Prince of Persia (1989 video game)#Ports

File:Prince of Persia 1 - MS-DOS - Gameplay.gif version).]]

The main objective of the player is to lead the unnamed protagonist out of dungeons and into a fortress tower before time runs out. This cannot be done without bypassing traps and fighting hostile swordsmen. The game consists of twelve levels (though some console versions have more). After a player reaches level 2, a game session may be saved and resumed at a later time.

The player has a health indicator that consists of a series of small red triangles at the bottom of the screen. The player starts with three. Each time the protagonist is damaged (cut by sword, falls from two floors of heights, or gets hit by a falling rock), the player loses one of these indicators. There are small jars containing potions of several colors and sizes. The red potions scattered throughout the game restore one health indicator. The blue potions are poisonous, and they take one life indicator as damage. There are also large jars of red potion that increase the maximum number of health indicators by one, and large jars of green potion that grant a temporary ability to hover. In level 9, there are also two large green potions, one which turns the game display upside-down, and another to restore the display back to normal. If the player's health is reduced to zero, the protagonist dies. Subsequently, the game is restarted from the beginning of the level in which the protagonist died but the timer will not reset to that point, effectively constituting a time penalty. There is no counter for the number of lives, but if time runs out, the princess will be gone and the game will be over, with exceptions below.

There are three types of traps that the player must bypass: spike traps, deep pits (three or more stories deep) and guillotines. Getting caught or falling into each results in the instant death of the protagonist. In addition, there are gates that can be raised for a short period of time by having the protagonist stand on the activation trigger. The player must pass through the gates while they are still open, avoiding locking triggers. Sometimes, there are various traps between an unlock trigger and a gate.

Hostile swordsmen (Jaffar and his guards) are yet another obstacle. The player obtains a sword in level 1, which they can use to fight these adversaries. The protagonist's sword maneuvers are as follows: advance, back off, slash, parry, or a combined parry-then-slash attack. Enemy swordsmen also have a health indicator similar to that of the protagonist. Killing them involves slashing them until their health indicator is depleted or by pushing them into traps while fighting.

In level 3 a skeletal swordsman comes to life and does battle with the protagonist. The skeleton cannot be killed with the sword, but it can be defeated by being dropped into one of the pits.

A unique trap encountered in level 4, which serves as a plot device, is a magic mirror, whose appearance is followed by an ominous leitmotif. The protagonist is forced to jump through this mirror upon which his doppelganger emerges from the other side, draining the protagonist's health to one. This apparition later hinders the protagonist by stealing a potion in level 5 and throwing him from level 6 into a dungeon in level 7.

In level 8, the protagonist becomes trapped behind a gate before he can reach the exit. In this level the Princess sends a white mouse to trigger the gate open again, allowing him to proceed to level 9.

In level 12 the protagonist faces his shadow doppelgänger. The protagonist cannot kill this apparition as they share lives; any damage inflicted upon one also hurts the other. Therefore, the protagonist must merge with his doppelganger. Once they have merged, the player can run across an invisible bridge to a new area, where they battle Jaffar. Once the final checkpoint is reached, the player will no longer get a game over screen even if time runs out. (See below.) Once Jaffar is defeated, his spell is broken and the Princess can be saved. In addition, the in-game timer is stopped at the moment of Jaffar's death, and the time remaining will appear on the high scores.

• The DOS and Macintosh ports will not give the player a game over once they reach the final area of level 12 (stored in data as level 13), provided they make it there on time. The player must cross the magic bridge and make a screen-transition to a room with falling tiles to be 'safe'. Running out of time at any point before the screen-transition, including the bridge, will result in game over as usual in both ports.
• Once there in the Macintosh port, they will always be allowed to continue, regardless of deaths or time expiration.
• The "overtime" in the DOS version has no extra life, so:

1. Pressing Control A to restart level 13 is no death, thus not failing the game yet.
2. Any player's death fails the game so the Princess is also gone even if Jaffar is already killed.
3. Only defeating Jaffar and exiting level 13 alive will save the Princess, with a negative time on the high scores.

• The Super NES remake allows the players to save themselves after time is out, to get the "game over" at the end without the princess saved, as opposed to "the end" announced for good ending.

The game is set in medieval Persia. While the sultan is fighting a war in a foreign land, his vizier Jaffar, a wizard, seizes power. His only obstacle to the throne is the Sultan's daughter. Jaffar locks her in a tower and orders her to become his wife, or she would die within 60 minutes (extended to 120 minutes in the Super NES version, which has longer and harder levels). The game's unnamed protagonist, whom the Princess loves, is thrown prisoner into the palace dungeons. In order to free her, he must escape the dungeons, get to the palace tower and defeat Jaffar before time runs out. In addition to guards, various traps and dungeons, the protagonist is further hindered by his own doppelgänger, conjured out of a magic mirror.

File:Prince of Persia 1 - Sketches by Jordan Mechner.jpg

Development for the game began in 1985, the year Jordan Mechner graduated from Yale University. At that time, Mechner had already developed one game, Karateka, for distributor Broderbund. Despite expecting a sequel to Karateka, the distributor gave Mechner creative freedom to create an original game.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/the-making-of-prince-of-persia/ |title=The Making Of: Prince Of Persia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130710190803/http://www.edge-online.com/features/the-making-of-prince-of-persia/ |archive-date=July 10, 2013 |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future plc |access-date=October 11, 2015 |url-status=unfit}} The game drew from sources of inspiration including video games such as The Castles of Dr. Creep and Lode Runner,{{cite magazine |title=An Interview with Jordan Mechner|magazine=Next Generation|issue=41 |publisher=Imagine Media |date=May 1998|pages=75–76}} literature such as the Arabian Nights stories,{{cite web|url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2010/05/18/ign-presents-the-history-of-prince-of-persia |title=IGN Presents: The History of Prince of Persia (page 1) |author1=Rus McLaughlin |author2=Scott Collura |author3=Levi Buchanan |name-list-style=amp |website=IGN |date=May 18, 2010 |access-date=June 28, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141203230043/http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/05/18/ign-presents-the-history-of-prince-of-persia |archive-date=December 3, 2014}} and films such as Raiders of the Lost Ark[http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/2180/game_design_theory__practice_.php Gamasutra - Features - Game Design: Theory & Practice Second Edition: 'Interview with Jordan Mechner'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219101314/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/2180/game_design_theory__practice_.php |date=December 19, 2014}} and The Adventures of Robin Hood.{{cite speech|title=Classic Game Postmortem: PRINCE OF PERSIA |first=Jordan |last=Mechner |author-link=Jordan Mechner |event=Game Developers Conference |location=San Francisco, California |date=2011 |url=http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1014634/Classic-Game-Postmortem-PRINCE-OF |access-date=May 30, 2013 |time=38:35 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601195358/http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1014634/Classic-Game-Postmortem-PRINCE-OF |archive-date=June 1, 2013}}

{{Quote box|quote=For a few seconds, the camera angle has them in exact profile. This was a godsend. I did my VHS/one-hour-photo rotoscope procedure, spread two-dozen snapshots out on the floor of the office and spent days poring over them trying to figure out what exactly was going on in that duel, how to conceptualise it into a repeatable pattern.|source=Jordan Mechner on how he used the final duel between Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone from The Adventures of Robin Hood to create the game's swordfighting mechanic. |width=30% |align=left}}

Prince of Persia was programmed in 6502 assembly, a low-level programming language.{{Cite web|last=Caoili|first=Eric|date=April 17, 2012|title=Prince of Persia 's once-lost source code released|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/168709/Prince_of_Persias_oncelost_source_code_released.php|access-date=August 29, 2020|website=Gamasutra|language=en}} Mechner used an animation technique called rotoscoping, with which he used footage to animate the characters' sprites and movements. To create the protagonist's platforming motions, Mechner traced video footage of his younger brother running and jumping in white clothes.[http://jordanmechner.com/old-journals/1985/10/october-20-1985/ October 20, 1985 | jordanmechner.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805211658/http://jordanmechner.com/old-journals/1985/10/october-20-1985/ |date=August 5, 2013}} To create the game's sword fighting sprites, Mechner rotoscoped the final duel scene between Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone in The Adventures of Robin Hood. Though the use of rotoscoping was regarded as a pioneering move, Mechner later recalled that "when we made that decision with Prince of Persia, I wasn't thinking about being cutting edge — we did it essentially because I'm not that good at drawing or animation, and it was the only way I could think of to get lifelike movement."{{cite magazine |title=An Interview with Jordan Mechner|magazine=Next Generation|issue=25 |publisher=Imagine Media|date=January 1997|page=108}} Also unusual was the method of combat: protagonist and enemies fought with swords, not projectile weapons, as was the case in most contemporary games. Mechner has said that when he started programming, the first ten minutes of the film Raiders of the Lost Ark had been one of the main inspirations for the character's acrobatic responses in a dangerous environment.[http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/2180/game_design_theory__practice_.php Gamasutra - Features - Game Design: Theory & Practice Second Edition: 'Interview with Jordan Mechner'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219101314/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/2180/game_design_theory__practice_.php |date=December 19, 2014}}

During development, the Prince was meant to be a nonviolent character, so the game did not initially include combat. However, due to finding the gameplay to be dull and after incessant demand from Tomi Pierce, a colleague of his, Mechner added sword fighting to the game and created Shadow Man, the Prince's doppelgänger. Guards were later added when Mechner managed to make use of an additional 12K of the Apple II's memory.{{Cite web|last=Mechner|first=Jordan|date=March 17, 2020|title=How Prince of Persia Defeated Apple II's Memory Limitations {{!}} War Stories {{!}} Ars Technica|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw0VfmXKq54|access-date=October 25, 2020|website=YouTube|minutes=10}}

Mechner was offended by the cover art for the Sega Genesis version, which depicts the prince as a Luke Skywalker lookalike about to cut down a helpless black guard, but by the time he made his objections it was already being printed.{{cite magazine |title=NG Alphas: Prince of Persia 3D|magazine=Next Generation|issue=41 |publisher=Imagine Media |date=May 1998|pages=73–74}}

For the Japanese computer ports, Arsys Software and Riverhillsoft enhanced the visuals and redesigned the Prince's appearance, introducing the classic turban and vest look. This version became the basis for the Macintosh version and later Prince of Persia ports and games by Broderbund. Riverhillsoft's FM Towns version also added a Red Book CD audio soundtrack.

The Amiga version of the game was developed by Dan Gorlin. Tommy Tallarico worked on the audio for the Game Boy port of the game, and it was the first game he worked on. He originally started as a playtester for Virgin Interactive.{{Cite news |last=Huffstuffer |first=P.J. |date=1997-08-11 |title=O.C. Musician is a Top Scorer for Video Games |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-tommy-tallarico/141206159/ |access-date=2024-02-21 |work=The Los Angeles Times |pages=105}}

The game included anti-piracy protection in the form of a second level, where you had to drink the correct bottle according to the manual.

The PC game later received three updates: version 1.1 had minor fixes, in version 1.3 the colors of the walls in some levels were changed (instead of blue walls, level 3 was green, 8th and 9th were gray, and 12th was yellow) and a program for graphics and sound settings was added, version 1.4 contains the same color scheme as the previous one, but the sound could only be set to Sound Blaster or PC speaker and the graphics could not be set to older than VGA.

{{more citations needed section|date=February 2011}}

File:Prince of Persia SNES.jpg. It has enhanced graphics and more levels than the original.]]

{{Video game reviews

| DOS = true

| MAC = true

| SMS = true

| PC = true

| SMD = true

| SNES = true

| Dragon_MAC = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite journal|url=https://annarchive.com/files/Drmg188.pdf |title=The Role of Computers |last1=Lesser |last2=Lesser |last3=Lesser |first1=Hartley |first2=Patricia |first3=Kirk |name-list-style=amp |journal=Dragon |issue=188 |date=December 1992 |pages=57–64 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321055648/http://annarchive.com/files/Drmg188.pdf |archive-date=March 21, 2016}}

| EGM_SMD = 32/40

| Gen4_PC = 90%[http://amr.abime.net/review_45962 Prince of Persia review] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509091319/http://amr.abime.net/review_45962 |date=May 9, 2015}}, Generation 4, issue #25, September 1990

| rev1 = Adventure Classic Gaming

| rev1_DOS = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/189/ |title=Prince of Persia Review |date=February 19, 2006 |publisher=Jeremiah Kauffman |access-date=February 21, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121032413/http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/189/ |archive-date=January 21, 2013}}

| rev2 = Bad Influence!

| rev2_SNES = {{Rating|8|10}}Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/F5vWyI-YwXw Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20211015071508/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5vWyI-YwXw Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite episode |title=Main Review: Prince of Persia (SNES) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5vWyI-YwXw |access-date=14 October 2021 |series=Bad Influence! |series-link=Bad Influence! |network=ITV |station=CITV |date=14 January 1993 |series-no=1 |number=10 |time=5:08}}{{cbignore}}

| rev3 = MacWorld

| rev3_MAC = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|date=September 1992 |title=Prince of Persia |url=https://archive.org/stream/MacWorld_9209_September_1992#page/n301 |author=Steven A. Schwartz |quote=You'll be amazed by Prince of Persia. |magazine=Macworld |issue=9209 |page=292 |access-date=December 1, 2017}}

| MM_SMS = 91%{{Cite magazine |title=Prince of Persia - Sega Review |url=http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/pdf/princeofpersiams.pdf |magazine=Mean Machines |issue=22 (July 1992) |date=27 June 1992 |page=90 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403015259/http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/pdf/princeofpersiams.pdf |archive-date=2014-04-03 |access-date=2021-09-09}}

| MM_SNES = 93%{{cite magazine|author1=Julian Rignall|author2=Richard Leadbetter|url=https://archive.org/details/mean-machines-23/page/108/mode/2up|title=Prince of Persia|magazine=Mean Machines|issue=23|date=August 1992|pages=108-110|access-date=December 12, 2024}}

| rev5 = Mega Guide

| rev5_SMS = Positive{{cite news |editor1-last=Gregory |editor1-first=Mark |title=Persia Hits the Master System |url=https://archive.org/details/MEGA-guide/The%20Sun%20MEGA%20Guide%20%281992-11-28%29/page/n1/mode/1up |work=Mega Guide |date=28 November 1992 |page=2}}

| rev6 = MegaTech

| rev6_SMD = 82%{{cite magazine |title=Game Index |magazine=MegaTech |date=31 May 1995 |issue=42 (June 1995) |pages=30–1 |url=https://archive.org/details/megatech-42/page/n29/mode/2up}}

| rev7 = Sega Force

| rev7_SMS = 94%{{cite magazine|date=July 1992 |title=Prince of Persia |magazine=Sega Force |url=http://www.smspower.org/Scans/SegaForce-Magazine-Issue07?gallerypage=13 |quote="The best MS game we've seen for ages!" |issue=7 |page=13 |access-date=July 9, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823030011/http://www.smspower.org/Scans/SegaForce-Magazine-Issue07?gallerypage=13 |archive-date=August 23, 2016}}

| award1Pub = MacUser

| award1 = 1992 Eddy Award

| award2Pub = TILT!

| award2 = 1992 Tilt d'Or{{cite book |last1=Castro |first1=Radford |title=Let Me Play: Stories of Gaming and Emulation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D_xyy4fkwWIC&pg=PA218 |language=en |publisher=Hats Off Books |date=October 25, 2004 |page=218 |isbn=978-1587363498 |access-date=December 1, 2017}}

}}

Prince of Persia received a positive critical reception, but was initially a commercial failure in North America, where it had sold only 7,000 units each on the Apple II and IBM PC by July 1990. It was when the game was released in Japan and Europe that year that it became a commercial success. In July 1990, the NEC PC-9801 version sold 10,000 units as soon as it was released in Japan. It was then ported to various different home computers and video game consoles, eventually selling 2 million units worldwide by the time its sequel Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow and the Flame (1993) was in production.{{cite web|title=Prince of Persia |url=http://hardcoregaming101.net/princeofpersia/princeofpersia.htm |publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=June 22, 2012 |author=Kurt Kalata |author2=Sam Derboo |date=August 12, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501072416/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/princeofpersia/princeofpersia.htm |archive-date=May 1, 2015}}{{cite journal | title=Prince of Persia 3D | author=Pullin, Keith | journal=PC Zone | date=December 1999 | issue=83 | pages=91}}{{cite book | author=Saltzman, Marc | title=Game Design: Secrets of the Sages, Second Edition | date=May 18, 2000 | publisher=Brady Games | isbn=1566869870 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/gamedesign00marc/page/410 410, 411] | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/gamedesign00marc/page/410}}

Charles Ardai of Computer Gaming World wrote that the game package's claim that it "breaks new ground with animation so uncannily human it must be seen to be believed" was true. He wrote that Prince of Persia "succeeds at being more than a running-jumping game (in other words, a gussied-up Nintendo game)" because it "captures the feel of those great old adventure films", citing Thief of Baghdad, Frankenstein, and Dracula. Ardai concluded that it was "a tremendous achievement" in games comparable to that of Star Wars in film.{{cite magazine | title=Good Knight, Sweet Prince | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=December 1989 | access-date=November 4, 2013 | last=Ardai | first=Charles | authorlink=Charles Ardai | pages=48 & 64 | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1989&pub=2&id=66 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510165414/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1989&pub=2&id=66 | archive-date=May 10, 2013 | issue = 66}}

In 1991, the game was ranked the 12th best Amiga game of all time by Amiga Power.{{cite web|series=Amiga Power magazine |issue=#0 |publisher=Future Publishing |date=May 1991 |page=6 |url=http://amr.abime.net/review_713 |access-date=May 30, 2013 |title=All-Time Top 100 Games |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104101545/http://amr.abime.net/review_713 |archive-date=January 4, 2012}} In 1992, The New York Times described the Macintosh version as having "brilliant" graphics and "excellent" sound.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/11/science/peripherals-playing-at-war-once-removed.html |title=Playing at War, Once Removed |work=The New York Times |date=August 11, 1992 |access-date=July 5, 2014 |author=Shannon, L. R. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715173303/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/11/science/peripherals-playing-at-war-once-removed.html |archive-date=July 15, 2014}} Reviewing the Genesis version, GamePro praised the "extremely fluid" animation of the player character and commented that the controls are difficult to master but nonetheless very effective. Comparing it to the Super NES version, they summarized that "the Genesis version has better graphics, and the SNES has better music. Otherwise, the two are identical in almost every way ..."{{cite magazine|title=ProReview: Prince of Persia|magazine=GamePro|issue=67|publisher=IDG|date=April 1994|page=30}} Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) likewise assessed the Genesis version as "an excellent conversion of the classic action game", and added that the game's challenging strategy and technique give it high longevity.{{cite magazine|title=Review Crew: Prince of Persia|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=56|publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=March 1994|page=38}} EGM{{'}}s panel of four reviewers each gave it a rating of 8 out of 10, adding up to an overall score of 32 out of 40.Electronic Gaming Monthly, 1998 Video Game Buyer's Guide, p. 86

In 1991, PC Format named Prince of Persia one of the 50 best computer games ever, highlighting its "unbelievably good animation".{{cite journal | author=Staff | journal=PC Format | title=The 50 best games EVER! | date=October 1991 | issue=1 | pages=109–111}} In 1996, Computer Gaming World named Prince of Persia the 84th best game ever, with the editors calling it "an acrobatic platformer with amazingly fluid action".{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1996&pub=2&id=148 | title=150 Best Games of All Time | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=November 1996 | access-date=March 25, 2016 | pages=64–80 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408023915/http://cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1996&pub=2&id=148 | archive-date=April 8, 2016}} In 1995, Flux ranked the game 42nd on their Top 100 Video Games.{{Cite journal |date=April 1995 |title=Top 100 Video Games |url=https://archive.org/details/flux-issue-4/page/n29/mode/2up |journal=Flux |publisher=Harris Publications |issue=4 |pages=30}}

Prince of Persia influenced cinematic platformers such as Another World and Flashback as well as action-adventure games such as Tomb Raider, which used a similar control scheme.Blache, Fabian & Fielder, Lauren, [https://web.archive.org/web/20090306234224/http://www.gamespot.com/features/tombraider_hist/p4_01.html History of Tomb Raider], GameSpot, Accessed April 1, 2009 A few DOS games were created using exactly the same game mechanics as the DOS version of Prince of Persia. Makh-Shevet created Cruel World in 1993 and Capstone Software created Zorro in 1995.{{cite web|url=http://www.classicdosgames.com/game/Zorro.html |title=Zorro |publisher=RGB Classic Games |access-date=October 11, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910012341/http://www.classicdosgames.com/game/Zorro.html |archive-date=September 10, 2015}}

Prince of Persia was remade and ported by Gameloft. The remake, titled Prince of Persia Classic, was released on June 13, 2007, to the Xbox Live Arcade, and on October 23, 2008, on the PlayStation Network. It features the same level design and general premise but contained 3D-rendered graphics, more fluid movements, and Sands of Time aesthetics.[http://www.1up.com/reviews/prince-persia-classic Review of Prince of Persia remake] by Nick Suttner, June 13, 2007, 1Up.com The gameplay and controls were slightly adjusted to include a wall-jump move and different swordplay. New game modes were also added, such as "Time Attack" and "Survival".{{cite web|title=Xboxic Classic review |url=http://www.xboxic.com/news/3057 |publisher=Xboxic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206042555/http://www.xboxic.com/news/3057 |archive-date=December 6, 2008}} The game has also been released on Android.{{cite web|title=Prince of Persia Classic |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.ubisoft.premium.POPClassic&hl=en |publisher=Ubisoft/Google |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522094301/https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.ubisoft.premium.POPClassic&hl=en |archive-date=May 22, 2013}}

Reverse engineering efforts by fans of the original game have resulted in detailed documentation of the file formats of the MS-DOS version.{{cite web|url=http://www.princed.org/content/files/documentation/FormatSpecifications.pdf |title=Prince of Persia Specifications of File Formats |publisher=Princed Development Team |date=January 5, 2008 |access-date=May 7, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002090519/http://www.princed.org/content/files/documentation/FormatSpecifications.pdf |archive-date=October 2, 2011}} Various level editors have been created that can be used to modify the level files of the game.{{cite web|url=http://www.popot.org/level_editors.php |title=Modding Community; Level Editors |publisher=PoPOT.org |access-date=May 7, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207163616/http://www.popot.org/level_editors.php |archive-date=December 7, 2011}} With these editors and other software, over 60 mods have been created.{{cite web|url=http://www.popot.org/custom_levels.php |title=Modding Community; Custom Levels |publisher=PoPOT.org |access-date=May 7, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111206184604/http://www.popot.org/custom_levels.php |archive-date=December 6, 2011}}

In April 2012, Jordan Mechner established a GitHub repository[https://github.com/jmechner/Prince-of-Persia-Apple-II Prince of Persia Apple II] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230172248/https://github.com/jmechner/Prince-of-Persia-Apple-II |date=December 30, 2012}} on github.com/jmechner containing the long-thought-lost{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/features/missing-notable-games-lost-to-time |title=Among the Missing: Notable Games Lost to Time |date=October 17, 2012 |access-date=June 19, 2015 |first=Todd |last=Ciolek |publisher=1up.com |quote=Prince of Persia creator Jordan Mechner believed that the source code to the game's original Apple II version was gone when he failed to find it in 2002. Ten years later, Mechner's father uncovered a box of old games at the family home, and among them were disks containing Prince of Persia{{'}}s bedrock program. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151026024831/http://www.1up.com/features/missing-notable-games-lost-to-time |archive-date=October 26, 2015}} original Apple II source code for Prince of Persia.{{cite web|publisher=joystiq.com |first=JC |last=Fletcher |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/prince-of-persia-source-code-successfully-rescued/ |title=Prince of Persia source code successfully rescued |access-date=December 23, 2012 |date=April 17, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027082409/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/prince-of-persia-source-code-successfully-rescued/ |archive-date=October 27, 2012}}{{cite magazine|last=Mastrapa |first=Gus |title=The Geeks Who Saved Prince of Persia's Source Code From Digital Death |magazine=Wired |date=April 20, 2012 |url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2012/04/prince-of-persia-source-code/ |access-date=December 23, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208145629/http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2012/04/prince-of-persia-source-code |archive-date=December 8, 2012}} A technical document describing the operation of this source code is available on Mechner's website.{{cite web|url=http://www.jordanmechner.com/downloads/popsource.pdf |title=Prince of Persia Technical Information |date=October 12, 1989 |access-date=October 6, 2014 |last=Mechner |first=Jordan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006222454/http://www.jordanmechner.com/downloads/popsource.pdf |archive-date=October 6, 2014}}

In April 2020, Mechner did an AMA on Reddit where he stated that he would be releasing his journals from the development of the game as a book and users could ask any questions that they may have about the game to him.{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/gaxsgh/im_jordan_mechner_thirty_years_ago_i_made_a_game/|title=I'm Jordan Mechner. Thirty years ago, I made a game called Prince of Persia. Now I'm releasing my 1980s game-dev journals as a book. AMA!|date=April 30, 2020}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.jordanmechner.com/en/games-movies/prince-of-persia/ Prince of Persia] on game designer Jordan Mechner's official website
• [https://www.jordanmechner.com/en/books/journals/ The Making of Prince of Persia] on game designer Jordan Mechner's official website
• {{moby game|id=/prince-of-persia|name=Prince of Persia}}
• {{Internet Archive game|msdos_Prince_of_Persia_1990}}.
• [https://princejs.com/ Online JavaScript port]
• [http://popuw.com/index1.html Prince of Persia 1 page] at PoPUW.com
• {{YouTube|sw0VfmXKq54|How Prince of Persia Defeated Apple II's Memory Limitations}}

{{Prince of Persia series}}

{{Authority control}}

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