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ein's review
4.0
Приятная легкая книжка. Технических деталей бы побольше, да истории продаж и обзоров.
tronella's review
4.0
(Review of this and of The Making of Prince of Persia.)
These are Jordan's diaries, starting from his student days and carrying on until a year or so after the release of Prince of Persia. I found these very entertaining from a tech history point of view ("Roland came over for breakfast and we installed an extra 1 MB in my Mac."), and it was interesting to see all the details of how the games were designed and publicised. The description of his method of motion capture to get the sprites' movements looking more realistic was particularly good. However, reading his excuses to himself for procrastinating was quite frustrating - probably because they remind me of me!
These are Jordan's diaries, starting from his student days and carrying on until a year or so after the release of Prince of Persia. I found these very entertaining from a tech history point of view ("Roland came over for breakfast and we installed an extra 1 MB in my Mac."), and it was interesting to see all the details of how the games were designed and publicised. The description of his method of motion capture to get the sprites' movements looking more realistic was particularly good. However, reading his excuses to himself for procrastinating was quite frustrating - probably because they remind me of me!
wmcduff's review
4.0
I found it pretty inspiring. It's the ramblings of a college age Mechner in his diary, so the writing is kinda impromptu, up and down with his moods, but that's the point, isn't it? To remind us that if we get a good idea and work on it, with support and praise it can be something. Worth reading just to get a good kick in the pants to MAKE SOMETHING, DANGIT!
Just gotta take that advice.
Just gotta take that advice.
pastathief's review
4.0
This is exactly what it says on the tin: Jordan Mechner's personal journals during the period of time in which he was developing the classic Apple II hit video game Karateka. It probably doesn't hurt that I love the game, but truly, these are much more fascinating and riveting than I expected them to be. Mechner's writing is engaging, and he did a good job (as he set out to do) in deciding what to include and what to exclude when writing these journals. Also, the process of an individual college student making his first truly huge game and joining the burgeoning video game industry is fascinating. All in all, a great read, especially if you have any nostalgia for this game or this time.
tygerkrash's review
5.0
I read the Making of Prince of Persia a while back and really enjoyed it, but I was unfamiliar with Karateka so I didn't think it'd grab me the same way.
Turns out the game itself didn't really make that much difference, It's just fascinating seeing the process and in particular Mechner's vacillation between self doubt and utter conviction..
Turns out the game itself didn't really make that much difference, It's just fascinating seeing the process and in particular Mechner's vacillation between self doubt and utter conviction..
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