well played: interpreting prince of persia: the sands of time
DESCRIPTION
This presentation engages in an in-depth close reading of the game, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, in order to parse out various meanings to be found in the experience of playing the game. The experience is approached from the perspective of its narrative development and its game design. This enables an analysis of the relationship between the game’s story and its gameplay. Sequences in the game are analyzed in detail in order to illustrate and interpret how these various components of a game can come together to create fulfilling a playing experience unique to this medium.TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Well PlayedInterpreting Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Drew Davidson
![Page 2: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Analysis
Narrative
Gameplay
Units Operations (?)
![Page 3: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Full Disclosure
Played game 4 times
Gamecube and PS2
Some GameFAQs
Spoiler Alert!
![Page 4: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Narrative
![Page 5: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
On Your Mark...
![Page 6: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Meeting Farah
![Page 7: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Lost my Sleeves
![Page 8: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Hiss!
![Page 9: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
My Dad’s a Sand Zombie!
![Page 10: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Got a Better Sword
![Page 11: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Lost my Shirt
![Page 12: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Heading on Up...
![Page 13: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
No!
![Page 14: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Up, Up...
![Page 15: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
The Hourglass...
![Page 16: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Gameplay
![Page 17: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Platforming
![Page 18: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Parkour
![Page 19: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Puzzling
![Page 20: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
More Puzzling
![Page 21: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Fight Club
![Page 22: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Fighting with Farah
![Page 23: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Odd Angles
![Page 24: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Saving Progress
![Page 25: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
The Fountain of Health
![Page 26: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Overall Experience
Throughline (Subtext)
Balance / Imbalance
Cinematics
Ludic Narrans
![Page 27: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Throughline (Subtext)
Honor and (Fantastic) Redemption
(Rewind time) Put things right
![Page 28: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Trailer
![Page 29: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
The Game
Close Reading
Save Files
![Page 30: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
Balance/Imbalance
Narrative
Gameplay
Units
![Page 31: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Cinematics
In-Game
Rendered
Showing Story and Game
Heroics (Hollywood)
![Page 32: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Start
Game Intro
![Page 33: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
2%
The Maharajah’s Treasure Vaults
Balance
Exposition
Start of Involvement
![Page 34: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
7%
“Had I Really Seen Her?”
Cinematics
Rising Action
More Involved
Goal
![Page 35: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
10%
A Secret Passage
Cinematics
More Rising Action
Start of Immersion
Regret
![Page 36: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
14%
A Booby-Trapped Courtyard
Imbalance
Clear Conflict
Immersed
Almost Lost It Though
![Page 37: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
21%
Climbing the Tower
Balance
More Action
More Immersed
![Page 38: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
69%The Hall of Learning
Balance
Toward the Goal
Hints of Love Story
Very Immersed
Rhythm
![Page 39: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
81%At Last We’re Here!
Imbalance
Heading toward Climax
Fighting
Getting Invested
Almost lost it here
![Page 40: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/40.jpg)
83%
The Hourglass
Cinematics
So Close
Invested
Honor and Glory
![Page 41: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/41.jpg)
90%
“Farah, Come Back!”
Cinematics
Climax
Platforming/Puzzling
Immersed
![Page 42: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/42.jpg)
The End?
![Page 43: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/43.jpg)
98%
Honor and Glory
Imbalance
Denouement, Conclusion
Finishing
Redemption
![Page 44: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/44.jpg)
Ludic Narrans
Let’s Revisit the Start of the Game
![Page 45: Well Played: Interpreting Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013110/5458f35cb1af9fb66e8b56f1/html5/thumbnails/45.jpg)
And so...
Interpret / Analyze
Narrative, Gameplay, Units
Meaning of a Game
Well Played