Space Quest 6: The Spinal Frontier

Space Quest 6: Roger Wilco in The Spinal Frontier (aka Space Quest VI: Roger Wilco, The Spinal Frontier, Space Quest VI: Roger Wilco in The Spinal Frontier , or Space Quest 6: The Spinal Frontier) is a sci-fi adventure game developed and published by Sierra On-Line in 1995 for DOS, Windows, and Windows 3.x, with a Macintosh version being released a year later. It is the sequel to Space Quest V: Roger Wilco and the Next Mutation, and it serves as the sixth and final game in the Space Quest series.

Background
The game ran on the last version of the SCI engine, SCI32. This allowed it to use SuperVGA graphics at a 640x480 resolution with 256 colors. It abandoned the tradition of other SCI games by not having the interface in a pull down bar at the top of the screen; instead it had a verb bar window along the bottom of the game, like LucasArts' SCUMM games. The graphics style also changed to be more feature-length animation/cartoon-like in appearance than in previous games (though the series had been striving in that direction very early on, through comic style artwork, etc). It was the last to be officially released in the SQ series. The most notable uses of SVGA in the game occur in the intro with the exterior shot of the DeepShip and the lightspeed shots of the shuttle.

Due to management issues, many hints were omitted from the game, making several puzzles harder to solve than originally intended. To get past the first thug in the apartment, you have to put the Pelvis rug on the floor and dance on it to generate static electricity, which you use to electrocute him. You then have to look at the titles of CD-ROMs to get one that gives you information on how to convert the Datacorder into a homing beacon. However, this hint does not tell you how to do it, which was unintended. The information was supposed to be in the magazine, but was put into the manual instead.

It also appears that the developers wanted to act as if Space Quest V never happened. Roger is demoted to janitor and is expelled from Star Con Academy. Very few references are made to Space Quest V. Even though Stellar acts as a new love interest for Roger, the game barely maintains continuity that Roger's love interest must remain with Beatrice Wankmeister.

Continuity Error
One of the things which prevents Roger from receiving a major penalty in court is his "successful return of the SCS Eureka", which in fact was destroyed in Space Quest V.

Staff Roll

 * Producer: Oliver Brelsford
 * Designed / Written: Josh Mandel and Scott Murphy
 * Art Design: Michael Hutchison and John Shroades
 * Lead Programmer: Steve Conrad
 * Music Director: Dan Kehler
 * Background Art: John Shroades and Christopher Willis
 * Animation: Michael Hutchison, Karin Nestor, Frances Anne Powell, Barry Sundt, and Deanna Yhalkee
 * Additional Animation: Christopher Willis, Jason Piel, Alberto Eufrasio, and Jason Zayas
 * Programmers: Oliver Brelsford, Sterling Butts, Arijit De, Michael Lytton, and William Shockley
 * Stooge Fighter Code: William Shockley
 * Stooge Fighter Animation: Karin Nestor
 * 3D Rendering and Animation: Christopher Willis and Michael Hutchison
 * Music Composers: Neal Grandstaff and Dan Kehler
 * Sound Effects Engineers: Jon Meek, Kelli Spurgeon and Richard Spurgeon
 * Voice Talent Selection, Voice Direction, Voice Recording: La Marque Rose
 * Voice Auditions: Taylor Korobow
 * Voices Recorded at: Fantasy Studios, Wave Studios and Russian Hill Recording
 * Voice Direction: Scott Murphy and Taylor Korobow
 * Quality Assurance: Jon Meek
 * Text Editor: Leslie Balfour
 * System Development: Larry Scott, Ed Critchlow, Dan Foy, Ken Koch, Terry McHenry, Christopher Smith, Greg Tomko-Pavia, and Mark Wilden
 * Configuration Testing: Michael D. Jones, Sharon Simmons, John Trauger, John Ratcliffe, and Lynne S. Dayton
 * Documentation Written: Leslie Balfour
 * Documentation Designed: Lori Lucia
 * German Localisation: Oliver Kluge, Hubert Grundner, and Robert Böck
 * Special Thanks: J. Mark Hood, Leslie Balfour, Lori Lucia, Darlou Gams, and Cyndi Wharton

Popular Janitronics Magazine

 * Magazine Editor: Leslie Balfour
 * Magazine Design: Lori Lucia
 * Magazine Contributors: Josh Mandel, Scott Murphy, and Leslie Balfour

Voice Cast

 * Narrator: Gary Owens
 * Roger Wilco, SCS DeepShip 86 Computer, Cyberspace, and the Director: William Hall
 * Stellar Santiago, Sharpei, Wriggley, and Sys Inny: Carol Bach Rita
 * Doctor Beleauxs, Commander Kielbasa, Blaine Rohmer, and Admiral Toolman: Jarion Monroe
 * Endodroid, Singent Flembukit, and Nigel Rancid: Tom Chantler
 * Djurkwhad, Dorff, Fester Blatz, and Manuel Auxverride: Joe Paulino
 * Pa Conshohocken and P'tooie: Charles Martinet
 * Elmo Pug and Circuit Sidney: Doug Boyd
 * The Waitron: Lucille Bliss
 * Jebba the Hop: Denny Delk
 * Scott Murphy: Scott Murphy

Patches

 * Space Quest VI: The Spinal Frontier Patch (SQ6_NRS): This non-Sierra update is one of NewRisingSun's script level timer bugs patches. This patch has been successfully tested with English and German versions of the game. Fixes:
 * Non-responsive Endodroid Runner/Elmo Pug
 * Using datacard in ComPost NOTE: If you don't notice any difference after installing the patch:
 * a) Make sure you're not restoring a game saved on the streets of Polysorbate LX or in the sickbay. If so, *before installing the patch*, leave the street by entering a shop / leave the sickbay via the transporter, save your game, *then install the patch*. Generally, patches invalidate those saved games that were saved inside areas for which the script code is changed by the patch.
 * b) Note to which directory you have extracted the .zip archive containing the patch.
 * c) Open the file "RESOURCE.CFG" (if you are using the DOS version of the game) or "RESOURCE.WIN" (if you are using the Windows version of the game).
 * d) Locate the line starting with "patchDir=". e) Add the directory into which you have extracted the patch to this line, followed by a semicolon. For example, if you have extracted the patch into C:\SIERRA\SQ6, and the line originally read:
 * Space Quest VI Copy Protection (SQ6COPY): Copy protection documentation required to complete Space Quest 6:
 * HOMING1.WRI and HOMING2.WRI - ON POLYSORBATE 60 - To leave Polysorbate 60 you will need to use the hints on these two files to figure out the homing beacon settings to convert the Data recorder.
 * ELEMENTL.WRI - IN THE SHUTTLE - This Elemental Table and the confirmation code will be needed to obtain the Intermix setting to power up the shuttle.

Space Quest VI - Saved Games


 * Space Quest VI: The Spinal Frontier (SQ6SG): DOS Saved Game - The name of the save in the game is "past freeze" When restored, this save starts in front of large crystal. (for version 1.0 only)
 * Space Quest VI - Saved Game (SQ6SAV10): Saved Game - The name of the save in the game is "Scanned-clickComPost". When restored, this save starts in Roger's quarters. Scanning the DataCart revealed that the hair clogging the razor belonged to a Nigel Rancid and the file on him was closed. After speaking with Carmen Santiago, you find out that a closed file is suspicious and was probably closed by someone who has connections to someone in the legal system. She also tells you that the only way to access a closed file would be through cyberspace. To enter cyberspace, you need a Cyberjack, headset and Cyberjack module. In Roger's quarters, click on the ComPost to receive your assignment from Commander Kielbasa.
 * Space Quest VI - Saved Game Windows (SQ6SAV11): DOS Saved Game - The name of the save in the game is "right after datacard". When restored, this save starts in Roger's quarters. Scanning the DataCart revealed that the hair clogging the razor belonged to a Nigel Rancid and the file on him was closed. After speaking with Carmen Santiago, you find out that a closed file is suspicious and was probably closed by someone who has connections to someone in the legal system. She also tells you that the only way to access a closed file would be through cyberspace. To enter cyberspace, you need a Cyberjack, headsetand Cyberjack module. In Roger's quarters, click on the ComPost to receive your assignment from Commander Kielbasa.

Space Quest VI Saved Game (SQ6S111)


 * DOS (SQ6S111D)
 * Windows (SQS111W)
 * Space Quest VI: The Spinal Frontier (SQ6SAV20): The name of the save in the game is "Scanned-clickComPost". When restored, this save has you in Roger's quarters. Scanning the DataCart revealed that the hair clogging the razor belonged to a Nigel Rancid and the file on him was closed. After speaking with Carmen Santiago, you find out that a closed file is suspicious and was probably closed by someone who has connections to someone in the legal system. She also tells you that the only way to access a closed file would be through cyberspace. To enter cyberspace, you need a Cyberjack, headset and Cyberjack module. In Roger's quarters, click on the Compost to receive your assignment from Commander Kielbasa.

Space Quest Collection


 * Space Quest Collection DOSBox Update (SQCollectionDBUpdate): This patch will allow the use of the latest version of DOSBox instead of the version 0.63 that shipped with the Collection. Also includes the NewRisingSun patches for Space Quest 1, 5 and 6. The patch also restores the missing install files to configure the games' settings. After running the update, you will find new shortcuts in the "Sierra\Space Quest Collection" folder in the Start Menu. The launcher will no longer be needed.