PRODUCTION NOTES

When Gabriel Knight™ II: The Beast Within hit computers around the world early last year, the face of adventure gaming changed forever. Following closely in the footsteps of its acclaimed predecessor, Sins of Our Father, the series follow-up raised the notch on adventure game sophistication with an unusually mature, enriching storyline, deep character development and a technically marveling presentation.

A Different Story

Authored by computer game designer extraordinaire Jane Jensen, the Gabriel Knight™ stories are a far cry from the predictable, serialized plots of adventure games past. In this series, one won't find irradiated, talking tentacles stalking townspeople, Indiana Jones wannabes searching for ancient hidden jewels or elusive mad scientists who keep one step ahead of players by erecting endless sliding puzzle barriers. Rather, Jensen's adventures offer a realistic narrative experience once reserved for traditional media, such as the classic Agatha Christie mystery film series or Alfred Hitchcock's suspense thrillers.

It should come as no surprise, then, that Jensen's scripts are written first as a serious story and character driven mystery and secondly as a game. What else could one expect from a published author? The stories and characters from her past two games lent themselves to full novels from New American Library -- Gabriel Knight™: Sins of the Fathers, published in February 1997, and Gabriel Knight: The Beast Within, to be published in late 1998.

Kudos

The Gabriel Knight™ series' unique game style has certainly turned the heads of the gaming community. The journalistic community was so impressed with The Beast Within, that it endowed the game with rave reviews and numerous awards, including "Game of the Year" kudos in Computer Gaming World (placing it alongside former awardee Sins of Our Father) "Adventure Game of the Year" by PC Gamer and Strategy Plus; and "Best Story" by GameSpot. Computer Gaming World spoke for many critics when it stated: "Gabriel Knight II is the continuation of a brilliant tradition - the graphic adventure as art. That it combines solid technology and a marvelous aesthetic with outstanding gameplay is a testament to a designer who understands that 'the game is the thing.' Long live Gabriel Knight™!"

A New Take on Interactive Storytelling

Answering the call for more, Jane Jensen is preparing to shake up the adventure game genre once again with her latest installment in the Gabriel Knight series, Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned. A true spinster of the enigmatic tale, Jensen is preparing what could become not only a benchmark in adventure game technology, but also a new level of interactive storytelling.

In Gabriel Knight™ III: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned, releasing later this summer, Sierra introduces another large step forward in control and realism -- producing a real-time 3D environment that offers players an unprecedented level of exploration and control while maintaining strong narrative and adventure elements.

GKIII continues the experiences of Gabriel Knight™ -- a mystery writer whose real-life research has uncovered enigmatic questions to his family's far-reaching supernatural ties. Contacted by a dethroned royal scion, Gabriel Knight™ is asked to help uncover the answers to recent bizarre -- possibly supernatural -- events taking place inside the family's close circles. Obsessed with the safety of the family's newest member -- the scion's newborn son -- Gabriel accepts the offer and sets for the scion's home, located in a small village in the rural valley region in central Europe.

Upon his arrival, Gabriel discovers the scion's nightmare has become a reality -- a kidnapper has snatched his son, who, as the Scion reveals, is apparently the key to the century-old enigma surrounding the royal family. As Gabriel explores the town and questions the town's inhabitants and fellow visitors, he will come to realize the mystery that surrounds the Prince's family and the mystery of this ancient little town are not only connected, but also involve current political agendas and very ancient secrets.

Uncovering the secrets and mysteries will immerse the player in an enthralling thriller-mystery, as well as a brilliantly produced game world. Gone are the days of two-dimensional "hot-spot" hunts and full-motion cut scenes -- GKIII is set in an ultra-realistic 3D world in which the player has unlimited exploratory control: a style of gameplay once reserved for action games such as Tomb Raider and Quake. Viewed from a first-person or third-person point-of-view, camera angles are fully adjustable to any position in the environment -- whether in the normal exploratory gameplay or the in-game, seamlessly-integrated story scenes. This feature will prove quite beneficial when observing some of the more "subtle" actions of other characters.

Playing Gabriel Knight III will be much like controlling the cameras and main character in a one-scene stage production in which many scenes are taking place simultaneously, both independently and intermeshing with the main plot. Enhancing the virtual world is a full cast of characters that live out their daily lives independently from the player. This means that whether or not the player is present, characters will interact and converse with other characters, perform actions and influence the events in the story - all in real time. And just like real life, your perception of reality greatly depends on being in the right place at the right time. The key to success in GKIII is careful observation, intuition and careful study of the other characters subtle actions, attitudes and conversation topics. Choosing whether to follow a character who slips out of the room may make all the difference down the line when numerous characters are considered suspects in the plot. And whether or not a particular character's actions affect the main plot, one can uncover numerous minor plot points by spending some time tailing a particular character. In GKIII, the level of understanding that you take from the game depends greatly on your ability and desire to keep tabs on the events taking place in and around the village.

So how is the Gabriel Knight team pulling off such a progressive gaming feat? Well, the foundation of this "virtual, living world" rests on Sierra's new G-Engine technology, a progressive 3-D engine custom built for the game. Designed to create the most immersive world possible with today's computer technology, the G-Engine allows the design team to create intelligent, lifelike 3D characters that have unbelievably fluid animations once reserved for cut scenes. In addition, the lush, highly-detailed backgrounds are based on real-world locations and objects and, unlike other games of this style, they do not suffer from pixelation or graphic degradation when viewed close-up. Want to get a closer look at a work of art across the room? Then walk on up and press your nose to the canvas -- the detail is just as crisp.

So, by now you're probably groaning at the high-end computer specs that GKIII will require. But worry not, while the game will take full advantage of the latest graphics and audio card technology, the engine is fully scalable, meaning that the game will deliver stunning realism and detail when played on systems with the minimum system requirements

For more information for Gabriel Knight III: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned, please contact Eric Twelker at Sierra Studios™ -- 425-649-9800 x5862 or eric.twelker@sierra.com

GABRIEL KNIGHT SERIES: AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Seldom has a series received the sort of critical attention and respect which has been shown to the Gabriel Knight games. Not only have both GK installments won big in CGW's "Game of the Year" awards (plus many other honors!), they've also been favorably reviewed in magazines ranging from PC Gamer to Rolling Stone. Have a look at our trophy case:

GABRIEL KNIGHT I

1994 Adventure Game of the Year - Computer Game Review

1994 Adventure Game of the Year - Computer Gaming World

1993 Best of Show - CES

"If you're after a game with the sophistication and emotional grip of a good novel, there is nothing on the market that approaches Gabriel Knight."

- PC Player

"Stands as a pinnacle in the annals of interactive fiction... elegantly paced and complex, unfolding into a crescendo of passion, dread and grief."
- Computer Gaming World

"Cerebral, classic horror... one of the few games that explore the dark side of religion and philosophy."

- Strategy Plus

"The elements [Jensen] uses to drive the action -- sex, violence, love, sacrifice, betrayal, and worship both holy and profane -- give the story incredible power."

- Computer Gaming World

"Has the pacing of a spine-tingling horror novel."

- PC Gamer

"The first time we've ever expreienced fear from watching a computer game..."

- Computer Gaming World

"A new star has just arrived on the adventure gaming scene."

- Electronic Games

"Gabriel Knight comes the closest yet to generating the feel of a mini animated movie."

- Gamesworld

"Many gamers will remember Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers, released in 1993, as one of their favorite adventure games."

- Games Domain Review

GABRIEL KNIGHT II

1996 Game of the Year - Computer Gaming World

1996 Adventure Game of the Year - PC Gamer

1995 Adventure Game of the Year - Strategy Plus

1996 Best Story, Best Adventure Game - Gamespot

5 Star Rating, CG Choice - Computer Gaming World

Golden Triad Award - Computer Game Review

Editor's Choice - PC Gamer

4 Star Rating - PC Entertainment

A- Rating - Entertainment Weekly

"If mysteries are your passion, The Beast Within will leave you drooling."

- Billboard

"Most definitely one of the best games of the year... the action is intense and the plot unfolds smoothly and rather terrifyingly at times."

- Computer Game Review

"Gabriel Knight II is the continuation of a brilliant tradition - the graphic adventure as art. That it combines solid technology and a marvelous aesthetic with outstanding gameplay is a testament to a designer who understands that 'the game is the thing.' Long live Gabriel Knight!"

- Computer Gaming World

"The growth in technique and the confidence that Jensen shows in crafting a believable and interesting story populated by three-dimensional characters both take this game to a new level. This one is not to be missed."

- Strategy Plus

"Jensen, who wrote and designed both games, emerges as a master of cheeky dialogue, splendid characterizations, and sensible puzzle constructions..."

- Philadelphia Enquirer

"Mystery lovers have always had it pretty easy. In the end, the author solves the mystery for them. That's changed now. Powerful multimedia companies offer a new form of mystery, one that places you squarely in the action - and keeps you there until you solve the puzzles. An outstanding example of what is probably a new art form is The Beast Within, written and designed by Jane Jensen..."

- Associated Press

"I went out and bought a new quad-speed [CD-ROM] drive... (Okay, I was planning to buy one sooner or later, but it tells you something about how powerful the game is that I actually did it now, just so I could finish this one game!)."

- William R. Trotter, PC Gamer

"The video in the game is far beyond good. It is also arguably beyond the quality of most big-screen fare as well. Acting, directing, and game visuals in general are so outstanding, this is the first game, in my opinion, that truly starts blurring the line between computer game and feature film."

- Games Domain Review

"This is the best interactive, live-action video adventure game to date. Everything about it is first rate. This is well-executed, visceral, mentally exhausting, and exciting entertainment."

- Gamespot

"Jane Jensen [has] created a game with well-defined characters and intricate plotting set in an intriguing world that combines historical fact with eerie folklore... the result is as satisfying as it is ambitious."

CONTACT:
Sierra Studios™
425-649-9800
email: StudiosPR@sierra.com