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Sierra Entertainment
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Sierra Entertainment
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==History== Sierra started modestly as '''On-Line Systems''' in 1979, with founders [[Ken Williams|Ken]] and [[Roberta Williams]] programming games and managing the company from their own [[home]]. Their first [[game]] was ''[[Mystery House]]'', the world's first graphic [[adventure game]]. In [[1982 in video gaming|1982]] the company changed its name to '''Sierra On-Line''' and moved to [[Oakhurst, California]]. In [[1984 in video gaming|1984]], Sierra developed ''[[King's Quest]]'', initially published by [[IBM]], to show off the advanced technology of the [[IBM PCjr]]. The success of that game (subsequently [[port]]ed to other platforms) set forth one of the most popular series Sierra has ever created, and spurred them into creating numerous adventure game series based on the Quest theme. In the years to come Sierra would remain on the forefront of groundbreaking computer [[game design]], sometimes creating large blockbusters and other times, failed experiments. Starting in [[1990in video gaming|1990]], Sierra began acquiring other companies, including [[Dynamix]] (1990), Bright Star Technologies ([[1992 in video gaming|1992]]), [[Coktel Vision]] ([[1993 in video gaming|1993]]) and [[Impressions Games]] ([[1995 in video gaming|1995]]). Further acquisitions included [[Green Thumb Software]] (1995), [[Arion Software]] (1995), [[Papyrus Design Group]] (1995), [[Berkeley Systems]] (1997), [[Books That Work]] (1997), [[PyroTechnix]] (1997) and [[Headgate]] (1997). Sierra also acquired the rights to use [[Print Artist]], a computer publishing program which allowed users to make high quality picture prints, in 1995. In [[1991 in video gaming|1991]] Sierra started an online service called [[The Sierra Network]]. Pre-[[WWW]], it was comparable to services like [[CompuServe]] or [[Prodigy]] except that its interface was completely graphical. Thematically, it was a cross between a [[monarchy|kingdom]] and a [[theme park]] in which users could visit different "lands" to post on [[bulletin board system|message board]]s, exchange [[email]]s and play games. It was renamed [[ImagiNation Network]] and sold in 1994 to [[AT&T]], who sold it to [[AOL]] in [[1996 in video gaming|1996]]. In [[1994 in video gaming|1994]], Sierra moved its headquarters to [[Bellevue, Washington]] to attract more talent. In July 1996, the company was sold to [[CUC International]]; Ken Williams left Sierra one year later. In December [[1997 in video gaming|1997]], CUC merged with [[HFS Incorporated]] to form [[Cendant|Cendant Software]]. Following Cendant's disclosure of accounting "irregularities" (which exceeded 300 million) in April [[1998 in video gaming|1998]], Sierra was sold again to [[France|French]] publisher [[Havas]], who in turn were acquired by French giant [[Vivendi]]. In 1998, the company was reoganized into five distinct groups: # Sierra Attractions—this division would develope such series as "[[Hoyle]]", "[[You Don't Know Jack]]" and others. # Sierra Home—This division would publish consumer friendly home improvement programs such as "Print Artist", "Hallmark Card Studios", "MasterCook series", etc. # Sierra Sports—This division would function to publish sports entertainment series developed by Papyrus Design Group and other studios. # Sierra Studios—This division developed the "big" games such as "King's Quest" and also would be used to publish Sierra's games. The division's main offices were in Bellevue and development groups at Impressions Software and PyroTechnix. It would also be the publisher of independent developers. # Dynamix, a Sierra Company—The same company which was purchased in 1990 specialized in developing 3D combat simulation games such as "[[Red Baron]]", "[[Starsiege]]" and "[[Pro Pilot]]", flight simulator game series. Sierra's location in Oakhurst was renamed [[Yosemite Entertainment]] in 1998. On [[February 22]], [[1999 in video gaming|1999]], a decision within Sierra resulted in the shutdown of many Sierra development studios, the most shocking of those shutdowns was the closing of Yosemite Entertainment. This day would later come to be known by Sierra fans as "Black Monday." The shutdown came with an announcement by Sierra of a major reorganization of the company. Other development groups within Sierra such as PyroTechnix, Books That Work Inc. and Synergistic were shutdown that fateful day. About 135 people were laid off because of these changes. Another reorganization within the company came in 1999 with Sierra again changing to the divisions within the company, this time to "Core Games" (Sierra Studios); Sierra Sports (Sierra Attractions) and Casual Entertainment (Sierra Home). 105 more employees were laid off because of these changes. Around this time, Sierra changed it's company status from being a major developer of computer games to being a major publisher of games (for independent companies). The company was renamed '''Sierra Entertainment''' in [[2002 in video gaming|2002]]. In June [[2004 in video gaming|2004]], Vivendi reorganized the [[Vivendi Universal]] games group, distributing Sierra's work to other units and finally shutting down Sierra's Bellevue location in August. The Sierra brand lives on in name only. An independent group known as [[AGD Interactive]] have also remade and updated several of Sierra's classic Adventure Games from the 80's and 90's. In [[2008 in video gaming|2008]], Sierra appears to have been absorbed into [[Activision]] due to bad viewership; Sierra's website is no longer accessible from this point.
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