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The Making of Prince of Persia

Journals 1985-1993
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Making of Prince of Persia offers an intimate look into the creation of the iconic 1980s video game, Prince of Persia, from the perspective of its creator, Jordan Mechner. This collector's edition presents 300 pages of Mechner's original journals, enriched with present-day annotations, cartoons, and archival visuals. Readers are taken through the game's development journeyβ€”from early sketches and rotoscoped animations to screenshots and design memosβ€”culminating in a rich legacy section celebrating 30 years of the franchise and its cultural impact.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for retro gaming enthusiasts, aspiring game developers, and anyone fascinated by the creative and technical challenges behind classic video game production. It also appeals to artists, writers, and creators interested in storytelling and the evolution of digital entertainment.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A deep dive into the origins of the epic, bestselling video game, in the creator's own words.

The creator of one of the most innovative and bestselling video games of all time gives an unvarnished look into the creative 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 Mechner's original journals
  • Present-day margin notations by Mechner 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, screenshots, interface design, memos, and more
  • A full-colour 32-page "Legacy" section in which Mechner 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.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780578627311

Publisher: Animal Media Group LLC

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 11 June 2020

Country: United States

Imprint: Animal Media Group LLC

Illustration: Various images and illustrations as well as marginalia from the author's original notebooks

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 158.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 336

About the Author

Jordan Mechner is a game designer, screenwriter, graphic novelist, and author. Widely considered a pioneer of cinematic storytelling in the video game industry, he created Prince of Persia, one of the most successful and enduring video game franchises of all time, and became the first game creator to adapt his own work into a feature film with Disney’s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. He also created the games Karateka and The Last Express. His books include the Eisner Award-nominated graphic novel Templar (a New York Times bestseller); his 1980s game development journals, The Making of Karateka and The Making of Prince of Persia; and his recent sketchbook journal, Year 2 in France. He lives in France.

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