


PCjr credits

Intro Title Screen PCjr

King's Quest by IBM for PCjr was the 1983/1984 original release of King's Quest (aka King's Quest Classic/King's Quest I AGI). There only minor differences in the original 1983 release and the 1984 packaging.
Background[]
Take on the challenge!
Find the magic treasure. Put on your armour--and your thinking cap--as you search the countryside...in the days when knights were bold and brave.
Version Details[]
This version comes with the original King's Quest PCjr Manual. Depending on the version it comes with a full keyboard overlay (in color) 1983 edition, or a basic overlay that only covers top keys (blue), 1984 edition.
In the PCJR version Graham was originally known as Grahame. The quest text given by Edward is on a blue screen, and mention the name "Grahame". Tandy and PC Dos versions also use blue screen, but change his name to Graham.
The PCjr version has a manual with original color artwork (in a cartoon style), and has a short introduction The King's Appeal, and other details specific to the version of the game. The Tandy and PC Dos versions changed the manual to the version most people are aware of (King's Quest by Roberta Williams).
The original King's Quest on PCjr version has a different intro theme than later 1987 Dos/Tandy versions (greensleeves) or the completely original theme on the Apple IIGS (the KQ3 ending sequence is a variant on this theme, noticeable especially on the Apple IIGS version). The theme on the PCjr is theme is the same theme heard, when Graham/Grahame opens the doors to the castle, but played 'twice' (in most later ports of the game). In the PCJR version some of the musical cues such as when bad guys appear do not exist, and were added into later ports. There is no intro jingle to the Tandy or the Ibm 1984 versions.
In the PCJR version, crickets can be heard around Daventry, troll makes stomping noises across the bridge, the goat bleats, the ogre growls, river can be heard, splashes when Grahame falls into a river. Some of these sounds appear o the 1984 Tandy version. The wolf makes noises as well. Some of these sounds are in the 1984 PC version. However, the PC can only play 1 tone at a time, and not the 3 tone chirps of the Tandy or PCjr.
The score system in this version is different than in later releases/remakes. The score is accessed through the inventory screen via the Tab key (a screen with a blue background), and only lists the accumulated score (not the total possible score), this is similar to how the score system works in the Sega port/remake.
In the PCJR, Tandy and Dos versions the text descriptions including any warnings are displayed along the bottom of the screen in grey text, rather than in text boxes (as seen in later ports). The interface is different, such as save/restore options, and restart option. Almost every option is accessed through a keyboard command of some sort, rather than pull down menus. Instead to bring up options require various key presses either the numbers or the tab key (for score and inventory).
The items in the inventory are described through text, there are no closeup pictures like in later ports of the game.
Some of the ingame text is different than later versions of the game, see KQ1PCjr transcript. The Tandy and PC versions are closer to the modern games text, with Grahame's name being changed to Graham.
You can bow to the king after he dies; "You bow, but you are the only one who knows it." The king does an exaggerated spin before dieing. The animation was cut in later ports.
The alligators in the moat use the heads of the dragon rather than completely original alligator artwork in later versions.
The Sorcerer is clearly a different character in this edition, but became the same character as the Enchanter in later editions.
It's possible to drop items as in older Sierra adventure games, see Hi-Res Adventures. But this is not good, and the items become lost or broken.