AGD Interactive

Lore & Background

AGD Interactive began as Tierra Entertainment in 2001, founded by Britney K. Brimhall and Christopher T. Warren. On December 10, 2003, the company changed its name to AGD Interactive, with AGD standing for Anonymous Game Developer. The lead designers thereafter used the pseudonyms Anonymous Game Designer #1 (Brimhall) and Anonymous Game Developer #2 (Warren). The team used Adventure Game Studio to create their games.

The company's first release was a free point-and-click remake of King's Quest I: Quest for the Crown on August 8, 2001, known as King's Quest I VGA. A version 4.0 was released on January 17, 2009, adding enhanced backgrounds, narration vocals, and an optional feature to remove unwinnable situations. Their second remake, King's Quest II+: Romancing the Stones, was released on December 3, 2002, and won multiple 2002 AGS Awards including Best Game and Best Story. A version 3.0 followed on March 14, 2009.

In February 2011, AGDI released King's Quest III Redux, a non-canon continuation of the plot from their King's Quest II remake. Their remake of Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire was released on August 24, 2008, and was praised by Polygon as one of the best fan remakes ever. AGDI also formed a commercial company, Himalaya Studios, to create original point-and-click adventure games with high-resolution graphics. Two projects were canceled: a parody titled Royal Quest: Retrieving Lost Shit, and a VGA remake of Space Quest II, which was put on indefinite hold.

Reader's Guide

AGD Interactive holds a significant place in the history of fan game development, particularly for preserving and revitalizing classic Sierra adventure games. Their remakes of King's Quest I, II, and III, as well as Quest for Glory II, were released for free and received enthusiastic reception from Sierra fans, with some considering them nearly equal to Sierra's later King's Quest VI. The Quest for Glory II remake was especially noted by Polygon as one of the best fan remakes ever, and PC World's Jim Norris gave it 4 out of 5 stars, calling it a 'hand-polished classic' and the best of AGDI's remakes. The company's work demonstrated how fan projects could achieve high quality and commercial-like polish, while also influencing sales of official Sierra titles (as seen with King's Quest VIII). Their transition to a commercial entity, Himalaya Studios, reflects the potential for fan developers to move into original game creation. However, their legacy is also marked by canceled projects, including a Space Quest II remake halted due to a lead programmer's disappearance, and a parody game canceled for not aligning with the team's values. Overall, AGDI exemplifies the passion and skill within the fan community for honoring and expanding upon classic game franchises.

Did You Know?

• AGD Interactive originally operated under the name Tierra Entertainment until December 10, 2003.
• A remake of Space Quest II was put on indefinite hold.