In 1981, gamers may not have known it, but a game that birthed two of Nintendo's most iconic and beloved characters was released. Donkey Kong hit the arcade market with a smash (no pun intended), and it allowed players to navigate the obstacle of trying to get Jumpman (who would become Mario), up a building to save Pauline from the titular creature.
It is a popular game that has spawned two successful gaming franchises. The game broke ground in many ways and is memorable in its own right. Do you think you know all there is to know about this legendary arcade game?
Check out our list of 10 mind-blowing facts that you didn't know about Donkey Kong.
10 It Pioneered Many Tropes We See Today
In 1981, Donkey Kong was groundbreaking. It started the trend of many familiar video game tropes and standards we see today. For example, Donkey Kong smirks and shows emotion when Jumpman fails, and speech balloons were used to convey dialog. These were some of the first times speech and detailed emotion were used in a game, and this use of them led to what we see today.
9 Their Cover-Up for Graphical Limitations
Developers didn't have much to work with back then, so they did the best with what they had. Jumpman was designed with these limitations in mind. His mustache hid the fact that they couldn't accurately show him having a mouth due to design constraints. Also, his red overalls were meant to draw attention away from his primitive form. This era of game design allowed developers to be creative and come up with solutions for these technical problems.
8 Donkey Kong's Name Origins
Shigeru Miyamoto, a masterful creative force behind most Nintendo games, helped to create the title and name of the main character. Some have thought the name was a mistranslation of "Monkey" and "Donkey," but it turns out that wasn't the case at all.
Alternatively, Miyamoto wanted a name to convey Donkey Kong's stubbornness, so he chose "Donkey," Donkeys are known to be stubborn animals, so this name was used as a way to represent this sentiment.
7 Was Originally A Take On Popeye
Well, Donkey Kong didn't start the way you may think. The developers at Nintendo were instead commissioned to make a Popeye video game. However, the plan fell through, and Miyamoto then got the idea that he would like to create their own original story about a love triangle between a man, a brute, and a woman. This idea eventually evolved into the Donkey Kong arcade game that we know and admire today. So, we all have to thank Mr. Popeye himself for the inspiration.
6 Donkey Kong Spurred Legal Issues
Well, when you are as successful as Donkey Kong was in the early 1980s (it made Nintendo almost $200 million in the first year of its release), the detractors are going to come your way. After learning of the game's success, Universal felt that Donkey Kong was stealing from its film King Kong, and it came out with its own game to counter Nintendo. Well, the judge ruled that the story of King Kong was public domain (which was argued by Universal at an earlier case) and that Universal owed them money from the game they sold. Call it a win-win for Nintendo.
5 The Story You Didn't Know
You may have thought Jumpman, aka Mario, is the victim in this game, but it comes to find out that he isn't. Later on, it was revealed that Jumpman has a connection to Donkey Kong.
It came out that he was the owner of the ape and was abusive to him. So, it turns out that Donkey Kong had a reason to be upset. He was out for revenge, which makes Mario a "questionable" hero.
4 Nintendo Has A Trademark On A Famous Related Phrase
Ever heard anyone say, "It's on like Donkey Kong?" Well, it is owned by Nintendo. The company owns the trademark of anything that has the name of Donkey Kong in it. They have taken steps to protect their intellectual property concerning the character intensely, and this culminated in the company owning this popular phrase. So, be careful where you say it.
3 Someone Switched Up The Hero
A video game developer was playing Super Mario Bros. 2 with his daughter and decided to introduce her to Donkey Kong. She liked the game but was disappointed with the fact that you didn't have the option to play "as the girl," Pauline. So, Mike Mika went to work editing the game to allow his daughter to play as Pauline. Hmmm, we would be on board with a refreshing new take on this story. If anyone deserves the hero treatment after all these years, it's Pauline.
2 Mario's Likeness
Eventually, Jumpman's name was finally revealed to be the famous Mario. This reason is that Jumpman, aka Mario, is based on a real person. He was modeled after Mario Segale, Nintendo America's original landlord.
However, unlike the iconic plumber, Segale became a wealthy businessman and real estate developer. While he is no longer living, he has been immortalized as the legendary Nintendo character.
1 Donkey Kong's Renaissance
Nintendo has figured out some fresh ways to keep this title current in pop culture. It was an unlockable game in the first Animal Crossing and was a part of Donkey Kong 64. Recently, the NES version was re-released as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch in 2018. Whether it is an easter egg or is getting its own release, the original Donkey Kong will always hold a special place in gaming history.