Sierra Entertainment, Inc. was an American video game developer and publisher founded in 1979 by Ken and Roberta Williams. The company is known for pioneering the graphic adventure game genre, including the first such game, Mystery House. It is known for its graphical adventure game series King's Quest, Space Quest, Police Quest, Gabriel Knight, Leisure Suit Larry, and Quest for Glory, and as the original publisher of Valve's Half-Life series.
On-Line Systems' first office was a small space leased at the back of Ponderosa Printing.
Jim Henson with Ken Williams, promoting The Dark Crystal game, inspired by Henson's 1982 fantasy film
Sierra On-Line expanded into a larger headquarters in the early 1980s.
During the 1980s, the company emphasized developing and expanding popular franchises like King's Quest, Leisure Suit Larry, and Police Quest.
Ken Williams (game developer)
Kenneth A. Williams is an American businessman and game programmer who co-founded On-Line Systems together with his wife Roberta Williams. On-Line Systems eventually became Sierra On-Line and was ultimately renamed Sierra Entertainment. The couple were leading figures in the development of graphical adventure games. At its height, Sierra employed nearly 1,000 people prior to its acquisition in 1996.
Williams in 2022
Williams addressing a crowd at a celebration of the On-Line Systems' first anniversary in 1981.
Ken Williams at a celebration of On-Line Systems' first anniversary, 1981
