King's Quest project on track

By Ellie Gibson Published 12 December, 2005

Thanks to good old Vivendi.

Good news for those who remember the ancient King's Quest series with fondness - Vivendi has decided not to rain on anyone's parade after all, giving the go ahead to fans developing a new instalment.

When Phoenix Online Studios announced plans to release King's Quest IX: Every Cloak Has A Silver Lining for free at the end of this year, Vivendi's lawyers got narky, issuing a cease and desist order to stop the project in its tracks since Vivendi now owns the rights to King's Quest.

Not to be deterred, KQ fans set up an Internet campaign to try and encourage a change of heart - and it worked.

In a statement, Vivendi said: "After extensive evaluation, Vivendi Universal Games is pleased to announce that the fan developed trilogy project 'The Silver Lining' (previously known as King's Quest IX: Every Cloak Has A Silver Lining), based on characters from Sierra Entertainment's King's Quest series, has been given approval to continue development.

"We look forward to seeing the first of its three upcoming chapters, 'Shadows', completed soon."

So how soon is soon? Well, Shadows will be out some time in 2006, according to the official website. Hurrah!

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (10) Latest comment 7 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • bootsy_NL_30 #1 7 years ago

    wow those are some crappy screenshots

    check the one screenshot called:

    "a casual encounter"

    shudder

    this is really really tacky , but on the other hand its cool that fans can take over am old frachise like this (Ulitma VII follow ups would be a cool idea)I have to say kings quest I-III were kind of fun, Roger Wilco was just better
    Edited by bootsy_NL_30 at 12/12/05 @ 15:06

  • dbeamish #2 7 years ago

    nuts to you, ya graphics whore..

    Loved the original series of all the *Quest games.. Police Quest, Space Quest, Kings Quest.. and even Leisure Suit Larry was good.

  • Dynamize #3 7 years ago

    Graphics look fine to me, though I'll agree the "casual encounter" seems the weakest of the bunch.
    I always preferred the Quest For Glory games meself. Shadows of Darkness was definitive with lovely old John Rhys-Davies' narration.

  • Ignatius_Cheese #4 7 years ago

    King's Quest was a top series until KQVIII came out... Bad move. Possibilities of rekindling my love for an old Sierra series? Minimal... :o/

  • Frogger #5 7 years ago

    I want Space Quest !

  • duffers #6 7 years ago

    VGA King Quests are better than crappy text based version.
    Edited by duffers at 12/12/05 @ 16:43

  • bootsy_NL_30 #7 7 years ago

    @dbeamish

    I'm a graphics whore because I dont think the quality of those shots are up to scratch!? geez I mean if I criticised say Quake IV for using much brown I could understand calling me a graphics whore ...but this....

    actually if I look at them again , maybe I should have been more specific the art direction or style is just horendous

    but then I kind of feel like a prick for knocking this ,since these guys are busy with a labour of love

  • KraftWerk #8 7 years ago

    Well, the graphics are far better than most fan-based-projects I've seen (fan as in enthusiastic person, not air relocation device). As long as I understand what's going on and the plot is well written, all is well in my book.

  • Repsode #9 7 years ago

    Well all I can say is, I can't complain about the graphics, not bad for a game you're not paying for. If the story's good, then I'll have no problems. Also, the name change seems weird, why would they demand it if they weren't thinking of making their own KQIX?
    Food for thought?

  • Ignatius_Cheese #10 7 years ago

    @bootsy - If your problem is with the art style of this game then you would most likely have a problem with the entire King's Quest series! This project seems to emulate the old style of KQ quite well altho, as I have previously said, if it ain't like it was in them olden days then they can keep it. "Point and click" style adventure for me please. Not some rubbish online hack-'em-up with no depth of comedy at all. I will of course reserve judgment before condemning this "yet to be released" title... :o)