Roberta is one of the world's most established and respected adventure game designers. The King's Quest series is rivalled only by Origin's Ultima dynasty in terms of influence, prestige and longevity. FG thought it high time we spoke to the lady herself…
Neil West

FG: Played any good games lately?
RW: I am currently just beginning Grim Fandango. However, the game I got addicted to most recently is an older game entitled Anvil of Dawn.

FG: What do you think of Lara Croft?
RW: Tomb Raider is a great game; however I think Lara Croft is an overblown "babe" toy for guys. Sorry fellas, but that's what I think! But I'm not stupid. I know it works. For guys, that is...

FG: What name or initials do you enter on high-score tables?
RW: Usually RLW. I know, I'm boring...

FG: What games systems do you have at home?
RW: All of them. Remember, I'm in the bizz. However, I concentrate mostly on computer games as opposed to console games for my personal usage.

FG: If you could keep just one, which would it be?
RW: My PC, which is currently a Pentium 333 with 128 Mb of RAM. I hear, though, that Pentium 500s are just coming out. So someone, somewhere, save one for me!

FG: What's your favourite bit in Super Mario 64?
RW: Getting fired out of the cannon.

FG: Who'd win in a fight, Sonic or Mario?
RW: Hmm... in my opinion, Mario. But then I liked Super Mario better. Sorry Sonic!

FG: Were games better in the "good old days"?
RW: In some ways yes, in other ways no. I think, to some extent, games were more creative in the past. But the action, interactivity and especially the 3D effects of today's games more than make up for any perceived lack of creativity.

FG: Describe Dreamcast in five words.
RW: Okay, so I'm out of it. What's Dreamcast?

FG: What's the most overrated game ever?
RW: Probably Riven.