Jordan Mechner and Karateka

2025-06-15

TCW Podcast Episode 236 - Jordan Mechner and Karateka This episode explores the early life of Jordan Mechner and the making of Karateka. We cover his Jewish family’s escape from Nazi Europe, his years at Yale, and his struggle to choose between careers in film, art, and game design. Drawing on lessons from arcade games, Mechner formed core design principles that shaped his approach. He also worked closely with his father, Francis Mechner—best known for composing the game's music—who served as a creative soundi...

TCW Podcast Episode 236 - Jordan Mechner and Karateka

This episode explores the early life of Jordan Mechner and the making of Karateka. We cover his Jewish family’s escape from Nazi Europe, his years at Yale, and his struggle to choose between careers in film, art, and game design. Drawing on lessons from arcade games, Mechner formed core design principles that shaped his approach. He also worked closely with his father, Francis Mechner—best known for composing the game's music—who served as a creative sounding board, contributed gameplay ideas, and performed movements used in the game's rotoscoped animations.

Francis Mechner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Mechner

Replay - Memoir of an Uprooted Family: https://www.jordanmechner.com/en/books/replay/

Jordan Mechner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Mechner

Jordan Mechner Website: https://www.jordanmechner.com/

TCW 071 - A Story of Brøderbund! :https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/a-story-of%C2%A0br%C3%B8derbund/

TCW 072 - The MYSTeries of Brøderbund!: https://podcast.theycreateworlds.com/e/the-mysteries-of-br%c3%b8derbund/

Choplifter (Apple II): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvDnUHW_pjg

Seven Samurai Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XMJY0hYJEw

The Making of Karateka journals: https://www.jordanmechner.com/en/books/the-making-of-karateka/

The Making of Karateka (Game + Documentary: https://www.jordanmechner.com/en/games-movies/karateka/

The Making & Remaking of Karateka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq31IwKZkt0

Karateka Rotoscoping 1983: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nqp6U1GYI8