Mechner, fresh off the success of his 1984 title Karateka, craved a deeper experience. He envisioned a game transcending static sprites, where the protagonist moved with a lifelike fluidity. Inspiration struck while watching the opening sequence of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Harrison Ford's athletic leaps across the desert marketplace became the spark for a prince who could climb, jump, and defy gravity with grace (Behind the Scenes - Prince of Persia, 1989).

However, replicating such a movement in the limited world of 1980s gaming was a challenge. Enter rotoscoping, a technique where animation is traced frame-by-frame from live-action footage. Mechner, with his brother David as his model, filmed countless hours of acrobatic maneuvers. The painstaking process, filled with challenges and setbacks, birthed the Prince's signature agility, a feat that not only looked impressive but also felt intuitive to control (Interview with Jordan Mechner on Making Prince of Persia. The making of Prince of Persia. Stripe Press.

But the Prince needed more than just moves. He needed a world. Drawing from the fantastical tales of One Thousand and One Nights and the epic Persian poem Shahnameh, Mechner crafted a fictional kingdom brimming with peril and intrigue. The unnamed Prince, initially envisioned as a nameless traveler, became a hero thrust into a race against time to save a princess (though the princess wouldn't become a central character until later installments).

The original Prince of Persia, released in 1989, was a revelation. The fluid animation, coupled with innovative time mechanics (later abandoned but revisited in the "Sands of Time" trilogy), captivated audiences. It became one of the most ported games in history, playable on everything from Apple IIs to the Sega Genesis (Wikipedia).

The success of Prince of Persia solidified Mechner's place as a gaming pioneer. The franchise, though it went through several iterations and developers over the years, never strayed far from its core identity: a prince defying gravity, defying fate, and defying the limitations of the medium itself.

Interesting Facts About the Original Prince of Persia (1989)

• • Pioneering Animation: The Prince's smooth movements were achieved through a technique called rotoscoping, where the developer traced animations from filmed footage of his brother   (Wikipedia: Prince of Persia (1989 video game) [Wikipedia]).

  • Inspired by Classics: The game drew inspiration from various sources, including Arabian Nights stories, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and The Adventures of Robin Hood   (IGN Presents: The History of Prince of Persia [IGN]).

  • Almost a Nameless Prince: The protagonist wasn't originally named. He became simply "the Prince" due to limitations of early computer memory   (IGN Presents: The History of Prince of Persia [IGN]).

  • A Race Against Time: The original concept featured a 12-hour deadline, later shortened to one hour to heighten urgenc (IGN Presents: The History of Prince of Persia [IGN]).

  • Unexpected Success Story: Though not an initial hit in North America, the game found success in Japan and Europe, eventually selling 2 million copies worldwide (Wikipedia: Prince of Persia (1989 video game) [Wikipedia]).

  • A Porting Powerhouse: Prince of Persia holds the record for being one of the most ported games ever, appearing on over 20 different platforms (History of Prince of Persia games [Croma Unboxed]).

  • Cinematic Platform Pioneer: With its focus on acrobatics and narrative, Prince of Persia is considered the first cinematic platformer, influencing games like Another World (Wikipedia: Prince of Persia (1989 video game) [Wikipedia]).

  • Musical Family Affair: The game's atmospheric music was composed by the developer's father, Frances Mechner (History of Prince of Persia games [Croma Unboxed]).

  • A Rocky Franchise Start: Despite critical acclaim, the original Prince of Persia wasn't a runaway success initially, paving the way for a more commercially successful sequel  (IGN Presents: The History of Prince of Persia [IGN]).

  • Legacy of Innovation: The original Prince of Persia's innovative gameplay and storytelling elements laid the groundwork for a long-lasting video game franchise  (Wikipedia: Prince of Persia (1989 video game) [Wikipedia], History of Prince of Persia games [Croma Unboxed]).

Here is a list of the Prince of Persia games released so far, including the release year:

1. ·         Prince of Persia (1989)

2. ·         Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow and the Flame (1993) (Developed by Broderbund)

3. ·         Prince of Persia 3D (1999) (Developed by Reflections Interactive)

4. ·         Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2003) (Developed by Ubisoft Montreal) - This game marked a reboot of the series with a new visual style and gameplay mechanics.

5. ·         Prince of Persia: Warrior Within (2004) (Developed by Ubisoft Montreal) - A sequel to The Sands of Time featuring a darker tone and story.

6. ·         Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones (2005) (Developed by Ubisoft Montreal) - The concluding chapter of the Sands of Time trilogy.

7. ·         Battles of Prince of Persia (2005) (Developed by Ubisoft Montreal) - A fighting game spin-off set within the Prince of Persia universe.

8. ·         Prince of Persia (2008) (Developed by Ubisoft Montreal) - Another reboot of the series featuring a cel-shaded art style and acrobatic combat.

9. ·         Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands (2010) (Developed by Ubisoft Montreal) - A prequel to the 2008 game that bridges the gap between it and The Sands of Time trilogy.

10. ·         Prince of Persia: The Shadow and The Flame (2013) (Developed by Ubisoft Montreal) - A remake of the original Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow and the Flame.

11. ·         Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake (2022) (Developed by Ubisoft Montreal) - A complete remake of the critically acclaimed Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

12. ·         Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (2024) (Developed by Ubisoft Montreal) - The latest installment in the series, released in 2024.

Note: This list includes only the core Prince of Persia games and remakes. There are also numerous mobile spin-offs and ports of the original games released throughout the years.

References

Behind the Scenes - Prince of Persia (1989) [Making of] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKsUdMGLzak

Croma Unboxed. (n.d.). History of Prince of Persia games. [Croma Unboxed]

IGN. (2010, May 18). IGN Presents: The History of Prince of Persia [IGN].

Mechner, J. (2028). The Making of Prince of Persia (Mechner Journals Series Book 2). Stripe Press. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0578627310?pf_rd_r=HMREHVABQXQXVW97F1V0&pf_rd_p=ab873d20-a0ca-439b-ac45-cd78f07a84d8

Mechner, J. (2020, January 21). War Stories: Jordan Mechner on Making Prince of Persia [YouTube video]. Ars Technica. Retrieved from [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ozxnrs0BP4] of ArsTechnica

Smith, E. (2010, May 11). IGN Presents: The History of Prince of Persia. IGN. Retrieved from https://www.ign.com/games/prince-of-persia-the-lost-crown

The Making of Prince of Persia Dive behind the scenes with the creator of Prince of Persia in this deluxe illustrated edition of his journals. https://www.jordanmechner.com/en/books/journals/

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Prince of Persia (1989 video game). [Wikipedia]

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Prince of Persia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_of_Persia