THE MAKING OF Karateka
IN THE KNOW
PUBLISHER: BRØDERBUND SOFTWARE
DEVELOPER: JORDAN MECHNER
RELEASED: 1984
PLATFORM: APPLE II
GENRE: FIGHTING
DEVELOPER HIGHLIGHTS
PRINCE OF PERSIA
SYSTEM: VARIOUS
YEAR: 1989
PRINCE OF PERSIA 2
SYSTEM: VARIOUS
YEAR: 1993
THE LAST EXPRESS (PICTURED)
SYSTEM: PC, MAC
YEAR: 1997
“Dear Mr Mechner,” began the typed letter with the heading ‘Greetings Earthling’ in a futuristic font. It was addressed to one Jordan Mechner in California, care of Brøderbund Software. “I am writing because I have played your game Karateka,” it stated. “I am writing because you need to be congratulated on this game.”
Gushing about the graphics, the shadows “and all”, the writer enthused about the “tremendous job”, which he believed “defined the state of the art for future Apple games”. The writer, John Romero, was so taken by the game and its stunning visual effects that he tried to guess the techniques Jordan used.
John was in awe of Jordan, and he admitted he drew great inspiration from Karateka. Two years later, aged 19, he started
