Karateka Creator Jordan Mechner Compares Apple II and iPhone Versions of Classic Game

MacRumors · Dec 21, 2012, 09:42 PM

Jordan Mechner, creator of the classic Prince of Persia game, recently remade his Apple II game Karateka for iOS. To celebrate, he released a video (found by TUAW) comparing the delivery methods for the Apple II version of Karateka and the iOS version.

The video highlights how software prices are dropped, how delivery methods have improved and how the actual software has gotten more advanced in the last 30 years. The game was released yesterday and our sister-site TouchArcade has posted a lengthy review.

Quote:

Karateka. 30 years later. Does the magic stand the test of time? As I have so subtly implied, I am a bit of a fan of Mechner's original masterpiece, and was skeptical upon seeing the the first sketches and screenshots of this re-invisioning. For fellow fans of the original, I am happy to say that my concerns were allayed just minutes into playing the Xbox 360 version on launch day -- and the iOS version should treat players the same. I found that, while this modern console title appears quite different than the Apple II original -- in a lavish sort of way -- it, at the same time, feels very much the same.

Karateka is available for $2.99 on the App Store. It requires at least an iPhone 4S, the iPad 2, or a 5th-generation iPod touch. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Karateka Creator Jordan Mechner Compares Apple II and iPhone Versions of Classic Game

Ungibbed · Dec 21, 2012, 09:49 PM

My all time favorite game when I was still rocking an Apple //c.

iRCL · Dec 21, 2012, 10:09 PM

Yeah, it's a great new version, except

-- Despite his (ancient) history of being a legendary game designer, Mechner added nearly nothing to this version
-- Despite being *many* months in the making, there's a game breaking bug (bowing) that requires the app to restart
-- In an attempt to be cross-platform, it's been reduced to a single button press system that pales in comparison to what it should have been (imagine an infinity blade type game)

The sad thing here is that we have these legends like Mechner, who many of us grew up being amazed by, and the entire industry was captivated by, and then for years they did nothing and we were left to wonder if they had simply moved on to better things, or what they were up to.. wishing that they hadn't simply become obsolete.. and then they come back and release something like this, squashing the argument forever, definitively stating that they were only great, when they were great, because of when they were active

I did spend the $3, and I beat it (who couldn't.. although I never beat original Karateka on C64), and I played it a second time, but that's about it before being deleted. It's depressing

MagnusVonMagnum · Dec 21, 2012, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRumors

Image

Jordan Mechner, creator of the classic Prince of Persia game, recently remade his Apple II game Karateka for iOS. To celebrate, he released a video (found by TUAW) comparing the delivery methods for the Apple II version of Karateka and the iOS version.

The video highlights how software prices are dropped, how delivery methods have improved and how the actual software has gotten more advanced in the last 30 years. The game was released yesterday and our sister-site TouchArcade has posted a lengthy review.

YouTube: video

Karateka is available for $2.99 on the App Store. It requires at least an iPhone 4S, the iPad 2, or a 5th-generation iPod touch. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Karateka Creator Jordan Mechner Compares Apple II and iPhone Versions of Classic Game

A 5th generation iPod Touch only? I guess that's going to limit his sales. I only bought my 4th Gen model a little over a year ago and it's already out of date?

I'll say once again, that iOS game developers should release Mac versions as well if they want to increase their sales. I'd much rather play a game on my Mac than a tiny little pocket device anyway (short of small puzzle games to play on trips, etc.) I'm certainly not going to rush out and buy a new multi-hundred dollar iPod Touch or iPad just to play a $3 game.

While the new game looked interesting (as far as Karate games go), I couldn't see much resemblance to the original with the new 3D style. It seems more like a new game (and I assume the same basic plot) than a true remake. Personally, I found the original to be PAINFULLY slow on the C64 (might as well have been running in slow motion at times). So if it were allowed to run on the earlier Touch and original iPad, it might be more authentic at the crawling frame rates.

satyrica · Dec 22, 2012, 12:29 AM

Carra-teka?

I played this game on the Apple ][+ when it was called Karate-ka!

BOOM!

Renzatic · Dec 22, 2012, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satyrica

Carra-teka?

I played this game on the Apple ][+ when it was called Karate-ka!

BOOM!

Yeah? Well I played it on my Atari 800XL when it was called Ka-ra-te-kah!

IN YO FACE!

FYI, my neighbors had it on their Apple II. Wasn't nearly as cool.

ikir · Dec 22, 2012, 12:48 AM

Very nice video

arn · Dec 22, 2012, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satyrica

Carra-teka?

I played this game on the Apple ][+ when it was called Karate-ka!

BOOM!

Arcady · Dec 22, 2012, 05:16 AM

I still play this on my Apple //e. Funny that it works on my 30 year old hardware, but it won't run on my iPhone 4 from 2 years ago.

krravi · Dec 22, 2012, 06:27 AM

Geez I saw the video of the original DOS game that I played and then it all came back to me.

I gotta get this game ASAP for old times sake.

Val-kyrie · Dec 22, 2012, 07:29 AM

Wow! This brings back the memories. 5.25" floppies. Playing a video game that was not for typing speed for the first time on a computer. This was one of the first games I played as a child, alongside Moon Patrol and a version of Mario--some pipe game. Anyone remember that? I think I played these games on a Commodore 64, but I don't remember anymore. Anyway, nice to see the game back--I will have to try it for old times' sake.

blackcrayon · Dec 22, 2012, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcady

I still play this on my Apple //e. Funny that it works on my 30 year old hardware, but it won't run on my iPhone 4 from 2 years ago.

But at that time... would it have run on a 48k Apple ][+?

aarond12 · Dec 22, 2012, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arn

YouTube: video

Thank you for posting that video. When I first heard Jordan say "care-uh-take-uh", I wanted to punch my screen. からてか or カラテカ! How can you write a game with a Japanese subtext and not use the Japanese vowel sounds!?

blairwillis · Dec 22, 2012, 10:13 AM

Wizardry, please?

Gemütlichkeit · Dec 22, 2012, 10:27 AM

Long live Karate-ka.

Yvan256 · Dec 22, 2012, 10:49 AM

1GB downloads in 2 to 3 minutes... right.

I bet most people would need around 30 minutes to download 1GB.

chasemac · Dec 22, 2012, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ungibbed

My all time favorite game when I was still rocking an Apple //c.

This one and Dr. J vs Larry Bird!

ConCat · Dec 22, 2012, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aarond12

Thank you for posting that video. When I first heard Jordan say "care-uh-take-uh", I wanted to punch my screen. からてか or カラテカ! How can you write a game with a Japanese subtext and not use the Japanese vowel sounds!?

Because English speakers have trouble pronouncing most other languages, or places originally written in another language. See: Bombay, Japan, Nanking, the list goes on. Although, to be fair, Japan is a mispronunciation of the original mispronunciation from Chinese.

SnowLeopard OSX · Dec 22, 2012, 06:18 PM

This game seems pretty interesting. I wonder how it handles multiplayer, though.

SeaFox · Dec 22, 2012, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arn

YouTube: video

All of the pronunciations as written on that vid are wrong, actually, as the first and last mora are the same.

Avatar74 · Dec 23, 2012, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chasemac

This one and Dr. J vs Larry Bird!

I believe the title was One on One... it was one of the first games published by Electronic Arts in 1983.

Loved it.... and especially loved the innovation that you could slam dunk and smash the backboard. Ahh, the simple pleasures...

Karateka was one of my favorites, and I remember being frustrated trying to figure out how to get past that damned gate (eventually did)... That, Silas Warner's Castle Wolfenstein and Brøderbund's Tai-Pan were my three favorite, most addicting games.

marksman · Dec 23, 2012, 11:00 PM

Oh my gosh. I admit to having pirated a copy of karateka over my 300bps modem when i was a dumb kid. I remember it being a big release for this pirate group in the 805 area code.

I did play it for a couple hours but action games like that were never my thing.

Intarweb · Dec 24, 2012, 08:45 AM

I played it and hated the new version. Give me the original.

Truffy · Dec 24, 2012, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagnusVonMagnum

A 5th generation iPod Touch only? I guess that's going to limit his sales. I only bought my 4th Gen model a little over a year ago and it's already out of date?

Although not that interested in the game itself, I'm also a little depressed that my iPod Touch 4 is not supported.

He ho, I also prefer to play games on the Mac rather that iOS diddyscreen.

tjanuranus · Dec 24, 2012, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yvan256

1GB downloads in 2 to 3 minutes... right.

I bet most people would need around 30 minutes to download 1GB.

Wtf 1 gig only takes a few minutes to download he is correct. It's not his fault if some people are using ****** ISP's.

Dec 21, 2012, 09:49 PM	#2
Ungibbed macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: USA	My all time favorite game when I was still rocking an Apple //c. __________________ 13" MacBook Pro late 2010 (2.4 Ghz C2D, 750GB 7200RPM HDD, 8GB RAM) 27" ACD 64GB iPad 2 WiFi 120GB AppleTV, 32GB iPhone 4s
	2

Dec 22, 2012, 12:29 AM	#5
satyrica macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA	O hi wtf? Carra-teka? I played this game on the Apple ][+ when it was called Karate-ka! BOOM!
	2

Dec 22, 2012, 05:16 AM	#9
Arcady macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Louisville, KY	I still play this on my Apple //e. Funny that it works on my 30 year old hardware, but it won't run on my iPhone 4 from 2 years ago. __________________ "The Macintosh uses an experimental pointing device called a 'mouse.' There is no evidence that people want to use these things." -John C. Dvorak, SF Examiner, Feb. 1984.
	5

Dec 22, 2012, 06:27 AM	#10
krravi macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2010	Geez I saw the video of the original DOS game that I played and then it all came back to me. I gotta get this game ASAP for old times sake. __________________ 27" iMac - 3.4 Ghz Core i7,32 GB RAM, 1TB. Many iPad's,iPhone 4s,Apple TV,rMBP 2012 15" 2.6 Ghz 512 GB 16GB(refurb),MBA 2012,2.0 Ghz,8,256
	0

Dec 22, 2012, 07:29 AM	#11
Val-kyrie macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In the digital void.	Wow! This brings back the memories. 5.25" floppies. Playing a video game that was not for typing speed for the first time on a computer. This was one of the first games I played as a child, alongside Moon Patrol and a version of Mario--some pipe game. Anyone remember that? I think I played these games on a Commodore 64, but I don't remember anymore. Anyway, nice to see the game back--I will have to try it for old times' sake. __________________ No Digital TV Signal? --Call 800-CALL-FCC or 800-TELL-FCC --They'll tell you they know.
	0

Dec 21, 2012, 10:09 PM	#3
iRCL macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2011	Yeah, it's a great new version, except -- Despite his (ancient) history of being a legendary game designer, Mechner added nearly nothing to this version -- Despite being many months in the making, there's a game breaking bug (bowing) that requires the app to restart -- In an attempt to be cross-platform, it's been reduced to a single button press system that pales in comparison to what it should have been (imagine an infinity blade type game) The sad thing here is that we have these legends like Mechner, who many of us grew up being amazed by, and the entire industry was captivated by, and then for years they did nothing and we were left to wonder if they had simply moved on to better things, or what they were up to.. wishing that they hadn't simply become obsolete.. and then they come back and release something like this, squashing the argument forever, definitively stating that they were only great, when they were great, because of when they were active I did spend the $3, and I beat it (who couldn't.. although I never beat original Karateka on C64), and I played it a second time, but that's about it before being deleted. It's depressing
	1

Dec 22, 2012, 12:48 AM	#7
ikir macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2007	Very nice video
	2

Dec 22, 2012, 10:13 AM	#14
blairwillis macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2005	Wizardry, please?
	2

Dec 22, 2012, 10:27 AM	#15
Gemütlichkeit macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2010	Long live Karate-ka. __________________ "It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God." -Thomas Jefferson
	0

Dec 22, 2012, 10:49 AM	#16
Yvan256 macrumors 601 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canada	1GB downloads in 2 to 3 minutes... right. I bet most people would need around 30 minutes to download 1GB. __________________ The first 90% of the code accounts for the first 90% of the development time. The remaining 10% of the code accounts for the other 90% of the development time. -Tom Cargill, Bell Labs.
	2

Dec 22, 2012, 06:18 PM	#19
SnowLeopard OSX macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Southern California	This game seems pretty interesting. I wonder how it handles multiplayer, though. __________________ iPad 4th gen Black/ 32GB/ iOS 6.1.3 iMac G4 1.0 GHz/ 1.25 GHz PPCG4 (7445) iPod \|Classic Black/ 80GB\|U2 edition 20GB iPhone \|4S White/16GB/ iOS 6.1.3\|3G White/16GB iOS 4.2.1
	0

Dec 23, 2012, 11:00 PM	#22
marksman macrumors 603 Join Date: Jun 2007	Oh my gosh. I admit to having pirated a copy of karateka over my 300bps modem when i was a dumb kid. I remember it being a big release for this pirate group in the 805 area code. I did play it for a couple hours but action games like that were never my thing.
	0

Dec 24, 2012, 08:45 AM	#23
Intarweb macrumors 6502a Join Date: May 2007	I played it and hated the new version. Give me the original.
	0

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