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{{about|the video game series|the first game|Space Quest I{{!}}''Space Quest I''|other uses|Space Quest (disambiguation)}}
{{about|the video game series|the first game|Space Quest I{{!}}''Space Quest I''|other uses|Space Quest (disambiguation)}}
{{italic title}}
{{italic title}}
[[File:Space Quest logo.gif|thumb|''Space Quest'']]


'''''Space Quest''''' is a series of six [[comic science fiction]] [[adventure game]]s released between 1986 and 1995. The games follow the adventures of a hapless [[janitor]] named [[#Protagonist|Roger Wilco]], who campaigns through the galaxy for "truth, justice, and really clean floors".
{{Infobox video game series
| width =
| title = Space Quest
| collapsible =
| state =
| image = File:Space Quest logo.gif
| caption =
| platforms = [[MS-DOS]], [[Windows]], [[Macintosh]]
| developer = [[Sierra On-Line]], [[Dynamix]]
| publisher = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| genre = [[Point-and-click adventure]]
| spinoffs =
| creator = [[Mark Crowe]], [[Scott Murphy (video game designer)|Scott Murphy]]
| producer =
| artist =
| writer =
| composer =
| first release version = 1986
| first release date =
| latest release version =
| latest release date = 1995
}}


Initially created for [[Sierra Entertainment|Sierra On-Line]] by [[Mark Crowe]] and [[Scott Murphy (video game designer)|Scott Murphy]] (who called themselves the "Two Guys from Andromeda"), the games parodied both [[science fiction]] properties such as ''[[Star Wars]]'' and ''[[Star Trek]]'' (the theme song itself is a parody of the ''Star Wars'' theme), as well as pop-culture phenomena from [[McDonald's]] to [[Microsoft]]. The series featured a silly sense of humor heavily reliant on puns and wacky storylines. Roger Wilco, a perpetual loser, is often depicted as the underdog who repeatedly saves the universe (often by accident), only to be either ignored or punished for violating minor regulations in the process.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/the-20-year-estrangement-of-the-two-guys-from-andromeda#close-modal |title=The 20-Year Estrangement of the Two Guys from Andromeda |author=Leigh Alexander |publisher=Game Developer |date=2012-05-31 |accessdate=2024-04-13}}</ref>
'''''Space Quest''''' is a series of six [[comic science fiction]] [[Adventure_game#Point-and-click_adventure_games|adventure games]] released between 1986 and 1995. The games follow the adventures of a hapless janitor named Roger Wilco who finds himself entangled in intergalactic plots.


==Development==
Initially created for [[Sierra Entertainment|Sierra On-Line]] by [[Mark Crowe]] and [[Scott Murphy (video game designer)|Scott Murphy]] (who called themselves the "Two Guys from Andromeda"), the games parody science fiction properties such as ''[[Star Wars]]'' and ''[[Star Trek]]'' as well as pop-culture phenomena from [[McDonald's]] to [[Microsoft]]. The series' sense of humor is characterized by puns and farcical storylines. Roger Wilco is depicted as an underdog who saves the universe (often by accident), only to be ignored or punished for violating minor regulations in the process.
{{citation needed span|[[Scott Murphy (video game designer)|Scott Murphy]] and [[Mark Crowe]], who had already worked together on the [[Sierra Entertainment|Sierra]] game ''[[The Black Cauldron (video game)|The Black Cauldron]]'', wanted to create a humorous science fiction adventure game. They also wanted it to star a janitor (a choice possibly inspired by the mop-wielding main character from [[Infocom]]'s humorous sci-fi text adventure ''[[Planetfall]]'').|date=May 2025}}


Murphy commented that "Sierra was in a mindset where everything was medieval and it was all fairly serious. I wanted to do a game that was more fun. We even liked the idea of 'fun death'! I mean, if the player is gonna die or fail, they should at least get a laugh out of it. So we came up with the idea of making death amusing. Let's face it, most adventure games involve a good deal of frustration for the player. But we felt that if we made failure fun, to an extent, you might have players actually going back and looking for new ways to die, just to see what happens!"<ref name=":1" />
The ''Space Quest'' games have been called "beloved cult classics" and influential adventure games of their era. Numerous collections of the games have been released since the 1990s, and the games continue to be sold on modern storefronts.<ref name="GameDeveloper">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/the-20-year-estrangement-of-the-two-guys-from-andromeda#close-modal |title=The 20-Year Estrangement of the Two Guys from Andromeda |author=Leigh Alexander |publisher=Game Developer |date=2012-05-31 |accessdate=2024-04-13}}</ref><ref name="MobyGamesSeries">{{cite web |title=Space Quest series |url=https://www.mobygames.com/group/4/space-quest-series/ |website=MobyGames |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref>


Crowe noted, "We wanted to do two things for the player. One, we wanted him to feel as if he were in a movie, where he could just sort of kick back and enjoy the scenery. We also wanted the player to feel as if he really was the character on the screen."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Space Quest (Franchise) |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/space-quest/3025-340/ |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=Giant Bomb |language=en}}</ref>
==Development==
Mark Crowe and Scott Murphy met at Sierra. Crowe already worked at the company in marketing, and Murphy joined as a programmer. Both shared an interest in science fiction and felt that Sierra needed a game to distinguish from fantasy-themed titles such as Sierra's flagship ''[[King's Quest (series)|King's Quest]]'' and ''[[The Black Cauldron (video game)|The Black Cauldron]]'', the latter they both worked on. The two also felt the studio released games with serious storylines and lacked a comedy game, with a protagonist who was a "regular guy" rather than a hero.


{{citation needed span|Although skeptical, [[Ken Williams (gaming)|Ken Williams]] gave the idea a shot. Scott and Mark created a short demo, which ended up becoming the first four rooms of ''[[Space Quest I]]'', at which point Williams gave the project the green light.|date=May 2025}}
{{Quote box
 
|quote  = "Sierra was in a mindset where everything was medieval and it was all fairly serious. I wanted to do a game that was more fun. We even liked the idea of 'fun death'! I mean, if the player is gonna die or fail, they should at least get a laugh out of it." |author = Scott Murphy<ref name="SQCollectionHistory">{{cite book |title=The History of Space Quest (document included in the collection "Space Quest Collection Series: Starring Roger Wilco") |date=1997 |publisher=Sierra On-Line |url=https://archive.org/details/the-history-of-space-quest |access-date=25 September 2025}}</ref>
Both ''Space Quest I'' and ''II'' were developed in [[Adventure Game Interpreter]], Sierra's own programming language. ''[[Space Quest III]]'' was written in [[Sierra's Creative Interpreter|Sierra's Creative Interpreter (SCI)]], which had [[3D computer graphics|3-D]] capabilities. ''Space Quest IV'' marked an evolution in terms of graphics by increasing the number of colors from 16 to 256.<ref>{{cite book|last=Champion|first=Jill|author2=Leinecker, Richard C. |title=The Official Guide to Roger Wilco Space Adventures|year=1991|publisher=Compute Books|isbn= 0-87455-237-0}}</ref>
|width  = 33%
 
|align  = left
== Protagonist==
}}
{{citation needed span|Roger Wilco is a fictional character and the protagonist of the ''Space Quest'' series, introduced in ''Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter'' in 1986. Roger is depicted as a bumbling but well-meaning [[everyman]] character. He is a spacefaring janitor who has a tendency to attract trouble and stumble into dangerous or interesting situations. Despite saving the universe on multiple occasions, he seems unable to gain any respect from society, and works as some type of "sanitation engineer" throughout the series.|date=May 2025}}


{{citation needed span|The character's name is a reference to [[voice procedure]], one of many puns in the series (it means "receiving you, will comply"). The first two ''Space Quest'' games allowed the player to choose the character's name, which defaulted to Roger Wilco if left blank. This feature was later removed in the [[Video game remake|remake]] of the first game.|date=May 2025}}
Sierra management was reluctant to greenlight a science fiction comedy game, thinking it would not sell, and studio head [[Ken Williams (game developer)|Ken Williams]] turned down the first game pitch in 1985. Crowe and Murphy created a short prototype in their free time and pitched Williams again, who was finally convinced.


{{citation needed span|Roger is originally a janitor from the planet Xenon of the Earnon system. He is first introduced as the janitor and sole survivor of the scientific research ship ''Arcada'', which was overrun by the apparently hostile Sariens. After several extremely deadly adventures and a bit of janitorial work, he enters the StarCon Academy. Graduating in ''Space Quest V'', he is promoted from a janitor to captain of the garbage scow ''SCS Eureka''. He also meets Beatrice Creakworm Wankmeister, with whom he becomes romantically involved. In ''Space Quest 6'', his spot in the limelight ends as he is busted back down to janitor and assigned to the backwoods of the cosmos.|date=May 2025}}
''Space Quest I'' was developed in Sierra's in-house [[Adventure Game Interpreter|AGI]] engine. The game was designed by "trial and error" as game development was still a new discipline and not formalized. Both writing and artwork were improvised throughout development, with the game being updated throughout even the [[quality assurance]] process.<ref>{{cite book|last=Champion|first=Jill|author2=Leinecker, Richard C. |title=The Official Guide to Roger Wilco Space Adventures|year=1991|publisher=Compute Books|isbn= 0-87455-237-0}}</ref><ref name="IGNRetrospective">{{cite web |last1=Andreadis |first1=Kosta |title=A Year of Adventure #3: Space Quest I & II |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/24/a-year-of-adventure-3-space-quest-i-ii |website=IGN |date=24 February 2014 |access-date=25 September 2025}}</ref><ref name="SQCollectionHistory"/>
 
{{citation needed span|According to ''Space Quest IV'', Roger would eventually marry Beatrice and they would have a son (Roger Wilco Jr.) who would later travel back in time to save Roger's life. Beatrice is absent from ''Space Quest 6'', but she is mentioned in the game's closing credits and by Roger himself. By the time of the fictional ''Space Quest XII'', when Roger Jr. would be a young adult, Roger would be "unavailable" for some reason. The details are never disclosed.|date=May 2025}}
 
While Roger retains his basic appearance and sustains no lasting damage from his [[swashbuckling]] and repeated near-mutilations, his hair begins the series brown and changes to [[blond]]e in the upgrade between parts ''III'' and ''IV''. (The same has happened to fellow adventure protagonists [[Guybrush Threepwood]] and [[Devon Aidendale]], in Devon's case to the other direction.) While this [[retcon]] is never addressed in the game itself, it spawned a full-fledged fan game, ''Space Quest: The Lost Chapter''.<ref name="Tringham2014">{{cite book|author=Neal Roger Tringham|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QH3SBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA119|title=Science Fiction Video Games|date=10 September 2014|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-4822-0389-9|pages=119–}}</ref>
 
Including him on the 2004 list of "top ten working class heroes", ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' opined that "for a hero that Ken Williams (co-founder of Sierra) was initially unimpressed with, Roger Wilco has become a classic cult figure."<ref>''Retro Gamer'', p. 35.{{verify source|date=August 2023|reason=Retro Gamer is a periodical so the lack of date or issue number doesn't allow to verify it}}</ref>


==Games==
==Games==
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===''Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter''===
===''Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter''===
{{unreferenced-section|date=May 2025}}
{{main|Space Quest I|l1=''Space Quest I''}}
{{main|Space Quest I|l1=''Space Quest I''}}


The original ''Space Quest'' game was released in October 1986 and quickly became a hit, selling in excess of 100,000 copies (sales are believed to be around 200,000 to date, not including the many compilations it has been included in). A remake was released in 1991 as ''Space Quest I: Roger Wilco in the Sarien Encounter''.
The original ''Space Quest'' game was released in October 1986 as an intentional departure from Sierra's more serious, medieval-themed games.<ref>{{cite book|last=Purcaru|first=John Bogdan|title=Games vs. Hardware. The History of PC video games: The 80's|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lB4PAwAAQBAJ&q=everything+at+Sierra+was+so+somber+and+had+an+almost+medieval+atmosphere.+So+we+decided+%27Why+not+make+a+fun%2C+silly+game&pg=PA296|location=[[Google Books]]|page=296|date=29 January 2014|access-date=11 December 2016}}</ref> A remake was released in 1991 as ''Space Quest I: Roger Wilco in the Sarien Encounter''.


===''Space Quest II: Vohaul's Revenge''===
===''Space Quest II: Vohaul's Revenge''===
{{unreferenced-section|date=May 2025}}
{{main|Space Quest II|l1=''Space Quest II''}}
{{main|Space Quest II|l1=''Space Quest II''}}


Released in 1987; Roger, with his newfound status of Hero, is transferred to the Xenon Orbital Station 4 and promoted to head (and only) janitor. All is quiet until he is abducted by Sludge Vohaul, who was behind the original Sarien attack of the ''Arcada''. As Roger is being transported to the Labion labour mines as punishment for thwarting Sludge's original plan, the prison ship crash-lands in a nearby jungle upon the planet. Our hero manages to escape his pursuers and the dangers of the Labion jungle and soon reaches Sludge's asteroid base. Once again, it's up to Roger alone to stop Vohaul's evil plan: to eradicate sentient life from Xenon by launching millions of cloned insurance salesmen at the planet.
Released in 1987, ''Space Quest II'' follows Roger Wilco a few months after the events of the first game. The sequel was well received and seen by critics as an improvement over the first.


===''Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon''===
===''Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon''===
{{unreferenced-section|date=May 2025}}
{{main|Space Quest III|l1=''Space Quest III''}}
{{main|Space Quest III|l1=''Space Quest III''}}


Released in 1989; Roger's escape pod from the end of ''Space Quest II'' is captured by an automated garbage freighter. He escapes the robot-controlled scow by repairing an old ship, the ''Aluminum Mallard'' (a play on [[Howard Hughes]]' "[[Spruce Goose]]" and ''[[Star Wars]]''' ''[[Millennium Falcon]]''). He eventually discovers the sinister activities of a video game company known as ScumSoft run by the "Pirates of Pestulon".
The third ''Space Quest'' game, released in 1989, was the first to be developed with Sierra's [[Sierra Creative Interpreter|SCI]] engine, the successor to the earlier AGI engine, and was the first ''Space Quest'' game to feature sound card support.


===''Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers''===
===''Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers''===
{{unreferenced-section|date=May 2025}}
{{main|Space Quest IV|l1=''Space Quest IV''}}
{{main|Space Quest IV|l1=''Space Quest IV''}}
 
''Space Quest IV'' debuted in 1991, and would be the first ''Space Quest'' game to release on CD-ROM the following year. The game featured 256-color graphics, a point-and-click interface, and the CD-ROM release included recorded voice acting.
Released in 1991; in this installment, Roger embarks on a time-travel adventure through ''Space Quest'' games both real and fictional. A reborn Sludge Vohaul from the fictional ''Space Quest XII: Vohaul's Revenge II'' chases Roger through time in an attempt to finally kill him. Roger also visits settings from the fictional ''Space Quest X: Latex Babes of Estros'' (whose title is a parody of [[Infocom]]'s game ''[[Leather Goddesses of Phobos]]'') and from ''Space Quest I''; in the latter, the graphics and music revert to the style of the original game and Roger is threatened by a group of monochromatic bikers who consider Roger's 256 colors to be pretentious (or comment on other graphics modes if played in EGA or monochrome).
 
The games ''Space Quest XII: Vohaul's Revenge II'' and ''Space Quest X: Latex Babes of Estros'' were never actually developed or released as full games, they exist only internally in ''Space Quest IV''.


===''Space Quest V: Roger Wilco – The Next Mutation''===
===''Space Quest V: Roger Wilco – The Next Mutation''===
{{main|Space Quest V|l1=''Space Quest V''}}
{{main|Space Quest V|l1=''Space Quest V''}}


{{citation needed span|Released in 1993: in ''Space Quest V'', Roger is now a cadet in the StarCon academy. He graduates (or rather, cheats through the final exam) and is appointed captain of his own spacecraft (actually a space garbage scow). The main plot is to stop a mutagenic disease that is spreading through the galaxy by discovering its source, and fighting everyone that got infected. In the end, the disease infected the crew members of the ''SCS Goliath'', a powerful warship, whose commander, Raemes T. Quirk (a rather blatant spoof of [[James T. Kirk|Captain Kirk]]), subsequently attacks the ''Eureka''. In the end, Roger sacrifices his ship to get rid of the plague – and suddenly, if temporarily, becomes the commander of the fleet's flagship.|date=May 2025}}
Released in 1993, ''Space Quest V'' was the first ''Space Quest'' game to be developed outside of Sierra and the first to be developed without Scott Murphy. The game's development was led by Mark Crowe at Dynamix, a subsidiary of Sierra.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/interviews/234/ |title=Adventure Classic Gaming |author=Cris Skelton, Philip Jong |publisher=Adventure Classic Gaming |date=2006-11-10 |accessdate=2024-04-13}}</ref>
 
{{citation needed span|Roger's cheating is, along with Raemes T. Quirk, a homage to William Shatner's ''Star Trek'' character, who cheated on his own [[Starfleet]] exam by reprogramming a "no-win" scenario so that he could successfully complete it. In a typical twist of luck, however, Roger's exam scores are still achieved by accident.|date=May 2025}}
 
This entry was the first in the ''Space Quest'' series where only one of the two guys from andromeda, Mark Crowe, lead a ''Space Quest'' project, due to the fact that Scott Murphy was working on other projects.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/interviews/234/ |title=Adventure Classic Gaming |author=Cris Skelton, Philip Jong |publisher=Adventure Classic Gaming |date=2006-11-10 |accessdate=2024-04-13}}</ref>


===''Space Quest 6: Roger Wilco in The Spinal Frontier''===
===''Space Quest 6: Roger Wilco in The Spinal Frontier''===
{{main|Space Quest 6|l1=''Space Quest 6''}}
{{main|Space Quest 6|l1=''Space Quest 6''}}


{{citation needed span|Released in 1995, this game was the last to be released in the ''Space Quest'' series. Having defeated the diabolical pukoid mutants in ''Space Quest V'', Captain Roger Wilco triumphantly returns to StarCon headquarters – only to be court-martialed due to breaking StarCon regulations while saving the galaxy. He's busted down to Janitor Second Class, and assigned to the ''SCS DeepShip 86'' (a parody of ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''), commanded by Commander [[Kielbasa]], a [[Cowardly Lion]] look-alike whose name is taken from the Polish sausage as well as being a play on the names of both the feline [[Kilrathi]] from the video game series [[Wing Commander (franchise)|Wing Commander]] and of the character [[Mufasa]] from the animated motion picture [[The Lion King]]. His voice is a parody of Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard]] from [[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]. The main villain in the game is a wrinkly old lady named Sharpei, a pun on the dog Shar Pei, a wrinkly dog.|date=May 2025}}
The final ''Space Quest'' was released in 1995. The game saw a troubled development, with Sierra employee Josh Mandel leading development and Scott Murphy serving as a consultant. Mark Crowe was not involved.<ref>{{cite web|first=Philip |last=Jong |date=24 April 2006 |url=http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/interviews/196/ |title=Josh Mandel |website=Adventure Classic Gaming |access-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925122909/http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/interviews/196/ |archive-date=25 September 2015 }}</ref>
 
The game's subtitle comes from the final portion, in which Roger has to undergo miniaturization and enter the body of a shipmate and romantic interest. (This segment also provided the game's original subtitle, ''Where in Corpsman Santiago is Roger Wilco?'', which was not used due to legal threats from the makers of the ''[[Carmen Sandiego (video game series)|Carmen Sandiego]]'' products.)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guys from Andromeda » Space Quest 6: Roger Wilco in the Spinal Frontier |url=https://guysfromandromeda.com/space-quest-6-roger-wilco-spinal-frontier/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
{{citation needed span|Sadly, once again, only one of the Two Guys from Andromeda worked on this game. This time though, it was Scott Murphy who sat in the director's chair, more or less. Scott was actually a co-director of ''Space Quest 6'' with another Sierra employee, Josh Mandel, who'd worked on many of the behind-the-scenes aspects of ''Space Quest IV'' and ''V'', as well as helping create the SCI remake of ''King's Quest I''. Josh actually worked on and created the majority of ''Space Quest 6'', and had to step out when the project was already near completion, and that's when Scott Murphy just stepped in and did the rest.|date=May 2025}}
 
===''Space Quest 6: The Spinal Frontier Interactive Demo''===
{{main|Space Quest 6#Development and release|l1=''Space Quest 6''{{spaces}}§{{spaces}}Development and release}}
{{unreferenced-section|date=May 2025}}
The demo for ''Space Quest 6'' is actually a short game unto itself. It uses the Space Quest 6 [[game engine|engine]] and takes place aboard the ''SCS DeepShip 86'' but is a stand-alone adventure. The ship is taken over by [[Borg (Star Trek)|Borg]]-like invaders called the Bjorn, and Wilco must defeat them.


=== In-fiction future sequels ===
===Other releases and appearances===
{{citation needed span|In ''Space Quest IV'', Roger travels into both the past and future of the game's timeline. Even in-game characters are [[metafiction|conscious of living in a video game]], and refer to eras with sequel numbers, not temporal units (such as years), even though specific years are named elsewhere in the ''Space Quest'' [[Canon (fiction)|canon]]. Portions of the game took place in the time frames of the following "sequels":|date=May 2025}}
* A demo for ''Space Quest 6'' was released that, unusually, contains a scenario not included in the full game
* {{citation needed span|''Space Quest X: Latex Babes of Estros'' (a reference to [[Infocom]]'s ''[[Leather Goddesses of Phobos]]''): In this timeframe, Roger or his son, Roger Jr. had had an undetermined affair with Zondra of the Latex Babes, which he ended abruptly. This timeframe contains the planet Estros and the ''Galaxy Galleria'' space station mall.|date=May 2025}}
* Sierra released a bundle of minigames from the ''Space Quest'' series as a collection titled ''Roger Wilco's Spaced Out Game Pack''
* {{citation needed span|''Space Quest XII: Vohaul's Revenge II'': In this timeframe, Vohaul's consciousness has been uploaded in the Xenon Super Computer and infected it like a virus. He took over the planet and is sending his minions back in time to kill Roger Wilco. An underground resistance is formed against him, including his nemesis' son, Roger Wilco Jr.|date=May 2025}}
* The video game ''[[Take a Break! Pinball]]'' features boards inspired by Sierra video games, including three from the ''Space Quest'' series
 
* Sierra's ''[[Hoyle's Official Book of Games]], Volume I'' includes Roger Wilco as a computer opponent, and ''Volume III'' includes Roger as well as the villains Arnoid and Vohaul
These games were never actually created, and only exist within the plot of ''Space Quest IV''. Scott Murphy has stated that he did intend to use these titles if the series had made it that far and the storyline still permitted it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/slashvohaul/status/1111856537989869570|title=Thank you! Yes, unless we'd effed it up so badly in subsequent sequels that they'd already been designed out, but I did indeed imagine this.|last=Murphy|first=Scott|date=2019-03-29|website=@slashvohaul|language=en|access-date=2019-03-30}}</ref>
 
===''Roger Wilco's Spaced Out Game Pack''===
{{unreferenced-section|date=May 2025}}
Budget software including several mini-games taken from the ''Space Quest'' series. Including hoverspeeder, Monolith Burger maker, and Ms. Astro Chicken.
 
===''Planet Pinball''===
{{unreferenced-section|date=May 2025}}
''Planet Pinball'' is a series of three ''Space Quest IV'' themed [[pinball]] boards in [[Take a Break! Pinball]]. The boards include; Level One: Planet Xenon in the Beginning, Level Two: Spaced Travel, Level Three: Reformation Day.
 
===''Hoyle Book of Games''===
{{unreferenced-section|date=May 2025}}
Roger Wilco appears as an opponent in ''[[Hoyle's Official Book of Games]], Volume I''. He has conversations with the other opponents, talking about his adventures in the first three ''Space Quest'' games. Roger Wilco is trapped in the Hoyle game, and is trying to find a way to escape back to his game world.
 
Roger Wilco returns in ''Hoyle 3'', along with bad guy characters, Arnoid and Vohaul, but the characters are limited to talking about the game itself.
 
Roger also appears as an opponent in ''Hoyle Classic Card Games'', the fourth game in the series. Again, interaction is limited to the game only.


==Cancelled games==
==Cancelled games==
{{unreferenced-section|date=May 2025}}
===Seventh ''Space Quest'' game===
===''Space Quest VII: Return to Roman Numerals''===
In early 1997, Sierra began development of a seventh entry in the series with Scott Murphy as director. Employees of Sierra reported that work was underway on a prototype, and Murphy stated that the game would feature multiplayer for the first time.<ref>{{cite web |last=Morrissette |first=Jess |title=Catching Up with Scott Murphy |url=https://wiw.org/~jess/scott112900.html |website=Roger Wilco's Virtual Broomcloset |date=29 November 2000 |access-date=10 October 2025}}</ref>
Sierra tried on several occasions to revive the series for another episode, with a working subtitle of ''The Return to [[Roman Numerals]]'', since the previous game was titled ''Space Quest 6'', not ''Space Quest VI''.
 
Development of ''Space Quest VII'' was underway in 1996 when Sierra released ''The Space Quest Collection'', which consisted of ''Space Quest I'' through ''6'' and included a brief trailer of ''Space Quest VII'' (consisting of Roger strapping a giant rocket to his back and using it to push himself forward on roller skates in a scene reminiscent of [[Wile E. Coyote]]). Little was released regarding story line, interface, et cetera, although there was speculation that the game would introduce a multiplayer aspect. Scott Murphy said during development that ''Space Quest VII'' would contain some [[3D computer graphics|3D]] elements, but would not require the use of a 3D accelerator card. Due to poor sales of ''[[Grim Fandango]]'', a high-profile adventure game by [[LucasArts]], there was a perception that humorous adventure games were no longer viable, so when [[Vivendi]] took over Sierra, ''Space Quest VII'' was cancelled.
 
This project was eventually restarted in 1999, and pitched to management, but ultimately did not have enough support to continue within the company. Few details are known about the ''SQVII'' relaunch, save that there was one very ardent supporter, who later left Vivendi.
 
===''Space Quest''===
Another ''Space Quest'' began development by Escape Factory for the [[Microsoft]] [[Xbox]] video game console in 2002, entitled simply ''Space Quest''.
 
This attempt at creating a new ''Space Quest'' was announced on February 7, 2002. Development proceeded for almost a year and a half before the project was cancelled. According to ''Space Quest 6'' designer Josh Mandel, the ''SQVII'' designers were forbidden from using story elements from the original ''Space Quest'' games or from even playing the games. This is disputable, since other sources claimed the developers had played the games before. Website FYI.com, also claimed that this "gutted" ''SQVII'' would not have been an adventure game at all and would have been released only on game console platforms such as the [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] rather than the [[Personal computer|PC]]. Since then, the Vivendi's Product Manager Bruce Goodwill, has confirmed that the title was going to be released only on console platforms.


The game was planned as a departure from the main ''Space Quest'' series, rumors it starred a new character named "Wilger", although Roger Wilco was playable (as seen in a production video). Though it would have maintained a comedic theme in space, no plan was made to connect it to the original series. It was cancelled around 2023.
In August 1997, Sierra released a ''Space Quest'' collection that included a promotional video announcing a "late 1998" release date for what was then called ''Space Quest 7''. Before the end of the year, however, game development was paused indefinitely in favor of projects believed to be more valuable. Two years later, [[Sierra_Entertainment#Fallout_from_CUC's_acquisition_(1999–2003)|Sierra would see massive layoffs]] and development on a seventh ''Space Quest'' formally ceased.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jebens |first=Harley |title=Space Quest Fan Fights Sierra |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/space-quest-fan-fights-sierra/1100-2462412/ |website=GameSpot |date=28 April 2000 |access-date=10 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Space Quest 7 |url=https://spacequest.net/sq7/ |website=SpaceQuest.net |access-date=23 September 2025}}</ref>


==Collections==
===Untitled Escape Factory game===
{{unreferenced-section|date=May 2025}}
Rumors circulated in 2002 that a developer called Escape Factory was working on a new ''Space Quest'' game. Production assets leaked in subsequent years would confirm the rumor, but the project was never formally announced nor formally confirmed by the developers or Sierra. In contrast to the rest of the series, the game would have been a 3D action-adventure.
* ''The Space Quest Trilogy: Roger Wilco – The Other World Series'' (1992) – a collection containing ''Space Quest'' VGA, ''Space Quest II'' and ''Space Quest III'' on floppy disks.
* ''The Space Quest Saga'' (1993) – This collection contained games I ([[VGA]] remake), II, III and IV all on [[floppy disk]]s.
* ''The Space Quest 15th Anniversary Collector's Edition'' (1994) – Released for Sierra's 15th anniversary, this contained games ''I''-''V'' and ''Roger Wilco's Spaced Out Game Pack'', plus a video featuring the Two Guys from Andromeda and a complete history of the game series. It also contained a few foreign language editions of some of the games. There is also a secret bonus program giving the strange history of the World Famous Talking Bear.
* ''Roger Wilco Unclogged'' (1995) – All the above, plus a humorous "Inside Space Quest" video, but without the Two Guys video
* ''Space Quest Collection Series: Starring Roger Wilco'' (1997) – All six games, plus a preview of episode ''VII''.
* ''Space Quest Collection: A Long Time Ago in A Janitor Closet Far Far Away'' (2006) – Released by Vivendi Universal Games and contains all six games (only the VGA remake of ''SQ1'').
* ''Space Quest 1+2+3 & 4+5+6 collections'' (2010) – Two collections on GoG.com, minus the VGA remake.
* ''Space Quest'' – a ported collection with access to ''Space Quest Collection Legacy'' re-released on Steam (2016)


===Collection bonus material===
Escape Factory canceled the still-unnamed project after a year of development for an unexplained "variety of reasons." Concept art, screenshots, and video footage of early builds of the game have been published online. Industry sources claimed the game was being planned for the [[PlayStation 2]] and [[Xbox]] but not home PCs.<ref name="XboxMagazine">{{cite magazine |title=The Rumor Mole |magazine=Official Xbox Magazine |date=June 2002 |issue=7 |page=26 |url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/ff15d8c8-ea75-4950-8372-ebfbaf8e7197 |access-date=23 September 2025}}</ref><ref name="AdventureGamersRumors">{{cite web |title=Space Quest rumors continued (published 11-14-2002) |url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/newsarchives.php?start=26 |website=Adventure Gamers | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021225063309/http://www.adventuregamers.com/newsarchives.php?start=26 |access-date=23 September 2025 | archive-date=25 December 2002 }}</ref><ref name="Unseen64">{{cite web |title=Space Quest [XBOX PS2 – Cancelled] |url=https://www.unseen64.net/2009/06/11/space-quest-xbox-ps2-cancelled/ |website=Unseen64 |date=11 June 2009 |access-date=23 September 2025}}</ref><ref name="EscapeFactory">{{cite web |title=Escape Factory News |url=http://www.escapefactory.com/news.htm |website=Escape Factory company website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030206085546/http://www.escapefactory.com/news.htm |access-date=23 September 2025 |archive-date=6 February 2003 }}</ref><ref name="SQnetEscapeFactory">{{cite web |title=Escape Factory |url=https://www.spacequest.net/sq7/escapefactory/index.php |website=SpaceQuest.net |access-date=23 September 2025}}</ref>
{{unreferenced-section|date=May 2025}}
* ''Funseeker's Guide to Eastern Madera County''
* ''History of Space Quest''
* ''Inside Space Quest''
 
===''Space Quest Collection''===
Vivendi Universal has re-released the ''Space Quest Collection'' (originally named ''Space Quest Compilation'') that is compatible with [[Windows XP]]. The collection was released on September 15, 2006.<ref>More info can be found at [http://www.sierra.com/en/home/games/game_info.prod-L2NvbnRlbnQvc2llcnJhL2VuL3Byb2R1Y3RzL3NwYWNlX3F1ZXN0.platform-global.html Sierra's Space Quest Collection]</ref>
 
The ''Space Quest'' games were made compatible by the licensing of [[DOSBox]], a free program that allows users to play old DOS games on [[Windows XP]]. The games were re-released as ''Space Quest Collection'' on July 23, 2009 on [[Steam (service)|Steam]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Space Quest Collection |url=https://steamdb.info/app/10110/ |website=SteamDB.info}}</ref> It is so far unavailable in Australia and New Zealand.<ref name=":2" />


==Other media==
==Other media==
''Space Quest'' merchandise included the ''Space Quest III'' [[VHS]] tape and pin, ''Space Quest 6'' mug, calling card and patch and an autographed picture of Roger Wilco.<ref name="http://frostbytei.com">{{cite web|url=http://wiw.org/~jess/rarities.html |title=Space Quest Rarities |publisher=Wiw.org |access-date=2012-05-25}}</ref><ref name="spacequest1">{{cite web|url=http://www.spacequest.net/misc/goodies/ |title=Goodies |publisher=SpaceQuest.Net |access-date=2012-05-25}}</ref>
*''The Adventures of Roger Wilco'' (1992): Adventure Comics, a division of [[Malibu Comics]], released three issues of a ''Space Quest'' comic book. The series adapts the story of ''Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter''.<ref name="ComicBooks">{{cite web |title=Roger Wilco Comic Books |url=https://www.spacequest.net/misc/rwcomic/ |website=SpaceQuest.net |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref>
 
*''The Official Guide to Roger Wilco's Space Adventures'' (1991, 1993): A walkthrough and novelization of the ''Space Quest'' series written by Jill Champion. The first edition (1991) includes ''Space Quest I–IV'', and the second edition (1993) adds coverage of ''Space Quest V''.<ref name="BookReviews">{{cite web |title=Book Reviews |url=https://www.spacequest.net/misc/bookreviews/ |website=SpaceQuest.net |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref>
{{citation needed span|Two strategy guides were released that contained novelizations of the first five games from Roger Wilco's perspective.|date=May 2025}}
*''The Space Quest Companion'' (1992, 1993): A guidebook to the ''Space Quest'' series written by Peter and Jeremy Spear. Like ''The Official Guide'', it combines walkthroughs with story sections told from Roger Wilco’s perspective. The first edition (1992) covers ''Space Quest I–IV''; the second edition (1993) adds ''Space Quest V''.<ref name="BookReviews" />
 
{{citation needed span|The first of these included ''The Space Quest Companion'' by Peter and Jeremy Spear. The book is similar to Peter Spear's ''[[The King's Quest Companion]]'' and ''The Official Uncensored Leisure Suit Larry Bedside Companion''. The first edition covered the first four games (with a preview of SQ5), and the second added the fifth game. It was written from the perspective of Roger Wilco sending journals on disks back into the past, so that his adventures could be made into video games so that his great-grandparents (x-times removed) would have a chance to meet each other and fall in love through their mutual love of the games. Thus, by inspiring the game designers to create the games, he insured his own future existence. Each story began with Roger's daydreams and his fantasies of marrying Cornucopia Agricorp and later Beatrice Wankmeister.|date=May 2025}}
 
{{citation needed span|The other was ''The Official Guide To Roger Wilco's Space Adventures'' by Jill Champion. It is similar to her ''The Official Book of Police Quest''. It came in two editions as well. The book contains two interviews with Roger Wilco (one just after events of ''SQIV'', and the other after ''SQV''). The novels themselves are written as Roger's running monologues during his adventures. The first edition covers ''SQ'' EGA to ''SQIV'', and the second edition covers ''SQI'' remake up until ''SQV''. The novel of SQ1 in the first edition is based on the original SQ1, and the version in the second edition is based on the remake of SQ1.|date=May 2025}}
 
{{citation needed span|[[Adventure Publications|Adventure Comics]] (a division of [[Malibu Comics]]) released three issues in 1992 of a comic based on ''Space Quest I'' under the name ''The Adventures of Roger Wilco''. The first was written by John Shaw and was in full colour. The other two were written by Paul O'Connor and were black and white. The print run was very small, and the books are very hard to find now.|date=May 2025}}


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
''Thy Dungeonman II'', a [[text adventure game]] from the creators of [[Homestar Runner]], uses cover art that depicts the title character holding a mop in the same way Roger Wilco does on the ''Space Quest'' box art. He is also described as a "custodial knight" and the mop is also used to defeat enemies in a maze portion of the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.videlectrix.com/thydungeonman2.html |title=Comes with 3 volume set of Thy Encyclopedias and Reference Guide! |publisher=Videlectrix.com |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref>
''Space Quest'' has been remembered as an influential adventure and comedy game series. Along with other Sierra titles, ''Space Quest'' "defined the form" of point-and-click adventures. Critics have credited the games for being dense with "geeky" humor and for "paving the way" for future comedy adventure games. The series would be referenced by many future games as well as an enduring fan community, known in particular for the release of numerous [[fan games]], such as 2011's ''[[Space Quest: Vohaul Strikes Back]]''.<ref name="GameDeveloper"/><ref name="CobbettReinstall">{{cite journal |last1=Cobbett |first1=Richard |title=Reinstall: Classics of PC Gaming Revisited |journal=PC Gamer |date=September 2011 |issue=217 |pages=82–84 |url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/fe354ec9-ddaf-47f9-aadb-65167550650a |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref><ref name="GameNOW">{{cite journal |title=Top 10 Funniest Games |journal=GameNOW |date=October 2003 |volume=3 |issue=24 |page=106 |url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/fa8dde5a-bd3b-4e87-8625-89c1affe4e55 |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref><ref name="Supercade">{{cite book |last1=Morrissette |first1=Jess |title=Supercade: A Visual History of the Videogame Age 1985-2001 |date=2021 |publisher=Supercade Press |isbn=978-1737983811}}</ref><ref name="CobbettFangames">{{cite web |last1=Cobbett |first1=Richard |title=Space Quest: Roger Wilco Not Over And Out |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/space-quest-roger-wilco-not-over-and-out |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |date=19 January 2012 |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref><ref name="Tringham2014">{{cite book|author=Neal Roger Tringham|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QH3SBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA119|title=Science Fiction Video Games|date=10 September 2014|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-4822-0389-9|pages=119–}}</ref>
 
===Fan-made games===
{{citation needed span|The series has remained popular with Sierra fans, and several fan sites are still active and maintain a community dedicated to the games. There have been several attempts to create a ''Space Quest'' [[fan game]], such as the now-canceled SQ7.org project, and several fan games have actually been released.|date=May 2025}}
 
Games set in the ''Space Quest'' universe:
* ''Space Quest 0: Replicated'' – a prequel to ''Space Quest I''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wiw.org/~jess/replicated.html |title=Space Quest 0: Replicated – Downloads, Hints, and More! |publisher=Wiw.org |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref>
* {{citation needed span|''Space Quest: The Lost Chapter'' – set between the second and third games.|date=May 2025}}
* ''Space Quest IV.5: Roger Wilco And The Voyage Home'' – set between the fourth and fifth game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spacequestiv5.pytalhost.at |title=Space Quest IV.5 Roger Wilco and The Voyage Home |publisher=Spacequestiv5.pytalhost.at |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref>
* {{citation needed span|''[[Space Quest: Vohaul Strikes Back]]'' – an original hi-res installment set after ''Space Quest 6''.|date=May 2025}}
* ''Space Quest II Remake: Vohaul's Revenge'' – a remake of ''Space Quest II'' (which was originally in EGA and played with a text parser) in the style of ''Space Quest IV'', developed by [[Infamous Adventures]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://infamousadventures.itch.io/space-quest-ii-vga-remake |title=Infamous Adventures |publisher=Infamous Adventures |access-date=2019-11-10}}</ref>
* ''Space Quest: Incinerations'' – another original hi-res installment, with a more action-oriented approach in the traditional adventure genre and with a modern sensibility.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofmystery.com/games/incinerations/ |title=Teasing Cats since 1997 |publisher=Box of Mystery |date=2012-01-11 |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref> According to [[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]], ''Incinerations'' "completely re-imagines the whole ''Space Quest'' series as a sci-fi action thriller, focusing hard on character and drama while still managing to be just as tongue-in-cheek and funny as anything else that bears its name."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/01/19/space-quest-roger-wilco-not-over-and-out/ |title=Space Quest: Roger Wilco Not Over And Out | website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]|date=19 January 2012 |access-date=2012-11-12|last1=Cobbett |first1=Richard }}</ref>
* {{citation needed span|''Space Quest Minus 1: Decisions of the Elders'' – a hybrid combination of old-style AGI graphics with icon-driven interface.|date=May 2025}}
* ''Space Quest: A Son of Xenon'' – a prequel to ''Space Quest I''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2436-space-quest-a-son-of-xenon-full-version-2022-/ |title=Space Quest: A Son of Xenon - Full Version (2022) |publisher=Adventure Game Studio |access-date=2023-08-07}}</ref>
* ''Space Quest 3D'' - a remake of ''Space Quest 3'' with modern (even 3D) graphics and a point-and-click interface (while the original was in EGA and played with a text parser).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yarwood |first1=Jack |title=Space Quest III Gets 3D Fan Remake Complete With Voice Acting |url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/06/space-quest-iii-gets-3d-fan-remake-complete-with-voice-acting |website=Time Extension |publisher=[[Hookshot Media]] |access-date=5 June 2023 |date=5 June 2023}}</ref>
 
Games influenced by ''Space Quest'':
* ''Cosmos Quest'' – Adventure game influenced by ''Space Quest''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cosmos-quest.com |title=PC Adventure Game. Official Website. Good Old Adventure Games |publisher=Cosmos Quest |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref>


===''SpaceVenture''===
===''SpaceVenture''===
On April 14, 2012, [[Mark Crowe]] and [[Scott Murphy (video game designer)|Scott Murphy]] announced they had reunited and were planning an original adventure game set in space.<ref name=two-guys>{{cite web|url=http://guysfromandromeda.com/|title=The Two Guys from Andromeda have returned!|access-date=14 April 2012}}</ref> They established a new game development company called Two Guys from Andromeda for that purpose. Co-founder of the company [[Chris Pope]] (dubbed as "Space Pope" from fans) works to operate its marketing and interact directly with fans as well as Executive Producer.<ref>{{cite web|author=Adam Rosenberg |url=http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723607/space-quest-creators-turn-to-kickstarter-for-spaceventure/ |title=Space Quest Creators Turn To Kickstarter For SpaceVenture |publisher=G4tv.com |date=May 9, 2012 |access-date=August 1, 2012}}</ref> A Kickstarter project was launched to fund the development of the new game or ''SpaceVenture'', with plans to feature the voice of [[Gary Owens]] (narrator of ''Space Quest IV'' and ''6''),<ref name=":0">{{cite web | url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spaceventure/two-guys-spaceventure-by-the-creators-of-space-que | title=Two Guys SpaceVenture by the Creators of Space Quest | access-date=August 9, 2012}}</ref> prior to his death in 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/14/arts/television/gary-owens-announcer-on-laugh-in-dies-at-80.html?_r=0|title=Gary Owens, Droll Announcer on 'Laugh-In,' Dies at 80|newspaper=The New York Times|date=14 February 2015|access-date=22 July 2015|last1=Fox|first1=Margalit}}</ref>
On March 25, 2012, [[Mark Crowe]] and [[Scott Murphy (video game designer)|Scott Murphy]] announced they had reunited under a company called Two Guys from Andromeda and planned an original adventure game set in space. [[Chris Pope]] (also known as SpacePope) co-founded the company and would serve as executive producer. The game, titled ''SpaceVenture'', was intended to be a spiritual successor to the ''Space Quest'' series, starring a blue-collar spaceship worker named Ace Hardway. The ''SpaceVenture'' Kickstarter campaign launched on May 12, 2012 and narrowly reached its funding goal on June 12.<ref name="TwoGuysAnnouncement">{{cite web |title=Join Scott and Mark in their Epic new SpaceVenture |url=https://guysfromandromeda.com/uncategorized/new-game/ |website=Two Guys from Andromeda |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref><ref name="RPSKickstarter">{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=John |title=Wilco: Two Guys' SpaceVenture Kickstarter Just Makes It |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/wilco-two-guys-spaceventure-kickstarter-just-makes-it |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |date=12 June 2012 |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref>  


On June 13, 2012, they achieved their goal of $500,000 eventually raising $539,768 from their Kickstarter campaign, and began work on the game.<ref name=two-guys /> {{citation needed span|In September 2012, enough funding was achieved to enable them to translate the game into German, Spanish, French and Italian.|date=May 2025}}
''SpaceVenture'' soon entered [[development hell]], experiencing a steady stream of setbacks, delays, and shifting release dates. By 2015, the game was considered "extraordinarily late"<ref name="RPSdelayed">{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=John |title=Much Delayed Two Guys SpaceVenture Project Offers Five Nights Spoofing Cluck Yegger Minigame To Backers |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/much-delayed-two-guys-spaceventure-project-offers-cluck-yegger-minigame-to-backers |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |date=29 October 2015 |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref>, and an early, backers-only version would not be released until 2022. The game was not released to the public until April 1, 2025 when it was published on [[Early_access#Steam_Early_Access|Steam Early Access]]—technically, still incomplete.<ref name="TimeExtension">{{cite web |last1=McFerran |first1=Damien |title=10 Years Later, 'Space Quest' Successor 'SpaceVenture' Emerges From Development Hell |url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2022/09/10-years-later-space-quest-successor-spaceventure-emerges-from-development-hell |website=Time Extension |date=20 September 2022 |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref><ref name="KotakuDisaster">{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=John |title=12 Years Late, This Kickstarter-Funded Tribute To A Legendary Adventure Game Series Is A Complete Disaster |url=https://kotaku.com/spaceventure-space-quest-kickstarter-steam-disaster-1851774747 |website=Kotaku |date=4 April 2025 |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref>


{{citation needed span|The game acts as a spiritual successor to the ''Space Quest'' series, including the use of a blue-collar worker (now a repairman rather than a janitor) as its protagonist. The hero in this case is named "Ace Hardway" after the home improvement chain [[Ace Hardware]]. Another character is "Cluck Y'egger", after test pilot [[Chuck Yeager]]. He is a chicken superhero based on the Astro Chicken running gag in the ''Space Quest'' series. The game will be rendered in CGI, but a "retro graphics" feature has been proposed.|date=May 2025}}
Critics proposed several explanations for the game's lengthy development. The developers appeared to be "out of their depth" with the [[Unity (game engine)|Unity]] engine, lacking the expertise and resources to manage the project. The schedule was also impacted by a variety of personal problems unrelated to development, as well as misfortunes such as the death of [[Gary Owens]] in 2015 (narrator of ''Space Quest IV'' and ''Space Quest 6'' and planned to return for ''SpaceVenture'').<ref name="KotakuDisaster"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/14/arts/television/gary-owens-announcer-on-laugh-in-dies-at-80.html?_r=0|title=Gary Owens, Droll Announcer on 'Laugh-In,' Dies at 80|newspaper=The New York Times|date=14 February 2015|access-date=22 July 2015|last1=Fox|first1=Margalit}}</ref>


In June 2013, it was announced that there would be a playable Alpha demo at the 2013 [[San Diego Comic-Con]].<ref name="Inside Mac Games 2013-06-18">{{cite web|url=http://www.insidemacgames.com/news/story.php?ID=21999|title=Two Guys SpaceVenture Demo Status Update|last1=Kruse|first1=Cord|date=18 June 2013|publisher=[[Inside Mac Games]]|access-date=1 October 2014}}</ref>
''SpaceVenture'' received negative reviews, with reviewers noting the game still felt buggy and unfinished. The backers-only version was criticized as a bug-ridden "mess," and the 2025 release described as a "disaster." As the game released in early access, it is still unclear when or if it will be finished.<ref name="TimeExtension"/><ref name="KotakuDisaster"/><ref name="AdventureGameHotSpotReview">{{cite web |last1=Mills |first1=Shawn |title=SpaceVenture review |url=https://adventuregamehotspot.com/review/20/spaceventure |website=Adventure Game Hotspot |access-date=24 September 2025}}</ref>
 
In January 2014, the game had a projected late 2015 release date.<ref>[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spaceventure/two-guys-spaceventure-by-the-creators-of-space-que/posts/1097304 January 1, 2014 SpaceVenture Update].</ref>{{better source needed|date=July 2020}} In October 2015, the ''Two Guys of Andromeda'' promised to continue development and to release the game in November 2016.<ref>[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spaceventure/two-guys-spaceventure-by-the-creators-of-space-que/posts/1367531 September 30, 2015 SpaceVenture Update].</ref>{{better source needed|date=July 2020}} On June 2, 2019, an update was released on the Two Guys from Andromeda Twitter and Kickstarter pages revealing the box art for the game.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/andromedaguys|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618033931/https://twitter.com/andromedaguys|archive-date=2019-06-18|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
On July 31, 2020, a complete beta was released to Kickstarter backers.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spaceventure/two-guys-spaceventure-by-the-creators-of-space-que/posts/2909932 | title=Update 123: Backer Beta testing is starting now! · Two Guys SpaceVenture - by the creators of Space Quest | date=April 2025 }}</ref>
 
The game was finally released, over ten years since the project launched, on September 16, 2022. It was released initially to Kickstarter backers only.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sall |first=Matt |date=2022-08-29 |title='Space Quest' Sequel 'SpaceVenture' Gets Release Date After a Decade on Kickstarter |url=https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2022/08/spaceventure-space-quest-sequel-gets-release-date-after-10-years-on-kickstarter.html |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=Bell of Lost Souls |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=jallen |date=2022-08-26 |title=Space Quest Spiritual Successor To Launch After 10 Years |url=https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/space-quest-spiritual-successor-to-launch-after-10-years |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=TechRaptor |language=en}}</ref> At launch, multiple [[softlock]]s were reported and the [[Tutorial (video games)|tutorial]] mode was described as "broken". Overall, the game was said to be in a "poor state" and a "mess".<ref>{{cite web |last1=McFerran |first1=Damien |title=10 Years Later, 'Space Quest' Successor 'SpaceVenture' Emerges From Development Hell |url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2022/09/10-years-later-space-quest-successor-spaceventure-emerges-from-development-hell |website=Time Extension |publisher=Hookshot Media |access-date=13 February 2023 |date=20 September 2022}}</ref> A December 2023 update stated that the developers were working on updates and that customers would receive a new build when it was complete.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://adventuregamers.com/news/view/spaceventures-unity-transition-an-ongoing-journey|access-date=4 January 2024|date=19 December 2023|title=SpaceVenture's Unity Transition: An Ongoing Journey|publisher=Adventure Gamers}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 203: Line 123:


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Mills |first=Shawn |title=The Sierra Adventure: The Story of Sierra On-Line |year=2018 |publisher=Lulu Press, Incorporated |isbn=978-1716867064}}
* {{cite book |last=Mills |first=Shawn |title=The Sierra Adventure: The Story of Sierra On-Line |year=2018 |publisher=Self published |isbn=978-1716867064}}
 
==External links==
* [https://www.mobygames.com/group/4/space-quest-series/ The ''Space Quest'' series] at [[MobyGames]]
* [https://wiw.org/~jess/roger.html Roger Wilco's Virtual Broomcloset], the first ''Space Quest'' fan site, launched in 1995 and active as of 2025


{{Space Quest series}}
{{Space Quest series}}

Latest revision as of 02:14, 15 November 2025

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". Template:Italic title

Template:Infobox video game series

Space Quest is a series of six comic science fiction adventure games released between 1986 and 1995. The games follow the adventures of a hapless janitor named Roger Wilco who finds himself entangled in intergalactic plots.

Initially created for Sierra On-Line by Mark Crowe and Scott Murphy (who called themselves the "Two Guys from Andromeda"), the games parody science fiction properties such as Star Wars and Star Trek as well as pop-culture phenomena from McDonald's to Microsoft. The series' sense of humor is characterized by puns and farcical storylines. Roger Wilco is depicted as an underdog who saves the universe (often by accident), only to be ignored or punished for violating minor regulations in the process.

The Space Quest games have been called "beloved cult classics" and influential adventure games of their era. Numerous collections of the games have been released since the 1990s, and the games continue to be sold on modern storefronts.[1][2]

Development

Mark Crowe and Scott Murphy met at Sierra. Crowe already worked at the company in marketing, and Murphy joined as a programmer. Both shared an interest in science fiction and felt that Sierra needed a game to distinguish from fantasy-themed titles such as Sierra's flagship King's Quest and The Black Cauldron, the latter they both worked on. The two also felt the studio released games with serious storylines and lacked a comedy game, with a protagonist who was a "regular guy" rather than a hero.

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"Sierra was in a mindset where everything was medieval and it was all fairly serious. I wanted to do a game that was more fun. We even liked the idea of 'fun death'! I mean, if the player is gonna die or fail, they should at least get a laugh out of it."

Scott Murphy[3]

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Sierra management was reluctant to greenlight a science fiction comedy game, thinking it would not sell, and studio head Ken Williams turned down the first game pitch in 1985. Crowe and Murphy created a short prototype in their free time and pitched Williams again, who was finally convinced.

Space Quest I was developed in Sierra's in-house AGI engine. The game was designed by "trial and error" as game development was still a new discipline and not formalized. Both writing and artwork were improvised throughout development, with the game being updated throughout even the quality assurance process.[4][5][3]

Games

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Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter

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The original Space Quest game was released in October 1986 as an intentional departure from Sierra's more serious, medieval-themed games.[6] A remake was released in 1991 as Space Quest I: Roger Wilco in the Sarien Encounter.

Space Quest II: Vohaul's Revenge

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Released in 1987, Space Quest II follows Roger Wilco a few months after the events of the first game. The sequel was well received and seen by critics as an improvement over the first.

Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon

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The third Space Quest game, released in 1989, was the first to be developed with Sierra's SCI engine, the successor to the earlier AGI engine, and was the first Space Quest game to feature sound card support.

Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Space Quest IV debuted in 1991, and would be the first Space Quest game to release on CD-ROM the following year. The game featured 256-color graphics, a point-and-click interface, and the CD-ROM release included recorded voice acting.

Space Quest V: Roger Wilco – The Next Mutation

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Released in 1993, Space Quest V was the first Space Quest game to be developed outside of Sierra and the first to be developed without Scott Murphy. The game's development was led by Mark Crowe at Dynamix, a subsidiary of Sierra.[7]

Space Quest 6: Roger Wilco in The Spinal Frontier

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The final Space Quest was released in 1995. The game saw a troubled development, with Sierra employee Josh Mandel leading development and Scott Murphy serving as a consultant. Mark Crowe was not involved.[8]

Other releases and appearances

  • A demo for Space Quest 6 was released that, unusually, contains a scenario not included in the full game
  • Sierra released a bundle of minigames from the Space Quest series as a collection titled Roger Wilco's Spaced Out Game Pack
  • The video game Take a Break! Pinball features boards inspired by Sierra video games, including three from the Space Quest series
  • Sierra's Hoyle's Official Book of Games, Volume I includes Roger Wilco as a computer opponent, and Volume III includes Roger as well as the villains Arnoid and Vohaul

Cancelled games

Seventh Space Quest game

In early 1997, Sierra began development of a seventh entry in the series with Scott Murphy as director. Employees of Sierra reported that work was underway on a prototype, and Murphy stated that the game would feature multiplayer for the first time.[9]

In August 1997, Sierra released a Space Quest collection that included a promotional video announcing a "late 1998" release date for what was then called Space Quest 7. Before the end of the year, however, game development was paused indefinitely in favor of projects believed to be more valuable. Two years later, Sierra would see massive layoffs and development on a seventh Space Quest formally ceased.[10][11]

Untitled Escape Factory game

Rumors circulated in 2002 that a developer called Escape Factory was working on a new Space Quest game. Production assets leaked in subsequent years would confirm the rumor, but the project was never formally announced nor formally confirmed by the developers or Sierra. In contrast to the rest of the series, the game would have been a 3D action-adventure.

Escape Factory canceled the still-unnamed project after a year of development for an unexplained "variety of reasons." Concept art, screenshots, and video footage of early builds of the game have been published online. Industry sources claimed the game was being planned for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox but not home PCs.[12][13][14][15][16]

Other media

  • The Adventures of Roger Wilco (1992): Adventure Comics, a division of Malibu Comics, released three issues of a Space Quest comic book. The series adapts the story of Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter.[17]
  • The Official Guide to Roger Wilco's Space Adventures (1991, 1993): A walkthrough and novelization of the Space Quest series written by Jill Champion. The first edition (1991) includes Space Quest I–IV, and the second edition (1993) adds coverage of Space Quest V.[18]
  • The Space Quest Companion (1992, 1993): A guidebook to the Space Quest series written by Peter and Jeremy Spear. Like The Official Guide, it combines walkthroughs with story sections told from Roger Wilco’s perspective. The first edition (1992) covers Space Quest I–IV; the second edition (1993) adds Space Quest V.[18]

Legacy

Space Quest has been remembered as an influential adventure and comedy game series. Along with other Sierra titles, Space Quest "defined the form" of point-and-click adventures. Critics have credited the games for being dense with "geeky" humor and for "paving the way" for future comedy adventure games. The series would be referenced by many future games as well as an enduring fan community, known in particular for the release of numerous fan games, such as 2011's Space Quest: Vohaul Strikes Back.[1][19][20][21][22][23]

SpaceVenture

On March 25, 2012, Mark Crowe and Scott Murphy announced they had reunited under a company called Two Guys from Andromeda and planned an original adventure game set in space. Chris Pope (also known as SpacePope) co-founded the company and would serve as executive producer. The game, titled SpaceVenture, was intended to be a spiritual successor to the Space Quest series, starring a blue-collar spaceship worker named Ace Hardway. The SpaceVenture Kickstarter campaign launched on May 12, 2012 and narrowly reached its funding goal on June 12.[24][25]

SpaceVenture soon entered development hell, experiencing a steady stream of setbacks, delays, and shifting release dates. By 2015, the game was considered "extraordinarily late"[26], and an early, backers-only version would not be released until 2022. The game was not released to the public until April 1, 2025 when it was published on Steam Early Access—technically, still incomplete.[27][28]

Critics proposed several explanations for the game's lengthy development. The developers appeared to be "out of their depth" with the Unity engine, lacking the expertise and resources to manage the project. The schedule was also impacted by a variety of personal problems unrelated to development, as well as misfortunes such as the death of Gary Owens in 2015 (narrator of Space Quest IV and Space Quest 6 and planned to return for SpaceVenture).[28][29]

SpaceVenture received negative reviews, with reviewers noting the game still felt buggy and unfinished. The backers-only version was criticized as a bug-ridden "mess," and the 2025 release described as a "disaster." As the game released in early access, it is still unclear when or if it will be finished.[27][28][30]

References

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Further reading

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External links

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  27. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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