Game of the Week #22

Metal Mario · 12-12-2009, 05:47 PM

Donkey Kong (Arcade, 1981)

Donkey Kong is the game that started it all, for Nintendo in general and Mario in particular. One of the most significant innovations in video game history, Donkey Kong's importance can't be overstated. It was the first game to feature different and distinct stages (with the possible exception of Midway's Gorf), it was the first game to tell a complete narrative story from beginning to end, and it was the originator of what would come to be called the platforming genre. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Donkey Kong is the reason all of us are even here right now.

As of early 1981, Nintendo's efforts to break into the North American video game market had failed spectacularly, culminating with the devastating flop of Radar Scope, which failed to sell even one thousand units. In light of this, Nintendo company president Hiroshi Yamauchi asked a young industrial designer named Shigeru Miyamoto to come up with something new. Working with chief engineer Gunpei Yokoi, and taking inspiration from pop culture staples like King Kong and Popeye, he gave birth to one of the industry's most seminal games.

Technological limitations actually forced the iconic and recognizable design of the Mario character we all know and love today. Drawing a mouth was too difficult, so Mario was given a mustache; the programmers couldn't animate hair, so he was given a hat; in order to show Mario's arm movements, colored overalls were necessary.

Upon receiving Donkey Kong, Nintendo's American distributors persuaded the managers of two bars in Seattle, Washington to set up DK machines in their establishments. This market test turned out to be a roaring success, as customers at the two bars spent thirty dollars per day for a week straight on the machines. Cheered, NOA instantly converted two thousand unsold Radar Scope machines into DK machines, and put the game on sale in July of '81. The initial two thousand units were sold, and more orders were placed. By October, DK was selling four thousand units per month, and, by June of '82, Nintendo had sold sixty thousand units overall and earned $180 million from the hit game. DK made another $100 million in its second year, and remained Nintendo's top seller into summer of '83.

In 1982, Universal Studios tried to sue Nintendo for allegedly infringing on the former's King Kong property. Not only did Universal lose this court battle, but they were forced to pay Nintendo damages and legal fees. Then Nintendo sued Universal for even more money, and won. (Nobody ever ****ed with Hiroshi Yamauchi without living to regret it. The man was like the Don Corleone of the video game industry.)

So, here's to Donkey Kong. Without it, video games as we know them might never have existed. Nintendo certainly never would have risen to prominence. And we definitely wouldn't have met Mario.

**Valigarmander** · 12-12-2009, 05:49 PM

I kick ass at this game.

Metal Mario · 12-12-2009, 06:12 PM

^How many rounds can you clear? I think I usually get up to the fourth time through the game before that damn bouncing jack becomes impossible for me to dodge.

MeowMan · 12-13-2009, 01:01 AM

I have to agree with this topic.

**Valigarmander** · 12-13-2009, 01:05 AM

^^ I've forgotten. Now that I think about it, it's been forever since I've played this game. I'll have to give it ago again sometime.

12-12-2009, 05:47 PM	#1
Metal Mario Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Gender: Posts: 16,435 Thanks: 72 Thanked 190 Times in 127 Posts	Game of the Week #22 Donkey Kong (Arcade, 1981) Donkey Kong is the game that started it all, for Nintendo in general and Mario in particular. One of the most significant innovations in video game history, Donkey Kong's importance can't be overstated. It was the first game to feature different and distinct stages (with the possible exception of Midway's Gorf), it was the first game to tell a complete narrative story from beginning to end, and it was the originator of what would come to be called the platforming genre. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Donkey Kong is the reason all of us are even here right now. As of early 1981, Nintendo's efforts to break into the North American video game market had failed spectacularly, culminating with the devastating flop of Radar Scope, which failed to sell even one thousand units. In light of this, Nintendo company president Hiroshi Yamauchi asked a young industrial designer named Shigeru Miyamoto to come up with something new. Working with chief engineer Gunpei Yokoi, and taking inspiration from pop culture staples like King Kong and Popeye, he gave birth to one of the industry's most seminal games. Technological limitations actually forced the iconic and recognizable design of the Mario character we all know and love today. Drawing a mouth was too difficult, so Mario was given a mustache; the programmers couldn't animate hair, so he was given a hat; in order to show Mario's arm movements, colored overalls were necessary. Upon receiving Donkey Kong, Nintendo's American distributors persuaded the managers of two bars in Seattle, Washington to set up DK machines in their establishments. This market test turned out to be a roaring success, as customers at the two bars spent thirty dollars per day for a week straight on the machines. Cheered, NOA instantly converted two thousand unsold Radar Scope machines into DK machines, and put the game on sale in July of '81. The initial two thousand units were sold, and more orders were placed. By October, DK was selling four thousand units per month, and, by June of '82, Nintendo had sold sixty thousand units overall and earned $180 million from the hit game. DK made another $100 million in its second year, and remained Nintendo's top seller into summer of '83. In 1982, Universal Studios tried to sue Nintendo for allegedly infringing on the former's King Kong property. Not only did Universal lose this court battle, but they were forced to pay Nintendo damages and legal fees. Then Nintendo sued Universal for even more money, and won. (Nobody ever ***ed with Hiroshi Yamauchi without living to regret it. The man was like the Don Corleone of the video game industry.) So, here's to Donkey Kong*. Without it, video games as we know them might never have existed. Nintendo certainly never would have risen to prominence. And we definitely wouldn't have met Mario.

12-13-2009, 01:05 AM	#5
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,222 Thanks: 1,611 Thanked 5,553 Times in 2,499 Posts Blog Entries: 18	^^ I've forgotten. Now that I think about it, it's been forever since I've played this game. I'll have to give it ago again sometime. __________________

12-12-2009, 05:49 PM	#2
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,222 Thanks: 1,611 Thanked 5,553 Times in 2,499 Posts Blog Entries: 18	I kick ass at this game. __________________

12-12-2009, 06:12 PM	#3
Metal Mario Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Gender: Posts: 16,435 Thanks: 72 Thanked 190 Times in 127 Posts	^How many rounds can you clear? I think I usually get up to the fourth time through the game before that damn bouncing jack becomes impossible for me to dodge.

12-13-2009, 01:01 AM	#4
MeowMan Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: If not here, Minecraft and/or with friends. Gender: Posts: 6,297 Thanks: 818 Thanked 202 Times in 127 Posts Blog Entries: 42	I have to agree with this topic.