Ex Libris Kirkland

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Subtitle Journals 1985-1993--Illustrated Edition
First Written 2020
Genre Nonfiction
Origin US
Publisher Stripe Press
My Copy hardback, stripe press edition
First Read July 15, 2020

The Making of Prince of Persia



Literally diary excerpts of Jordan Mechner, who seemed to single-handedly create Prince of Persia the video game. He was a baby, 20 or 21 when he started and just graduating an Ivy League school, and already had made a hit videogame. It was pretty fascinating!

First, the glimpses into the world of software development in that age were really interesting, and how much it was just the model of 'publishing' ported over to software.

But the real good stuff is just the creative process and the work Mechner does to get the game made! He is frustratingly distracted with dreams of working in Hollywood, but it's really fun to follow along as he starts to understand that the game he's making first could work, and then could be good, and then could be a hit.

Noted on July 21, 2020

A story doesn’t move forward until a character wants something. So – a game doesn’t move forward until the player wants something.

Quoted on July 22, 2020


Ex Libris Kirkland is a super-self-absorbed reading journal made by Matt Kirkland. Copyright © 2001 - .
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