Donkey kong screen retro

Donkey Kong, released in 1981 by Nintendo, revolutionized arcades with its character Mario and platform mechanics.

About this subject

Donkey Kong is a classic arcade game developed by Nintendo and released in 1981. It was created by Shigeru Miyamoto, who later became famous for series such as Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda. The game features Jumpman (later renamed Mario) who must rescue his girlfriend Pauline from a giant gorilla named Donkey Kong. The core mechanic involves jumping over obstacles like barrels and slanted platforms, laying the foundation for the platform genre.

The success of Donkey Kong was immediate and lasting. It became one of the most popular games of the 1980s, spawning sequels and inspiring countless clones. The character Mario, initially unnamed, became Nintendo's mascot. The simple but iconic soundtrack, composed by Yukio Kaneoka, is still recognizable today.

Culturally, Donkey Kong marked the beginning of the Golden Age of Arcades. It was one of the first games to have a narrative and distinct characters. In 1982, Universal City Studios sued Nintendo claiming Donkey Kong infringed on King Kong copyrights, but Nintendo won. The game is also famous for the world record held by Billy Mitchell and Steve Wiebe, immortalized in the documentary 'The King of Kong'.

Technically, Donkey Kong used single-board hardware with a 256x224 resolution and a Z80 processor. The original version was monochrome, but some boards were modified to display colors. The game was ported to many home systems, including the Atari 2600, ColecoVision, and NES. Today, it is preserved in museums and digital collections as part of video game history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who created Donkey Kong?

Donkey Kong was created by Shigeru Miyamoto, a Nintendo designer, and released in 1981. Miyamoto also created the Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda series.

What is the cultural significance of Donkey Kong?

Donkey Kong is considered one of the most influential games in history, popularizing the platform genre and introducing the character Mario, who became Nintendo's mascot.

Was Donkey Kong sued?

Yes, in 1982 Universal City Studios sued Nintendo for alleged copyright infringement of King Kong. Nintendo won the lawsuit, establishing Donkey Kong as an original work.