The 7th Guest creators recall being 'fired' after pitching the game

The 7th Guest, a 1993 puzzle-adventure that helped push CD-ROM adoption, stood out in its day for spooky details like a skull cursor with bulging eyeballs and a throbbing brain. A VR remake arrived in 2023, and a non‑VR version of that remake is due June 4 on Steam.

Rob Landeros and programmer Graeme Devine developed the idea after brainstorming on the road and pitching it to Martin Alper, then president of Virgin Interactive. Alper later recalled telling them, "I hear everything you have to say, but you are fired," then agreeing to support the project on the condition they make it outside of Virgin.

Landeros calls that story "hyperbole," but confirms Alper greenlit the game over lunch and arranged for them to work independently. With a contract from Virgin, the pair moved to Oregon and formed Trilobyte Games.

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