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Space Quest VII

Last updated: January 16, 2026

Overview

Space Quest VII represents one of the most lamented casualties in Sierra On-Line’s history—a game that went through multiple development iterations between 1997 and 2002 but was never released to the public1. The project cycled through several working titles including “This Time It’s Personal,” “Return to Roman Numerals,” and “Show Me the Buckazoids” as various teams attempted to bring the beloved sci-fi comedy adventure series back to life2. Despite the involvement of series co-creator Scott Murphy and extensive fan support, corporate pressures and the declining adventure game market ultimately doomed every iteration of the project.

The cancellation of Space Quest VII left Space Quest 6: Roger Wilco in the Spinal Frontier (1995) as the unintended finale to the franchise3. The game had been announced for a late 1998 release date but development was paused indefinitely before the end of 1997 and formally ceased in 1999 following massive Sierra layoffs4. Multiple attempts to revive the project—including an Escape Factory reboot aimed at consoles—all met similar fates, leaving fans with nothing but concept art, developer interviews, and a promotional trailer that ironically joked about the game’s likely cancellation2.

The story of Space Quest VII’s troubled development offers a window into the broader collapse of the adventure game genre in the late 1990s, as well as the corporate restructuring that dismantled Sierra’s legendary development studios. When Vivendi Games acquired Sierra, the new management showed little interest in continuing projects that didn’t fit their vision for profitable gaming, citing poor adventure game sales following the commercial disappointment of LucasArts’ Grim Fandango5.

Story Summary

While Space Quest VII never reached completion, developer interviews and leaked materials reveal some planned story elements. The game was reportedly set to return Roger Wilco to the planet Polysorbate LX, a location from Space Quest 62. A new character named “Dougie”—described as a slime monster who hangs out on streets—was designed by artist Richard Powell for the game2.

One of the most surprising plot revelations came from Scott Murphy himself regarding the Escape Factory version of the project. Murphy disclosed that Sludge Vohaul, the recurring villain of the Space Quest series, was planned to be revealed as Roger Wilco’s brother—specifically, a failed clone6. This dramatic retcon would have added significant depth to the antagonist relationship that had defined much of the series.

The promotional trailer included with The Space Quest Collection provided the only glimpse of what might have been, showing Roger in a dramatic sequence. Notably, the trailer depicted Roger more or less “dying” in the footage, while self-referentially making fun of the fact that the game would likely be cancelled2. This meta-humor was characteristic of the series’ irreverent tone, though in this case it proved tragically prophetic.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

The original Sierra development of Space Quest VII was intended to retain the traditional point-and-click adventure format that defined the series. According to technical specifications shared by the development team, the game would include “3-D elements that will NOT require the use of a 3D accelerator card” while the game “should retain its standard 2-D scrolling view”2. This approach would have preserved the classic adventure game feel while incorporating modern visual enhancements.

Structure and Progression

Space Quest VII was designed to be significantly larger in scope than its predecessors. Programmer William Shockley described the planned scale in promotional materials: “Prepare yourself for a Space Quest of gargantuan proportions! This thing is going to be so big you couldn’t climb over it in a weekend! You’ll see Roger like you’ve never seen him before, or ever want to see him again!”2

Puzzles and Mechanics

The most controversial planned feature was multiplayer support—a first for the Space Quest series7. Management at Sierra pushed strongly for this addition, which Scott Murphy felt was fundamentally wrong for the franchise. Murphy later explained: “We were being pressured to make Space Quest 7 a multiplayer game, which, by its nature, it just never should have been. Therefore, the design had to be something that I didn’t want it to be and I thought it sucked for the most part, to be quite honest”7.

The Escape Factory version took the multiplayer concept even further, with Murphy revealing one particularly ill-conceived idea: “We toyed with the idea of Roger being accidentally cloned at the start of the game—many times, and all with differing personalities. That way multiple players could play as different Rogers all trying to reach the same goal: to snuff all the other Rogers. God, I hate even talking about this. It sucked”6.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

As Space Quest VII was never released, no contemporary reviews exist. The cancellation itself, however, generated significant coverage in gaming media and remained a topic of discussion among adventure game enthusiasts for years afterward.

Modern Assessment

The unreleased status of Space Quest VII means there are no aggregate review scores to report. However, the game’s cancellation has been extensively documented by fan communities and gaming historians as a significant loss for the adventure game genre.

Aggregate Scores:

  • Not applicable (game was never released)

Development

Origins

Development of Space Quest VII began in early 1997, with Scott Murphy—one of the series’ original co-creators—serving as director4. The project was officially announced with a planned release date of late 19982. This timing would have placed it approximately three years after Space Quest 6, matching the typical development cycle for Sierra adventure games of that era.

The game was referenced in the Space Quest 6 Hintbook, suggesting Sierra had early confidence in the project’s future2. The development team also created and released a promotional trailer with The Space Quest Collection, though as Murphy later revealed, this teaser “had nothing to do with what Space Quest 7 was supposed to be” and was “merely eye candy for management”6.

Production

The original Space Quest VII development hit immediate turbulence. By December 1997, the project was placed on indefinite hold. Scott Murphy received the news in particularly cruel fashion: “On Christmas Eve of 1997, I was told by the project manager, Lori Lucia, that Space Quest 7 was ‘cancelled.’ That was the word used. And wasn’t that a nice Christmas present?”7

The official cancellation notice, co-authored by Leslie Balfour and Murphy, attempted to soften the blow for fans: “The decision has been made, after much soul-searching and agonizing, to put Space Quest 7 on hold indefinitely”2. They added a poignant farewell to the character: “Just think of him as weary from making us laugh for all these years, ready for a break from his adventures. He and la Wankmeister want to settle down, raise a family”2.

Murphy was laid off from Sierra on February 15, 1998, though reportedly would have been re-hired if the project restarted7. Leslie Balfour departed Sierra by August 7, 19987. A playable demo had been in development during June-July 1997 before the cancellation2.

The project saw a brief revival in January/February 1999 under the direction of Craig Alexander, who served as General Manager for the potential restart. Alexander reported cautious optimism: “It went okay, although we only spent a few minutes discussing [SQ7]. In early July, I plan to have another meeting and formerly pitch restarting the project in early 1999. The tides are definitely turning, in part because of [the fans’] support. However, there is a long road ahead of us”2.

That road came to an abrupt end on February 22, 1999—a day that became known as “Chainsaw Monday”—when Sierra closed its Oakhurst, California facility, firing two-thirds of the employees2. Ken Williams, Sierra’s co-founder, described the closure: “This is a sad ending to Sierra’s twenty-year operating history in Oakhurst, which at one time, represented over 550 Oakhurst-based employees”2.

Development Credits:2

  • Director: Scott Murphy
  • Project Head: Leslie Balfour
  • General Manager: Craig Alexander
  • Project Manager: Lori Lucia
  • Programmer: William Shockley
  • Character Designer: Richard Powell (Dougie character)

Escape Factory Version

Following the cancellation of Sierra’s internal project, a second attempt at Space Quest VII emerged through Escape Factory, an external studio contracted by Sierra6. This version was radically different from the original conception—an action-platformer similar to Ratchet & Clank or Jak and Daxter rather than a traditional adventure game6.

The Escape Factory version was built using the Unreal Engine and targeted Xbox and PlayStation 2 platforms6. Ironically, the development team was specifically instructed by Sierra “NOT to even PLAY or LOOK AT the existing Space Quest games before working on the new game,” according to Josh Mandel5. The project was assembled from assets of a cancelled game called “Teebo & Kai”6.

This version was also cancelled, with the project ending on December 19, 20026. Sierra president Mike Ryder explained the broader context: “the adventure genre as we knew it may no longer be viable”6.

Technical Achievements

The original Space Quest VII was planned to introduce 3D graphics to the series while maintaining accessibility by not requiring a 3D accelerator card7. This would have been a significant technical undertaking, balancing visual modernization with the series’ traditional gameplay style.

Technical Specifications

Planned Specifications (Sierra Version):7

  • Graphics: 3D elements with 2D scrolling view
  • 3D Accelerator: Not required
  • Multiplayer: Planned (both single-player and multiplayer modes)

Escape Factory Version:6

  • Engine: Unreal Engine
  • Graphics: Full 3D
  • Platforms: Xbox, PlayStation 2
  • Multiplayer: Online co-op mode planned

Cut Content

The entirety of Space Quest VII must be considered cut content, as no version of the game was ever released2. Specific documented elements that were developed but never saw release include:

  • The character “Dougie,” a slime monster designed by Richard Powell2
  • Return to planet Polysorbate LX from Space Quest 62
  • Multiple Roger clones with different personalities for multiplayer6
  • Revelation that Sludge Vohaul was Roger’s brother/failed clone6
  • Playable demo (June-July 1997)2
  • Promotional trailer (included with Space Quest Collection)2

Version History

VersionDateStatusNotes
Sierra InternalEarly 1997StartedDevelopment begins under Murphy/Balfour2
DemoJune-July 1997In ProgressPlayable demo in development2
Sierra InternalDecember 1997CancelledProject put “on hold indefinitely”7
Sierra RestartJanuary 1999AttemptedBrief restart attempt2
Sierra InternalFebruary 22, 1999Final Cancellation”Chainsaw Monday” closure2
Escape Factory2001-2002StartedConsole reboot using Unreal Engine6
Escape FactoryDecember 19, 2002CancelledFinal cancellation6

Technical Issues

As the game was never released, no end-user technical issues were documented. However, the fundamental technical challenge of balancing 3D graphics with traditional adventure gameplay while meeting management demands for multiplayer functionality contributed to the project’s difficulties7.

Easter Eggs and Trivia

While Space Quest VII itself never released, several notable pieces of trivia emerged from its development:

  • The promotional trailer included with The Space Quest Collection depicted Roger “dying” and self-referentially joked about the game’s likely cancellation2
  • The trailer “had nothing to do with what Space Quest 7 was supposed to be” according to developers—it was “merely eye candy for management”6
  • Scott Murphy received news of the cancellation on Christmas Eve 19977
  • The Escape Factory team was prohibited from playing or studying existing Space Quest games5
  • Mark Crowe and Scott Murphy, the original “Two Guys from Andromeda,” hadn’t spoken to each other in 20 years by the time of their later SpaceVenture Kickstarter8

Voice Cast

As Space Quest VII was never completed, no voice cast was finalized. However, Gary Owens, who provided narration for Space Quest IV and Space Quest 6, would likely have reprised his role based on series continuity3. Owens passed away years after the originally intended release date for Space Quest VII8.

Legacy

Sales and Commercial Impact

Space Quest VII had no direct sales impact as it was never released. However, the failure of The Space Quest Collection, which was reportedly “found in bargain bins” shortly after release, contributed to Sierra’s decision not to pursue further Space Quest development2. The declining commercial viability of adventure games industry-wide—exemplified by the poor sales of LucasArts’ acclaimed Grim Fandango—reinforced this corporate stance5.

Collections

The promotional trailer for Space Quest VII was included with The Space Quest Collection, representing the only official material from the project ever distributed to consumers2.

Fan Projects

The cancellation of Space Quest VII spawned multiple fan efforts to continue Roger Wilco’s adventures:

Space Quest: The Lost Chapter (2001) - A fan-made game using a text parser interface similar to Space Quest I and II, designed to fill the gap between Space Quest II and III. The game received a 2/10 rating from GameFAQs reviewer Flashman85, who described it as “unplayable at any speed” due to severe technical problems including vocabulary holes in the text parser and puzzles described as “the WORST puzzle in adventure game history”9.

SQ7.org Fan Project (2001-2009) - An unofficial Space Quest VII developed by fans, which was reportedly “nearing completion” before being cancelled when corporate copyright holders intervened3. This cease-and-desist represented another blow to fans who had hoped to see Roger Wilco’s story continue.

SpaceVenture (2012-2026) - A spiritual successor created by Mark Crowe and Scott Murphy (the original “Two Guys from Andromeda”) through Kickstarter, raising over $500,000 from nearly 11,000 backers8. The project suffered a troubled 13-year development before releasing in Early Access on April 1, 2026. Contemporary reviews were devastating, with Kotaku declaring “SpaceVenture is so very, very bad” and “This is a colossal disaster”8.

  • Space Quest 6 Hintbook: Contained references to the upcoming Space Quest VII2

Critical Perspective

The cancellation of Space Quest VII represents a significant moment in adventure gaming history—not merely as the death of a beloved franchise, but as a symptom of the broader genre collapse of the late 1990s. The corporate pressures that doomed the project—demands for multiplayer functionality, 3D graphics, and console ports—reflected an industry struggling to adapt adventure games to an era dominated by action titles and online gaming.

Scott Murphy’s candid admission that management pressure resulted in a design he felt “sucked for the most part” illustrates the creative compromises that characterized Sierra’s final years7. The closure of the Oakhurst facility on “Chainsaw Monday” ended not just Space Quest VII but Sierra’s identity as an adventure game pioneer2.

The subsequent failure of SpaceVenture—despite the involvement of the original creators and substantial Kickstarter funding—suggests that the magic of the Space Quest series may have been inextricably linked to a specific moment in gaming history that cannot be recaptured. As one critic noted, Space Quest 6 “became the series finale, capping off with an inconsistently fun gameplay experience (thanks to the game’s troubled development)”3, leaving the franchise without the proper conclusion its fans deserved.

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

  • Not available (game was never released)

Related Content:

Fan Archives:

Series Continuity

Space Quest VII was intended to continue the adventures of Roger Wilco following the events of Space Quest 6: Roger Wilco in the Spinal Frontier. The game would have returned to planet Polysorbate LX, a location from the previous entry2. The planned revelation that Sludge Vohaul was Roger’s brother or failed clone would have significantly recontextualized the series’ ongoing conflict between protagonist and antagonist6.

With the cancellation of Space Quest VII, Space Quest 6 remains the final canonical entry in the series3. Various fan projects and the spiritual successor SpaceVenture have attempted to continue Roger Wilco’s story, but none have achieved official status or commercial success comparable to the original Sierra games.

References

Footnotes

  1. Sierra Chest – Space Quest 7 – developer, platform, unreleased status ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  2. SpaceQuest.net – SQ7 Documentation – development timeline, working titles, team quotes, cancellation details, technical specifications ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19 ↩20 ↩21 ↩22 ↩23 ↩24 ↩25 ↩26 ↩27 ↩28 ↩29 ↩30 ↩31 ↩32 ↩33

  3. GameCola – The Ten Reasons: Space Quest Collection – SQ6 as unintended finale, fan project cancellation, Gary Owens voice work ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  4. Wikipedia – Space Quest – 1997 development start, Scott Murphy as director, late 1998 announcement, formal 1999 cancellation ↩ ↩2

  5. Citizendium – Space Quest – 1996 planning, trailer release, Vivendi acquisition impact, Escape Factory instruction not to play existing games ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  6. Wiw.org – Space Quest 7 Archive – Escape Factory version, Unreal Engine, console platforms, Vohaul revelation, multiple Rogers concept, December 2002 cancellation ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19

  7. Wiw.org – Old SQ7 Archive – Christmas Eve cancellation quote, multiplayer pressure, Murphy layoff date, Balfour departure, 3D graphics plans ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11

  8. Kotaku – SpaceVenture Disaster – SpaceVenture Kickstarter, Two Guys reunion, Gary Owens death, critical reception ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  9. GameFAQs – Space Quest: The Lost Chapter Review – fan game quality issues, 2/10 rating, technical problems ↩

  10. Steam – Space Quest Collection – collection availability, promotional materials ↩

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