On-line Systems "Softporn Adventure"

[smokehouse]

Online Systems Presents…

Softporn Adventure
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y42/smokehouse/Game%20reviews/softporn.jpg

I got this relic from a trade I did with Cryomancer. I got many, MANY Atari system discs as well as some hardware and this was in the stack. He had got the lot from a local Goodwill. Anyway, I got a good laugh when I saw it and thought I would post it here.

Oh, it’s a text based game…no pics…

[CocoVG]

You should play it, it's quite funny. This used to be a real hilarious thing for me to print off on my old daisy wheel printer and take to school when I was young - so much better than your average skin magazine.

Hah!

[jajaja]

Wasnt this game included on the Leisure Suit Larry collection?

[smokehouse]

I’m not sure, this guy is rather old. It says 1981 on the disk. Wasn’t the original Leisure Suit Larry later on, say around 1985/6? I can’t remember now.

[squidblatt]

The woman on the right is Roberta Williams of King's Quest fame.

[jajaja]

I’m not sure, this guy is rather old. It says 1981 on the disk. Wasn’t the original Leisure Suit Larry later on, say around 1985/6? I can’t remember now.

Im 99% sure this game was included in the LSL collection :) There was a game called the same if I remember correctly and it was only textbased. But your right that LSL was released later.

[Griking]

FYI, you'd probably get a small fortune of you put that up for sale on eBay. It's pretty rare. I know I'd love to fine one. ;)

[roushimsx]

I got this relic from a trade I did with Cryomancer.

Oh man, AWESOME grab.

Do you have a scanner, per-chance? I'd love to see a high quality scan of the cover, plus I'm sure MobyGames.Com would love you for it

[Pantechnicon]

That's awesome! I've gotta fire up the old 800 emulator and check this out sometime.

Can is there a patch to update this to "Hardcore Porn Adventure"? Just asking, s'all... :roll:

Does the guy holding the drink tray look familiar at all? He does to me, let me give you hint...

http://forums.flightinfo.com/customavatars/avatar7800_1.gif
"Yeah. If coach would've put me in fourth quarter... we'd have been state champions, no doubt. No doubt in my mind. You better believe things would have been different. I'd have gone pro...in a heartbeat. I'd be makin' millions of dollars and... livin' in a... big ol' mansion somewhere. You know, soakin' it up in a hot tub with my soul mate."

Thanks for sharing. I can now face the day.

[Mayhem]

Anyone interested in Al Lowe, Soft Porn Adventure, Sierra and the LSL series might think about buying the upcoming Retro Survival CD as there's a big article about all of it on there ;)

(and I'm currently editing this together!)

And yes, the woman on the right in the tub is Roberta Williams, co-founder of Sierra. It was her tub as well. The woman in the middle is the wife of one of Sierra's programmers at the time, and the woman on the left an employee too. The waiter was "borrowed" from a nearby bar. Nothing like keeping it local LOL

[Raccoon Lad]

OMG, Roberta Williams is HOT!!! :eek 2: :-P


...too bad the pic is over 20 years old...

[mr_pollock]

I've never understood the appeal of the Grand Theft Auto games. Furthermore, I don't understand why people care so much about the hot coffee thing.

Anyone care to enlighten me or is just a bunch of 13 year olds with raging hormones?

[Daltone]

And yes, the woman on the right in the tub is Roberta Williams, co-founder of Sierra. It was her tub as well.

But...why is she there?! That was the first thing I thought.

[Mayhem]

I guess she didn't have a problem "helping out" with all aspects of game production LOL

After all, she did co-own the company at the time with her husband. And it's their hot-tub in the picture. Easiest way to keep costs down I guess, ask about who wouldn't mind being immortalised for posterity :P

[snes_collector]

I've never understood the appeal of the Grand Theft Auto games. Furthermore, I don't understand why people care so much about the hot coffee thing.

Anyone care to enlighten me or is just a bunch of 13 year olds with raging hormones?

Hey man, I know your new here, but don't insult 13 year olds, there is some on here ;)


Back on topic, did he say that the person he got it from got it a GOODWILL :eek 2: . That's crazy @_@

[TheRedEye]

This was the game that inspired Leisure Suit Larry. If you're thinking of selling it, I might be interested.

[smokehouse]

How can I find out the price of this game? As sad as it sounds I’m not really interested in keeping this title and would rather put the $$ into my collection. Any ideas?

[slapdash]

This was the game that inspired Leisure Suit Larry.

Technically speaking, LSL is essentially a remake of SPA, minus the mushrooms IIRC...

[TheRedEye]

This was the game that inspired Leisure Suit Larry.

Technically speaking, LSL is essentially a remake of SPA, minus the mushrooms IIRC...

Yeah, but Soft Porn didn't really have the ol' Al Lowe humor.

I don't think it's possible to guess what this thing is worth, your best bet is to eBay it and find out for all of us. I've never seen one for sale, personally.

[smokehouse]

There’s a sealed copy for the Apple II currently sitting at $325 and it’s still got 4 days left.

Here’s a link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-On-Line-Systems-SOFTPORN-ADVENTURE-1981-Apple-II_W0QQitemZ8225092253QQcategoryZ4315QQssPageNameZ WDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I imagine that my copy won’t go for that much figuring it’s not sealed but If I clear enough to get a Turbo Duo and a few games I’d be thrilled!

[SoulBlazer]

Yeah, Soft Porn Adventure WAS included in the LSL Collection. Plus you can find it on sites like Underdogs. By today's standards, it's very simple and short, but I hear back in the day it was quite fun.

And look at the price, people! $30 for a Atari PC game over 20 years ago! Considering you can go through the whole game from start to finish in 15 minutes if you know what to do and factoring in inflation, and games were more expensive back then. :)

But that's AWSOME trade bait. I'd start the bidding at $100 on EBay and see how high it goes up. Plus it looks minty fresh and in great shape.

Plus the current EBay auction is for the Apple II version. The Atari one may be a bit rarer.

Sierra in the early 80's (known as Online Systems) was a very small company, like Activision and EA were when they got started. I'm not surprised Roberta decided to cut costs by saying 'hum, we need a adult picture for the cover of this game.....I know, we'll use my hot tub and borrow a couple of people! Heck, I'll get in also, to save money.' LOL If you've ever read any of her interviews, she's a smart, funny, and all around nice person.

Plus she also lent her voice for some of the later Sierra games, such as King's Quest V.

And it was'nt just her that was in her games......Jane Jensen, another one of the brilliant designers that Sierra had during it's hayday (Quest for Glory series, Gabriel Knight series, Phantasmasgoria II) is in some of the scenes of Phantasmagoria II -- in a S&M club, no less! :D

[Cryomancer]

Ah damnit it is worth something. I was gonna keep it just because my girlfriend is a Larry fan. Well...buy soemthing cool with the funds I guess...perhaps a Dreamcast, heh. Feel free to send me some hardware you don't want if you feel guilty. LOL

I'm just glad to get the space really.

[Sothy]

Smokehouse, Cmon...send Cryo an extra game or something.

[dj898]

And it was'nt just her that was in her games......Jane Jensen, another one of the brilliant designers that Sierra had during it's hayday (Quest for Glory series, Gabriel Knight series, Phantasmasgoria II) is in some of the scenes of Phantasmagoria II -- in a S&M club, no less! :D

Wow!
I need to track down Phantasmagoria II then...
I have Phantasmagoria I before it got banned in down under back then... but never get around to get the part II...

[TheRedEye]

If anyone wants a direct download, Al Lowe himself hosts it on his site:

http://www.allowe.com/More/download.htm

[smokehouse]

Smokehouse, Cmon...send Cryo an extra game or something.

Don’t worry about that…I’ll give him something nice if it sells well. It would only be fair.

By the way, he’s a real nice guy, he came over to my crib on Monday and we talked for a while.

[Cryomancer]

Yeah, it was a good time, and you're massively conviniently located for where I stay when I'm in IL as well. We will have to drop by again next time I'm in town.

[SoulBlazer]

Oh, I second the request for a high quality large scan of the picture on the cover while you still have the game. I can think of a few websites that would like to have that. :)

[smokehouse]

I will definitely scan it before it goes on EBAY.

[evildead2099]

I've never understood the appeal of the Grand Theft Auto games. Furthermore, I don't understand why people care so much about the hot coffee thing.

Anyone care to enlighten me or is just a bunch of 13 year olds with raging hormones?

Hot Coffee was no big deal; it just got blown out of proportion because America is still very much a puritanical country where parents would rather their kids kill cops and run over civilians in cars than play games where they might see people show sexual affection and intimacy for one another.

It's basically an overreaction, not unlike the irrelevant and inconsential Janet Jackson Superbowl mishap.

[TheRedEye]

heh, I just found out what Sierra CEO Ken Williams has been up to:

http://www.talkspot.com/

That picture and quote is hilarious, it looks like it's from the back of a game box!

[Sockdude]

Ah, yes. Sierra's Softporn Adventure. Very rare. Nice find.
By the way, it is included with the LSL Collection because it is considered part of the series. :)

Putting it up on eBay? If you got it for so cheap, why not keep it?

[GameSlaveGaz]

I love how the disclaimer says "not intended for minors or persons easily offended" It should say "people easily offended" on many of today's products, cuz those people need to go away LOL.

[SoulBlazer]

Cool find about Ken Williams is doing these days. Any one know what Roberta Williams is doing now? I wish she was still making games. The last one I'm aware that she designed was the last King's Quest game.

[TheRedEye]

Cool find about Ken Williams is doing these days. Any one know what Roberta Williams is doing now? I wish she was still making games. The last one I'm aware that she designed was the last King's Quest game.

Actually, I just interviewed Ken, you can read about what he's up to this Monday on Gamasutra.com.

[roushimsx]

I will definitely scan it before it goes on EBAY.

Sweet, thanks man! :)

[SoulBlazer]

Does he mention what his wife is doing? I did'nt see that.

And please post it in the EBay auction when you list the game! I'd start the bidding at around $150 and see what happens. :)

[Zing]

I tried this game. I have been known to enjoy a nice text adventure. I really gave it a serious try.

It is one of the most boring games I have ever played. It wasn't even slightly funny or interesting.

That is all.

[TheRedEye]

Does he mention what his wife is doing? I did'nt see that.

Basically they're doing nothing. They travel in their boat sometimes, and just kind of relax like retired people do. Neither one of them have played a videogame since 1996.

[SoulBlazer]

Well, I don't blame them for wanting to take it easy. I'm sure they made tons of money selling Sierra to Vivendi in the late 90's, although I'm not happy with what VU has done with this once great (and favorite) PC company. Roberta Williams is SO talented as a game designer and writer that I was always hoping she'd do one more game.

And yes, Softporn is very simple and easy THESE days, but you have to put it into the context of when it was released. :)

[mezrabad]

*sigh* Roberta Williams

Naked. Female. Rich. Game Designer. One of the computer game industry founders. She's pretty cute, too. I'd share a hot tub with her any day.

:love:

[TheRedEye]

Well, I don't blame them for wanting to take it easy. I'm sure they made tons of money selling Sierra to Vivendi in the late 90's, although I'm not happy with what VU has done with this once great (and favorite) PC company. Roberta Williams is SO talented as a game designer and writer that I was always hoping she'd do one more game.

And yes, Softporn is very simple and easy THESE days, but you have to put it into the context of when it was released. :)

To be fair, they sold it to a company called CUC, who were big shareholders very early on. THEY sold it to Vivendi. And if you think Vivendi is bad, you probably don't know much about the brief CUC-controlled days.

Maybe no one does! But I found out.

[SoulBlazer]

Hum, never heard anything about that. If you write up a article about that, RedEye, make sure to let us know. :D

[Mayhem]

To be fair, they sold it to a company called CUC, who were big shareholders very early on. THEY sold it to Vivendi. And if you think Vivendi is bad, you probably don't know much about the brief CUC-controlled days.

Especially as the boss of CUC turned out to be a "crook" in the Enron sense... and the company was levelled with a fine of $2.5bn! Needless to say that action is pretty much caused the sale of Sierra to Vivendi...

[TheRedEye]

Here: http://gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=6864

[smokehouse]

I have some really high res scans of the game if anyone is interested. Just PM me if you like. I have also put this item up for sale on EBAY, you can find the topic over in the EBAY forum.

[slapdash]

[Sorry for posting here, but I'm getting a smtp.php error trying to PM you]

I might be interested in seeing some scans, but how many are there and how big are they? I'm still on dialup, you see...