The UNTOLD Story of Sierra Online

[@champ666ZA]

They will live forever in our hearts. Nothing can take that away.

[@sierrakobold6896]

yeah absolutely, some people may think it sounds odd but Sierra games are some of the most bustling nostalgic sentiment I have and still carry with me. It brings me back to my house and my neighborhood and to the family room with 3 PC's in the early 90's of my close friend across the street who introduced me to Sierra games. These games have been some of the most significant inspirations and elements of my adolescent development. QFG is what really sparked my global and eclectic interest in many Indo European ethnolinguistic cultures, their mythology and geographic presence throughout history, its hard to articulate clearly and precise the effect and continuing growth These series spawn within my memories and longing of older times at a much younger age. sorry about long ramble

[@digitalmagicAR]

Hard to describe the influence Sierra Online's games had on so many of us. From the stories to the music and graphics, they were quite a memorable, enjoyable and compelling experience. What a talented team they had! Thank you for all the great times!

[@princealbertz]

Only us 90s kids would remember Sierra Games

[@-Winter-Lover-]

​@@princealbertz and me!!!! I mean and basically everyone cause everyone played half life 1 THE BEST GAME IN HISTORY !!!!!!

[@galbyman]

This is really depressing. Sierra helped me deal with my father's death when I was a child.

[@reallycool]

They were an incredible company. I'm glad they were there to help you.

[@Silkcats]

Sierra games, specially Quest For Glory, King's Quest and Space Quest series were a huge influence for me as an artist. I would love if you could make a video abut Sierra's art department, who were their character designer, background painters art directors and what are they doing today. Amazing video BTW, thanks for the amazing work!

[@TonyCastle-gh9ow]

I got into games playing police quest

[@Peeinurcereal]

Man I grew up with Caesar 3, Police Quest, & Swat. My dad owned like almost every Sierra game... So sad to hear they’re gone :( Thank you for some of my favorite games & which I still play. Awesome video my friend.

[@tomkelly00]

Sierra was the Disney of my childhood

[@haruhisuzumiya6650]

That was Nintendo to me.

[@ObiWanBillKenobi]

Ken Williams has said that Disney and Microsoft were the two companies that influenced Sierra more than any others. He said he read every book he could on how those companies were run.

[@Billob]

Good stuff, made me look at their list of games. I just learned there is an adventure game based on Rendezvous with Rama, now I want to find out more about it, they always had pretty fun games.

[@reallycool]

The Rama series is my favorite story ever, btw.

[@Billob]

@@reallycool I think I subconsciously knew that. Ever play the games?

[@jramjee100]

I played it. Spent a good day or two trying to open and close an airlock. Hey, I was an 8 year old kid.

[@4Legacy]

It's hard to find informative content on this subject. Great job!

[@ZyliceLiddell]

I hear the ‘Cloud Temple’ music from Spyro when I hear the ‘Sierra’ logo pop up. 👌

[@eatwhaturgiven]

It's hard hearing "Sierra is no more" :(

[@richardmahn7589]

Ditto! I knew it was no more since it was failing, years ago, but still drawn to whatever I can read or play about them. Just finished Ken Williams latest book he released last year. Loved it and at the same time was pissed it all went away like it did.

[@SparkzEnt]

Activision actually revived Sierra as an publishing label back in 2014, but aside from an few games, they really haven't done much with them

[@eatwhaturgiven]

@@SparkzEnt Yes aware, but it's not the Ken and Roberta Sierra we all love.

[@richardmahn7589]

@@SparkzEnt They still don't even try to use and give the "secret sauce" that the original Sierra had, and as Ken wrote in his book, it wasn't really a secret at all, but they didn't ask for it when they were acquired. The "secret"? Don't be afraid if a game fails to make back its cost, but ride the marketing that got the game known, and make it known again and again through sequels, crossovers and interaction (media, merchandise, etc.)

[@robe.2424]

You are awesome man! Thank you for covering this! I’m sharing this with all of my friends.

[@reallycool]

Much appreciated!

[@ghostofdeath260]

Thank god I wasn't the only one to not only know of Sierra, but also want to know happened to Sierra too.

[@ghostofdeath260]

Holy shit that fast?

[@reallycool]

Smaller creators tend to notice top level comments pretty quickly =D

[@ethanstoeckel3901]

Best game company ever. I loved their games. These gave me so much nostalgia and I still play them today

[@manco828]

To me the absolute peak of Sierra was 1988-1991. King's Quest IV, V, Leisure Suit Larry 2, Police Quest 2 & 3, Space Quest 2/3/4, Gold Rush, Manhunter: New York, The Colonel's Bequest and Hero's Quest.

[@toddfraser3353]

I feel many Sierra Properties, could translate well into the current trend of nostalgia based movies out there. Especially their multi sequel series, where there is an established universe and lore. Plus characters we could recognize.

[@VexedSinik]

Awesome video. Stoked the fires of nostalgia. There's definitely some stuff in there I didn't know.

[@maverickbna]

I have a lot of great memories surrounding Sierra On-Line. I lived in the Seattle area for a long time, and even before I moved there, my parents had occasionally bought me games at the local Egghead Software. Most of the games I picked out were from Sierra On-Line. I even participated in the public beta for one of their less successful products, Power Chess 3D, and also got to travel to Bellevue for a usability test of a MasterCook product, all before I graduated high school! I remember they sent me home with a Sierra catalog, and told me I could pick out any one title I wanted. At the time, Starseige: Tribes had come out, and since my computer wasn't fast enough to play that, I asked for EarthSiege 2. They sent me Starseige: TRIBES instead. I didn't mind, and I was happy to wait until I had a fast enough computer. It did not disappoint. If Ken or Roberta Williams comes to PAX this year, I hope to say hi to them, maybe get an autograph or spend a few minutes to show my appreciation.

[@Zusse]

Holy shit this was a amazing story Sierra made some of my favorite games as a kid I appreciate you cry

[@reallycool]

Thank you 😊

[@ElectroDFW]

Thank you for the shout-out to Levy and his amazing book. It should be required reading for every person delving into computer, gaming and networking history. Every time I find a used copy of it, I try to find a place to leave it where it will be appreciated by whoever finds it.

[@AtariLegend]

This was an amazing documentary.

[@sierrakobold6896]

compared to most fans I talk to my love and sentiment to Sierra oddly was largely more than other series, Quest for Glory, and that is the series that made me become a lifelong and passionate gamer. I say oddly because we all remember Sierra for the adventure games where as QFG is an RPG/adventure hybrid, though Space Quest is also another of my favorite and very important series from the developer, its just always baffled me how KQ, SQ, LSL, GK are much more recognized and reffered to when alluding to Sierra and QFG is relatively hidden compared to the others even thouhg it has the most indepth, complex, longer and significantly more replayable gameplay. But great video and its alarming there aren't many Sierra doc's and historical reviews on YT

[@Mowglibaloo2]

Completely agree. Quest for Glory series is my personal favorite. Cory and Lori Cole just made an RPG adventure hybrid called HeroU. Recommend checking it out.

[@Iritscen]

Wow, there was a lot of history here I didn't know, thanks for filling it in. I have fond memories of several of Sierra's games, like some of the KQ titles, plus many of the games they published (who else remembers Thexder?!). I'm surprised the rights to Sierra's IPs didn't get totally lost with all of that corporate shuffleboard. I suppose the reason they didn't is that Sierra always moved as a unit from one parent company to another, and never licensed any partial rights to third parties in a way that would cause confusion later (I'm actually quite surprised if no one ever approached them for film rights to something like King's Quest or Leisure Suit Larry).

[@reallycool]

Louis CK actually owns the film rights for Leisure Suit Larry, and planned/plans to make it a film. King's Quest was almost a Saturday morning cartoon. Spyro obviously did become a film, later on. There is a Phantasmagoria film in production, very low budget.

[@Iritscen]

@@reallycool Sorry, I had to look into this, because it seemed too funny to be true. It looks like the story about Louis CK buying the film rights to LSL was satire from thehardtimes.net which was then repeated on many other sites. But somehow I didn't know about the cancelled Spyro film or about Phantasmagoria (I wasn't allowed to play that one anyway, that was my aunt and uncle's private game ^_^).

[@reallycool]

Ah well. It sounded real enough =)

[@hotmodel1234]

The very first game my older brother bought when I was a kid as he worked at Radio Shack was Thexder. Then Earl Weaver baseball. Thexder was very hard, I was only able to get through most of the 3rd level, out of 16 or something. Thexder 2 was more enjoyable as I think it but was called Firehawk and might have been on the NES or it maybe Thexder. Afterwards, I owned over 20 Sierra games...LOVED THEM! A few years ago, Humble Bumble had a deal so for $15 or $20 for 33 of them from Steam. No Leisure Suit Larrys but all the others...KQ, SQ, PQ, Quest for Glory's, etc.

[@martinstoilov6671]

Great videos, man! Truly you deserve at least 100k subs!

[@reallycool]

Thanks! If you like us, please share us!

[@Grid21]

Also, Sierra did the really fun game of Lional Train Town which I played a LOT as a kid and still have the original CD for it today!

[@ZagnutBar]

The excellent "Renga in Blue" blog, which is in the process of paying and completing every single adventure game ever, contests whether "Mystery House" was the first graphical adventure. There was an obscure cassette based game whose name I forget that may be the first. But hardly anyone knows about it, and as we all know the truth is what gets repeated, not what actually happened.

[@000Gua000]

3 good videos in a row. I'm glad I've subscribed :)

[@reallycool]

Happy to have you here =D

[@phoenixzappa7366]

Great video man.

[@reallycool]

Thanks! I really enjoyed this one, more than most. I'm sort of sad so few people got to see it, but ultimately I make these videos because I want to tell the story. This story is one I've always been fascinated by, and I'm super pleased I was given the opportunity to tell something a bit fresher and newer than the old tropes.

[@nilus2k]

My dad worked for IBM on mainframes and we had a teletype machine at home. I wonder if that was a common occurrence on the late 70s and early 80s. The thing is still sitting in my parents basement

[@gigel008]

Now it makes sense why I last saw the Sierra logo on Half Life Opposing Force. Also I remember the trial between Valve and Vivendi while Half Life 2 was in development.

[@Ray_Argues]

Cool Pool, 3D Ultra Train Town, and 3D RC Racers were the highlights of my childhood in the 90s. Sierra lives on. ❤️

[@black_metal_luvr]

Wasn't expecting the space guys to roll up in a slick black Toyota MR2.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

I was so influenced by Roberta & Ken Williams' work on things like KQ1-6, I wrote a theatrical play which was loosely based on KQ6 (written in 1998/1999). 🙂 It'd be cool to one day produce & direct it, but I believe that is NOT going to happen, lol. No coin, connections, crews, clout, computer code, control, communities, nor opportunities.

[@-Winter-Lover-]

Eeeeh i don t know maybe one of your friends is doing computer science ooor i don t know but you get me someone who is à progammer that you know or you can do it by yourself and become a programmer everyone can actually become one

[@Office_De_Receiver_Complaints]

Big, big part of my childhood. "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."

[@jeremym9011]

It is too bad that they are gone as a company. If it weren't for them, DOS computer games wouldn't even have the awesome MT-32 for sound output.

[@SierraWatts]

Welcome to Sierra online

[@reallycool]

I guess you are, yeah

[@reallycool]

Sierra On-Line, Sierra Entertainment, whatever the name, they've affected so much and given me a lot of incredible memories. Obviously No One Lives Forever is a major memory. If you didn't catch last week's video, watch The Best Game You Can't Buy, about NOLF, here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5anpGxphJJomc0 Join the Discord at crymor.tv/discord

[@manifesting1428]

I wish my whole life long that the classic games will be revived and be continued. Space quest 7, kings quest 9, quest for glory 6.

[@farab4391]

OMG, I completely forgot about Manhunter until I saw a couple of clips from it in this video. The most difficult game I ever played. People say King's Quest 3 was really difficult, but I loved that game. It's sad Sierra couldn't continue to create more of those amazing adventure games.

[@Weonlyknewoneway]

1994 was a special year. Kq6, qfg4, sq5, LsL5, Gabriel knight, Freddy pharkas... all these games were released that year and were available at kb toy store,toys r us.... long before gamestop. The best days ... never thought in a million years sierra would go under the way they did... Sierra was the absolute best ! Roberta and Ken are the Goats of gaming... Don't ever forget it. Without them gaming would not be the same ! ✌

[@djrmarketing598]

So crazy to think that something that could have been so much more after 96, but then again - that was just about the end of graphical point and click era, so really I think that maybe it was a great time to collect a giant check.

[@-Winter-Lover-]

Nope the point and click games are still alive as ever am actually trying to find more of them point and click games made in 2020 and beyond that are hidden gems that no one knows like for exemple the last door i discovered the game before the game kitchen even made blasphemous i discovered the game in a video game website and oooh god it was iust too perefect i actually played the last game of the last door séries and ooooh man THE GRAPHICS OMG STUNNING JUST PERFECT PIXEL GRAPHICS as much as i like blaspehmous it is uncomparable with the last door

[@Blue.Diesel]

Swat 3 and 4 will be forever in my heart

[@irvintang2751]

Lesson I learned from this story: halt and catch fire.

[@Stevie-J]

Innovating a new type of game, then publishing oodles of games, then being in the same family tree as Valve and Blizzard... then being banished to the shadow realm? It feels like a twist ending

[@kateburns8126]

I played all their games at the time. Loved each and every one! I can't wait to see Cygnus' first release. Ken and Roberta rise again!

[@xfxrxmxt1981]

This only makes sense for old folks. Interesting to see a glimpse of this company.

[@PeterLowey1]

When i see the very primitive text adventure games it reminds me a lot of early A.I like chatgpt that we have now. Got to wonder if that too will evolve into a graphic visual thing that is more user friendly where it creates its own visuals, moving images, concepts and mix that with ones algorithm......i can barley imagine where it could go.

[@FJ-Channel]

when I was kid everytime playing video games mostly got Sierra logo

[@godkeebler]

If you mention Sierra I’m so nerdy Sierra online is the first and only that pops in my mind. 🎉

[@j03man44]

Now I'm curious about bioware's founding myth. The two doctors coding medical software who decide to make rpg's is a little too clean.

[@reallycool]

Perhaps we'll get more insight into that when/if EA closes the studio and turns them into a publishing brand similar to Sierra. It's been heading that way for a while, after all.

[@marcinagy6468]

0:42 - "(..), also unlikely that when I mention 'Sierra', you think immediately of 'Sierra on-line'." Is it unlikely though? As a kid, growing up OUTSIDE THE U.S., in the 90's and 80's with computers around, The word 'Sierra' meant 'Sierra' online for me, and for a long time it meant nothing else.

[@grantwallace1882]

I am still awaiting Gabriel Knight 4.....I can dream.

[@ObiWanBillKenobi]

Jane Jensen and Robert Holmes have recently said they are ready to make GK4.

[@noxnoir]

❤❤❤

[@bytejourneycodes]

this video makes me cry

[@workingcountry1776]

No mention of NASCAR series from dos through XP era or flight simulator from the mid 90s. Sierra was a brand that you just knew would always be good. To this day in 2025 nobody has made a NASCAR stockcar racing simulator like NASCAR Racing 2003 Season. Still widely modded and played to this day. I think NASCAR is what most ppl know Sierra from. Us nerdy Dungeons and Dragons guys love strategy games, sure but their simulator games were top notch. More; in 1998 i went to the brand new NASCAR museum at Daytona USA and Sierra not EA was the NASCAR simulator you could operate on Daytona super speedway. That license was exclusive to the new NASCAR museum and it was exciting because nowhere else could you drive on Daytona in a game til NASCAR 2003 season was published.

[@sephondranzer]

Yo these guys made Torin’s Passage! I loved that game… old times man

[@Warizard22]

I don't know about you but every time i think about Sierra i remember about the Sierra madre DLC from fallout new vegas

[@reallycool]

Dead Money was such a weird DLC pack.

[@TheDevian]

I still love those old games.

[@KumuTheProtogen]

Heck stories like this make me want to sell out if I ever get some fame and some big company wants to buy me. ;-;

[@reallycool]

I'd sell out /nod

[@eji]

A shame Ken was so dismissive of Roberta's talents and passions and seemingly only cared about the profits. But I think it's very telling that the awards and acclaim always went to Roberta, and of the two (despite him always listing them as Ken and Roberta Williams with his name first) Roberta is always regarded more as the visionary and talent behind their most famous games, while Ken is just... Ken.

[@hmcindie]

I disagree with this, Roberta was at the top of Sierra and according to several other designers there, Robertas games were marketed way more than other designers. This videos gives a weird interpretation of marketing material.

[@donkroh4986]

Can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.

[@alexanderw4u]

'Sierra' (1950) ♦CLASSIC♦ Theatrical Trailer

[@Aaronemmanuel-27]

Don't forget the hellfire expansion.

[@corepunch]

How big was game market in late 80s early 90s?

[@reallycool]

$1B in 1987, $10B in 1990, $15B in 1993

[@corepunch]

@@reallycool And that's non-adjusted for inflation?

[@calebb7012]

Kind of sad that Sierra is now known more for that company boomers like MetalJesusRocks worked for rather than the games they developed.

[@reallycool]

I agree. Thanks for enjoying my content today =)

[@anthonybryan1961]

Kings quest 3 consumed me as a 8 year old that and space quest 2

[@SinisterMud]

LoL yeah....Gwydion and the evil wizard.

[@NtK0000]

That's mean no empire earth remake😢

[@crtinkering7323]

this story never explains the initial argument? Or situation?? i Just clicked on this video and halfway through i still have no idea what is going on?

[@crtinkering7323]

So ive watched the video... i get it now... the first 10 minutes made it seem like a divorce story and a legal battle??

[@LunarExGames]

Sierra Online.... forever

[@comesect]

Weird how some games made people millionaires

[@danielquinonez2735]

didnt sierra make crash of the titans too?

[@reallycool]

No. It was released under the brand name while owned by Vivendi.

[@danielquinonez2735]

ah yes i see now

[@Exigentable]

I will judge this video on whether or not you mention The Realm Online.

[@reallycool]

I'm sorry :( I didn't really go that far forward, I mostly focused on the origin story.

[@eatwhaturgiven]

But their legacy does live on in the fb group Sierra Gaming World! :)

[@Sturmpionier03]

Thank you Ross, i just joined the group

[@eatwhaturgiven]

@@Sturmpionier03 Awesome :) It's a pretty active group. Hope you like it.

[@jesusnuclear]

In advance: sorry for my english 6:57 "There is no special mention to Colossal Cave, because at the time it wasn't even known to have been the first adventure game" Ummm... I get your point, but actually.... I think it was common knowledge. At least between gamers (at the time, general population knows nothing about video games, neither Colossal Cave nor another). I remember reading local game magazines about it at mid 80s and I'm from Spain! The full title was Colossal Cave Adventure. The adventure games genre is called like this after Colossal Cave *ADVENTURE*. And every adventure games fan knew that thanks a number of versions, "remakes", homages and parodies since early 80s. The 1982 Software Toolworks version was called The Original Adventure (original, get it?). In UK, Level 9 published Colossal Adventure, a explicit rendition/homage. Also in UK, you can find spoofs (spoofs! I mean, of course everybody knew about Colossal Cave as the first adventure, you have to know that if your are the target of a spoof) like 1986' The Very Big Cave Adventure. This is only a small piece, I can mention tens of examples.

[@chapmanfx8104]

Man that’s depressing

[@reallycool]

Sorry

[@arshadkhan8254]

I love this company

[@theastuteangler]

quality. My main memory of Sierra is Loderunner.

[@mike5636]

Ceasar 3 and 4.

[@godkeebler]

Anyone else get interaction sierras self serving fanzine 👋👍

[@tommogaz]

Pirated most of their games. There wasnt much choice in outback australia! Ive bought them all on gog now, but i dont think roberta or ken will see much of that.

[@beLIEve77]

Ken sent me

[@reallycool]

that would be pretty neat

[@billysherman2702]

Sierra 4 EVA!!!

[@zorglub667]

Thats a lot of suggested certainty in the VO considering that it's largely someones speculation about the dynamics within a relationship he did not witness first hand.

[@Guyfrom-dg7ek]

It's a pity the husband did not appreciate the wife's talent. Transforming text to graphics based adventure games.is a big revolution.

[@roaldthamesen533]

FIRST VIEW AND COMMENT!!

[@reallycool]

You know, you're my first "first" after three years

[@roaldthamesen533]

@@reallycool eeey!! Really?

[@reallycool]

I guess I just don't inspire FIRST comments =D

[@yay4this]

I don't understand why you didn't know "The real story* after you titled it that way.

[@MusicaX79]

I guess Randy did a crap job since he sucks at coding.

[@KameariKillScreen]

Stick to what you do well, and dont try and grow too big too fast, especially if you're a raging egomaniac

[@iamnutty8471]

boring , its Wikipedia with graphics