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Originally posted on the site in 1997, and it's less an interview and more an e-mail and the response.
It offers some interesting tidbits into a world that might have been, had SQ VII come to fruition.
Leslie's manner of humor feels like it would have been a very good fit.
An Interview with Leslie Balfour, Gal from Andromeda
What other Sierra games have you worked on?
The Dagger of Amon Ra (voices), Outpost (voice and writing), The Realm (writing), SQ6 (writing).
So far, what is the overall feel of SQ7? Is it going to be dark like SQ4? Comic-like such as SQ3? Or something completely different than any of the previous SQs?
I'm glad you asked me that question. It's going to be unlike any other SQ in that we've squeezed out all the icky bad parts that nobody liked, and we've fortified the rest with yummy gameplay goodness.
Okay, okay. Roger will travel to various planets in an attempt to thwart the evil Darth Vader and save the beautiful ... wait a minute. I don't think we're knocking Star Wars off that blatantly. Oh, no, I checked with Scott. We are. Also, don't listen to anyone tell you that Darth is related to Roger in any way, because that would ruin the surprise.
What engine are ya'll gonna use for SQ7? The Mask of Eternity engine? Another version of SCI? Or something else which ya'll are making?
We are going to use a modified version of the SWAT 2 engine, which we are currently working on. We are planning to make the characters larger, however, so that you can really zoom in on all the zany merriment.
What type of multiplayer support is planned? Internet (with or without using a pay-for-play thing like TEN, MPath?)? Modem?
Internet, modem, and network.
Will there be both Win95/DOS and Macintosh versions of SQ7 and will they be comptaible for multiplayer?
I don't know. I used to work on Macintosh and think they're pretty cool, but others in the company are preparing their eulogies. As for DOS, I think we're pretty much counting that out.
What's your favorite type of donut?
Glazed cake dunkers. If they come with a little edible handle, so much the better.
Is the music planned to be CD-audio, MIDI, or other?
CD-audio. Plus, get this, we're planning true 3-D and localized music. So when Rodge walks past a disco, you'll hear the music coming out of the building, in stereo, as though he were actually walking past it.
Do ya'll plan on having any reference to any SQ web people? (heehee)
Yes. So mind your manners, or your phone number could end up on the wall of the public toilet on Gomorrah 5. And it's bad enough when the NPCs call you, but the FANS! Oh, the humanity!
Is there a preliminary title as of yet? If so, can you reveal it or not?
Scott and I are going to mud-wrestle to see who gets to pick the title. He favors "Show me the Buckazoids!" I think that's lame, and I have a much better name picked. Unfortunately, Scott got the legal department involved, and they're telling me I can't call it "The X-Files". I get so sick of the suits stifling my creativity!
Will Astro Chicken or Spike be making another appearance in SQ7?
Yes. We're thinking 3-D Astrochicken laser tag, and that's no joke.
Can you reveal anything about the main characters/story/setting? Also, we have heard that players might all be able to be Roger at the same time on multiplayer... can you tell us anything about this? Will there be any other players available?
I don't want to say too much too soon. But it's true that more than one person will be able to play Roger in the multiplayer version; in fact, the other Rogers are integral to the story, and will be played by AI Rogers in the standalone version. We aren't planning to have any other characters available to play, though the universe will of course be populated by all sorts of other NPCs.
Do you prefer lemon or raspberry sorbet?
They're both light and fruity. Do they make cookie dough sorbet? Because that would be my pick.
Anything else that you'd like to say to all the people who are going to read this?
Yes. Help me. I am being held hostage in the Space Quest room. Act casual, I think Scott's looking over here. He is. Shhh. Oh ... he's coming ... ow! Ouch! Heeeeelp!