Nintendo History and the Birth of Donkey Kong
Nintendo is a household name when it comes to video games. Nintendo’s history goes way back. It has been around since 1889, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that it started focusing on video games. In the 1980s, Nintendo would release one of the most iconic games of all time – Donkey Kong.
The Rise of Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong was released in 1981 and was an instant success. It was one of the first games to tell a complete story through cutscenes and had multiple levels. The game spawned a whole new genre of platformers and helped to introduce Japanese game design to Western audiences.
Donkey Kong’s Impact on Gaming
Donkey Kong’s success paved the way for Nintendo’s dominance in the video game industry. Without Donkey Kong Nintendo’s history would have looked much different. It spawned a number of sequels and spinoffs and introduced the world to a new genre of games – platformers. The game’s use of cutscenes to visually advance a complete story was revolutionary at the time and contributed to its lasting legacy in gaming.
The Clones and Legal Battles
Clones of Donkey Kong were soon developed and made available on various different platforms. Nintendo took legal action against unauthorized clones, estimating they lost $100,000,000 in potential sales to these clones. Despite the clones, Donkey Kong continued to thrive and spawned sequels and spin-offs.
The Revival of Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong would later be revived in the 1990s with the Donkey Kong Country series developed by Rare. In 2004, Nintendo released Mario vs. Donkey Kong, a sequel to the Game Boy’s Donkey Kong. The series also gave birth to rhythm-based games that used a special bongo controller.
Nintendo’s History and the Birth of Donkey Kong are Intertwined
Donkey Kong has not only been successful in video games but also in popular culture. The game’s characters have appeared on cereal boxes, board games, pajamas, and manga. The phrase “It’s on like Donkey Kong” was even coined by American rapper Ice Cube in 1992.
It is clear that Donkey Kong has had a significant impact on video games and popular culture. As a game that helped introduce Japanese game design to the West, it holds a special place in Nintendo’s history. Donkey Kong will always be remembered as a classic game that stood the test of time, proving that simple gameplay mechanics and endearing characters can create a lasting legacy.
