Jordan Mechner

Jordan Mechner, the visionary behind the legendary games Karateka and Prince of Persia, shares his fascinating journey from a creative undergrad at Yale to a pioneering game designer. He reveals how he taught himself essential skills in a pre-internet era and the impact of journaling on his creative process. The conversation dives into the artistry of game storytelling and the evolution of gaming narratives. Additionally, Jordan discusses his new graphic novel, Replay, which intertwines themes of war, exile, and family heritage.

Join game designer Jordan Mechner, the mastermind behind iconic titles like Karateka and Prince of Persia. He shares fascinating insights into how he taught himself programming by cloning classic games and how storytelling became integral to his designs. Discover how the game Choplifter influenced the cinematic approach of Karateka, and hear about his collaboration with his father on music and sound for his games. Plus, learn why keeping detailed journals became a pivotal part of his creative process.

Filmmaker and graphic novel artist Jordan Mechner talks about his successful video games Karateka and Prince of Persia. He discusses using rotoscoping for realism, the Last Express, his graphic novel Replay, and echoes of the past.