King's Quest: Quest for the Crown

"King's Quest" redirects here. For the 2015 game, see King's Quest (2015).

King's Quest: Quest for the Crown

Developers
	Sierra On-Line
Mac OS (Classic)	Mark Langbehn
Publishers
PC booter	IBM
PC booter	Tandy
PC booter, DOS	Sierra On-Line
Windows	Activision
Engines
Original	AGI
Remake	SCI0
Release dates
PC booter	1984
DOS	1987
Mac OS (Classic)	1987
Windows (ScummVM)	August 24, 2010
Taxonomy
Monetization	One-time game purchase
Series	King's Quest

Key points

Originally released as King's Quest

Both the 1987 release and the 1990 remake can be run under ScummVM

The original PC releases of the AGI version have limited audio on non-PCjr/non-Tandy systems. See Essential improvements for modern workarounds

General information

Sierra Help Pages - King's Quest series

King's Quest Omnipedia - A huge wiki for the King's Quest series

GOG.com Community Discussions for game series

GOG.com Support Page

Steam Community Discussions for game series

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Retail		All original disk versions use CPC Copy Protection DRM. See Version differences for additional info about the original version and the 1990 remake. The King's Quest collections released by Sierra in the 1990's usually include both versions.
GOG.com		Bundled with King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne and King's Quest III: To Heir Is Human. Pre-packaged with ScummVM DOSBox version is also available (when using GOG Galaxy).
Steam		Comes bundled with all other King's Quest games (excluding King's Quest 8).

A browser version is also available.

Version differences

AGI PC booter versions

These versions boot directly from disk, and utilise a disk based copy protection. The disks cannot be read from DOS, and the game cannot be installed to HDD. Running these original versions is problematic even with DOSBox due to the copy protection disks which are not supported.

The original 1984 release, published by IBM, is exclusive to the PCjr and its 16-color mode. This version does not work on Tandy systems.

At the same time, or shortly after Sierra published a CGA graphics version.

Later in 1984 Sierra published a CGA graphics version with bug fixes and support for RGBI.

In early 1985 Tandy published a version with support for the PCjr and Tandy 1000.

in late 1985 Sierra published a version which included both the PCjr/Tandy 1000 version and the CGA version on separate disks.

AGI DOS versions

These versions run from DOS, and utilise a disk based copy protection, typically referred to as a key-disk. The game can be installed on a HDD, but will not run unless the copy protected disk is in the drive. Running these versions is problematic even with DOSBox due to the copy protection disks which are not supported. But they can be run in ScummVM without problems.

In late 1986 Sierra published the first DOS version with PCjr/Tandy, CGA and EGA support.

Mid 1987 Sierra published an updated version with Hercules graphics, i386 fixes for the EGA mode and pull down menus.

In late 1987 Sierra published an updated version with MCGA graphics support added.

Later releases as part of various compilations do not feature the key-disk.

SCI DOS remake

An official remake was released in 1990, which was developed using the SCI engine. Is uses the basic design and puzzles from the original game while featuring remade graphics, new soundtrack, more detailed environments, and expanded text and dialogue. Tierra's/AGD's unofficial remake is based on 1990 version

Modern re-releases and ports

Steam has both the 1987 and 1990 remake available. GOG.com only has the original 1987 version available^{[citation needed]}

The King's Quest Collection, the collection on Steam, is not properly configured for modern systems

Essential improvements

AGI version three-channel audio support

The original AGI releases of the game have support for three-channel audio, which require the audio hardware built into the PCjr or Tandy 1000 computer. Other systems are limited to one-channel audio played through the PC speaker.

Use a third-party AGI interpreter[citation needed]
Notes Modern AGI interpreters include ScummVM and NAGI will automatically use the Tandy sounds regardless of video render mode. As such it is possible to have Tandy sounds with EGA video, which was not possible with the original game.

Use DOSBox[citation needed]
Notes If DOSBox is configured to emulate a PCjr or Tandy computer, the game detects and uses the emulated PCjr/Tandy sound hardware for three-channel audio. This will simultaneously also force the game to run in 16 colour PCjr/Tandy graphics mode.

Patch the game for Adlib}
Notes This is an experimental patch for Sierra's old AGI games, to makes them play three voice music and sound effects via a Adlib or Soundblaster compatible card.

1987 AGI version video modes

The 1987 AGI version for DOS supports the following video modes.

Video Mode	Monitor	Colours	Commandline option	Comment
CGA	Composite	16	SIERRA.EXE -C	This is the default behaviour with DOSBox when machine=cga is set. ScummVM does not support this mode.
	RGBI	4	SIERRA.EXE -R	This is the default CGA mode most people would have seen originally. To emulate this mode in DOSBox you must NOT set machine=cga, as by default DOSBox will emulate a Composite monitor. Instead start DOSBox normally without setting the machine parameter and start the game with the -R parameter to force CGA RGBI mode. In ScummVM this mode can be set by setting render mode to CGA.
EGA	RGBI	16	SIERRA.EXE -E	This is the default mode when an EGA or VGA adapter is detected. This is the default behaviour with DOSBox or ScummVM.
Hercules	Monochrome	2	SIERRA.EXE -H	This is the default mode when a Hercules adapter is detected. This is the default behaviour with DOSBox when machine=hercules is set. DOSBox will by default simulate a Black and White monitor, but you can cycle between Amber, Green and BW with F11. ScummVM instead has only a Hercules Green and a Hercules Amber render mode.
Tandy	RGBI	16	SIERRA.EXE -T	This is the default mode on an IBM PCjr or Tandy 1000 computer. This is the default behaviour with DOSBox when machine=tandy is set. ScummVM does not have a Tandy render mode, but visually this will look the same as the EGA mode.

Note: For the above command-line options to work the AGI interpreter must be v2.4xx or later.

1990 SCI remake version video modes

When running the installer (INSTALL.EXE), two graphic adapter options are offered

• EGA/VGA - 16 Colors
• IBM PS2, Models 25 & 30 - 16/256 Colors

Regardless of the graphic adapter selected, the game will render in only 16 colours. When the IBM PS/2 option is selected, the game will technically start in a 256 colour MCGA video mode, but will emulate a 16 colour EGA display. MCGA was only supported as an integrated video adapter on the IBM PS/2 Models 25 & 30, which do not have EGA backward compatibility. However the MCGA video mode is supported on VGA adapters, so any PC with a VGA adapter can normally run either EGA or MCGA mode. DOSBox-X is the only emulator which has a special machine=mcga mode.

1990 SCI remake version music options

When running the installer (INSTALL.EXE), four music card options are offered

• Roland MT-32, MT-100, LAPC-I, CM-32L or CM-64
• Sound Blaster / Adlib Card (or compatibles)
• Sound Blaster Card
• IBM PC or Compatible Internal Speaker

The Roland option requires a MPU-401 with intelligent mode. Also despite the long list of Roland options, the game is really only compatible with the so-called MT-32 Old. Running it on the MT-32 New or any of the other options will result in incorrect sounds and hanging notes.

The second option, is a pure Adlib sound option, that does not use the Sound Blaster's digital sound effects. It is best selected for sound cards that are not fully Sound Blaster compatible.

King's Quest I Unofficial Remake

A complete and free remake of the game, it adds new VGA style graphics, dialogue, an updated Point-and-Click UI, and a complete soundtrack.

It can be found on the developer's official website.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System	Location
PC booter
DOS	<path-to-game>\RESOURCE.CFG
Windows	<path-to-game>\
Mac OS (Classic)
Steam Play (Linux)	<Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/10100/pfx/

For the DOS AGI version, the game auto detects video and audio at each startup.

For the DOS SCI version, <path-to-game>\RESOURCE.CFG is used.

Save game data location

System	Location
PC booter
DOS	<path-to-game>\KQ1SG.*
Windows	<path-to-game>\KQ1SG.*
Mac OS (Classic)
Steam Play (Linux)	<Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/10100/pfx/

These are the default paths used by the game. The save file location can be determined by the user

Save game cloud syncing

System	Native	Notes
GOG Galaxy
Steam Cloud

ScummVM 2.1+ supports cloud saves on third-party cloud storage services. See the ScummVM documentation for details.

Video

Graphics feature	State	WSGF	Notes
Widescreen resolution
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen
4K Ultra HD
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed		For DOSBox toggle with Alt+↵ Enter (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
Borderless fullscreen windowed		See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
Anti-aliasing (AA)
Vertical sync (Vsync)		For DOSBox use an unofficial build (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
60 FPS and 120+ FPS

AGI version Gallery

• 

  Title screen in CGA Composite

• 

  Game screen in CGA Composite

• 

  Title screen in CGA RGBI

• 

  Game screen in CGA RGBI

• 

  Title screen on PCjr/Tandy

• 

  Game screen on PCjr/Tandy

• 

  Title screen in Hercules

• 

  Game screen in Hercules

Input

Keyboard and mouse	State	Notes
Remapping		For DOSBox use the DOSBox Mapper (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus		No mouse support.
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
Full controller support
Controller remapping		For DOSBox use the DOSBox Mapper (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
Controller sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion

Controller types

XInput-compatible controllers

DualShock 4 controllers

Generic/other controllers
Button prompts

Additional information
Controller hotplugging
Haptic feedback
Simultaneous controller+KB/M

Audio

Audio feature	State	Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound
Subtitles		All speech is text-based.
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost		For DOSBox change the priority background value in the DOSBox configuration file.

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English

Other information

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
DOS video modes	Hercules, CGA, EGA, Tandy/PCjr, MCGA	1987 AGI release: Hercules 720x348, 2 colour CGA 320x200, 4 colour CGA Composite 320x200, 16 colour EGA 640x200, 16 colour (this gets line doubled by the adapter to 640x400) Tandy/PCjr 320x200, 16 colour 1990 SCI remake: EGA, MCGA

Executable	PPC	16-bit	32-bit	64-bit	Notes
Windows					64-bit requires a 64-bit build of ScummVM.
Mac OS (Classic)

System requirements

PC booter

DOS

Windows

Mac OS (Classic)

PC booter
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)
Processor (CPU)	Intel 8088 Intel 8086
System memory (RAM)	128 KB
Hard disk drive (HDD)
Video card (GPU)	CGA, CGA Composite	Tandy/PCjr

DOS
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	2.11 (original) 5.0 (EGA remake)	6.22
Processor (CPU)	Intel 8088 (original) Intel 286 (EGA remake)
System memory (RAM)	256 KB (original) 512 KB (EGA remake)
Hard disk drive (HDD)	1.5 MB (original) 4 MB (EGA remake)
Video card (GPU)	Hercules, CGA, MCGA, EGA, Tandy/PCjr	EGA or VGA

Windows
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	XP, Vista
Processor (CPU)	1.0 GHz	1.4 GHz
System memory (RAM)	256 MB	512 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	30 MB
Video card (GPU)	DirectX 7 compatible	DirectX 9 compatible

Mac OS
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)		9.2.2
Processor (CPU)	Motorola 68000
System memory (RAM)	512 KB
Hard disk drive (HDD)