The Making of Prince of Persia
2020 • 335 pages
Ratings7
Average rating3.6
15
Ratings7
Average rating3.6
The creator of one of the most innovative and best-selling video games of all time gives an unvarnished look into the process in this one-of-a-kind compilation. Before Prince of Persia was a best-selling video game franchise and a Disney movie, it was an Apple II computer game created and programmed by one person, Jordan Mechner. Mechner's candid and revealing journals from the time capture the journey from his parents’ basement to the forefront of the fast-growing 1980s video game industry... and the creative, technical, and personal struggles that brought the prince into being and ultimately into the homes of millions of people worldwide. Now, on the 30th anniversary of Prince of Persia’s release, Mechner looks back at the journals he kept from 1985 to 1993, offering new insights into the game that established him as a pioneer of cinematic storytelling in the industry. This beautifully illustrated and annotated collector’s edition includes: 300 pages of Jordan’s original journals, Present-day margin notations by Jordan adding explanation, context, and affectionate cartoons of real-life characters, Archival visuals illustrating the stages of the game’s creation, Work-in-progress sketches, rotoscoped animation, screen shots, interface design, memos, and more, A full-color 32-page "Legacy" section in which Jordan and fans share Prince of Persia memories from the past 30 years, including the Ubisoft games and Disney movie. The Making of Prince of Persia is both a tribute to a timeless classic, and an indelible look at the creative process that will resonate with retro-gaming fans, game developers, and writers, artists, and creators of all stripes.
Series
2 primary booksMechner Journals is a 2-book series with 2 primary works first released in 2012 with contributions by Jordan Mechner.
Reviews with the most likes.
This was an entertaining read through the lens of a 20-something Jordan as he works on the classic Prince of Persia. It's an instructive read for anyone who is an entrepreneur or a maker. You sit in the mind of another maker and see first-hand the rollercoaster. There are weeks full of doubt and procrastination. Sometimes, the procrastination would last eight months. Then motivation would strike, and Jordan would work obsessively, sometimes leaving work by 3am.
The book is a collection of Jordan's own diaries written during this time period. They are augmented with modern-day notes from him on the sides. But I wish he had added more details. For example, one of the most innovative things Jordan did was use motion capture, probably one of the very first case of the use of mocap in a video game. How did he come to that, or why did he decide to do that? It wasn't covered in this book.
Or,when PoP launches, it feels like a flop. It doesn't catch on. It's frustrating for everyone. This is never addressed. It's only mentioned in passing that Jordan receives a sizable monthly check from loyalties one day. But it felt very anticlimactic. The book quickly starts to fizzle. Or maybe its Jordan maturing and being less fazed with the ups and down of life.
On the whole, its a very enjoyable read, highly recommended to fans of the game
