Leisure Suit Larry - Sega CD version

[sashadarko]

I found this screenshot from unreleased Sega CD port of LSL in Megaplay 11.
Is there any other info about the port? Google search shows nothing at all.

update: one more shot from page 33

[magicalsoundshower]

I think I too saw this screenshot in some gaming magazine, but add me to the list of people who've never heard anything about this port ever again.

Although I'm sure the graphics being "toned down a bit" may be a bit of an understatement. The 1991 VGA remake of LSL1 (which the screenshot suggests this was going to be based on) was considered a big showcase for 256 color VGA graphics in adventure games. I shudder to think what this may have looked like with a low-effort port job. Sierra wasn't exactly known for the quality of their downports back then, the 32-color Amiga port already looked lackluster enough.

[evilevoix]

I think I too saw this screenshot in some gaming magazine, but add me to the list of people who've never heard anything about this port ever again.

Although I'm sure the graphics being "toned down a bit" may be a bit of an understatement. The 1991 VGA remake of LSL1 (which the screenshot suggests this was going to be based on) was considered a big showcase for 256 color VGA graphics in adventure games. I shudder to think what this may have looked like with a low-effort port job. Sierra wasn't exactly known for the quality of their downports back then, the 32-color Amiga port already looked lackluster enough.

I think the "Toned Down" visuals mean the nudity and adult situations. I had these games on my 386 BITD and you got cock and balls nudity in this game at the highest setting.

[stewy]

I always wondered if there was even a partially complete version of this game floating around. It sat on published SCD release lists for what felt like years back in the day, but I don't remember seeing anything that resembled a true screenshot outside of off-screen stuff like you've got in the original post. I want to say that King's Quest was also meant to be released on the system.

Basically, early on it seemed like Sierra was going to throw its support behind the system completely. It would make sense considering the company was expanding rapidly in the early-to-mid-90s.

In the end, though, it felt like the two Dynamix games (Willy Beamish and Rise of the Dragon) were meant to test the waters, and I'm guessing the returns didn't make further development a worthwhile endeavor.

[Assault9]

It's unfortunate that Sierra gave up so early on the Genesis. It would have been interesting to see if they could have ported Betrayal at Krondor as well.

[matteus]

It's unfortunate that Sierra gave up so early on the Genesis. It would have been interesting to see if they could have ported Betrayal at Krondor as well.

I emailed Al Lowe to find out if he knew anything about the port and got the following response quoted below:

RE: unreleased Leisure Suit Larry game for the Sega CD?

I remember reading this rumor several times over the years. To the best of my recollections, I think Sierra discussed hiring a Sega developer to translate one (or more?) of the games to that machine, but nothing came of it. I suspect it was because, by the time the developer got it working, sales on that machine were dying out, therefore “why spend more money when the sales might not be there.” But, as I say, that was a long time ago.

If you find out more, please tell me. I’d love to add this to the Larry section of my website.

Al

Since Sierra is no long in existence I imagine some of the old management team would be able to solve this mystery if we track down their contact details and asked

[GelmiR]

Or maybe you could ask mr. Al Lowe himself? He's had a website for quite a while, now
I have never heard of this port... the first Larry game (EGA and VGA) is one of my favorite adventure games (guilty pleasure), would have loved to see it on Sega CD.

[matteus]

Or maybe you could ask mr. Al Lowe himself? He's had a website for quite a while, now
I have never heard of this port... the first Larry game (EGA and VGA) is one of my favorite adventure games (guilty pleasure), would have loved to see it on Sega CD.

Did you miss my post above!!! That was a response from Al Lowe :P

[GelmiR]

Wow, a new level of stupid for me. Not sure how I manged to do it, but yeah, somehow I missed that. Interesting though, hope more info will be uncovered
Don't remember any nudity in the game though, except for Eve in the pool at the end of the game.

[evilevoix]

Wow, a new level of stupid for me. Not sure how I manged to do it, but yeah, somehow I missed that. Interesting though, hope more info will be uncovered
Don't remember any nudity in the game though, except for Eve in the pool at the end of the game.

Cock and Balls nudity according to my IBM Compatible 386.

[GelmiR]

Sorry, but is that meant to be taken literally? Because I tend to take thing literally sometimes, when I shouldn't.
Also asking this because most nudity is censored.

[evilevoix]

Sorry, but is that meant to be taken literally? Because I tend to take thing literally sometimes, when I shouldn't.
Also asking this because most nudity is censored.

Literally. Hell there is a scene in one of the Larrys where Larry is in a Gym shower from a beneath view so you see his cock, balls, and asshole. The whoel gimic of this game was adult material. Lots of nudity from Sierra in the 80's. That Roberta Williams is a feisty one.

[GelmiR]

Isn't that an Al Lowe joke? The games were meant to be funny - not hardcore adult games. Aside from some easter eggs, there's hardly any nudity in there.
Unless you're talking about the shitty Larry games that weren't done by Sierra, I wouldn't know about those.

[evilevoix]

Roberta Williams was a Dirty Bitch, always into computer porn, very ahead of her time.

softporn-ad--article_image.jpg

That's Roberta in the Tub.

Roberta_Williams_p3.jpg

I am willing to bet that muff is HUGE, like a pool rack with afro hair.


Softporn_Adventure_box_cover.jpg

Softporn Adventure was a comedic, adult-oriented text adventure game produced for the Apple II in 1981. The game was created by Charles Benton and released by On-Line Systems, later renamed Sierra On-Line.

In the game, the player (playing a down-on-his-luck party animal) searches for certain items that will allow him to win the affections of three beautiful (and sometimes not-so-beautiful) women. Benton claimed that parts of the game were based on his own life.[1] Years later, Softporn Adventure inspired the Leisure Suit Larry series of adult-oriented videogames, and the first entry in that series, 1987's Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards, was a nearly direct graphical adaptation of Softporn Adventure.

The game's cover features three nude women and a male waiter in a hot tub. The hot tub is actually that of On-Line Systems' owners Ken and Roberta Williams. From left to right, the first woman is Diane Siegel, On-Line's production manager. The second is Susan Davis, On-Line's bookkeeper and the wife of Bob Davis, the creator of Ulysses and the Golden Fleece. The waiter was Rick Chipman, an actual waiter from a local restaurant, The Broken Bit. The woman on the far right is Roberta Williams. The ad was considered somewhat scandalous at the time because of the degree of nudity displayed.[2][3][4]

I love Sierra, went through all the KQ games, some Police Quest stuff. I really like Lucas arts as well. I have Monkey Island for the Sega CD. Lots of loading but playable for sure.

[Miles Pergallon]

If Mortal Combat had failed to stir trouble and get us a game rating system, then maybe this would have done it. And the results would have been worse since sex is worse than violence for whatever reason.