The Making of Prince of Persia

Welcome to a personal journey that captures the everyday struggle of turning a concept into a reality. Between tight deadlines and uncertain finances, the author navigates coding challenges, contract negotiations, and the constant pursuit of something new. In these pages, we see the earliest glimmers of what would become a classic video game—one that no one at the time could predict would stand the test of decades.

From the first lines of code to the final push for release, the adventure described here goes beyond software. It delves into a creator's psyche, revealing hopes of attending film school, writing screenplays, and forging a path that merges two distinct passions: making innovative games and pursuing cinematic storytelling.

It all begins with the realization that a good idea alone is not enough. There must be commitment, the right team, and a willingness to treat obstacles not as stop signs but as invitations to problem-solve. The author candidly records moments of doubt, euphoria, and steady progress.

This introduction sets the stage for a journey rich in technical detail, personal reflection, and a fair share of creative breakthroughs. Each step along the way offers a lesson in independence, resilience, and the surprising twists one encounters when chasing a dream through unfamiliar territory.

Following the moderate success of Karateka, the author felt an urge to tackle something fresh. Initially, there was excitement to develop a side-scrolling platformer with a more fluid animation style than anything the market had seen. Early on, the greatest puzzle was how to capture a realistic sense of motion despite the limits of 1980s hardware.

One technique involved filming real people performing athletic moves, then painstakingly translating these frames into pixel art. Layers of code had to manage collision detection, sword-fighting mechanics, and traps. The diaries reveal a sense of playfulness mixed with an undercurrent of frustration: each new idea held the promise of innovation but demanded new levels of patience.

Work began quietly, without the full endorsement of a publisher. There was a lingering worry that the Apple II market might be dying, potentially leaving the project stranded. Nonetheless, the developer persisted, convinced that a well-polished game could rise above hardware limitations if the core concept was strong enough.

Meanwhile, sketches for the game’s palace interiors, lethal spikes, and ominous dungeons were born from countless hours of trial and error. Trusting the creative gut became a guiding principle, even as deadlines loomed. From the get-go, this was a game born of meticulous labor and boundless ambition.