Latest revision as of 00:14, 3 June 2024
SCI Releases
The SCI Engine superseded Sierra's earlier engine, AGI. It was used from 1988 to 1996.
Unless noted otherwise, all versions listed are PC releases.
SCI Interpreter Naming Convention
The meaning of the letters of the interpreter name SCIxxx.EXE:
- V present: Load game data from RESOURCE.0xx/RESOURCE.MAP files, using individual files only as replacements, and use RESOURCE.CFG as a config file.
- V absent: Load game data from individual files only, and use a file named "WHERE" as a config file which, in addition to the usual hardware-config lines, must contain paths for each resource type.
- D present: Pull-down menus not available.
- D absent: Pull-down menus available.
- U present: Debugger not available.
- U absent: Debugger available (Shift-Shift-NumMinus to activate)
- H present: 256 colors
- H absent: 16 colors
SCIV.EXE therefore means 16 colors, with debugger, with pull-down menus, using RESOURCE.00x files. Interestingly, there never seems to have been a letter to indicate the presence or absence of a parser. Obviously, non-V versions were only used internally. Many games rename the interpreter executable to just SIERRA.EXE.[1]
SCI0
First used for King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella in 1988, SCI0 (0.000.xxx) allowed for 320×200 graphics with 16 colors as well as a music-card compatible soundtrack. It also supported parser-based keyboard input which a game could be scripted to use if it wishes to do so (non-adventure games usually didn't).
SCI0 (early)
| Title |
Platform |
Lang |
Version |
Int Version |
Release Date |
Media |
Notes
|
| King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella |
DOS |
Eng |
1.000.106 |
0.000.247 |
1988/09/19 |
|
Original detailed graphics.[2] Interpreter does not support patch files.
|
SCI0 (late)
SCI0.1
SCI1
Released in 1990, the most notable improvement in SCI1 (1.000.xxx/T.A00.xxx) was the support of 256 color graphics, still at a resolution of 320×200; EGA 16 color graphics were still available (games were usually sold in separate 16 and 256 color versions). Some people prefer to call the 16-color SCI1 interpreters "SCI01". With the shift to SCI1, Sierra began using a digitized painting process for background artwork, rather than the pixel-by-pixel process of previous engines: the difference is readily apparent if one compares, for example, King's Quest 4 against King's Quest 5.
Most SCI1 games are completely mouse-driven, using an icon-based interface; contrary to popular thought, it is up to the game's script code, not to the interpreter, to implement the user interface. For example, even though Quest for Glory 2 is parser-driven and King's Quest 5 is mouse-driven, they use compatible interpreters, as it is possible to use the interpreter from QFG2 with the EGA version of KQ5.
The version numbering scheme is somewhat confusing for the reason that the third number in the version string (the build number) has only three digits, even though four are needed. For example, the game Space Quest 4 Version 1.052 ships with an interpreter labeled "1.000.753", whereas the game Conquests of the Longbow Version 1.0 ships with an interpreter labeled "1.000.168"; nevertheless, the latter interpreter is newer because the build number is actually 1168, not 168. Also, in some cases the "1.000" is replaced with "T.A00", which however does not indicate a separate development fork.
SCI1 (early)
SCI1 (middle)
SCI1 (late)
SCI1 (unknown)
SCI1.1
Apart from considerable internal changes, SCI1.1 (1.001.xxx) added support for animated movie sequences (first used in KQ6) as well as scaling sprites: characters would become smaller as they walk into the distance, giving a pseudo-3D effect. (The interpreters from some early SCI1.1 games bear a "2.000.000" version stamp; this is most likely an inconsistency which should be ignored.)
Separate 16-color packages were no longer available; EGA owners instead would be presented a 640×200 graphics display that simulated 256 colors via dithering.
SCI2
Often called SCI32 (along with SCI3), SCI2 (2.xxx.xxx) runs in 32-bit mode by using the DOS/4GW extender or by running it in Windows 3.1's Enhanced Mode. Most notable is the support of high-resolution 640×480 graphics, as well as better movie support. There are two known revisions, 2.000.000, and 2.100.002.
| Title |
Platform |
Lang |
Version |
Int Version |
Release Date |
Media |
Notes
|
| Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness |
DOS/Win3x |
Eng |
1.1a |
2.000.000 |
1993/12/14 |
|
|
SCI2.1
SCI2.1 (early)
SCI2.1 (middle)
SCI2.1 (late)
SCI3
The last version, SCI3 (3.000.000) could not only run under DOS or Windows 3.1, but also natively under Windows 95.
Unknown SCI Versions
- ↑ [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=65392#p736151 NewRisingSun, from the VOGONS thread SIERRA.EXE, SCIDHUV.EXE & Sierra's INSTALL.EXE Parameters / Switches?
- ↑ PC version 1.000.106 and 1.000.111 are the only ones with the original detailed graphics. For 1.003.006 and later versions, Sierra simplified the background graphics to make the game fit on one 5.25 inch disk less, removing background detail and separate night pictures.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ Has some aspect(s) of the SCI1 interpreter.
