Ken Williams

Developer BIO

Ken Williams was born in October 1954. He and Roberta (Heuer) Williams married in their teens and had two children: D. J. Williams (b. circa 1973) and Chris Williams (b. 1979).

Ken invented what we call "graphic adventure" today, bringing the visions and stories created by his wife, Roberta, to the personal computer in the early 1980s under the name On-Line Systems, founded in 1979, at the age of 25. With the success of their first computer games, the company was renamed in 1982 to Sierra, a name that will remain prominent in computer gaming history for all time. Mr. Williams remained active in the programming and creative aspects of Sierra's games as well as management of the company, holding the title of CEO until its sale in 1996.

Prior to starting Sierra, he was working in Los Angeles as a computer programmer, doing a full-time job and freelance programming for several other companies.

On April 9, 2003, Ken opened and monitors a forum web site, Sierra Gamers, where people can meet, talk about Sierra and upload/download Sierra related files.

Websites

• Oct. 1999 Interview -- on Adventure Classic Gaming
• Interview with Ken Williams -- on Adventure Classic Gaming (28 March 2006)
• Ken Williams Interview 2003 -- In-depth interview with Ken Williams. He discussing the history of Sierra from it's birth to it's sale in 1996 to what Ken is up to now.
• Ken Williams Interview (circa 1997) -- Craig White of Just Adventure+ discusses 1997 and what is upcoming in 1998 at Sierra.
• Sierra On-Line Fan Site -- Website maintained by Ken Williams, offers information and chatting forums on Sierra history and games, also with links on Sierra game-related files.

Games Credited

The Fast and the Furious (2006), Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
King's Quest Collection (2006), Sierra Entertainment, Inc.
Diablo II (Collector's Edition) (2000), Blizzard Entertainment Inc.
Supercross 2000 (1999), Electronic Arts, Inc.
Mortal Kombat 4 (1998), Midway Games, Inc.
NHL 99 (1998), Electronic Arts, Inc.
Police Quest: SWAT 2 (1998), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Quest for Glory V: Dragon Fire (1998), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
King's Quest: Collection Series (1997), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
The Realm (1997), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Hoyle Bridge (1996), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Leisure Suit Larry: Love for Sail! (1996), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh (1996), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Justice League Task Force (1995), Acclaim Entertainment, Inc.
Thexder 95 (1995), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Torin's Passage (1995), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Alien Legacy (1994), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
The Incredible Toon Machine (1994), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Crazy Nick's Picks: King Graham's Board Game Challenge (1993), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Daryl F. Gates' Police Quest: Open Season (1993), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Fates of Twinion (1993), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Hoyle Classic Card Games (1993), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Leisure Suit Larry 6: Shape Up or Slip Out! (1993), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Shadow of Yserbius (1993), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Sid & Al's Incredible Toons (1993), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Space Quest V: The Next Mutation (1993), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Castle of Dr. Brain (1992), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
The Dagger of Amon Ra (1992), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Jones in the Fast Lane (Enhanced CDROM version) (1992), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Police Quest: In Pursuit of the Death Angel (1992), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Quest for Glory I: So You Want To Be A Hero (1992), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Roberta Williams' Mixed-Up Mother Goose (1992), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood (1991), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
EcoQuest: The Search for Cetus (1991), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Hoyle Official Book of Games: Volume 3 (1991), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Jones in the Fast Lane (1991), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Leisure Suit Larry 1: In the Land of the Lounge Lizards (1991), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Leisure Suit Larry 5: Passionate Patti Does a Little Undercover Work! (1991), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Mixed-Up Fairy Tales (1991), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Mixed-Up Mother Goose (1991), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Police Quest 3: The Kindred (1991), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Space Quest I: Roger Wilco in the Sarien Encounter (1991), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers (1991), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Conquests of Camelot: The Search for the Grail (1990), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Firehawk (1990), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Hoyle Official Book of Games: Volume 2 (1990), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder (1990), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Oil's Well (1990), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire (1990), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Roberta Williams' King's Quest I: Quest for the Crown (1990), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Sorcerian (1990), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Codename: ICEMAN (1989), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
The Colonel's Bequest (1989), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Hero's Quest: So You Want To Be A Hero (1989), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Hoyle Official Book of Games: Volume 1 (1989), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Leisure Suit Larry III: Passionate Patti in Pursuit of the Pulsating Pectorals! (1989), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Manhunter 2: San Francisco (1989), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella (1988), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Manhunter: New York (1988), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Police Quest 2: The Vengeance (1988), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Silpheed (1988), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
3-D Helicopter Simulator (1987), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards (1987), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Police Quest: In Pursuit of the Death Angel (1987), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Thexder (1987), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
The Black Cauldron (1986), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
King's Quest III: To Heir is Human (1986), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter (1986), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne (1985), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Hi-Res Adventure #3: Cranston Manor (1982), On-Line Systems
Hi-Res Adventure #5: Time Zone (1982), On-Line Systems
Hi-Res Adventure #4: Ulysses and the Golden Fleece (1981), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Threshold (1981), On-Line Systems
Hi-Res Adventure #0: Mission Asteroid (1980), On-Line Systems
Hi-Res Adventure #1: Mystery House (1980), On-Line Systems
Hi-Res Adventure #2: The Wizard and the Princess (1980), On-Line Systems