Al,
I'm sorry to hear that Sierra canceled Leisure Suit Larry 8, I've really enjoyed all the games and actually grew up with Larry. I just wanted to know if you had any other plans for another Leisure Suit Larry 8? And if so, when can we expect it? I'm sure there are a lot of people that are very disappointed. Also, will you ever make another character like Larry?
In Kind Regards,
Danielle
Hi from Holland.
I have been an adventurer for many years now and I remember with great
fondness having played such greats as Zork, Hitchhiker's Guide, The
Hobbit and Borrowed Time.
As time progressed so did the games. More avenues for having fun.
Sights that before where limited to your imagination became backed up by the visuals to help you immerse yourself in the tale more strongly.
The humour never really faded but as time went on became more pronounced.
Where, in Hitchiker's Guide, the parser failed to allow for a game that you felt you could be easily a part of, you felt divorced somehow. In Larry and the Sierra games, the game helped you by allowing to see.
A picture is worth a thousand words and that meant that you had to make them count. And that's precisely where you went and what you did with the graphic adventure game -- made that link between the people behind the screen and the people on the other side seem smaller and when it was still there, it seemed to be for a reason.
What with all the new advances that have been made, the step that allows for the user to come into the game more fully is never really explored from the point of view of the adventurer gamer's playability. I think that when it comes down to things the computers are advanced enough to allow for the user of the day after tomorrow to have fun, but we are left in the lurch. What happened to things like a good visual gag not needing a billion colors or, for that manner, 3-D?
I'm a post-modernist, meaning quite simply that when something is good enough that is ENOUGH!
We are at the stage where it's easier to make a dream come true. Not the dream of the streamliner or the update freak, but that of the guy on the street taking to computers as somethign that he just likes every now and again.
As such. . . what do we need? Do we need a great divide between the nerd and the occasional gamer? Or do we need great equalisers that put the pun back into fun?
Greets,
Alex.
Hi Al.
I am (of course) one of the thousands of Larry funs. I just wanted to say that I got really dissapointed whith Sierra when I found out what
happened to Larry 8. I know that every company has to think about profit, but these people are totally ignorant. Larry does not represent the
very best of adventure gaming. It created a whole new culture. I've played Larry 3 when it first came out. And from that point and on I was a changed man (well, more like changed kid). It is really a shame that Sierra threw the whole Larry series in the garbage. At least I was one of the
lucky ones that purchased the Ultimate pleasure pack. Is there anything the serious gamers and loyal fans of Larry Laffer could do to convince Sierra to publish new Larry games? Or at least give up on the copyrights (because it seem the have no interest since the pulled the plug). Or maybe I am just a dreamer that is getting older. I don't know how you handle your e-mails, but I'm hoping that I'm going to get a reply. Oh, and another thing. Is the WON server still setup for LSL Casino? Because for some reason I cannot connect to it. I get this message that says that the WON validation server is not responding. Thanks a lot for making this unbelievable series of games.
With lots of respect,
Constantinos Tagoulis
Hi al,
I recently wondered why leisure suit larry 4 did not come out so I typed it in on google. What happened to leisure suit larry 4? And the first hit on the list was your website.
I entered it and found exactly what I needed, and what an excellent idea it was to skip to LSL5. It certainly puzzled me.
I'm am basically writing to you to thank you on such a useful easy to find answer for I did not have to encounter any rubbish computer jargon, and to say a big well done to you and your tea for making these games. I bought the first one in a second hand game shop and was glued to my computer screen through the hilarious game.
For christmas I am now getting the full leisure suit larry collection.
I would like to be a game designer and am working towards that in the near future. Thank you for inspiering me.
From
Jim :0)
Thank you for everything you have done. Your games and music really have meant alot to me!
Chris Pope
Al Lowe Fan
I bought lsl 7 online, only thing it came with was the game. I hope I don't need codes or anything. I was hoping to find a complete boxed version of the game, but no luck. It is a shame sierra won't sell the game or the strategy guide any more. I want both. Plus Wouldn't mind buying the complete series for a friend. I wish you could do a lsl 8,but it doesn't look like there will be another one.
What a shame; I enjoyed the whole series. Just want to tell you what great games you made, and hope there will be another lsl in the future. Till then I will just play 1, 2, 3,5,6 and 7. I am doing a tribute to your lsl game by making a lsl8 rpg for rpg maker for the psone, I hope it goes well. And hopefully sierra don't sue me for making a game that will get no profit lol.
Charles
Al,
Will you bring Leisure Suit Larry to the XBOX platform? I think it would be awesome.
Joe
Dear Al,
Well I gotta say that I have been a fan of Larry for a while. Your sense of humor is great and made me laugh from the lounge lizards to love for sail. I found this website looking just in case you had come out with a larry 8 without telling me. Sadly enough I guess Larry is being used as an alien sex toy to a creature with tentacles and will never be able to escape. Other than that can ya tell me if there is a mac version of Larry 7 I can buy? I let a friend of mine play my PC copy and he moved away. Well anyway you stay cool and have fun doing whatever your doing.
A friend and fan,
Bobby
Al,
I think your games are absolutely amazing, your concepts and storylines are genious, and when I saw the test avi for LSL8 I was almost brough to tears knowing that it wouldn’t happen ;\
If at any stage you’re able to or want to take Larry elsewhere and rename him, and using all stunts possible to bypass copyright. Just letting you know I’d throw my dollars at it, as I’m sure many people have.
Only today did I finish off the ultimate pleasure pack. when I first played LSL1 I was a tad on the young side (probably 11 or 12) to understand the game. but it was still enjoyable at that age (I was very proud of getting past the questions at the begining - perseverence ;).
In my humble opinion the narrator really brought LSL7 to life. And having Larry (and cap’n Thygh) interact with the narrator added SO much feeling to the game.
By the by, in relation to the problems people have running old larry games under windows. I ran the entire pack with a non-sound blaster compatible card under either win 2K or 98 (I believe 7 was the only one 2K had a spack regarding. ironic, really.). A useful utility located at ntvdm.cjb.net (VDMsound) provides an emulated sound blaster environment (but only runs on nt/2k/xp). Coupled with some patience, desktop resizing and dos box fullscreening (for the VESA mode in 6), it worked wonders.
And finally, I find it astonishing that you still care and support your old work. I’m fairly disgusted with sierra’s website, theres no help for things that were released only a couple of years ago. just patch files with no descriptions that dont always work.
But there you have it, longwinded, adoring fan mail!
Cheers, Blake.
Hey Al, Just wanted to say it was a wonderful series. Even though Sierra cancelled, any chance you might find a way to bring the series back with new games. I am sure it would sell!!!
Hello Al
I would love Larry to come back. I hope some day it will. I'm a female and I loved them You made one of the best game series in the world When Sierra stop making Larry, I stop buying.
Well, I wish you the best and Thank You so much for all the laughs you give me and my friends.
A Larry fan all the way
Jenn
Dear Al:
I don’t expect a reply to this message; just want to drop you a note to let you know how much I have enjoyed Leisure Suit Larry games. Never could afford to purchase all of them, but I do have I, II, III, and V. That was back in the days before the internet, and 600 MHz systems, and I stopped playing with them, when my newer systems would not function correctly with the sound, or graphics.
Anyway, I started with PCs back in the Apple IIe days, and though my intellectual capacity never enabled me to grasp the concepts of sophisticated programming (yeah, like graphics adventure games) I have thoroughly enjoyed the King’s Quest series, and your LSL series was definitely the best. In my humble opinion, you folks set the standard for all the games out there today. They were innovative, sophisticated for their time, required thought, and were fun to play.
In those days, I never dreamed I would be able to send an email directly to the master of male hormones, but times change and I finally have the opportunity. Too bad Sierra doesn’t have the wisdom to continue the series, but all good things must come to an end ( I guess.).
Congratulations, you deserve first spot in the “computer gaming” hall of fame !
-Tim
Hi Al,
Your site should definitely have some warnings on it... I almost wet my pants laughing so hard. Also, I lost more than 2 hours surfing the various pages of the site. Congrats on compiling and archiving the various media! (Loved the Chris Rock video and the airport PA prank)
Actually, that's not why I wrote... I'm writing because you were partly responsible for my career.
Stuck in gifted class in high school, I became fascinated by a C/C++ compiler after playing Leisure Suit Larry, Freddy, and the rest of the gems Sierra published at that time. It was then that I decided computer science was for me and now, 8 years later, I'm winning Microsoft dev contests, consulting for MSFT, and co-founded a software company spun off from software we wrote at the U of MN.
It's a damn shame about adventure games and the new Sierra. Maybe you can talk them into a first person shooter with Leisure Suit Larry :)
Take care and thanks for everything... Your talent is responsible for my, and god knows how many others' success. Enjoy your retirement and let me know if there's ever any interest in helping out a University research project (with Microsoft) for a potential Xbox game.
-Moe Khosravy
Hello Al Lowe (It's funny in french ... it sounds like Hello Hello (wich is Allo Allo :P))
I've seen your webpage. I've looked all over it. Very cool ! Specially the fact that you give out the protection-crap... I understand that the compagny didn't want it... but since they killed him ... what's the use of protecting it !
Anyways, I was writting to you for two things ... First have you never thought of doing good old fashionned games like lsl1 or police quest 1 ??? They were so great... and nowadays their programmation would be VERY easy.... I mean ... Sierra owns Larry ... but they do not own Barry no ? :P And if you don't sell it ... you could maybe post it on your website ... take some publicity and let people download it from there (banner ... a bit of money ... thought not a lot ...)
And second ... I'm writting a school project ... wich is due tomorrow (Damm youse internet !) on "people that have done something for the multimedia" and guess your role in this ??? Well you've probably guessed it ... unless you have the mind of Larry ... It's you ! Now for that question... Have you done something specialy that nobody has never done before (the paper content is not SUPER important ... it's presentation ... I'm just curious about that I guess ! :) )
Well that about wraps it up... Keep playing golf dude ... it rocks even if you sucks ! : P lol
M@L (Student in "Multimedia" (future game designer/ companie owner/ your boss ! Haha / Rich jackass)
Hi
I`m a Dutch guy, nearly 23 year old. Back in the 80s, we had a Commodore 64 including several games. Donald Duck`s Playground was one of them. During those days, I liked to play with it. But the computers became better and better and in 1992 we bought our first personal computer, an 286. And since then we had several PCs. At the moment I have an Pentium 4 with 2 gigahertz, a flying machine, if I look back at those PCs. But last year, I found old Commodore 64 games back on the web. So I started downloading them. Well I have two favorite games: Super G Man and Donald Duck`s playground. Strange? I don`t think so. It shows how good those old games are.
I`m active on the web, being webmaster from a BIG site. I felt in love with an American rock band called No Doubt, back in 1997. I met No Doubt last year, here in Holland.
Richard Hardeman
Hey Al,
Well, I feel a little stupid that I just now discovered your website. If you want to hear something sick and twisted, the fondest memories my son and I have of our loving, father/son bonding experiences are us playing LSL throughout the “puberty years”. He’s now 24. Oh, and I’m still in puberty. Believe it or not, we STILL to this day chuckle over how we’d get to a particularly, shall we say interesting, part of the game, and have to suddenly hit the reset switch when his mom would walk in the room. Last week I found all of the games, and built an old slow system just to play them again. Just hearing the theme song makes me want to boot-up and oogle chicks. See, I told you this was going to be sick and twisted.
Anyway, I retired early a few years ago after running one of those notorious dot-coms and I still live near San Jose CA. I’m not filthy rich, probably because I didn’t bilk my shareholders and employees for everything they were worth, but I was able to chuck it all at 40, and the company is still doing fine. So now I’m able to concentrate on raising my two teenage daughters and playing LSL until 3 in the morning.
I actually wrote software for Atari for a few years back in the 80’s, and now that I’m no longer earning an honest living, I’ve been comtemplating having some fun in the game biz again.
I don’t know where you live these days, but I would truly enjoy speaking with or meeting you if you’re ever in the San Jose area, or I could meet you if you moved to Seattle with the rest of the bunch. Are you going to GDC this year? I plan to... But regardless of where, I’m thinking we could have a lot to talk about, compare notes on retirement, trade jokes, talk about games old and new, etc... Oh, I also play Jazz Sax (an alto).
Whattya think?
Steve Curd
Hello Al (or is it more appropriate to say Mr. Lowe?)
I just replayed LSL7 and there was one piece of dialogue between Larry and the narrator that I found very entertaining, mostly because of the narrator ending the dialogue with, “Damn, you’re weird, Larry.” The conversation had to do with Larry saying the narrator had made (and I know I’m spelling this wrong) a “subeism”...the act of choosing a word or phrase based on previous words.
Is this a real word? I tried to look it up and couldn’t find it. I know this is probably the stupidest question any fan has ever asked you. But I’m a writer and would love to throw this word into a random scene. And if it IS a real word, how the hell do you spell it?
Don’t worry ~ you don’t have to get back to me rapidly on this one. Just wondering. :-)
And once again, thanks for all the laughs.
~Katie
My gosh, Katie, you're a woman after my own heart!
My sister-in-law had a friend named Susan Boizxhvwqofjkovich (or something equally unpronouceable) so everybody called her "Sue B." Sue was the first person to notice the phenomonon and point out how common it really is. So they named it after her: "subeeism." (At least, that's my spelling.)
I've written a few word mavens to see if there really is another word that describes this, but I've been ignored. Therefore, I'm doing my best to "spread the word" (oops, there's a subeeism right there!!). I'd appreciate your help.
Have you noticed people saying it? I caught one yesterday and another today.
AL
hey al:
I just became interested in Leisure Suit larry from a friend that played them 10 o 12 years ago and I want to know where can buy, download, or whatever the earlier copies of LSL.
I just finished part 1 and I loved it
I'm sure you get this question a lot but I have to know
Enrique
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Hello Al:
I just finished playing LSL7 Love for Sail again after years of neglect. I started to remember just how much fun these games were. I used to have an apple IIc, and played Troll's Tale I have no idea how many times.
I wanted to send a quick note in thanks for the memories!!
BTW thanks also for sharing your files so openly.
Huge LSL fan
Sean Marshall
Mr. Lowe,
Like many people, LSL was one of the first games that really got me into personal computers. I remember the game being extremely tough for me and my friends at points and having to call the hint line numerous times for clues ( let me guess you never saw any of that action?). Perhaps Sierra now has a double standard where violence like Half-Life is ok but sex is not. Reminds me of an old Lenny Bruce bit where he says “killing yes but schtupping no. Because if they see schtupping they may do that one day and what’ll happen then man!”. Whatever the case, I’m sorry to hear LSL is off the market and that they treated a gaming icon like yourself so shabby. You and the Kings Quest games made that company what it is and they owe you A LOT more respect.
Thanks for the memories,
Ken
Hello Mr Lowe,
I am not quite sure if it is considered impolite in the USA to call people one doesn't know by their first name, so I chose to adress you this way. If you don't mind, please think of it as "Hello Al" ;)
Evry once in a while I visit your site to learn about the latest news regarding your games. I have been a great fan of Leisure Suit Larry since I played Larry 1 on my second computer, an Amiga 500 a long time ago (more than ten years I believe). In fact, I don't think I wasn't quite of "legal age" at the time, but please don't tell anybody ;)
Well, I just wanted to compliment you on your games in general, they are really fun to play, and it didn't suprised me at all when I read about the award for Larry 7. I, too, think it is one of the finest adventures(especially the interface was great!). If it helped, I would light a candle everytime I go to church just to get a sequel to the series... but this doesn't seem to be very likely, considering the latest news I read on your page.
Ok, I stop before I get to sentimental. Just one more thing I wanted to tell you: I am currently developing a humorous adventure game myself, and I thought you might like to have a look at it on my homepage. I am from Germany, but I did my very best to translate almost the whole page into English (when it's finished, the game will be available in both languages, too). The game's name is "Tukult", the homepage's url is http://www.tukult.de
So if you have the time to look around the homepage, I would be honored to hear your opinion.
Bye,
~ Christian
Adventure isn't dead! -|- Visit www.tukult.de
Dear Al
Usually I don’t really send this kind of mail, but hey, you are tha man who made Larry.
I really loved him, I grew up playing the game. I first played LSL1 at a friends house and even his mom came to play with us (I guess the fact that we were young and that our English vocabulary consisted mostly of what we had picked up from TV had something to with it too. I remember being stuck when Larry is drunk in the bar :) )
I just wanna say thanks for making such great Larry games, nice website by the way. But it really killed me when I read that the box containing Larry games 1 till 6 are worth a lot of money now. Because I actually bought one!!! (I never bought games...but that one I bought because I really liked Larry and it wasn’t so expensive. I guess that’s because Larry wasn’t so famous in Belgium then.) But then I let a friend borrow it and I have never seen it back. :( Many times did I regret that I had forgotten who had ‘borrowed’ it, especially when I was bored and I wanted to play the games again. I was also proud that I actually had ‘the manual’. And now of course I couldn't regret it more.
Nowadays I'm much older and technology has become much more sophisticated. (Plus, I am connected to the Internet now) if I want to play a game I can just download it but still the little boy in me regrets not having the box anymore :) )
Thanks again, kind regards,
Jeffrey Guilmot,
Belgian Larry fan!
First of all, sorry for my english. It sucks... Second, Larry is part of my life. It’s part of the computer revolution. That’s all. I want it to come back, please, make all that you can and I sue that I’m going to buy an original copy of it :)
Thanks for all the entertainment and good luck
Gustavo Vázquez.
Monevideo - Uruguay
This is terrible... I finally hear about the funniest computergame ever -- and is not made anymore. Please, is it possible to ‘update’ the game and re-release it? There must a lot of new customers for it by now????!!!!
Thanks for your help,
kind regards,
Lisette Tiel - Amsterdam/the Netherlands
Hey Al,
This is going to sound sick and twisted, but I practically grew up on your games. Actually that's not that bad, they were always tastefully done (at least I thought so, my mom thought they were dirty).
I was very saddened when I found out that the old Sierra series (King's Quest, Space Quest, Leisure Suit Larry, Police Quest (up to 4, I don't consider SWAT to be Police Quest) and Quest For Glory) were all discontinued. I personally found the old 3-D adventure games to be a lot of fun and, along with Infocom's titles, were probably my favorite games of all time, which is amazing when you consider I grew up during the Nintendo era.
I just wanted to let you know that I love(d) the games, and thanks to a 486 I've wisely kept my hands on, I'll enjoy them for the rest of my days. And I can always wish and hope that the old franchises are brought back, but I think we both know better.
Anyway, I just wanted to write you an email to tell you how much I enjoy LSL and the other Sierra games, and thanks for everything.
Stuart Carapola
Hawthorne, NY
Freddy Pharkas was my, and my sisters', favourite game, we used to sing that theme song all the time. :p Thanks for the memories.
Hee, hee.
Lucy Booth
Good evening,
I am very upset that Sierra has discontinued the Larry series. I have enjoyed playing every version of Leisure Suit Larry. I just wish that Sierra would quit being such an asshole, and fire up Larry. I could imagine what Larry would look like today. I think that Leisure Suit Larry has been the most successful adult adventure game that Sierra has ever made. If you keep getting e-mails from people about the discontinued of the series, Sierra would realize that people really like Leisure Suit Larry. It looks to me like if they fired up Larry right now, that Sierra would wake a whole shit load of money. Then they would not have to complain about it costing to much to continue the series. I hope this e-mail will encourage you to speak to Sierra, and demanded that we "the people," want our famous person (The ladies man) to be put back on the shelves in every store in America. Thanks for you time, and please e-mail me back with your response.
Dark Silver
What was the las Leisure Suit Larry Series you produced? Will you be making any more games like Leisure Suit Larry or other versions of Leisure Suit Larry? Please let me know. I love the games you've made. Are you still working with the same company?
Opal
Dear mister Lowe
Hello AL, if I may call u Al. I just found U web page and it looks great.
I was a huge fan of your games and each year I still play some of them again. I always say the best games are the classics games. It’s a shame U retired to be honest because it would be great to see another larry from U but I think thats something U wish to do uself, even if it was to make some fans happy.
Anyway I gonna keep this small for the moment cause I`m ready to set off for bed.
Greetings from the Netherlands and from my wife :)
Hans
Hello!
I think Leisure Suit Larry is a great game! I have completed the first game (Leisure Suit Larry in the land of the lounge lizards from 1987) 7 times and have played most of the other Larry games too. I have also purchased my Larry games, I am not one of the many people who just copies games illegally.
I hope that Sierra will produce more great adventure games like the Larry series in the future and that is the reason why I support Sierra (and other game producers) by buying my computer games.
I like the jokes and humour in the Larry game series, I have also read two chapters from the official Leisure Suit Larry book, is it true that this book is no longer available to buy? I got the two chapters with my copy of The Leisure Suit Larry Collection.
I think more Leisure Suit Larry products would be cool, like Leisure Suit Larry books, comics and maybe cartoons, it is a good character and a great way to give more people knowledge about the Leisure Suit Larry game series.
I read in a norwegian computer magazine (I am from Norway) that there is rumours about new Sierra adventure games, including a new Larry game, is this true or did I buy a computer magazine that don’t write true facts? I hope it is true, but if it isn’t I will inform the magazine about it. Greetings from
Lars Toervik
Bergen, Norway
Dear Al,
Thank you from the heart for the fun you gave us with Sierra.
How unfortunate is that after the sale all went in the wrong direction. With Ken and Roberta at the helm, Sierra would be now stronger than ever, having us play quests sharing with friends on the net.
Never thought of LSL on Pocket PC ? If you did not think about it and I suggested it, if you will proceed, please tell me, I'll be glad to support and bete test !
Ciao,
Giovanni from Florence
Mr. Lowe,
You are my hero. After reading your site I learned that I grew up playing your games. I learned the Winnie the Poo song from you game, NOT from the TV. I learned all about planets from Mickey in Space. And I learned frustration from never EVER being able to sneak past one of those damned guards in Black Cauldron. Thanks to you I can try to beat that game now.
I also remember sneaking into my Dad's secret stash of game which included LSL. There was no number after it, cause it was the only one in the series. I never got to far in that cause I always had to shut down before he would come down the stairs.
Wow. I really hope you check these e-mails! I would love to hear back from you. With all the snow we are getting in MD right now, I was searcing for Freddy Pharkas because I played that one in the big snow storm in Philly around '96. Never would I imagine this desire to play all those games from my childhood and put my Playstation on hold!
Al, nowadays I design web pages. If you EVER would like to redesign this page, ever so simply, just a fresh look. Let me know. I'll do it for free. I'll keep it nice and simple so you can edit without worrying about size and tables. Let me do you a favor for all the good you have done for me! Please reply!
Thanks for everything,
Joe Manzo
Hi Al.
The Larry games were hours of fun and very much pleasure to play for years. It’s really pity that Sierra stopped developing Larry games and ended working with you. It’s unthankful. But since life keeps running and there are still millions of yours and Larry Laffer fans all over the world he must be reincarnated. And no doubts it will happen one day. The question is just when? I suggest it must happen now.
Why don’t you license the Larry’s name from Sierra and create new game with other developers and share profits with Sierra? Sierra loses nothing. They just permit you to use the character and since they invest nothing but receive the benefits and profits they must be interested in this way of working. And I’m sure there are developers who would be interesting in creating new Larry Laffer adventures! I thing that would be the exit from the stupid situation in which Larry resides now.
Larry must be brought back to living. It’s not yet time for him to pack the suit.
Daniel
I just want to tell you that I really loved all your work, mostly larry6, and that I would truly love to see another part of larry. Sierra should see now that they would make big money on it if they made a new part. Lucasarts is doing it too, and it works well enough for them, (Full throttle 2, the new monkey island etc.). I just think it's sad to see how Sierra abandoned all their great series when adventure games started to get a little less popular, I think they would make major money if they would continue working on larry and for example the abandoned space quest 7. I really hope it's going to happen someday, and until then, good luck with whatever it is you do for a living now,
greetings,
Jordi Hendrix
Hi,
I saw your Q&A on Rebell.at yesterday and it inspired me to write this email. I played the original Leisure Suit Larry 1 back around 1988 and loved it. I was only 8 years old so I didn’t understand some of the humor, and I had a heck of a time brute-forcing my way through the “age protection”, but it was still a really fun game and I made it all the way through it.
I remember one time, shortly after I started playing, when I went into the bathroom and flushed the toilet. To my surprise (and delight) the room filled up with water and I drowned. I rushed outside to tell my dad what happened. That’s still one of my favorite deaths in all of the Sierra games that I got to play!
I never got a chance to play later LSL games for more than a few minutes, so I don’t know how good they were. But I think you’re right that there’s a market for games with humor, and it’s unfortunate that publishers don’t see this. Maybe humor is just too hard for most people to do well enough that it’s not totally cheesy. Violence has got to be easier, and look how many developers screw that up...
Anyway, thanks for all the great memories. Those were some good times.
Regards,
Tom
Hi Al,
I am Wyman Wong from San Francisco. I am 18 now, and was playing LSL 6 when I was about 15. And I just recently played all of ur Larry series. And now that I am 18 I finally get your humor. Your one damn funny guy.
Your forever fan,
Wyman Wong
P.S. why don't u make a larry ish type game, but change the main charactor looks, and name him bill?
Thanks for all the game memories Al, you are the best!! :)
Jason Morris
Hi Al,
Do you still program at all? DO have you any ideas for games? What did Sierra say exactly when they got rid of you “I read a brief explanation on your site about this?" Would you be interested in programming another game? Perhaps a online game? Have you tried talking with other game companies?
I run a web hosting and design business “www.zidev,com” and also a group of colleagues and myself are working on a remake of the DarkSun Online game that came out in the mid 90’s. We got permission from Electronic Arts to do it. I however have a great idea for a online 3d RPG card game. It consists of custom made decks or over 350 cards to choose from to make your deck unique with a deck consisting of around 70 cards in it. Anyway you have champion cards that are like game characters that actually battle each other etc. I am not going into great detail as to try not to bore you. I wanted to know how I would go about getting this game idea looked at by a game company and if you would have any pointers for me if and when I present it.
So are you the real creator of the Larry games? It’s a shame that you can’t make more currently as I was looking forward to playing some more as they developed. The funny thing is I looked EVERYWHERE for LSL 4 when I came across the quote somewhere “Larry doesn’t do 4 play” as an excuse why it went straight to game 5 and man I couldn’t stop laughing for a while. Have you considered programming a new game and seeing who online would be willing to team up with you on it? I think you have a lot of followers and I know that a lot of them have broad range of skills from programming to graphic designs and more. It’s just a thought. Anyway Ill leave off with this e-mail with a Thank You for all the fun I had with the games you have made in the past. They where a awesome legacy.
David Boyd
Dear Al Lowe,
I just wanted to say thank you for giving me some of the best years of my teen life with Larry! ;) I first got into Larry 6 when it came out, but it wasn’t long before I was addicted to ALL of them!! As I’m sure you can guess, I really do wish Larry 8 comes out; but even if that’s not in the cards, I just wanted to let you know that the impact you’ve left on the gaming world (and on one little teenager who truly sees you as a GOD! heheh) is truly wonderful. I’ve been looking forever to find the guitar tabs to the theme song as well!
Take care, and may you always have the best in life,
Zarsheesh Divecha
Dear Mr. Lowe,
I am also a fan of your work with Sierra, and I have recently found myself playing LSL 7 again, and upon finding your site, I learned of your dismissal from Sierra. I know when you read the subject line, you probably thought “Oh, not again”, and I must confess that I will most likely not tell you anything that you haven’t thought of before, but I figured there was no harm in trying.
Upon watching your interview with TechTV from last year, I noted that you sighted a decline in the market for adventure games(At least I think that’s where I saw it, forgive me if that’s not accurate)as a possible reason for Sierra dropping Larry. Of course you would know better than myself, but let us suppose that there is a market out there, and they’re just quiet because many in the younger generation(i.e. ages 17-18)simply missed out on Larry for the most part. Yes, I realize that I myself am only 23, but 5-6 years in the software industry, as you know, is like a life time. Couple that with the fact that I was playing Larry long before I was “supposed to”(wink), and I think that what we have here is not the absence of an adventure game market, but rather, a market in which half of the potential buyers have forgotten about the older-style adventures and the other half who have never seen a Sierra-type adventure. It is with this in mind that I propose the following ideas:
The first is to just shoot Sierra an offer for the rights to LSL. I realize that this takes money, and lots of it, but what about a grass roots Internet donation campaign to raise the funds. I know that this may be far fetched, but how much would Sierra want for a game that they have stopped printing? I realize we may be talking hundreds of thousands if not millions here, I really have no idea about such things, but has anyone inquired? I also realize that rights are the small part, one needs manpower and resources for game development, but that is another issue. Please forgive me if I’m just WAY out in left field, but it is just a thought. We might even get TechTv to get the word out.
I have one last idea, if you can stand another.:). Suppose we were to petition Sierra until they revived their adventure product line? For either idea I suggest setting up a site like letlarrylive.com. I’d be glad to register a domain and pay for initial(at least) hosting(I can get great hosting quite cheap)...Again forgive me, I know I’m probably dreaming here, but I really am serious about trying to do something here. I totally respect any opinion you may have in the matter, and I have total respect for what you have done for software development. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Tyson Treasure
P.S. So much for being brief...sorry.
Hi There,
I really loved your games years ago, playing them on XT in a bright orange color. Years later I came back to them in color :) and even finished of LSL2 finally after having a virus on my XT back in 1988 believe it or not, all these years since I have never forgotten that I desperately need to finish that game and see what happens! I finally did - today! I have a question for you, something on your site that puzzles me, you have the most comprehensive list of cheat codes for your games, probably better compiled than any other internet site on the web.
I am just curious why you would offer us that, why let the world play your games for free?
Anyway, I hope you let me know as I am really baffled by this, I even suspect that this site is not yours but someone else pretending to be you!
Good luck if this is you and once again - I loved your creations!
Allon
Hi Al. First off I want to say something about myself.
I'm a 19 year old guy who's been a sierra fan for the last 12 years (you heard me right, I was a fan when I was 7 years old!!!) I collected almost every classic sierra game except the Gabriel Knight series, LSL 7, Space quest 6, King Quest 7 and 8, Police Quest 4 and the SWAT series and maybe a few others I don't know off...
My favorite of all Sierra classics is Quest For Glory, followed closely by Larry. In the recent weeks, I took a renewed interest in Sierra game and I took out my old copies and started to play them, I must have finished Larry 1 half a dozen times in the last week by now. after that, I got interested in learning about the series so I got on the internet and checked your site out, as well as some trivia about the game, but one thing which I always wondered about and could never find is this:
What is a leisure suit?
I read somewhere that when you were making plans for a new game series, you took out some old adult game and said 'this is so old it might as well be wearing a leisure suit.' Also, in Larry 1 and 2, when I look at my self, he makes a comment of 'it's the latest fashion... if you conisder 1973 "late,"' so what's the story behind the outfit anyway?
So that's what I want to know, I hope you can answer it for me.
And one little thing, about LSL 7, I do have it, but the problem is, the CD is broken to pieces and I can't play it without the CD, I attempted to download a no-CD crack on the internet to help me out and that didn't do much good either.
One last thing you should know, SCI is making a come back... by way of fan-made games. I downloaded SCI Studio 3 (I've been waiting for it for so long) and I'm going to learn to use it and make my own games... and a friend of mine is making LSL4!!!
Thanks,
Salim Farhat
Al Lowe,
I just wanted to say that I have loved your games for years. I still own my original copy of Black Cauldron, for the kids of course. I have played many of your games over the years, all of the Larry's included. It is a shame that Sierra has turned away from the adventure games that made them so popular. I understand that some of it has to do with what the predict will and what won't sell. I do believe that if they would have continued to make the games like you did, sales would not be a problem.
I own ever King's Quest, Space Quest, Police Quest, Quest for Glory, and every Leisure Suit Larry game made. I truly miss the older games from the 80's and early 90's. I just cannot seem to find games that entertain me and hold my interest as much as your games and the other early Sierra games did. Thank you very much for the the fun and enjoyment that you have brought to me and to the millions of other people. Thank you also for contributing to the downward spiral of the western civilization as we know it that started when we first saw Larry visit the City of Lost Wages.
Sincerely,
Steven Bullard
P.S. I was reading your note on the Leisure Suit Larry Pleasure Pack. I checked Amazon and they were offering one for the low price of $280! What a bargain!. I have found a website that offers the pleasure pack for $30. The only problem is, they do not have any for purchase. I have attempted to find out if they have any or will have any copies for sell. I have not had a response from them yet. It is a hope that they may have some or can get some for those out there who are looking for it. You may already know about this website, but here is there email address www.rochnet.net. It is the Software Society's webpage. Just thought I would pass that on to you for your many fans.
Hey Al,
I just found a copy of LSL6 on a dusty shelf, and I thought what the heck I’ll give it another go. It seemed ages ago I played that game for the first time, I’m still impressed by the clever story line. Of course I didn’t knew what everything meant back then, I was only a kid. How could I’ve know what a woman needs “D cell batteries” for at night ;)
In fact I remember having a hard time beating the questions you had to answer when you started LSL1. I always had to ask my parents to help me pass, until I found out there was a cheat to pass the questions. So is there any chance of Leisure Suit Larry returning on the PC?
Computer games nowadays just aren't as funny as Larry used to be. If only the people at Sierra would realize that....
Well keep up the good works on your website and I sincerely hope one day LSL will rule the world again.
Greetings from The Netherlands,
David
Hi!
I LOVE the work you have done for Sierra and can't belive they won't let you work on another Larry game! For me...you and Roberta Williams are the most talented game-designers in the world!
Keep smiling Al !:)
Stefan Otrebski, Norway
Thanks. Really.
I found this page by total chance and it sure brought back memories. Playing the Larry series in my childhood seems to have left lasting impressions (hopefully it did not influence my behavioral traits) and the Larry universe is one which I'd reckon I'll always fondly recall. Sadly, Sierra choose a path of corporate growth that somehow smothered the warmth of Larry's, Sonny Bonds' and the rest of 'em good ol' AGI quests' atmosphere, but that's life, eh?
Thanks Al for keeping us millions of players laughing for more than a decade!
Sincerely,
Alexander
Hi Mr. Al Lowe
Greetings from Cyprus
I would like to thank you for all those games that you have developed and all the joy you bring to the world, especially with Larry Games.
I am 27 year old and I grew up with Sierra games (Larry Series, The - Laura Bow 2. Dagger of Amon Ra, King's Quest, etc.) and LucasArts adventure games (Maniac Mansion, Monkey Island 1,2 etc.).
I played almost everything that was an adventure game. Nowadays I tried to play many 3D adventure games like Monkey Island 4 but it was all just a waste of time. 3D is not for adventure games.
Characters are loosing their cute expressions, their characteristics, ehmm… you know what I mean adventure games should be like cartoons not 3D.
In today’s adventure games they care ONLY about the graphics and nothing else. Gameplay is totally lost, no humour at all, and none of the companies who tried to create a 3D adventure made a character that everybody will remember like Larry Laffer and Guybrush Threepwood.
Take care chief and hopefully Larry 8 will come out shortly. J
Kyriacou Kyriacos
ps: I even have Larry’s Ring Tone on my mobile
Mr. Lowe:
Came across your site today, and just had to thank you these many years later. I bought Donald Duck's Playground for my kids on the Atari platform, I think, and we all enjoyed it immensely. It was incredible at the time what technology had enabled for us to do as a family. We were still in awe of the experience back then, which made it double the fun.
Whatever you are up to these days, best of luck, and thanks again for some fond memories.
... Mike
Dear Al,
I have been a fan of your games since I was old enough to know what a computer is. I really hate the fact that Sierra has started to go off in such a different direction an abandon many of the franchises that made them the company they are today. With that said, it REALLY sucks that they own the rights to Larry. However, I have been thinking that there may in fact be a way to revive Larry if you are interested in it.
My concept is a very time consuming idea, that being to get Sierra to license Larry to become an animated cartoon running perhaps on something such as Comedy Central. I strongly believe that Larry is what television and its current demographics have been waiting for.
Oh yeah, my name is Dave Bass and I am a 22 year old (yes, I have been playing your games since 1982 - don't ask). I am a college student at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale majoring in Radio/Television. I am attempting to write various scripts at the moment in hopes of put something to use when I get out of this place.
Anyways, just thought I would chip in my two cents, thanks for taking the time to read this,
Dave Bass
Dear Al
I m have spent many many hours playing games since 1987.I cant really say that i am a PC fan , since i m more of a hardware type that likes coding ground-breaking technologies, designing them if asked to do so, and i generally hate the "install" and "hard disk" concept. I never got to finish any game on the PC (not even the Prince of Persia..i finished that one on the NES) because it just wasnt fun with the keyboard and the installation, the irqz the patches the disk formats and the rest..
BUT thanks to adventure games i reviewed the PC as a game device and spent many hours playing them.
The thruth is that only recently i got hold of Leisure Suit Larry 1 (not the vga version) because i ported it to my mobile phone (an ericcson P800) for testing.i finished the game today (i got it yesterday!) aand i felt the atmospere of the 80's running thru my head in the style of the humour that i love the most.dirty jokes!
Though i have been a monkey island fan (please do forgive me) Larry keeps me going since its hard to find quality "cartoon" like adventure games anymore.The problem is that since its NOT on sale (specially here - i live in Athens, Greece)i have to download anything i can from the net.i had luck finding larry1 after several hours of searching..and now i m after the rest! i know about the legal issues...but if u gotta play..u just gotta play!
Your humor is great, and realistic to all of us, since we have thought like Larry many times in our lives..that's why i would propose that u make a new game with a new character and a slightly more violent-gross content (if u will, in the style of the action/adventure game of Rareware for the Nintendo64, called Conker's Bad Fur Day).
Even if its in the old Larry fashion, its just fine.No need to do it 3D since, the only 3D game i enjoyed was Grim Fandango and MAYBE Monkey Island4 (monkey 3 was my favorite).
U see, it doesnt have to be Larry, it can be Harry (there's more to it than just the joke) or whoever u think is suitable to carry the humour u got inside of you. Freeware, or not, many people will want to get their hands on a game like that.Think about it. U can now reform a character, make a new one, and add everything u wanted to try but couldnt during the Larry era. Be groundbreaking. :) I, and many other video game freaks (and maybe normal people i guess) are here to accept any new project.
Finaly, i d like to tell u that if u need any kind of help, i m sure u can get it from anyone u want! -but i m willing to help too.just for the record, i am an electonic's/hardware engineer, and have helped other game developments during the past (console based games, 3D engines and the rest) i m more of the hardcore assembly , C++ guy, and i have an artistic side too that u must have too :)
I hope u re not too bored to reply...
Yours, Barc0de
Hi Al,
Thanks for putting all that great stuff out there on a web. I was a huge fan of your work with Sierra. I remember playing LSL when I was 14 years old. I finished it in 1 day. I guess I was a little pervert. I just wanted to mention that I wrote a letter to Sierra around 1988 or so telling them that they should do a western game. You didn't dissapoint, that is for sure. I always hoped that it was my influence that made you think of the Freddy Pharkas game.
Thanks for all the laughs.
Patrick
Dear Sir:
I´ve played the whole Larry series, and after finishing, I was wondering if it would be a good idea to film a movie about our beloved Larry Laffer.But, if you decide to do that, I only ask you to do it well, putting a big effort and doing it seriously (well, you know what I mean).
Good luck with that book of yours!!
Sincerely yours, a Spanish (Europe) fan of your humor:
Rafael
Hey Al
My name is Matt Costley and I am a huge fan of yours. I was an avid Kings Quest player from the time I was about nine off and on till I was a sophmore in high school and played all the larry games my sophmore and junior years as well. I just wanted to tell you how much I love your work.
About Larry 8, here’s something encouraging, in the spring or fall of 1985 stan lee creator of marvel comics told fans that spiderman would be in theatres by christmas and look how long it took, and spiderman is the current number 5 grossing movie of all time so don’t give up hope!
I am only 20 years old but I can’t begin to explain how nostalgic your site has made me feel. Thank you so much for everything over the years!
Sincerely
Matt Costley
P.S. I hope that this is not a sore subject for you but is Ken Williams still in charge of Sierra, I’m sorry but after all those years of Sierra games I am just curious who is running things now.
Dear Mr. Lowe,
I am a huge fan of the Leiesure suit larry series. It was first game I ever purchased for My first computer. It wasn't just the humor that made the games memorable, it was just the greatest adventure games I ever played. The games were difficult but the challenges were rewarded nicely. I was just wondering though, What ever happened to Leisure Suit Larry 4? I've heard many rumors, but I was just wondering if it was every made. I would be extremely grateful for a response.
Sincerely,
Tony Ahn
Dear Mr Lowe
I want to say how much your humor molded me into the person that I am now thank you I feel a better person from playing your creations
Bruce Stark
Hi!
After a long time i have finally returned to the great field of Larry Laffer and Al Lowe. Being an experienced Adventure gamer i can say that the Larry-Games certainly are the most funny and creative pieces of work that ever appeared on the Adventure market. I was positively surprised and amazed that the internet ring around Larry Laffer has hardly become samller. In my view this is another evidence for the magic Larry has been able to enchant his fans with!
Even more positive was my surprise as i read about the Larry-Revival rumors. But then I somehow didn't get it. Even then, about two years ago that ist, i must confess i was a bit disappointed as somehow nothing seemed to be happening athough loads of peolpe have been very active. But now, as once again i read about you sitting in your office for 4 month(!) waiting for them to call, i really begin to worry. Isn"t this the chance the whole Larry-Comunity has been waiting for so long? And the only place we get to know about it is a tiny little link on your personal homepage? isn't that odd?
And now i have to see how my god of comedy is sitting there (some blocks away from the Sierra-Studios!!!) and wasting his unique skills for some computer nerd's breakfast entertainment. By the way, what became of Roberta and Ken Williams? Isn't it possible to get then back and somehow have influence on Sierra?
So, for the sake of every Larry-Fan out there, pick up the phone, start you e-Mail programme and rescue our hero in his hardest hour!
Sincerely, Gabriel
Germany
Dear Al,
I'm a member on your Cyberjoke group and I wanted to say that it rocks that you're still around. I grew up on the greatness that was the old Sierra games and am deeply saddened by where things have gone. You guys really made the best games ever, and Larry, well he's an icon that will live on for ever if you ask me. Well just wanted to say hi and say thanks for helping to create something that will be golden in my book. Take care and keep sending the great jokes!
Mike Estelle
Hi Al,
I'm thrilled to have found your site! I was working late, and was just surfing around to unwind, when suddenly I stumbled across your homepage. I've been a huge fan of yours since I first played LSL 1 on my Amiga 1000 around 18 years ago. Little did I know back then that Larry's frustrations in dating would so closely mirror my teenage years. You website doesn't say much about what you're up to these days. Are you still active in the industry? Are you planning on going to E3? If you are, let me know, I'd be really honored if you'd let me buy you lunch.
Bryan Chu
Dear Mr. Lowe
Just to let you know that I just loved to play all LL games released. This is a mail thanking you for all the GOOD job you did.
Keep pushing with LL 8 please. Perhaps some editor will pick the idea.
Best Regards
Carlos Oliveira
Just wanted to tell you—Im 25 years old, and I grew up with everything you ever did, beginning with Troll's Tale on my Apple II.
Can't tell you how insanely fun and exciting it was to be playing LSL when I was in elementary school! HAHAHA On my friend's older brother's machine ---
We had a blast, thanks for the memories!
Gibby Miller
Dear Al,
I grew up playing Leisure Suit Larry, Space Quest, and Police Quest. I'm only 19 now and I can't believe that there is not going to be another addition to any of these incredible series. Are there any plans for a sequel? I hope that there is. Please let me know
Hi If you ever get to do Leisure Suit Larry 8 can you make Dewmi Moore and Drew Baringmore in it. I would like to see more,of them in the game. Also is there a way you could make a petition to Sierra to get Leisure Suit Larry 8 made? I would gladly sign it and I believe every Larry fan would also..
Thank You
Dear Al,
Hello. My name is Melanie and I am from the Philippines. I am a big fan of your games. It was a family event when my bro and I were trying to figure out a puzzle and we would argue about it. At one point, I played Pharkas too long that I dreamt about it at night. Your games are so addictive and very well crafted. I just wanna ask, how did you come up with larry's character? Anyway, I wish you all the best and don't stop being funny. Thank you Mr. Lowe, it was incredibly honoring for me. Thank you for reading my mail.
I know it's probably a long shot but would it be possible for you to send me an autographed photo with dedication? It would mean so much to me. Thank You Very Much Again and always take care.
Melanie Cruz
Diliman, Quezon City
Philippines, 1104
Hi there!
I’m glad to have stumbled across your website so that I can express my thanks for the joy you brought throughout much of my early life.
As a brief synopsis, one of the first bonding moments I ever had the opportunity of sharing with my father was when we sat down one evening with a pirated copy of Leisure Suit Larry (I eventually bought the game in many different incarnations, but this was in the hay day of software pirating) for his Hercules PC and, with the aid of a hintbook, completed the game in one 4 hour setting.
The wonder and excitement of the adventure game - something I had never experienced in all 7 years of my life - were so fantastic... I still have difficulty explaining the exhilleration I felt from entering into and becoming part of a world other than my own, even if only temporarily. Whereas the adolescent thrill of playing a PG-13 game had hooked me, the mechanics and delight of a “living novel” are what sold me for life.
Many subsequent late nights were spent with friends figuring out how to construct a Larry-tov cocktail out of hair rejuvenator and working our way through locker mazes in the Fat City health spa. It was more than a part of my childhood - it was also a defining moment for my future, as I was simultaneously introduced to the wonders of the computer and literary world, as well as rigorous instruction in Pop Culture.
Lo these many years have passed, (16 to be exact), and I find myself stumbling upon the website of one of my heroes due to a random search for technical support on Leisure Suit Larry 6 since it, much to my dismay - and as I thought could never happen with a Sierra product; doesn’t seem to be “technology proof” and refuses to operate on Windows XP. This led to even greater upset when I discovered, through further perusal of your site, that another Larry game had been in the works and was disbanded during the fall of the great Adventure Game Era.
Much as with my other favorites (Space Quest, primarily), I can only hope that the future will show us a resurgence of interest in the Adventure Game. With Sierra having been bought and sold more times than I’ve replayed the Larry games (i.e. lots) and the Williams no longer at the helm, the future does indeed look bleek. But thankfully, I’ve still got the game disks and plenty of memories to keep me afloat.
Thanks again for spreading your imagination and creativity through the gaming world for so long. It was certainly a fun journey.
Thanks!!
Sean
Kalmazoo, Michigan
Dear Al!
Thank you for your web-site, for all you done.
I bought Larry 7 in Russia in 1998 (approx). I worked as seaman that time and before long 7 month sea trip I got Larry 7. First month I did not touch this, was too busy... Later, when I installed and started to be Larry... Oh, God, you can imagine what it should be for seaman who is couple months at the sea. Plus never before seen type of the game, excellent humor, animation, unexpectable turns of scenario... You probably already heard all this too much, it couldn’t be other words.... only - bravo, bravissimo. I was waiting for the evening, few my friends were sitting around every time for a few weeks and looking how I am (Larry) doing there, behind the screen.
Many things changed since that time. I moved to America and now live on Cape Cod. I could never imagine that it so simple to write you Email and probably even get an answer. I found this site during the search for another Larry, for a new Larry, but... there is no Larry 8...I knew this, but still had a little houpe.
Yeah, that Sierra probaly prefers some bloody stupid shooters or ... people changed and they do not want to pay for brilliant humor and exiting? I am sure- Larry 7 still ‘NUMBER 1’
I still own that old Larry 7 CD. It like anique for me. It is translated in Russian wth proffesional actors but english background was saved and it sounds great! Larry’s and yours forever fan,
Vladimir Barbashov
Osterville, MA
Dear Al Lowe,
Larry is my favourite game for these past 7 years. Can’t you do anything to release vol 8? I’m gonna really miss that guy (Larry). And u r one funny fella.
Regards,
Swiandy Chondro
Well ive figured it out. Can you believe! All you gotta do is make a brand-spanking new game called The Sexually Heightened Adventures of Larry Laugher
Why did i spell it wrong?! Buwhahahah copyright infringement baby! YEA Throw your name on it as an independent and youre set. Don’t forget that anyone who knows Larry, knows Al Lowe!
Figure it out, cowboy and make our dreams come true! Or babble about the old glory days with your jazz buddies in a drunken stupor! It’s your choice!
Your Beloved Fan
Jeremy
Hello Mr. Lowe,
I've signed up to Cyberjoke 3000 for two months. I felt it's about time I sent you a feedback with my appreciation.
I've also enjoyed your more classical works, especially LSL. I've played all versions except LSL4 and LSL8 (somewhat coincidental, no?)
I'll let you back to your work and thanks for reading,
James Lee of Queens, NYC
Dear Al,
Firstly, I'd just like to say what a big fan of your games I am. I know that I am not alone, every single one of my friends that I can recall has loved the Leisure Suit Larry series and others, and I know I keep going back and playing the classics again and again. I was very dissapointed to hear about Leisure Suit Larry 8 being pulled, but to be honest, I'm not that surprised. Sierra has sold out to meet the market, instead of carrying on with its traditions of innovation. I guess it's very representative of the games market today. Nonetheless, I cannot thank you enough for producing such top quality games throughout the years. You have become a gaming world legend, and I'm sure that Larry will never truly die, even if the games have to discontinue. I'm prepared to do my bit in helping that.
I've seen a lot of support for you and the LSL8 cause, but I do not know how effective it will ever be in it's current state. At some point this year or next I intend to make a fitting tribute to the true classics that you and your team have created, and as a result, I'm sure this will not be my last email to you. Hopefully, this website tribute can become a focal point for lobbying Sierra again and again with the protests from the fans, who seem to be quite widely dispersed (I've seen 3 different petitions which are all pretty unorganised). The question I need to ask, therefore, is would you be willing to conclude the series, if given the chance? I personally feel that managing to free Larry Laffer from the clutches of Sierra or persuading them to give him one last chance would not only satisfy the fans who want LSL8, but it's inevitable success would prove to the gaming world that the first person shooter and online RPGs are not going to rule over all with their generic and simplistic concepts.
In my personal opinion, a revolution has to come in the gaming community, not just in bringing out LSL8, one game could not cause such a thing, but developers everywhere need to realise that people like yourself are invaluable in creating... Games are not interesting anymore for me, and I never thought I'd hear those words. I cannot bring myself to play a lot of the new games, and some of my friends cannot understand why. The fun behind games is gone, in leiu of excitement or awe... but bigger and better does not make games any more interesting for me. There are too few people such as yourself (and perhaps on a different kind of scale, but nonetheless) Shiguru Myamoto left in the industry. It saddens me, and I predict the end of PC gaming will have to come within a relatively short period of time. Gaming will end other than in the form of generic titles and interactive movies.
Now, if you would be willing to produce Leisure Suit Larry 8, I can see only two ways forward really. One would be showing Sierra that there is enough support to warrant producing LSL8. The other is to buy Leisure Suit Larry and for you to work on it outside of Sierra. I dont know how feasible either are, but I'd certainly love to hear your feedback on those. I find that the time that has been wasted by Sierra with LSL8 will be very harmful to either routes of production, as the longer we spend talking, the more people lose interest. However, you could also argue that the originals are getting out to more people, who will want to finish off the story.
I know it takes a lot to produce a computer game of any kind, but if you can think of anything useful to devoted fans of gaming, and of your games, please give us anything we can to pull out all the stops. We need originality. We need Leisure Suit Larry 8. Would Sierra ever sell Larry? Would they consider producing the game if an offer was made for the license to do so? I know that would certainly get them thinking. What I believe we need is a united and dedicated support base if this is to ever work, and I will hopefully be able to assist in creating that, but I could only do so on your blessing. We need people to stand up and shout in their faces that even if we're in the minority...even if adventure gamers are a niche market.....there's still a market which they can sell to (which is obviously their most important concern now). I'm only doing A-Level Business and I know that risk takers and people exploring market niches can be extremely successful...I dont see what Sierra has to lose.
This email has been kind of a babble of many thoughts, but I hope you will consider the things I have said. I know there are more LSL fans than there are petition signatures, and I intend to do something. Thank you once again for filling many hours of my time with your whacky sense of humour and genuinely fun games. I wish you all the best.
Ben Basson
We want Larry 8
We want Larry
8
We want Larry
8 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please send this to
Sierra :-)
Greetz,
Martin (From the Netherlands)
I thought that I would send you an e-mail after I read the postscript to your Biography asking if your games "were somehow important...or influenced your career or your life..."
About 18 years ago, ~1987, my mother had purchased a Tandy Computer from Radio Shack. She was really excited about the computer and I was delighted that she had purchased something so high tech for herself (it was a whole 286 MHz with a huge 10Mb hard drive). She never bought anything for herself. She had always put her children far above her needs or desires. My father died in 1972, so my Mother managed to put my two brothers and me through college on a Secretary's salary from the Federal Government. (I think collecting bottles and cans for the refund pays better.)
Anyway, she had purchased this computer and set it up in her bedroom. I wasn’t sure why she had gotten a computer and I'm not so sure if she knew either. In those days there wasn’t much you could do with a computer other than play games, and that is leads me to the heart of my letter.
The bigger reason for purchasing that computer was beyond my perception at the time. It wasn’t until several years after my mother’s death in 1994 that I understood why. And why your first game was so important in my life.
The first program that my mother had installed on the computer was Leisure Suit Larry In the Land of the Lounge Lizards. My brother and I had fun playing that game and we would sit around that computer with my mother and try to solve the different puzzles. My mother was a bit straight laced so I got to see a side of her that I never had seen before!
I think back to those days frequently and how much I miss them. I wish I could go back in time and sit there and work out those puzzles with her and my brother. Those are precious moments that are so vivid that they could have happened just yesterday. I miss her so much! And I miss those silly days where we forgot about the real world and we all were just having fun.
My mother is gone now and my brothers have headed off in different directions. That game for me is a vivid reminder of what once was and what I don’t have anymore. I wish I could go back and let her know how much she meant to me. As a 25 year old male those words didn’t come easy, if at all. I’m 45 now and for the first time in 18 years, I installed that program on my computer and re-lived those days again. I played the game only briefly, but long enough to bring me back 18 years and to circulate some very fond memories.
Thank you for the pleasure your games have brought to me and the pleasant memories that were created.
Hello mr. lowe,
My name is Dave Magann and I am 15 years old. I've played leisure suit larry games since i was 7, because we had lsl1 on our 386 i guess my dad bought it or something. Anyway i've always loved them and I have a couple.
Anyway i just wanted to say thanks for creating such an awsome and fun game. I really enjoy playing them although i've never actually beaten any except 7 b/c i always start then try indianna jones or monkey island --> they're good to eh? and then i forget to continue and i restart again... lol
Anyway just wanted to say thanx and i hope you can work something out with sierra to make 8 b/c i know i'd buy it even for like 100 dollars.
Dave
I come from SWEDEN and i really like Larry 7. It's a really good game, you laugh all the time.
But the worst is why did Larry 8 have to be canceled? =(
I wanted to play that game! Why have they canceled the game?
Mikael
hey Al just writing to tell you that the games you made were great had a blast all the time now for the ? how about a larry game for the XBOX I would buy it in a heart beat and I am sure so would my friends
Hi Mr. Lowe
I bet you get these type of e-mails telling you how big of a Leisure Suit Larry fan so and so is.....well this isn't too much different.
I really liked...no, loved your games. Of all the Sierra games I played I felt this one was the best.
I feel so bad that they decided to kill off Leisure Suit Larry...I really hope that we'll get to see Leisure Suit Larry 8.
A big fan of yours,
Johnny
Dear Al,
I'm an ordinary guy from Argentina, South America, I'm 24 years old, and i wanted to thank you for every Larry game that you did.
Larry has made history and here almost everybody knows larry. I can still remember playing when I was a kid the old larry1 black and white, on my computer an old 8086 with a cga monitor. I cant tell you how i feel because you gave me so many good moments playing larry.
Sometimes lots of people discuss many things about hardware, games, etc on a very known forum online in here, and last week we created a topic of all those old games that we enjoy so much and those games that we miss a lot, and almost everybody remembered larry, or monkey island, or indiana jones games.
this is a time where every game is just equal to another one, everything is 3d and shooting and pisses me off because those games are just the same!
I remember i played all the larrys and finished them all, ok ok..i cheated with walkthougs, hehe. The only one thing that i will never know is why larry4 are the missing flopys? Would you be so kind to tell me what really happened to larry4 ? so much mistery , this is the only game i have seen that skiped one hehe.
I read your webpage last night, and i cant beleive they treated you like that, first saying that there will be no larry8, then calling you again interested in larry8, and later never called you back.
Shame on them, i cant beleive a company treats you like that after all those years that you worked there, and after making a symbol for the company which is larry.
Sierra has gone down latetly, i respect the company, they have created 2 amazing games called alien vs predator2 and counterstrike. see what i mean?, they dont care about adventures anymore.
On the following years, companys like lucas arts are going back to the adventure games. They are making two kick ass games like full trottle2, and also Sam & Max2, thay is a good thing to see, that adventure games are not dead. Maybe sierra should learn something from them.
At last, i saw the list of games that you were involved in... and thank you also for the Space Quest saga, you cant imagine how i laugh playing with Roger Wilco the space hero. Hee, hee.
Thanks Al,
pablo
I was just woundering if you communicated at all with the Adventure Company, who made syberia, about backing another LSL, they seem pretty intreasted in making Adventure games still. Or does sierra still own the rights. Also are you making any games right now?
Big fan,
Greg Frank
P.S. Sierra is making huge mistake by not making another LSL and by staying out the adventure game markets. I want more LSL games. They rock.
Thanks for the fantastic games, I signed a petition for another Larry game, I hope it gets made some day. To bad you couldnt make it with Lucasarts because they still make adventure games.
Uhm, you probably get many of those emails all the time, but this time it's really real. I am a super-deluxe-fan of yours LSL-games, and I laugh at Sierra and their money THEY WONT GET ANYMORE from adventure game... uh, even if i know they doesnt sell to good anymore.
And another thing, are you really born 24 July?! Well, so am i :) - This is the first time i ever see someone that have the same birthday, as myself. Lucky you!
Regards,
Martin Bergman
Sweden
hi.. im a big fan.
I would love to see an online version of the world you created centering around REAL gambling. Wouldn't it be great to have a virtual world with real people in it playing for real money? Email me back if you wanna brainstorm on this!!
It's inevitable. it has to happen.
djdick
Greetings
If this is truly Al Lowe, I wish to thank you for those hours of laughter my friend and I had playing the Larry games. The best parts are figuring out ways to kill Larry since they brought the funniest sequences in the games.
An old Sierra loyal fan...
Terence
Hi there, is this really Mr Al Lowe? himself! The very great? It's an honour if its really you I'm emailing!! WOW. Leisure Suit Larry. Cant get over how many years of fun I have had from this series, right from the very first Larry, took me ages to work out how to complete it! Each and every larry game you've created has been fun to play and has given me endless hours of satisfaction!
You are definitely my hero! I'd love to get some sort of autograph from you, I am really one of your best fans, I idolise you!.....So upseting that Larry 8 isn't going to be made!......i'd do anything to change the minds of people so they'd design it.
It would be really cool to hear back from you, to see how things are going!!!......what are you upto now? are you still desiging games!.......your one cool guy!......
thanks for making my life.........well almost complete!
Your big fan!
Steve!
Is this for real? -- This is the AL Lowe site?
haha, I am 22 from Ontario, Canada my names Larry. (Well, Lawrence actually.) I have played, beaten and mastered every single 'quest' game there was since I was 9 years old. I even started finding bugs in certain games out of bordem. Not that I know you will actually ever read this letter but I think all of the early Sierra adventure games were the best part of my shittyass childhood. No matter what was happening around me I could always escape with my sister into a world of adventure with a sierra game packed with unlimited fun.
You really will never truely understand the meaning of this message and it might seem a bit questioning, but Thank You...
Larry Hynes, not Laffer ... lol
Thanks for all the laughs Al. Sierra made a tremendous mistake in letting you go. Computer games haven't been the same and probably never will be since the death of the adventure game. You were one of the pioneers. Thank you.
Green Dave
Al Lowe,
I am 18 and I have been playing your games since I was 13, the games never had a bad affect on me, but lets just say I knew more about sex at school than the rest of my fellow class mates in 7th grade and thats not a bad thing. Atleast Larry wraps it... sometimes :)
but im not emailing you to tell you about how long Ive been playing but to let you know that you have inspired me to get back into gaming. I found Leisure Suit Larry 7 - Love For Sail about 4 or 5 years ago at my sister Benna's house. I was about 13 and I said "whats this?!?!?" and she said "im not really sure, milton got it for free from his work" (he works at best buy and they give him stuff free all the time, he got like an xbox, ps2, gamecube, for no reason!!!) and I said "mind if I try it out?", she didn't care and I showed it to her and we laughed and I asked if I could have it, she said it was fine.. she isnt really into games, remember im 13 years old, if my 20 something year old sister didn't mind, and my parents thought I was mature enough to handle it, what the heck its something to do in the summer!
So I beat it with about 900 points hehe and probably 28 dildos and 1 egg, it was funny how I got the egg, I was just messing with Victoria and I clicked the guy on the left somehow and I saw the egg and was like... WHAT IS THAT!?!?! LOL...
So I walked off blah blah and later that week my freind came over, and I wanted to show him the sex scene.. I mean.. horney 13 year olds in puberty, cmon! at least we arent out messing around, and believe me Larry helped me out cause hormones raged with that game, but im not gonna get into that. So I show him the weather.. with Victoria.. TICKLE YOUR ASS WITH A FEATHER? lol.. and I saw the egg again and was like HUH!?! and this time guess what Victoria did.. BOOBIE SHOT.. So I found out the eggs and I have a game with 1000 points, 32 Dildos and 7 Eggs!
Ive never used a walk through or strategie guide and ive played LSL7 for a long time.. I just came across the game a few days ago cause we just moved to a new house in Arkansas and I poped the CD in, just like old times.. So I got some money and ordered the "Leisure Suit Larry Collection" from amazon.. god 60 bucks is hard to come up with when your in school and unemployed! lol but it was worth it.. So ive beaten LSL7 about 50 times in the past and 10 times just this week.. GOD I LOVE THAT GAME..
So Im waiting for it to come in and ill work on the first on then work up to 6.. But what do i do when i finish 6..
what about 8.. damn this sucks Al, I really want 8 but thats not the reason for the email... sorry about blabering but your games are just so great and I have played them for so long and I dont wanna lose Larry... The reason for the e-mail is to let you know... Ive been doing art for a long time.. on computers and off them.. I can draw stuff like Larry. I sketch it in real life then I draw it in Macromedia Flash.. And I wanted to let you know that Ive decided to get a job in Game Graphics. Drawing Characters, Props, Backgrounds, The works.. But the thing is.. I like art like on LSL7.. Im not into that new 3D Stuff.. and i dont know if I will have any luck finding somewhere that does games like that..
I remember my first Sierra Game was The Incredible Machine.. I use to draw pictures after pictures of it.. Then I got LSL and I use to Trace Larry and I use to be able to draw him by mind.. The only thing is.. I dont have stunning grades in High School and Im graduating this year and I dont know if I will make it to college.. What if I dont do college. How can I do what I want to the most without college?!?!
Al you have infact made my childhood more exciting, more safe, and more horney.. lol! I wanted to let you know Al Lowe your my Hero! Infact I plan to right about you in English for a presentation but I dont know how clean I can make it lol! Please E-Mail me back I want to talk to you!
If you have AOL you better unsubscribe... QUICK! hehe but if you have like MSN Messanger, AIM, etc.. Id like to chat with you through some sort of Instant Message System... Please write back
"your biggest fan"
Brent Kerr
Al,
First off love all your work! I'm a big Larry fan from the beginning. The adventure of playing LSL1 will forever be etched in my memory. Thanks for all the good memories.
Jeff Sedler
Minot, ND
Ummm...I guess I should start out with Hello! I'm kinda star struck right now but, i'll try to get my brain to function for me. Well, I would love to hear more about you..but, I guess I should introduce myself.
My name is Tara Reed..and yes, I get a lot of giggles from that. Believe me, if I was her I wouldn't be living in missouri in a townhouse. Any who...I'm 24 1/2 years old ( gotta add the half :->)...I would describe myself or send a pic..but, you wouldn't know if I was fibbin'. I have been playing your games ever since they came out..my father is a senior field engineer for CCI/Triad Corp., so I had the privalige of having a couple of computers in the house back in the day.
It urks me so bad that there will be no more LSL games anymore...like I said in the guestbook earlier-all the games now are "shoot em up"..not that they're not any fun...but, just not my taste. I don't understand why Sierra won't let you make anymore. If they would let you come out with those games again they would fly off the shelves.
I really did get a kick out of "the case of the missing files" joke! That was so creative! And I did notice the drunk that kept showing up in every game, but, didn't know that was one of your buds! And Where's Dildo was sooo cute! He's one of my desktop wallpapers..(along with the pics of the hot babes from the game as well!) Yes...I admit it, I'm a BIG pervert and proud of it.
I am starting college in August for CGI..I'm an unproffessional cartoonist and want to improve on that...I picked the CGI route cause it seems that's where all the animated features are going now a days. I would love to create a game like yours...have the pervert in me....just not the punch line part. Well, I hope i'm not boring you--i'm sure you hear a lot of this all the time, but I would really like to learn more about you... Anyway, I should cut this off now..(that didn't sound right, LOL)
All Yours,
Tara
Hi
Al!
I’ve been a serious fan of your LSL serie from the first LSL1 (CGA versión!) and played all of them but LSL7 (which I didn’t manage to make it work in Windows 2K or XP). I’ve spent so many hours in front of my computer just trying to solve the puzzles of your games I will remember them always.
Thanks from Spain!
Other favourite games (in no special order!)
· LSL1, LSL2, LSL3
· Quest for Glory I (Hero’s Quest) EGA Version
· The Black Cauldron (really nice!)
· ... (in fact, most of Sierra’s games!)
· The Secret of Monkey Island I & II
Regards,
Manuel
This was an email I sent to PCgamer! I doubt it will get printed, but you never know!
Member of the BRING BACK LARRY Coalition
G'day Ladies and Gents,
Long time subscriber, first time emailer. Greets to the entire staff, I certainly appreciate your reviews. I'd say your always pretty much dead on when it comes to your reviews, and I won't buy a game until I've read about it in your Mag. Great Job! Seriously
The purpose for my email is to inquire about a few game designers that have seemingly dropped out of the scene. Now I'm an old school gamer, I remember all of the the older games. Heck, I still have my original 5 1/4 floppy disk of ZORK! (Babelfish, Now THAT'S comedy). And I know that we can never go home again, but there were three guys that revolutionized the gaming industry, and I really think that these guys need to make a strong comeback.
I think that all of us in the gaming community need to jump on the publishers backs until they get these guys back in the design labs. I'm speaking of course about Sierra On Line. And I'm speaking of none other than Ken and Roberta Williams who gave us the wonderful Kings Quest series. They really need to seek out and reaquire the talents of 3 men who essentially made Sierra what it was. Of course I could only be speaking of Mr. Scott Murphy, Mr. Mark Crowe, and Mr. Al Lowe. Mr. Murphy and Mr. Crowe of course gave us the legendary Space Quest series, and who could ever forget the efforts of Mr. Lowe with his Lovable, Laughable, Loser of a charater, Larry Laffer in Leisure Suit Larry.
Sure, todays games have gotten faster, more intense, more indepth, and much more exciting, But nothing will every take the place of an afternoon spent trying to get the Polyester Prince some play! Now I know these guys are still around. It's time to kick some old school stuff and bring Roger Wilco and Larry Laffer back to the gaming community. I for one, DEMAND IT!!
Barney Smith
Larry Laffer fan club President
(No, I'm NOT a virgin)
Thanks,
Barney Smith
Hello Mister Lowe
This e-mail is not a big deal, I guess you've received about a billion of this kind before. But everybody (Larry would as well) loves compliments...
I'm a nineteen years old male from Switzerland and I started playing Larry 6 when I was 12. I didn't really get the essential point of the game, but it was fun nevertheless :) Later I played the German Version of Larry 7. I loved the game.
5 Years passed and now I rediscovered the Leisure Suit Larry series. All I can say is that I adore your sense of humour. In a silly way, I can even personify with Larry. As you can see I'm some sort of a "new" fan and still I am absolutely gripped by Larry's adventures.
Naturally, the English version is way funnier than the germanized one. I'd like to excuse for downloading the English version off the internet, but I own the German version, so I think it's okay.
Let's come to the inevitable point: Isn't there the slightest chance of a further larry game? Don't you feel like doing a new episode? Or is it a legal problem that keeps you away from producing another hilarious game?
All the best regards from Switzerland
Michael Häfeli
PS: If you'd ever do a new epidsode with Larry I promise that I'll send you a huge bar of premium extra delicious Swiss chocolate ;))
Hi Al
It was so great to come across your website a while ago. A real blast from the past.
I spent an embarrassingly long portion of my high school career either playing; talking about playing or wishing I was rather playing one of your games. In particular LL and the various "Quest" games.
I've long sinced given up explaining to my parents what I do with computers, but at least they understood Leisure Suit Larry!
And now, 13+ years later, I still haven't lossed my enjoyment of computers and currently co-run a software company in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Really should try find my LL disks and see if they will install on WinXP or maybe I'll need to get a DOS emulator for that!
Have you considered writing a book? I'm sure tons of other 1980s-game players will buy it.
Thanks for the years and years of entertaining me in front of my P.C.
Cheers,
Simon Stewart
Hi, i´m from Finland, a small country in northern Europe, I would like to ask, is Leisure suit Larry: Lust in space going to be launched? Even in the distant future? I own love for sale, and I would like to say that, that game is awsome, nice work. Thank you for those fun times I had when I played Leisure suit Larry 7.
Paavo Perverssi
PS, Where could I find the older LSLs? and what happened to LSL4? It would be nice if you had a bit more stuff on your web site about the older Larrys.
happy belated birthday mr. lowe... i grew up playing larry and just wanted to thank you for the fun times... i was trying to buy the ultimate pleasure pack and was shocked to see the price... i should've bought it when is was pretty cheap at fry's electronics... oh well... take care.
john
Hi Al!
i just wanted to let you know that i completely love the leisure suit larry games. i'm 15 years old and i grew up playing larry with my brother, mom, and grandma. we all loved it! also, i love freddy pharkas! i still play both games a lot. i hope that you are involved in the making of lsl 8! thanks a lot for reading this. you are my hero!!!
~Rachel Hembruff~
I can definitely say, because of your great work, it introduced me to computers, I learned to type playing your soft porn text game, then I learned how to build computers trying to get the best experience with the Larry series. Thank you so much for Larry... I would love to see him appear in an XBox version.
Cheers,
Jamey
Hi Al, how are you?
I have this small question.....about Larry 8 (Psycho Music in the background). I have just read in the forum that many fans sent you emails to know if you where or not involved in this "possible" new Larry game. Personally I would really love to see a new game.....and even more if you are the one leading the team. What I want to know....is what do you think about all this matter?? About this posibility, about the fans taking action with the petition (I haven't signed it yet, but I have found some really weird signatures there) What are your expectations for this?
Al im going to tell you something that the other day I told to my mother.....we were watching a TV show about Networks Security and my mother was very interested.....anyway, she saw 2 guys that were Hackers, talking about the security of the IMM (the place where my mom works...its like a City Hall)and at some point they said that their role model was some guy that I don't remember the name of. My mother looking at this asked me who was my role model......without thinking it twice I answered Al Lowe. She asked me why, and I said....because he is the creator of the game that made me decide what I wanted to do with my life (I said: I just want to design video games) and above all, because of the kind of person that you are....the mind behind the comedy, the way you face life.....with all that humor that always made us laugh and love every character you created it is just amazing....a true role model for me. I don't mean that I copy every single thing that you do....I mean that, I tend to face life with humor and put some of it on my game ideas.
And I just want to say THANK YOU.....because you and Larry are a big part of who I am. Thanks for everything.....
You could not imagine the happines I felt when I sent you the first email.....and you answered.....the smile on my face lasted for months, and it is still there every time I write.
Well Al, I just can say that if a new LSL game is being on early development as I have read.....you should be leading that team of talented people.
Darìo
P.S: Sorry if I made some mistake writing this email.....my English is not perfect, but I'm working on it. :)
"New Sierra" Sucks!!!
But maybe, some time there will be another Larry...
I'm waiting for it (but only if you made it...!)
Thumbs up!
Kerstin
Al,
I know I’m not original. I’m just yet another one of thousands writing you about Larry, Larry Laffer.
Anyway, I’d like to thank you for the Larry saga. Of all the games I’ve played (no BS), the Larry stuff IS the ever best. Of all the games I’ve REplayed, Larry RULES alright. He’s second to NONE. In any genre, I must add.
You have that 'international' sense of humor anyone can understand and appreciate. At this moment, I’m replaying L6&L7, looking for any possible Easter Eggs and undiscovered jokes. I’m running out of them and again grieving that Sierra is so dumb not giving you the green light for the sequel!
People often call Larry a loser. Hey! I’d say it is Sierra who’s a bunch of losers! I do hope Larry will back, like James Bond:-) Keep Larry’s end up!
Best regards,
-Vlad Pavlov
P.S. In L7, I noticed a picture of a playmate (in the bar). I think it’s Miss July 1989. I’m not sure about the year, but I DO know for sure it’s the chick who played in UNDER SIEGE (starring Steven Siegal). May I know if you were influenced by the movie?
Al,
I'm on your cyberjoke 3000 page and I must say many of those jokes are quite hilarious. Although not the dirtiest jokes I still dig em. I'll hafta send you some sickass jokes some time and some other hilarious e-mails I get that I betcha you will dig.
Recently I played and defeated LSL7 for the first time and I must say that game was a f**kin riot in terms of hilariousness and whatever else. Now all I gotta do is go replay Freddy Pharkas I have the original disks sitting in the box upstairs ready to be played. That was a classical game as well!!
Are you ever going to release any new games?? What is the deal with Sierra these days I saw its name on the Half-Life box and Empire Earth?? I know they stopped making the adventure games which is a shame because me and my old school buddies still reminisent the old days of Sierra adventure games. Then my buddy pulls out the LSL Collection and the Love For Sail CD and I was like ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh no!
If LSL 8 every comes out wow I would buy that game for the sake of bein LSL. My MSN name is Larry Laffer right now and with version 6 you can have a lil picture in the side for others 2 view and mine is Larry Laffer from one of the games. Looks pretty funny!! People are like WHO THE HELL IS THAT?? and I have to explain to them and they r like Wow that sounds great.. Only if they knew Al ONLY if they knew what the legacy was about??
Keep up the good work and I'll have to start getting people to sign up for cyberjoke 3000.
take care
Brian Glen
Dear Al,
When I first ever played Leisure Suit Larry 2: Looking for Love (in several wrong places indeed), on my old trusty Amiga 1200, I never ever imagined I'd have the chance to actually be able to talk to you, even if I never get an answer back, it's cool. I know you read em all anyway, you must be having lots of free time lately.
So you see, for the past... 13 years now, you were my God. I LOVED every single detail of the Leisure suit Larry series, from the game engine, the music, the script, the jokes, everything. Actually if my memory serves me right, excluding some crappy C64 games, I think Larry 2 was the first Adventure game I ever played, being like the Mother of All for its Genre from then and after. The sequels just kept getting funnier and funnier, without ever letting me down, with the king of all being Leisure Suit Larry 7, cause having in-game voices and descent graphics always add to the mood.
Amongst the others, I've always hoped for a new sequel to rise up soon, but since I've read that the plans for Larry 8 would be to have the game on 3d, maybe it was better that the legendary sequel halted on Larry 7. Although I support 3d games for a specific kind of genres, I never liked the idea of a 3d Adventure, especially when the main character model has to be created based on a previous 2d one.Thus, games like Monkey Island 4, or Simon the Sorcerer 3d failed me, although I absolutely loved their prequels. Guybrush in 3d really sucked, and I also had a feeling their humor wasn't at their tops on that game either.
Anyway, enough of mumbling. Well, there's not any specific reason or request for me writting this e-mail I just thought I had to since, with great suprise, I've runned up to your website. I just had to tell you that you've always been like an idol for me (just another wannabe game developer), and that Sierra would never be the same without you. And thank you for creating such a cool character like Larry Laffer. I hope you won't mind that for 10 years now I use it for my nickname. I was like 11 back then, having to decide a profile name for a BBS, and Guybrush Threepwood was already taken. Since then, I got more friends calling my Larry than by my real name. I also get a lot of people telling me of "the great old days that I've just reminded them" and "how cool games were back then."
Saying all that, I wouldn't want more from my life, than what you've accomplished. I am an amateur programmer, with much love for computer games, that has a dream of making a living by doing what he loved best. Me and my small team are about to release a demo of a 3d rpg we've been working on for the past few years, and I'd absolutely loved your advice on where do you think we should go next. I know that the big software houses out there won't care much about my career, and we could very easily be tricked by one of those contracts with the small letters in the bottom. So what would you do if you were me?
Here's some shots of our game, since our website ain't ready yet. And Here. And Here. And maybe here. It's a single player RPG game, although we're hoping to live to see it as a grown Massive Multipler Online RPG some day. And yeah, we're trying hard to make it something more than talking and killing people :P. But I think you got the wrong idea about rpg games.. Try Fallout 1 or 2, if you ever get your hands on it.
Well, I guess that's all I wanted to share with you (that I can think till now at least:) ). I'd be more than happy, if I ever get a reply from you. But it'll be cool if I don't. I hope you have a GREAT GREAT life, cause you really deserve one. Thank you for all the inspiration you've given me all these years.
Yours,
LLaffer (Aris Kostakos)
Hey Al, I was just on your page and signed your guestbook. Great page, took me back to when you used to make me laugh through the leisure suit larry series. I was hoping you would sign my guestbook on my homepage, I provided the link on your guestbook, it would be more than great if you could! Again, thanx so much for all the laughs through the years.
One of your many fans-
Carl Sonne
P.S. --- And tell those bastards at Sierra, whoever's in charge of marketing must be on crack to stop selling such a classic as the LSL series for me!!!!!
Hey Al,
You and Larry are truly missed. I hope for the sake of gamers old and new, that you're put in charge of a Larry project soon.
Some of us cut our computing teeth with your efforts and it brings back a fond memory when we think back to those times. Today's games lack involvement and ingénue in favor of splatter and gore, a sad compromise. My involvement with Interplay and SSI saw the up and coming trend of large corporations who couldn't produce a lick of decent software themselves, buying up the companies that could. Microprose, SSI, Sierra have almost completely faded into oblivion when they were the ones who started the gaming industry. If only Sierra/Infogrames would release the rights of Larry to you, you could then create a new Larry to rival them all. Shoot, if Gary Grisby could take the code for Steel Panthers after the demise of SSI and release via the web a newer and better version maybe it's possible for you to do the same? We Larry fans can only hope so.
Maybe Sid Meyer would see the wisdom of this and release his team's resources to you. After all, Sid Meyer, Richard Garriot, and you, are the most recognized names in the gaming industry. Good luck to you in all of your future endeavors.
Regards,
Kurt Ahrens
Dear Mr Lowe,
First let me say i am a huge fan of your work, i have religiously played every one of the games written and made by yourself and yes....I AM A GIRL. Im horrified to think Sierra are even contemplating making Larry 8 without you, these guys defiantly seem though think that THEY are the reason of Larry's success.
They could not be more wrong. Over the years you have developed, created and enhanced every game that you have worked on and if there is ANYTHING i can to do make sure you will be working on the next instalment of predicament pleasure then just name it!
Don't underestimate us Brits! haha if i have to break into sierra's office and blow the C.E.O just to make sure you get it....well, i don't mind a little sacrifice hahaha
Thank you for bringing a little Larry into a lotta lives.
I know you are busy but if you find time, drop me a line back and make my day.
Kind Regards.
Hayley-Jayne McCarthy, x
Hi,
For years now my husband and I have been playing nearly all the adventure games released.We found out the ones where we had to type in the text were the best ever.They have all been spoilt now with the pull down menus and the point and click of the mouse to make things happen.Nobody makes games like you.
What we would like to know, are all the typing text games finished now for good or are there more coming out? We enjoyed the LLL games until they changed to point and click then although they were still fun and humour in them the idea of not being able to text spoils the game entirely for us.
Do you know of any other text adventure ones out with decent graphics like LLL that we can get hold of?
Thank-You
Tina
Hi, Al
Keep up the great work. My now 18 year old son has been into your work since the old Leisure Suit Larry stuff and the days where I had to approve his purchases. He's the one that made me notice your work. I even caught him a couple of nights ago play Freddy Pharkas saying it's still fun. He sent you a letter way back then which you replied to and signed. He has it framed and hanging on his wall today. I tried to get him involved in music with my past involvement in it(I could play Eve of Destruction, Gloria and a few others) and he now play drums, keyboard, harmonica and has a six sting acoustic, electric and twelve string acoustic.
Your involvement helped. He starts college in another month after graduating from high school with a 3.5 gpa, works partime as a substitute at a K - 6 school district and today worked one on one with a mentally challenged student, has a black belt in Karate (I take him places to protect the old man... me) working on his second degree and teaches Karate to others. He is involved in the community and give blood regularly and participates in community activities through the Campfire organization. You thought it was Campfire Girls, like me, but for the last twenty years it's been Campfire Boys and Girls. Still more girls than boys, which he figured out and enjoys. I also have a 22 year old daughter who is just like her brother.
When I tell people about my kids, they say that's such a difficult age with all the problems they've faced. I just nod and agree, but frankly I don't know what it's like. These guys have been great. While the whole credit doesn't go to me or to you, you sure were a force in my sons life. It's all those little positive things that contribute to forming and molding a person. You were one of those things.
I thank you for it.
Gary Kielman
So - this is where you ended up!!! If you need one more vote to convince Corporate America to revive the old Sierra franchises, here it is! Lord - with the graphics capabilities today, Larry could be stupendous!
Gloria Geisler
How's it going? What a bunch of jerks those guys at Sierra are...insensitive corporate suits who pander to the lowest common denominator (headache-inducing 1st person shooters and yet ANOTHER edition of 'Hoyle's Gambling Addiction Simulator Vol. XXXVIII'), and don't care enough to even return a frickin' email. Well, your day will come once again, as a new and improved Larry game is waaaayy overdue. I hope the best for you, and I eagerly await another Al Lowe-developed 'Larry'.
Sincerely,
Joey Damiano
Dear Mr. Lowe,
Just two days ago I happened to take my copy of the German Ultimate Larry Collection and try to install the games.
Just hearing the first beeps of the title melody of Larry I reminded me of the old days! Having a Pc with Win XP I had Problems to start the other games with music, but this problem is now solved thanks to VMDSound!
Why do I write this stuff?
Well, I'm a 27 year-old student (psychology) from Münster in Germany! And also here in the "old world" we love your game! I assume that I've solved Larry 1 around of seven or six times. It has a handy size that allows you to solve the game in one evening.
Surfing through your homepage reminded me of the first time I got in contact with Larry. It must have been in the early nineties, when a friend of mine got a copy of Larry 1. We loved the game, and furthermore at the age of approx. 15 years it's quite kinky, you know. My Dad never had Playboy, so it was one of our first contacts with real (well, computer) sex!
It was really hard to pass the questions in the beginning. Our English was okay, but we hadn't the knowlegde to answer them. So we scripted down the question and went by trial and error to play the game. (By the way the Commodore Amiga had lousy loading times! :))
Over the time I got a PC (486 DX4-100 whoopeee, gee it was fast!) and tried to collect all the games which was not too easy at that time in Germany (1995, I think).
Then, my conflict was solved when the Ultimate collection arrived in Germany! I bought it, and it's one of the best things Sierra did.
Well, to be honest, I'm really sad, that the Larry Series has stopped and watching the Video-Game-Market these days doesn't give much hope for another Larry Game. But as we say in Germany: "The Hope dies last!" Maybe there is a big revival of the Adventure-Genre and of Larry.
So, Mr. Lowe thanks for giving the world Larry and making me a Psychologist?! Yeah, I think Larry had an impact on me. Trying to help people that have a misrable life .... ahhhh, maybe not!
But Larry gave me hours of Entertainment and fun, and you made him. Thank you and keep up your work on your homepage your Fan
Alexander Waschkau
Dear Mr. Al Lowe,
My name's Victor Camacho. I believe you may have seen this name written before due to some recent events that took place, but allowe me to... he, he, sorry back there, 'typing force of habit' syndrome, ya know? "allow me" to tell you what the real story is here. I'm just another one of your countless of fans throughout the world, and this message is just another one of those 'LONG-winded' fan messages you surely receive quite frequently, so I suggest you read it only if you have the time to do so, maybe even come back to it later, when you feel more like reading, well... 'LONG-winded' fan mail. In fact, technically speaking, this is no "e-mail", it's more of a 50KB text document!... [NARRATOR: Are you sure you want to do this Victor?!]
I was 16 years old the first time I avidly inserted that "tempting" 5½ floppy disk into the Intel 8088 computer my Dad gave me as a present in the christmas of 1986, typed "SIERRA" at the command line, and hit the "Enter" key... (Add a "Victor's life milestone bookmark" here) I went from "Wow! An animated naked chick! Look Mom, I'm gonna be an adult now..." to "Cool! I feel like an adult now trying to understand these words in english" to "Damn it! I'll NEVER be an adult that asks stupid questions!" in just 5 minutes... Victor's first theorem? 'Trial & Error' is not an empirical thing, it's a science. Victor's first 'puberty phase' lesson ever? In adult computer games, you gotta be "patient". The next day, I was introduced to Larry Laffer... "Until next time Atari 5800... Bye, bye "Strip Poker"... Never heard of you "Moonbugs.exe"!!!
I was born [NARRATOR: For the love of God... Noooooo!!!] in a country where electronic equipment-related stuff was "scarce" or "expensive", or both things. At that time, with me being just a kid, everything that was "cool" (movies, toys, video games) proved very difficult to be obtained; everything seemed so distant... (There's a local saying that goes: "So far from God's bless, yet so close to the U.S...") Imagine my surprise when one day my mother told me I had received a mail envelope with a catalog I had requested several weeks before... Victor's first memorized trademark ever? Sierra On-Line. It was the 'New Sierra Products Catalog for Fall 1988' (I still have it). These guys actually care for someone who live in another country!!! I had played King's Quest, Police Quest and Space Quest already, but you guys had a vast array of games just waiting to be played!!! [NARRATOR: Which you couldn't obtain Victor, remember?] Jeeze! King's Quest FOUR??? What the... Space Quest THREEE!!! No way! LSL 2...
Then, I read some words by you in this catalog... "About the time I was designing Leisure Suit Larry 2, my family and I took a vacation to Mexico, and some of the things that happened... the mad rush to the airline ticket counter... a really terrible plane ride... a resort that was so heavily landscaped, we kept getting lost... found their way into the game." Al Lowe's been in Mexico?! And LSL2 is about this?! Thank you Lord, thank you! Mexico do exist, therefore I am...
I can't really describe what LSL1 made me feel. 16-year old kid doin' things supposedly not appropiate for his age... [NARRATOR: 'Supposedly' Victor? Isn't that why you spend so long alone in the bathroom?] Simply put, LSL was UNIQUE. At that time, I had recently been given a diploma for participating in a "BASIC programming language course for kids" and had learned how to code a "conversation with a computer" (through questions asking for you name, birth date and calculating your age... you know, that kind of stuff) but I could swear the computer had an "intelligence" of his own when I played LSL1... It had such an 'advanced gameplay system'... It was so rich in content... I couldn't understand half of the jokes in it because of my "english language limitations", but I knew I definitively had to play LSL2 NO MATTER WHAT, so I obtained a copy of it. Victor's second and third 'puberty phase' lessons ever? Computers make use of 'funny' names like "system specifications" and In computer games, your 'level of fun' is determined by the game's "system requirements". My PC was a 256 KB RAM PrintaForm computer running at 4 MHZ [NARRATOR: Pretty good ha?! Yeah right...] I was, literally, devastated. Wise kid like me I didn't give up, of course. I gave it to my friend Arturo whose Dad had just bought this 640KB RAM Olivetti computer (but it was impossible for a person, other than his son, to touch that computer!!!) and I had to resign myself to just LOOKING & HELPING my friend play through the game now and then... I never got to see LSL2's ending. [NARRATOR: And that's the way it's going to stay...]
Then, girlfriends and other "hobbies" came. Heard there had been a 3th and 5th LSL games. Then Internet and other "hobbies" came. One day I stumbled upon a "discount shelf" inside a K-mart. It was early 1998. There it was, a computer game box with the title "Leisure Suit Larry 1" (en español). I thought, "Hey, wait a moment..." [NARRATOR: Things do arrive late to Mexico Victor, but not THAT late...] It was the VGA remake of my original favorite! And next to it was LSL 6!!! 'En español' too (that kind of 'bugged' me), but I grabbed 'em and bought 'em at that very instant. Let me tell you here that, at that time, I had a friend named Alejandro, a.k.a. Scoom. We were very very close friends. One day, Scoom arrived at my house just when Larry was about to "make out" with Shablee... It is but very very rarely now that Scoom and I talk... and over the phone. The thing we remember the most? The 30 minutes or so of hard, and I mean HARD, LAUGHTER we shared after seeing that Larry's comical scene.
Larry Laffer RULES!!! How can I have 'abandoned' him for so long?!!! I need every bit of Larry Laffer stuff I can get... Enter Catz's 'Ultimate Leisure Suit Larry website'. What the... There exists a LSL 7??? The nightmares from my childhood came back once again... the game had come out more than a year ago and not a single copy was to be found. A cousin of mine told me he had seen one, and that is JUST ONE, copy of it in the VHS movie rental shop he worked in. I don't remember what I was doing at that moment, but I remember I stopped doing what I was doing at that moment to hurry to the store (Insert appropiate Murphy's Law here). [NARRATOR: When you need a store the most, it will be closed...]. Next day I was first in line at the entrance, and after double-checking "in-front of shelf" game boxes, found it behind one of them... 'En Español' once again... (Thank God it was a 'spanish subtitles only' version).
I was 25 years old the first time I avidly inserted that "tempting" CD into my Pentium @ 166MHZ Dell computer, installed the game, and saw Larry carring that Sierra logo... Enter which I consider, THE 'FUNNIEST' ELECTRONIC GAME (that is, including any gaming platform and every gaming genre) EVER.
From it's very beginning, it was a sheer masterpiece... I had seen LSL6's ending just a couple of weeks before, and this one started EXACTLY where the latter had finished!!! (I didn't have to wait a year or more like so many others!) Three things stood out immediately. The game's visual style and art (simply gorgeous! It left me speechless throughout the whole game), the extensive use of hilarious dialogs [NARRATOR: Well, thank you, thank you very much.] (and this time, I understood them all! I was laughing hard in my life again...), and the excellent "live-musicians playing real instruments" background music (which "immersed" the player completely into the game's 'setting'); But everything else was a very welcome addition to the game too... LSL7's cast of characters, the story, the animations, the puzzles, the lil' details (like the octopus tentacle at the pier and the scooba diver at the front desk), you name it! That 'alien-abduction ending' was pure icing on the cake as I'm a big, and I mean BIG, fan of Sci-fi. Imagine my great anticipation when I saw those "LSL explores Uranus / Coming in 1998" screens... It's 1998! I'll be playin' it soon!!! Imagine my great frustration when I knew it was cancelled... The rest, as they say, is history.
In the years that followed, my subconscious started creating it's own LSL8 game (as a self-defense mechanism for survival, I think)... and I envision it as being the last story in the series. Allow me to entertain you Mr. Lowe... [NARRATOR: Forgive him Al, he followed Larry's loner way of life...]
The game starts EXACTLY where LSL7 left off. A gigantic spaceship positions itself above the PMS Bouncy and opens it's vagina-like hatch to "capture the white little thing" using an anti-gravity, phallic-like, ray of light. Most of the scared passengers are screaming & jumping off the ship's prow, stern and port decks as a naked Captain Thigh opens the door of her cabin to step out and look up, and as a still-excited Larry desperately tries to put on his leisure suit. He finally achieve coming out of the cabin just to find Captain Thigh and her crew in a trance-like state, "We've finally found the S.S.S., We've finally found the S.S.S..."
"Whadda you mean, what's S.S.S. boat babes?" [NARRATOR: Remember T.L.A.'s Larry? Three Letter Abbreviations?] "Well... I don't care... I'm outta here..." And as Larry's mid-way doing the slow-mo "OoooooooooSSSHHHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii" thing, Captain Thigh responds, "...the Sex Symbol of Space, Laffer! They've come for you!". Larry abruptly stops and says, "Well, that's good..." [NARRATOR: Not THAT good. It means you'll never see 'HUMAN' females again... "Did I say, DOH!!!" and the spaceship propells into the blackness of space as the main title appears... Leisure Suit Larry in 'Lust in Space' with a number "8" in the background which then rotates as it comes to the front until it resembles an "infinity" symbol, because the LSL series become that at the end of this story... you see, after meeting some Space Quest series characters at a Monolith Burgers' in his way to the female-infested Uranus, having had quite a few "encounters of the 1st kind" there, and discovering that Queen Butt-for-Boobs (who resembles an extraterrestrial Betty Boop with big head, extra-slim limbs but prominent chest) sees him as a paragon and desires to practice a 'particular' physiological experiment, Larry only means of escape is to use the Porn-O-Permutation Portal 3000 (the Queen's personal 'extravagant' time machine) that gets him "teleported" inside this guy who's in front of this bar and this black dog that's 'taking a pee' on him... and so it ends, and begins...
Yes, yes, I know... Even Al Lowe himself would be very proud! But what can I say??? I'm Mexico's #1 most fervent fan of Leisure Suit Larry!!! [NARRATOR: I personally believe you should get a life Victor...] You gave the fans a lot. I owe you a lot. Allow me now to give something back to you...
As I stated in your official forum, "...I'm someone about to start his own business. A business focused on interactive entertainment & educational software development. A business where I will care for the benefit of mexican people & mexican gamers' sake FIRST, and as a natural consequence, for the benefit of my OWN business, second... However, what I will never allow to happen to me is to forget the people that has helped me 'grow' to be what I am today. I'll never be ungrateful. Many personalities have been of influence to me in becoming a 'creative' kind of person. Amo