Roberta Williams
Encyclopedia
Roberta Williams is an American
video game designer. She is most famous for her pioneering work in graphical adventure games, particularly the King's Quest
series.
, were leading figures in the development of graphical adventure games. They founded the company On-Line Systems, which later became Sierra On-Line
. Their contributions to gaming were partially chronicled in the book Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution
.
Williams was instrumental in writing and designing several popular games for Sierra, including the entire King's Quest series, The Colonel's Bequest
, Mixed-Up Mother Goose
, and Phantasmagoria. Though Sierra was sold in 1996, Williams' production credits date to 1998.
Roberta posed for the cover of the game Softporn Adventure
by Chuck Benton, published by On-line Systems. She also posed much later with her children as Mother Goose
for the cover photograph of Mixed-Up Mother Goose
. The end sequence of Leisure Suit Larry 3
features her as an in-game character.
Roberta and Ken married on November 4, 1972 when she was 19, and Ken just turned 18. They have two children, D.J. (b. 1973) and Chris (b. 1979). The Williams family have homes in Seattle and Mexico.
Since her retirement in 1998, she has stayed away from the public eye and rarely gives interviews to talk about her past with Sierra On-Line. However, in a 2006 interview, she admitted that her favorite game she created was Phantasmagoria
and not King's Quest, "If I could only pick one game, I would pick Phantasmagoria, as I enjoyed working on it immensely and it was so very challenging (and I love to be challenged!). However, in my heart, I will always love the King’s Quest series and, especially, King’s Quest I, since it was the game that really 'made' Sierra On-Line."
Williams has often stated that her games are explicitly targeted toward a more affluent and educated audience than other games, raising criticisms of elitism
. In a 1999 Gamer's Depot interview, she summed up her feelings:
In a 2006 interview, Williams said that designing computer games is in the past for her now and that she intends to write a historical novel
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
video game designer. She is most famous for her pioneering work in graphical adventure games, particularly the King's Quest
King's Quest
King's Quest is an adventure game series created by the American software company Sierra Entertainment. It is widely considered a classic series from the golden era of adventure games. Following the success of its first installment, the series was primarily responsible for building the reputation...
series.
Career
In the 1980s and 1990s, Roberta and her husband, Ken WilliamsKen Williams (gaming)
Ken Williams is an American game programmer and co-founded On-Line Systems, which later became Sierra On-Line, together with his wife Roberta Williams. Roberta and Ken married at the age of 19 and have two children...
, were leading figures in the development of graphical adventure games. They founded the company On-Line Systems, which later became Sierra On-Line
Sierra Entertainment
Sierra Entertainment Inc. was an American video-game developer and publisher founded in 1979 as On-Line Systems by Ken and Roberta Williams...
. Their contributions to gaming were partially chronicled in the book Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution
Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution
Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution is a book by Steven Levy about hacker culture. It was published in 1984 in Garden City, New York by Anchor Press/Doubleday...
.
Williams was instrumental in writing and designing several popular games for Sierra, including the entire King's Quest series, The Colonel's Bequest
The Colonel's Bequest
The Colonel's Bequest is a computer game published by Sierra On-Line in 1989. This graphic adventure game was the first of the short-lived Laura Bow Mysteries series created by Roberta Williams and used many elements from the original Mystery House. It was created with SCI0. It uses 4-bit color ...
, Mixed-Up Mother Goose
Mixed-Up Mother Goose
Roberta Williams' Mixed-Up Mother Goose is a computer game first released by Sierra On-Line in 1987. It is, in essence, an edutainment title, directed specifically at young gamers, as well as an adventure game.-Plot:...
, and Phantasmagoria. Though Sierra was sold in 1996, Williams' production credits date to 1998.
Roberta posed for the cover of the game Softporn Adventure
Softporn Adventure
Softporn Adventure was a comedic, adult-oriented text adventure game produced for the Apple II in 1981. The game was created by Charles Benton and released by On-Line Systems....
by Chuck Benton, published by On-line Systems. She also posed much later with her children as Mother Goose
Mother Goose
The familiar figure of Mother Goose is an imaginary author of a collection of fairy tales and nursery rhymes which are often published as Mother Goose Rhymes. As a character, she appears in one "nursery rhyme". A Christmas pantomime called Mother Goose is often performed in the United Kingdom...
for the cover photograph of Mixed-Up Mother Goose
Mixed-Up Mother Goose
Roberta Williams' Mixed-Up Mother Goose is a computer game first released by Sierra On-Line in 1987. It is, in essence, an edutainment title, directed specifically at young gamers, as well as an adventure game.-Plot:...
. The end sequence of Leisure Suit Larry 3
Leisure Suit Larry 3: Passionate Patti in Pursuit of the Pulsating Pectorals
Leisure Suit Larry III: Passionate Patti in Pursuit of the Pulsating Pectorals is the third entry in the Leisure Suit Larry series of graphical adventure games published by Sierra Entertainment. It was developed for multiple platforms including DOS, Atari ST and Amiga...
features her as an in-game character.
Roberta and Ken married on November 4, 1972 when she was 19, and Ken just turned 18. They have two children, D.J. (b. 1973) and Chris (b. 1979). The Williams family have homes in Seattle and Mexico.
Since her retirement in 1998, she has stayed away from the public eye and rarely gives interviews to talk about her past with Sierra On-Line. However, in a 2006 interview, she admitted that her favorite game she created was Phantasmagoria
Phantasmagoria (computer game)
Phantasmagoria was a notable outing for designer Roberta Williams, best known for her family games like the King's Quest series. Featuring graphic gore, violence, and a rape scene, the game stirred controversy over age restrictions and target audiences in the maturing game industry. It was banned...
and not King's Quest, "If I could only pick one game, I would pick Phantasmagoria, as I enjoyed working on it immensely and it was so very challenging (and I love to be challenged!). However, in my heart, I will always love the King’s Quest series and, especially, King’s Quest I, since it was the game that really 'made' Sierra On-Line."
Williams has often stated that her games are explicitly targeted toward a more affluent and educated audience than other games, raising criticisms of elitism
Elitism
Elitism is the belief or attitude that some individuals, who form an elite — a select group of people with intellect, wealth, specialized training or experience, or other distinctive attributes — are those whose views on a matter are to be taken the most seriously or carry the most...
. In a 1999 Gamer's Depot interview, she summed up her feelings:
In a 2006 interview, Williams said that designing computer games is in the past for her now and that she intends to write a historical novel
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
.
Works
- Mystery HouseMystery HouseMystery House is an adventure computer game released in 1980 by Roberta and Ken Williams for the Apple II. The game is remembered as one of the first adventure games to feature computer graphics and the first game produced by On-Line Systems, the company which would evolve into Sierra On-Line...
(1980) - Wizard and the PrincessWizard and the PrincessWizard and the Princess, also known as Adventure in Serenia, is a 1980 computer game by On-Line Systems for the Apple II and Apple II Plus. It is the second title released in On-Line Systems' "Hi-Res Adventure" series after Mystery House...
(1980) - Mission AsteroidMission AsteroidMission Asteroid is a graphic adventure game released in 1980 by On-Line Systems, now known as Sierra Entertainment. It was released as Hi-Res Adventure #0, despite being released after Mystery House....
(1981) - The Dark CrystalThe Dark Crystal (computer game)The Dark Crystal is a graphic adventure computer game based on Jim Henson's fantasy film, The Dark Crystal. The game was designed by Roberta Williams and published under the SierraVenture line in 1983 as Hi-Res Adventure #6: The Dark Crystal...
(1982) - Time ZoneTime Zone (computer game)Time Zone is a multi-disk graphical adventure game written and directed by Roberta Williams for the Apple II. Developed in 1981 and released in 1982 by On-Line Systems , the game was shipped with six double sided floppy disks and contained 1,500 areas to explore along with 39 scenarios to solve...
(1982) - King's Quest I: Quest for the CrownKing's Quest I: Quest for the CrownKing's Quest: Quest for the Crown is a 1984 adventure game, originally published for the IBM PCjr simply as King's Quest. The story and the general design of the game was developed by Roberta Williams....
(1984) - Mickey's Space AdventureMickey's Space AdventureMickey's Space Adventure was a graphic adventure computer game for a number of computer platforms. It was created by Al Lowe and released by Sierra Entertainment in 1984...
(1984) - King's Quest II: Romancing the ThroneKing's Quest II: Romancing the ThroneKing's Quest II: Romancing the Throne is the second installment in the King's Quest series created by Sierra Entertainment...
(1985) - King's Quest III: To Heir Is HumanKing's Quest III: To Heir Is HumanKing's Quest III: To Heir Is Human is the third installment in the King's Quest series of computer games produced by Sierra On-Line. It was the first game in the series not to feature King Graham as the player character....
(1986) - King's Quest IV: The Perils of RosellaKing's Quest IV: The Perils of RosellaKing's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella, released in 1988, was the first major graphical computer adventure game with a female protagonist. The player takes on the role of Princess Rosella, daughter of King Graham of Daventry and the twin sister of Gwydion/Alexander...
(1988) - Mixed-Up Mother GooseMixed-Up Mother GooseRoberta Williams' Mixed-Up Mother Goose is a computer game first released by Sierra On-Line in 1987. It is, in essence, an edutainment title, directed specifically at young gamers, as well as an adventure game.-Plot:...
(1987) - Laura Bow: The Colonel's BequestThe Colonel's BequestThe Colonel's Bequest is a computer game published by Sierra On-Line in 1989. This graphic adventure game was the first of the short-lived Laura Bow Mysteries series created by Roberta Williams and used many elements from the original Mystery House. It was created with SCI0. It uses 4-bit color ...
(1989) - King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder!King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder!King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder! is a 1990 adventure game released by Sierra. Released in November 1990, it featured a significant improvement in graphics . It was also the first King's Quest installment to replace the typing user interface with a point-and-click user interface...
(1990) - King's Quest 1: Quest for the Crown (Remake)King's Quest I: Quest for the CrownKing's Quest: Quest for the Crown is a 1984 adventure game, originally published for the IBM PCjr simply as King's Quest. The story and the general design of the game was developed by Roberta Williams....
(1990) - Mixed-Up Mother Goose MultimediaMixed-Up Mother GooseRoberta Williams' Mixed-Up Mother Goose is a computer game first released by Sierra On-Line in 1987. It is, in essence, an edutainment title, directed specifically at young gamers, as well as an adventure game.-Plot:...
(1990) - Laura Bow in The Dagger of Amon RaThe Dagger of Amon RaRoberta Williams' Laura Bow in: The Dagger of Amon Ra is a computer game published by Sierra On-Line in 1992. The game is the second and final installment in the Laura Bow Mysteries line of adventure games, the first of which was The Colonel's Bequest...
(1992) - King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone TomorrowKing's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone TomorrowKing's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow is the sixth installment in the King's Quest series of adventure games produced by Sierra Entertainment...
(1992) - King's Quest VII: The Princeless BrideKing's Quest VII: The Princeless BrideKing's Quest VII: The Princeless Bride is an adventure game released in 1994 by Sierra On-Line. It featured high-resolution graphics in a style reminiscent of Disney animated films...
(1994) - Mixed-Up Mother Goose DeluxeMixed-Up Mother GooseRoberta Williams' Mixed-Up Mother Goose is a computer game first released by Sierra On-Line in 1987. It is, in essence, an edutainment title, directed specifically at young gamers, as well as an adventure game.-Plot:...
(1994) - Phantasmagoria (1995)
- Shivers (1995)
- King's Quest: Mask of EternityKing's Quest: Mask of EternityKing's Quest: Mask of Eternity is a "3D Adventure" written and designed by Roberta Williams and released in 1998 by Sierra Studios, is the eighth, and at present remains the final, official computer game in the famous King's Quest series...
(1998)
External links
- Ken and Roberta Williams page
- Article at The Dot Eaters featuring Williams and an early history of Sierra
- Interview with husband Ken Williams 1996
- Interview with RW 1997
- Interview with Roberta Williams at WomenGamers.com 2000
- Interview with husband Ken Williams(German) 2003
- Interview with husband KW March 2006
- Interview with RW, July 2006