Mom's Minute

Karateka video game

Jordan Mechner, the legendary game developer for the successful blockbuster game Prince of Persia, is returning to the video game genre to remake his 1980's hit, Karateka. He had previously worked in the film industry. 

Prince of Persia has sold more than  17 million units accumulating in a sum of $500 million. The film adaptation of the video game was also successful, becoming the highest grossing video game movie -- earning over $335 million at the box office.

While attending Yale University in 1984, Mechner created the Karateka video game which sold over 500, 000 units during that time.

Screen shot from the 1980's Karateka video game

Karateka's storyline entails players defeating the evil warlord Akuma who has kidnapped Princess Marika. Instead of a fighting game like Street Fighter, Mechner describes the game as a cinematic story-driven video game.

Mechner has a small team working with him on the remake of the game, and as the creator director, has a very hands-on role.

Karateka will be modestly budgeted as a downloadable game, without the use of a large publishing company.

When asked why he was returning to video games, Mechner stated that regardless of what media he is working in, his goal is to create a world in which the story and characters come alive.

Karateka will debut for the PlayStation Network (The Sony Entertainment Network) and Xbox Live Arcade in 2012.  A specific date for the Karateka's release was not provided.