In fact, if it weren’t for the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown that came with it, they’d probably still be boating and wouldn’t have returned to games at all. But being landlocked meant they got bored and so decided, eventually, to make a game again. That, in and of itself, is a remarkable thing, because when these two people left games in the late 90s, they completely left. They didn’t so much as look at a game in the two decades that followed. They didn’t play a game, didn’t keep up to date with the industry - nothing. That’s doubly-remarkable when you consider who they are: Ken and Roberta Williams, founders of the original mega-publisher and game-maker Sierra On-Line. They were responsible for so many games through the 80s and 90s, not least the King’s Quest series that would enshrine Roberta Williams as a game-design legend - see what I mean about adventuring being very on-trend? To go from that - 1000 people working for you and being the biggest business around - to nothing, well, it blows my mind. But then, they are a refreshingly unconventional pair, as I discover for myself here. It’s part of the reason why their new game - a remake of Colossal Cave, the game that started it all for them - intrigues me so much, because they’ll do it their way, whether we end up liking that or not. And have they still got what it takes to make a great game? I don’t know! That’s what’s so exciting; it’ll be nothing less than unique. Ken and Roberta Williams, then, are my guest stars on episode 22 of One-to-one, now available to all. You can find it on all major podcast platforms. Leave us a nice review if you like! Every little helps. And if you can’t find it somewhere, please let me know.
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