Roberta Williams

Roberta Heuer Williams (born February 16, 1953) is one of the most accomplished and respected computer game designers, and arguably the most influential female gamer of her time. In the eighties and nineties, Roberta and her husband Ken Williams were leading figures in the development of graphical adventure games. They founded the company On-Line Systems, which later became Sierra.

Roberta and Ken married on 4 November 1972, she was 19, he just turned 18. They have two children, D.J. (b. 1973) and Chris (b. 1979). Their contribution to gaming was partially chronicled in the book Hackers.

Roberta posed nude (appearing from shoulders and above) for the cover of the game Softporn Adventure by Chuck Benton, published by On-line systems.

Williams' legendary storytelling and creative prowess was exhibited in titles such as King's Quest, Mixed-Up Mother Goose, and The Dagger of Amon Ra.

Williams' career spans two decades with a full and active portfolio that has had a significant contribution to the gaming industry. Though Sierra was sold in 1996, Williams' production credits date until 1999. She has contributed to the fields of game design, production, content, and sound.

The last known status of the Williams family was documented in an interview by an Asian game publication. The interview stated that they had built a house in Mexico and planned to move there for a while. In the interview, Williams promised her return to the video game industry as soon as she figured out how to combine the adventure genre with massively multiplayer online gaming.

Works

 * Mystery House (1980)
 * Wizard and the Princess (1980)
 * Mission Asteroid (1981)
 * Time Zone (1982)
 * King's Quest I: Quest for the Crown (1984)
 * The Dark Crystal (1984)
 * Mickey's Space Adventure (1984)
 * King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne (1985)
 * King's Quest III: To Heir is Human (1986)
 * King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella (1988)
 * Mixed Up Mother Goose (1988)
 * The Colonel's Bequest (1989)
 * King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder (1990)
 * King's Quest 1: The Quest for the Crown (Remake) (1990)
 * Mixed Up Mother Goose CD (1990)
 * King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow (1993)
 * King's Quest VII: The Princeless Bride (1994)
 * Phantasmagoria (1995)
 * King%27s Quest VIII: The Mask of Eternity (1998)