That rare KQIV version

[Rakeesh]

I understand that there have been at least 3 different major versions of KQIV.

The "standard" version is the SCI one. Except that, there is another rare SCI version (early? late?) with different "redesigned" graphics. Its version number looks a bit strange, like 3.01111111 or something and of course there is the AGI version which is also rare.

I would like to know the background of the rare SCI version wtih the "different" graphics. Was it an early version which used draft graphics and was never sold, but eventually leaked online by hackers/preservers/collectors? Or was it a normal release that was so desatisfactory that the designers had to redesign the screens?

I had once seen on a website a comparison between the two versions, they were quite different, but could not say which was better or worse. At some points the "rare" version seemed to have some better screens than the standard SCI release, and really made me wonder why they had to change it.

Also, I would appreciate any guidance on how to obtain these two rare versions (rare SCI and AGI), even digitally.

edit: I have the impression that the matter of that version had already been mentioned in an old thread years ago.

[Collector]

Remember that KQ4 was the first SCI game. The two main SCI releases are 1.000.111 (09/24/88) and 1.006.004 (08/07/89). The first version could not be patched simply by placing the new resource in the game's folder. Sierra quickly learned the advantage of having the game look in its folder before the archive. I imagine that the PICs are probably identical to 1.000.111, which is the less common version. I have no information on why the PICs were updated, but I would guess that they realized they could be more subtle with SCI. I have a few examples of the differences on the the SCI Wiki:

http://sciwiki.sierrahelp.com/index.php ... of_Rosella

Note that the page is only a stub waiting more information, but you can compare the PIC differences. 1.006.004 has a greater sense of depth and is not as heavy handed with detail. The features nearer the horizon start blending more with the sky. In the screen by the pool, you will see that the two small shrubs in front have been removed. I am not sure that this in and of itself changes much, but the shrubs' shadows did not match the rest of the lighting. The shadows of the pillars shows the light coming more from a sidelong point (later in the afternoon) and the shrubs' is that from high noon.

There were also two releases of the AGI version. v2.0 (07/27/88) and v2.2 (09/27/88). 2.2 had the copyright bypass and the "BEAM ME" Easter egg removed. Though I have not compared all PIC resources, there are no graphical differences between the two that I am aware of.

[gumby]

Yeah, my impression is that they built a new engine and went nuts with the detail on the initial version. I've always been impressed with Sierra's use of negative space - that's the major difference I see between the image sets. The 2nd version seems to incorporate more dark colors, leaving more for the imagination.

[Collector]

I've always been impressed with Sierra's use of negative space - that's the major difference I see between the image sets. The 2nd version seems to incorporate more dark colors, leaving more for the imagination.

It really does give it more depth.

[Tawmis]

Well, except the night pool scene is better in the older version I think.

KQ4-103-1 000 111


KQ4-103-1 006 004



To me that first image looks more like night time to me... probably because the edge of the pool is darker and not the same color it is in the daylight.

[Collector]

The difference is that in the 1.006.004 scene the nighttime PIC used is just an overlay PIC of the night sky laid over the daytime PIC. In the ealier version it is a whole new PIC. I don't have a save game for 1.006.004 to see if they had done something with the palette to darken the rest of the PIC like they did in SCI1 games.

[Constantin35]

It might have been this page, that you once saw:
http://queststudios.com/smf/index.php?topic=2802.0

It is stated there, that they changed the Pics to cram the content on 8 instead of 9 5,25" disks.

Finding them is still possible on EBay. Most sellers don't mention the version, but normally at least one photo shot is taken of the disks. And there you can read the version number.
If not, you might be able to count the included disks:

4 3,5" and 9 5,25" disks is the 1.000.111 SCI Version
4 3,5" and 8 5,25" disks is the 1.006.004 SCI Version
3 3,5" and 6 5,25" disks are the 2.0, 2.2 or 2.3 AGI Version

Best wishes,
C.

[Constantin35]

There are currently the 1.000.111 SCI Version and the AGI Version (unclear, if 2.0, 2.2 or both) for Sale on Ebay:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/271270843777
http://www.ebay.de/itm/271270844679

The AGI Version comes in a SCI-Version Box, has a 5,25" disk set with AGI 2.2 printed on the labels, and a 3,5" disk set with manually corrected AGI 2.0 on the printed labels.