[SWCollect] Sierra/Lucas/Tolkien/Ultima/AD&D/SSI - info and questions

[Jukka Eronen]

Hello, I'm new on this list so a little introduction could be in order. I'm from Finland and I actively collect (and research) classic adventures/RPGs for any systems; mainly Sierra, Lucas, Tolkien, Ultima, AD&D and SSI fantasy. My web page with collecting info and lots of box scans (front, back and some include item pics too) on all of these genres plus more can be found at: http://koti.mbnet.fi/psychic/_eng_collecting.html   I update the site very often. There is f.ex. a prototype box art page which has many unreleased covers not to be found anywhere else on the net (at the moment Sierra, Lucas, SSI and Tolkien related). I've also covered hint/clue books and catalogs and there's a market place.   Since I might have come to the source of knowledge I sure have plenty of questions, but I'll start with these few:   1. Did old SSI fantasy games (non-AD&D) have clue books other than "Realms of Darkness"?   2. Did these SSI AD&D-games have clue books:   * Neverwinter Nights (1991)   * War of the Lance (1989)   * DragonStrike (1990)   3. Was "Chronicles of Osgorth: The Shattered Alliance" the first SSI fantasy game (and not Questron)? It seems very obscure. According to box back they were going to release sequals for "Chronicles" but apparently never did.    Was it released only as the large box version?   4. Do you have knowledge on Sierra, Lucas and/or SSI catalogs or even pictures of them? There are listing of these catalogs I know at my site with pics, too.   From LucasArts I have only couple pics of Adventurer-catalogs and not a lot of info on their releases.   From Sierra 1980-86 is quite blurry to me; only know two catalogs from that period. And which games include those early catalogs? And anyone have info or picture on 1992 Sierra catalog(s) (plus what games it comes with) ?   From SSI's starting year (1980?) to 1985 isn't clear; especially 19??-1983. I also haven't seen these though I've seen the titles somewhere: - SSI Summer 1986 - SSI Spring 1987 - SSI Spring 1988 - SSI Spring 1989   I'd appreciate any info/pics.   5. Anyone has picture of blue & white Softporn? This partial pic is the only one I've found: http://koti.mbnet.fi/psychic/pics/temp/softporn_online.jpg   6. Feel free to submit or point out to me where (in what catalogs etc.) I can find unreleased/prototype box art pictures. I highly appreciate this. Early/different screenshots are interesting too (f.ex. I have early screenshots of f.ex. Indy 4 and The Dig which are totally different from the final). Anyone know in what catalog can be found the white early cover art of Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis?   Regards, - Jukka   -- http://koti.mbnet.fi/psychic/eng_index.html  -  Synchronic Web