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Donkey Kong’s U.S. Debut
June 2, 1981
On this day in 1981, Nintendo introduced “Donkey Kong” to the U.S., a pioneering title among platform-style video games. First released as a freestanding arcade cabinet, “Donkey Kong” not only marked the first appearance of the titular primate as the game’s antagonist, it also debuted a mustachioed hero named Jumpman, who would later come to be known as Mario — one of the most beloved characters in gaming history.
In addition to popularizing the platform genre (in which players travel across platforms to reach a final destination), “Donkey Kong” ushered in many now-common game mechanisms, like characters displaying emotion, and speech bubbles to further the narrative. It was a massive hit, selling 60,000 units totaling $180 million within a year. The plot featured Jumpman rescuing his girlfriend from the clutches of his pet gorilla — a love triangle inspired by the storyline of “Popeye.” (Some believe the game's title was a mistranslation of the word “monkey,” but creator Shigeru Miyamoto chose the word “donkey” to convey the character’s stubbornness.) The game’s success was followed up with the “Donkey Kong Jr.” sequel and the 1983 spinoff “Mario Bros.” These hits, which were eventually released for at-home video game consoles, cemented Nintendo’s place in North America, where it displaced Atari as an industry leader.
June 2, 1981
On this day in 1981, Nintendo introduced “Donkey Kong” to the U.S., a pioneering title among platform-style video games. First released as a freestanding arcade cabinet, “Donkey Kong” not only marked the first appearance of the titular primate as the game’s antagonist, it also debuted a mustachioed hero named Jumpman, who would later come to be known as Mario — one of the most beloved characters in gaming history.
In addition to popularizing the platform genre (in which players travel across platforms to reach a final destination), “Donkey Kong” ushered in many now-common game mechanisms, like characters displaying emotion, and speech bubbles to further the narrative. It was a massive hit, selling 60,000 units totaling $180 million within a year. The plot featured Jumpman rescuing his girlfriend from the clutches of his pet gorilla — a love triangle inspired by the storyline of “Popeye.” (Some believe the game's title was a mistranslation of the word “monkey,” but creator Shigeru Miyamoto chose the word “donkey” to convey the character’s stubbornness.) The game’s success was followed up with the “Donkey Kong Jr.” sequel and the 1983 spinoff “Mario Bros.” These hits, which were eventually released for at-home video game consoles, cemented Nintendo’s place in North America, where it displaced Atari as an industry leader.
