PoP original game screenplay
A few months ago, I posted my first-draft screenplay of last summer’s Prince of Persia movie. Now, here’s the script of the videogame that inspired it: 2003′s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.
Or rather, partial script. For writers interested in the differences between writing for movies and games, it’s worth noting that there is no game design document equivalent to a film screenplay (i.e. an established format for the writer to communicate the story to producers, director, cast and crew).
Typically, the larger part of my writing work on Sands of Time was conveyed through non-screenplay documents (dialog recording and tracking spreadsheets and the like) to the team of designers, artists and engineers. I’ve described that process in more detail in this article for MIT Press.
The “readable screenplay” posted here reads like a film screenplay, but that’s because it contains only the cinematic cutscenes – not the in-game scripted events, dialog, and voice-over narration that are just as essential to the player’s experience of the story. Those exist in no easily readable form.
The best way to experience a videogame story is to play the game. But for a quick read, this script offers at least a glimpse into Sands of Time’s beginnings.
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Fantastic! When playing the game I lost my save game in a crash right before the final battle. I couldn’t bear to replay the whole game just to fight the last battle and see the end…but now I know the ending.
incredible! thanks Jordan!
And here I thought your script was just:
Page 1
Create awesome game that will span the test of time.
Page 2
Laugh maniacally.
So that’s how you spell the word “Kakolookiyam” – what does it mean?
It’s the name of one of the books of the Indian Panchatantra (an ancient Sanskrit collection of animal fables) about a war between crows and owls.
Thank you for sharing this with us. I’ve always wanted to read video game scripts to see the difference. Do you know where I would be able to read more?
Thank u Mr. Jordan for sharing…:)
Is this the same PoP SoT game screenplay that was available for a long time on Zain Alvi’s website?
And yet, Jordan. what you think. Suppose that you had to pick the full name of the prince.
What do you think?
In the film, his name is Dastan, and who came up with this name?
I did. Here’s a post on the subject: http://jordanmechner.com/blog/2009/03/a-trickster-prince/
Thanks for making the script available. I’m working on my own video game script at the moment and this is definately shows a good approach.
Thanks again.
Thanks so much for posting this! I was curious about how professional writers handle it in the field, and had to do a good bit of googling to find a real answer from you.