega. I could never thank them enough for all the great games and childhood memories playing them.

[@kellyhenderson9972]

“Alone in the Dark “is the game Roberta is thinking of.

[@evercreed714]

I am late to the party, but Mr. Stetler, you sir are a legend for bringing these two, as well as yourself, together.I just found out about your channel and I feel like I found buried treasure. Phantas 1 & 2 were some of my favorite games, as well as so much from Sierra. After a quick glance over your videos, I am so excited to watch them all. You are a great interviewer, and I can tell you're genuinely having a good time. Very refreshing to see. Thank you so much for creating this channel, and I can't wait to see more.

[@ConversationsWithCurtis]

Hey, thanks for the kind words. So glad you found us. Lots to catch up on.

[@sotirisks4311]

Hello Roberta and Paul from Athens Greece ! Unbelievable that this is really happening. 😀👏. So many great 90s Memories.

[@ConversationsWithCurtis]

Glad you found us, Sotris. (And please subscribe if you haven't already.)

[@burner9147]

holy mackerel THE ROBERTA WILLIAMS!!!!!! wow

[@neuromd42]

Everything about this game is a GEM. So many cold winter nights were spent playing it until I finally got to the end…and it was brilliantly terrifying to play and watch☝️ Thank you for putting this on your site.

[@odorutori]

When Roberta is talking about Activision owning the IPs, it's baffling that they wouldn't reimagine Phantasmagoria for a modern audience. Horror games have never been as lucrative (over 3 million copies of Resident Evil 4 sold in the first week, anyone?) and the wave of 90s nostalgia does not seem to be going away either. On paper, not reviving the franchise just seems like bad business. And if Colossal Cave has been as successful as it is, Roberta herself is testament to the untapped potential here. Thanks for this interview, I could not even dream about witnessing a reunion like this as a child, and what an honor to be in her presence.

[@quietfang1]

Sadly activision blizzard is not a great company. Some series have gone to die there. No idea if Microsoft does buy them or not what will happen sadly.

[@TM-pi2rn]

drives me insane that these companies actually let good IP's die... like we only get one lifetime to get a chance at playing phantasma 3 and these MFers seriously want to keep it on ice for.... because it's not a big enough money venture for the greedy, soulless suits that have control over what games we get to play or not play... total BS.

[@your-username-here2308]

Phantasmagoria got a cult status because it is a relic from the 90s. Instead of reviving the Dead, just make something new. The charm the first 2 Games had was because they are literlly 2, cringy rough 90s Adventure Games. Wich today have a certain romantic. The Game itself and the Story + Dialogs where just bad in every way. They are like The Room Movie. So bad they are good again.

[@corpsegrinder88]

What a legendary day.

[@childofthe80s1981]

This is so cool this is my childhood right here I grew up with Sierra

[@UnderTheBridge96]

My brother was diagnosed with Chrohn’s Disease when he was 12 and I remember that night he found out my Mom let him buy this game even though it was 18+ at the time. I was 3 years younger and I’d play with him and it was probably the game that made the biggest impression in our lives. He passed away 3 years ago and I’ve been binging you and Tori’s walk through every day, and I just can’t tell all of you how magical this has been. I keep thinking to myself “man he would have loved to see this”. You making this series and getting everyone together has been more magical than you even know. It was so much fun watching you and Tori play through the game and now with Roberta. I can’t explain how awesome all of you are !!! Here I am 35 yrs old reliving some of my best memories with my brother all thanks to you 🙏

[@ConversationsWithCurtis]

Thank you for the kind words. My sincere condolences for the loss of your brother. (A friend/colleague of mine passed away from the disease a couple years ago and it's just so damn tragic.) Just when I start to wonder if it's worth it to keep going with this YT channel, a comment like yours comes in and it inspires me to keep going. I wish your brother could have shared discovering this with you but I'm extremely grateful you shared your story with me. All the best to you and I will make sure share it with Tori next time we play.

[@UnderTheBridge96]

@@ConversationsWithCurtis That means a lot that you took the time to respond! I’m watching y’all play chapter 7, haha Tori is drinking a bud light and you are having bourbon so I poured a whiskey as well 🥃 Y’all just got to the theater. Definitely keep visiting this page, I’m going to begin Phantasmagoria 2 next week. It adds a whole new layer now that I’ve “talked” to Curtis. This is Surreal ! This was a brilliant idea to get everyone together Paul, thank you for all of this !

[@snakeplissken111]

Wow, just seen this pop up in my recommendations! Phantasmagoria 2 was such a weird game back in the day. I still remember showing it to a family member who grew up playing Leisure Suit Larry, the first one. He couldn't quite grasp how games had so quickly evolved from pixels to guys like you appearing on the screen! Also remember how my mom walked into my room during your, er, sexy-time scene with Therese. We were all sitting there in front of my computer, me and two of my friends (an all-male package eager to find out who's gonna get some whippin'). My mom was like: "Ok, what the hell is going on here?" Well, what did it look like, Mom?

[@SNOUPS4]

What a fantastic reunion!!

[@vinniechapman9549]

I started playing Sierra games when I was 7. Sierra defined a large piece of my childhood experience. I'm 49 now, and I still have my copies of the Kings Quest series :)

[@RobertaWilliams-xo3ec]

Looking forward to it! I will be here!

[@ConversationsWithCurtis]

You're the best!

[@artiepavlov6593]

This is THE blockbuster interview!

[@bmwynn1983]

I love that paul is in his office from the game...

[@thomasjones20]

Maybe "Dark Seed" was the "dark" game she mentioned (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Seed_(video_game)). I played that game in the early 90s and enjoyed it. The artwork was designed by H.R. Giger.

[@brianlayman9824]

Bonus Ken Williams cameo!

[@mistersurrealist]

Whoa, I will not miss this!! 😮

[@mwirkk]

Paul, are you and Roberta at the beginning of the video talking about the old Pacific Medical Center Tower on Beacon Hill just SE of downtown Seattle? It started life in the early 30's as the U.S. Public Health Service Marine Hospital. Besides maritime, e.g. Merchant Marines, it served all U.S. Veterans, Coast Guard, and Native Americans. It has undergone a number of uses in the past few decades, including Amazon's HQ 1999-2010.

[@ConversationsWithCurtis]

Yup, that's the one. Such an ominous site diving south in I-5 at night.

[@rarapas]

I missed the premiere, can't wait to watch this reunion!!!

[@ConversationsWithCurtis]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mikeforte]

This is an awesome interview. Thank you for this gem. ❤

[@ConversationsWithCurtis]

Glad you enjoyed it! (And please subscribe if you haven't already.)

[@French_Connection]

Curtis, you do so well with the channel.

[@quietfang1]

Love Roberta’s work. So nice to see this interview.

[@unstopitable]

What really amazes me is how yin-and-yang this husband-and-wife team were (and still are). There's a lot of love in the King Quest series, and I don't think it's melodramatic at all for me to say that love is the love between them. Now that I watch these videos, I can see how of Mrs. Williams's sensibilities really are the driving force in the King's Quest adventures. I wonder if she understands how much her games influenced an entire generation of dreamers. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Williams.

[@gunmetal2445]

Wonderful to see all Phantas legends come together 👏👏👏

[@MK-um8lc]

Loved the Phantasmagoria games....and still own them! This is great and nostalgic. Thanks for doing this.

[@BeniDammeier]

this is one of the most awesome things ever!

[@AnubisDark]

Played them in high school in the 90'. Great games!

[@xXShowGameXx]

Oh yes !

[@DeGreekDollmaker]

Ohhh! Roberta is such an important person. Thank you for this video.

[@qualitypants]

I absolutely love this

[@mrgrumpy888]

I've really enjoyed this. Looking forward to seeing the updates to Colossal Cave.

[@SolidSnake11Official]

Amazing interview.

[@artiepavlov6593]

I wonder if Roberta watched/played the King;s Quest from 2016. it was such a sweet nostalgic tear jerker

[@Marceloschoen]

Amazing interview. I'm such a fan of Roberta's work. We even share the same birthday date (Feb 16th) haha. Anyway i don't know about you guys, but i've always imagined that the Phantas series stories had a colossal potential to be a great dark-horror themed TV series prototype for NFLX, HBO or Amazon or any mainstream streaming service. It is such a shame that Activision or any others entertainment execs aren't looking to this amazing hidden gem as a newly rebranded TV series anyway. Thanks for the content, Paul!

[@Real_Global_Data]

Great honor to have Her on your channel.

[@voidstar1337]

Roberta - another good historical book Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization . Very well told history. // A modern remake of Robot Odyssey might be something Ken wants to consider, as a learning tool. // Was always curious about the story of the house fire (lots of Sierra artifacts lost in that)

[@sanitariaglabonosmensuales6917]

Great!!!! Adrianne roberta and curtis ❤️❤️❤️so much nostalgia please Dean Ericsson come here too Gabriel

[@horrorpodcast0707]

Awesome idea! Would love to see him!

[@ryostu1]

Gabriel Knight is a great series of games. A sequel would be awesome.

[@mrgrumpy888]

OH S***!!! I've been waiting a long time for this!

[@SuspensionOfDisbelief]

Very sweet interview, Thank you both

[@ConversationsWithCurtis]

Our pleasure! (And please subscribe if you haven't already.)

[@TheZotmeister]

I admit it, I had a crush on Victoria. Full credit to her for embracing this chapter of her past. ...Gotta say, though, that I'm a little disappointed she isn't wearing orange XD

[@jonathanbd5767]

Finally got around to watching this. Great watch as always, thanks to everybody involved. So, will you actually play some phantas 1 with roberta? She seems to have a lot of interesting stories and trivia facts about the game... please please pretty 🙏

[@Nostalgic90s765]

Thanks for this. It's certainly a trip down memory lane! Odd reaction though to the 7th Guest question. I don't know why she is still denying the connection that Sierra and 7th Guest had. Either that or she truly doesn't remember anymore. According to your interview with Graeme Devine, the game at the convention she is referring to was definitely 7th Guest.

[@viewtifuljoe99]

I love the interviews on this channel. This was a blast to watch!

[@bmwynn1983]

puzzle of the flesh was incredible!!!

[@miklos.]

Thanks for putting this together!

[@ConversationsWithCurtis]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching. (And please subscribe if you haven't already.)

[@dannyy7654]

There’s a lot of tech out now that can upscale and remaster these games. Great double dip opportunity for the IP owners of Phantasmagoria.

[@DanielBurapavong]

This is amazing. Thank you for doing this, Paul.

[@fista1331]

Omgggg can’t wait for this one!

[@SalZam150]

I hope they release all of the old Sierra games as free open source so everyone can enjoy them and also be able to update them :)

[@pko_2.0_pop7]

Sadly, Ken & Roberta aren't the owner of Sierra anymore and all of their stuff had stucked in limbo or I could say, 'licensing hell'.

[@WhiteBoyDLC]

Thank you so much. Great video!

[@Hakku1403]

tyvm 🤩

[@bmwynn1983]

ADRIAN!!¡!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@richardmoto-gaming6791]

Super! Maybe Phs 3 trailer 😊

[@bigmegg]

Nice! ❤

[@DanielBurapavong]

$4,000,000 in 1995 is just over $8,000,000 in 2023.

[@nanoz7734]

8,230,000 in 2024 xD

[@petitnicolas33]

Roberta il talkative 😀

[@AdventureGameHotspot]

This one is a banger

[@davidwatkins1059]

I'd be up for that horror adventure game with Paul and Tori playing an older couple on a shocking boat ride. I'd even stream it!

[@johnpaddock9462]

❤❤❤😮

[@Keranu]

Roberta looks like she is chromokeyed into a Phantasmagoria room.

[@bmwynn1983]

Can phantasmagoria be re rendered to current tech

[@bmwynn1983]

Why was the best friend cast as a gay roll? I appreciate the fact that his roll was more realistic and not embellished

[@gahowell1]

Oh man, please make another Phantas game with these two! It could be gold. I still play both Phantasmagoria games once a year, but a new game with the old characters would be amazing. Change the name, and make an entertaining game. This was a wonderful interview to watch, so much comradery going on. Thank you for doing this.

[@bmwynn1983]

Because the best developer got out of the industry...

[@ryostu1]

Awesome interview ; too bad actvision is doing nothing with the Sierra games -___-

[@CandyChaos7]

Does Roberta Williams ever talk about the Blue Demon? I find it... Scary and Evil.

[@bmwynn1983]

Dark tower

[@roulettesoftware]

Hello Paul, great to see you've made a channel and reliving the old phantasmagoria games.. I've been waiting for phantasmagoria 3 for nearly 30 years now.. I guess sadly it will never happen.

[@ConversationsWithCurtis]

Never say never.

[@roulettesoftware]

@@ConversationsWithCurtis Whatever you say Rat Boy.. ; )-

[@DrEdRules18]

Nice !! Thx 🙏🏻 !! Love this game :)

[@moffit_reborn5029]

I tremendously enjoyed this video, even the dogs were little guest stars playing near the end. 🦮 I played so many of Roberta Williams’ games and was always excited to see new ones come out. (I have a VR headset and will need to give Colossal Cave a try later.) A huge thanks to everyone for your time and effort in putting this together! I did want to mention what a reversal it was when Paul mentioned how ambitious Phantas 2 was by using actual sets, and here he sits…in front of a green screen in a simulated office (probably sitting on a green box in front of a green table, drinking green tea).

[@ConversationsWithCurtis]

Ha. The ironies just keep piling up.

[@djam7484]

YO CURTIS. I GOT A sugestion of a game for you to play. Maybe you know it. "BadMojo" one of my favorit fmv games

[@jonathanbd5767]

Finally got around to watching this. Great watch as always, thanks to everybody involved. So, will you actually play some phantas 1 with roberta? She seems to have a lot of interesting stories and trivia facts about the game... please please pretty 🙏

[@jonathanbd5767]

Finally got around to watching this. Great watch as always, thanks to everybody involved. So, will you actually play some phantas 1 with roberta? She seems to have a lot of interesting stories and trivia facts about the game... please please pretty 🙏