History of Donkey Kong - Gaming Historian

Gaming Historian looks at the history of Donkey Kong, the game that gave Nintendo a footprint in the US video game market and introduced everyone's favorite plumber, Mario (known as Jumpman back in the day!)
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[@spencertucker8020]

It's neat seeing how far you've come in terms of production value and story telling. This is great stuff (even better if you consider how much content was trash on youtube a decade ago) but side by side, damn you've upped your game.

[@buchiklop110]

Man, this episode is begging to be remade, for multiple reasons.

[@bakerwulf]

Agreed

[@benitosierrajr3958]

I highly agree, even Norman knew that this episode has several errors in his "What Facts Did I Get Wrong?" episode, this episode NEEDS to be remade for modern days

[@davidyoung1268]

You ain't lying. Because the Popeye aspect was never covered about how the game was originally based off of Popeye, but had to be changed after they were denied rights to use the characters.

[@KaneRobot]

Another vote for a remake today. A lot of stuff that could be thrown in here now.

[@dynasxv]

Donkey Kong wasn't just based on Popeye, the game was originally going to be a popeye game but they couldn't get the rights so they changed the sprites, names, story and voila, Donkey Kong was born!

[@slapporist2180]

Really I thought they based it off King Kong cause a giant ape capturing a pretty girl sounds Familiar to me, or it could just be a coincidence

[@slapporist2180]

Oh wait it is never mind

[@lawrencehorner8418]

Fun fact: The year after Donkey Kong was released, Nintendo was able to release a video game version of Popeye. In it, Olive Oyl tosses down objects such as hearts and musical notes, and Popeye tries to catch them all while avoiding Brutus. There's also a can of spinach he can "power up" with. Unfortunately, the Popeye game wasn't nearly as successful as Donkey Kong turned out to be. Check it out: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popeye_(video_game)

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

@@slapporist2180 Universal tried to sue Nintendo over Donkey Kong because the film studio thought that the plot for DK resembled King Kong, but the suit ended in Nintendo's favor when it was revealed King Kong had since been in the public domain.

[@brandonspain12345]

Moral lesson: Make something original with your idea instead of taking something that's already popular.

[@JsRetroVideoGames]

This video made me a subscriber. As a kid I just loved playing NES games. Now it's interesting to learn the history behind it all.

[@marcusruizjr.4841]

I've watched so many of your videos today! Your videos are really well put together, you connect with the watchers very well! keep up with the videos man!!:)

[@O1993-f8u]

Fun Fact: The original King Kong has a sequel called Son of Kong. Donkey Kong Jr. could be a subtle reference to the movie.

[@raewynwirthanalysisuuiamab251]

O1993O1993 tyj

[@pcapcom5283]

I read about it in a book once.

[@minix07]

I *could*

[@BlackMoore82]

Find it interesting that Donkey Kong, Mario, and Pauline turned 40 this past July and Nintendo didn't bother mentioning that or make a celebration about it.

[@KSSBG]

DK has been getting no love from Nintendo for some years now, tf they doing, last was tropical freeze

[@Kanzuki]

Ah, this takes me back to a simpler time on KZbin. I wasn't watching this channel at the time sadly, but it reminds me of videos from the era

[@GamingWithGeo]

There was also Crazy Kong, which I remember playing as a kid at a gas station close to my house. Everyone has always said it was a bootleg version, but it was officially licensed by Nintendo, before they revoked their license due to a breath of contract.

[@dadandhisgames9779]

Donkey Kong games have definitely been a part of my history. I remember being a kid in the 80s playing the arcade version at a local bowling alley, I spent quite a few quarters on that one! Of course I played some of the other DK games starting with the Atari 2600 version on up to the NES version. I remember when Donkey Kong Country came out, there was actually a Nintendo representative at my local Walmart allowing people to try the game in the store before it was released and that game for sure became popular with my wife and kids. It's amazing to see how Nintendo became famous with such an unusual character for a video game lol.

[@ChenSaboriNyan]

>>says zelda 2:34 >>shows picture of link FFFFFUUUUUUUUUU

[@imnotsure9407]

word

[@sammfiggy112284]

i have been finding myself hooked on your videos! each and every single day i take a watch to a new one and learn so much about the video game history! i am greatful for your reviews which have cleared up alot of questions ive had for many years now! Thank You Mr Game historian and please keep the videoes going for years to come! if you can....if its possible..... could you do a few more nintendo classic best sellers from the arcades just like you did Donkey Kong.... maybe possibly.... Contra or R-type please. thank you again for your awesome videos you now have me as a loyal fan for life!

[@In_The_80s]

Seeing how old some of these videos are it makes me glad that I've been a subscriber for a long time. I love revisiting your older videos. Even back then you did such a great job providing us with quality entertainment.

[@Funsickled]

ha, ha. I got hooked on gaming historian through the latest vids. Going back it's easy to tell the new stuff's better produced with a more modern documentary styled polish. Perhaps in due time the subjects in the older vids can be remade with the newer professional format. still, I'll take new videos with other game industry subjects yet to be covered. :D

[@Nitrometutorials]

You forgot to mention that Nintendo tried to get license to Popeye, but had to re-skin them as the Donkey Kong characters when they couldn't acquire it.

[@romaingauthier2653]

Also that Nintendo didn't develop Donkey Kong, they outsourced it to another company to execute Myamoto's concept (he still made the graphics I think). Also this was a great missed opportunity to mention the hilarious Universal lawsuit regarding Donkey Kong -> King Kong...

[@JaredEX]

Romain Gauthier He made a video about that Lawsuit

[@benjackson7872]

Yup

[@SailorMaxie]

Ironic, considering they made a Popeye arcade game in 1983.

[@jeremysoronen8154]

So glad I found this channel. Who would have thought there was educational stuff on this Internets.

[@jeffreyspangler9617]

You should redo this episode.It's great, it deserves more views, and could be updated in a variety of ways.

[@sammfiggy112284]

i have been finding myself hooked on your videos! each and every single day i take a watch to a new one and learn so much about the video game history! i am greatful for your reviews which have cleared up alot of questions ive had for many years now! Thank You Mr Game historian and please keep the videoes going for years to come! if you can....if its possible..... could you do a few more nintendo classic best sellers from the arcades just like you did Donkey Kong.... maybe possibly.... Contra or R-type please. thank you again for your awesome videos you now have me as a loyal fan for life!

[@jcb3393]

3:18 - "Donkey Kong was inspired by Popeye" And this explains why the Popeye video game (which I remember from my Commodore 64) is FAAAAR too similar to Donkey Kong.

[@solidsneakie]

I've just found your channel - its amazing! Well done, and keep up the great work :)

[@thedinobros1218]

The arcade game is so hard, Mario can’t even fall a few pixels down without dying.

[@Sererena]

Thanks Norman! I love these!

[@GamerNRetro]

Dude, I am LOVING all of your videos.

[@sanny87]

Been watching your vids all day. They are brilliant. Thank you.

[@BfDelano]

It's great to see your videos coming back!

[@rezahydra]

This makes me miss Iwota even more. Rest In Peace, Mr. Iwota.

[@Thalesperes]

On the first donkey kong country, the opening sequence of the game shows cranky and a gramophone on a construction that resembles the scenary of the Donkey Kong arcade game.... I believe that this supports the theory that Cranky is, in fact the Kong from the arcade game....

[@Juschillgamer]

I love this type of content! So educational and fun to watch!

[@chefjamesmacinnis]

this video is 10 years old. I would love to watch a remake.

[@shadowpod13]

You causally reveal the origins of Mario's name in this episode. WOW! 4:00

[@brandonspain12345]

Wait, if Cranky Kong is the original Donkey Kong, then how old is Mario and Pauline...?

[@Wizzmane]

2:46 He be asserting dominance tho

[@kireiamejin8106]

I know the video is old by now, but i think it'd be nice to mention that the current look and gameplay of "Donkey kong" for the arcades came to form when "Nintendo" failed an attemp to get a license for the "Popeye" characters in the hopes to create arcade machines based on the popular comic strip. After this failure "Miyamoto" changed around some character designs and game plot to create the version of the arcade we all know and love today.

[@Cp-71]

What is the first character that pops to my head when I think about Nintendo? Actually, Donkey Kong.

[@midwestmonster9886]

There actually is a brief moment in the 1976 version of King Kong where the titular ape throws barrels of flammable material at a man with a flamethrower. (It ends how you would expect.) I can't imagine that Shigeru Miyamoto saw that version of King Kong and took note of that specific scene though.

[@TheIcefreeze]

Whenever I see a glimpse of your room I have to remind myself that I'm watching Gaming Historian and not Avgn because of how similar the video style is, the way he dresses and his game collection and even the way you talk is similar to him.

[@meligarcia]

Imagine a world without Miyamoto.

[@Capdude221]

No I can't

[@nandini555]

No i wont

[@jdog34505]

Mario would’ve never existed

[@meligarcia]

@@jdog34505 that's the whole point

[@ImSpidermen]

I think the theory goes: Cranky was the original DK, DK jr was his son, and the Donkey Kong we all know from DKC is DK jr's son and Cranky's grandson.

[@JaviBrenes]

Wow your videos have come a long way, but all the bases for a great youtube channel were there from the start!

[@TheSpectr]

Cranky Kong is the original Donkey Kong but the new Donkey Kong is his grandson and Donkey Kong Jr is the new Donkey Kong’s dad.

[@michaelbreen7865]

Mario, Donkey Kong, Pikachu, Kirby, Samus, Pitt, AND LJN come to mind for me.

[@enrico759]

DK grew up so fast. Wish I could find a DK Arcade machine here in the Pacific Northwest. It’s as if they don’t exist anymore since the 80s.

[@Rleeson85]

are you just releasing all your old videos again? cause I seen thi one before as weel as the NES 2 maybe its just me but I thought I seen these last 2 videos already

[@Lexilove2016]

What?

[@NC_Isro_64]

Your comment is 11 years old

[@minix07]

Yea duh

[@LSweet2007]

Sing the lyrics to Elvis' "Don't be cruel" to the 'Donkey Kong' music at the beginning!

[@Lexilove2016]

2:37 Norman: Zelda, *picture of kink appears next to his head*

[@coadjacob]

Well, to be fair, I think he knows, he's just referring Zelda as in the franchise, not Link himself.

[@ClefairyRox]

When Mario, or Jumpman, rather, was first concepted, they made him a carpenter. However, they changed his occupation to a plumber when the Mario Bros. arcade game was released.

[@827adrian]

I have a little bit of fact that he left out. Donkey Kong was originally known in Japan as Monkey Kong, but, as I passed to America, it was mistranslated into Donkey Kong, and the name stuck, his name soon changing to that in Japan as well. This kinda contradicts to his stuff, and I'm not sure it's true. I heard it from my school, from a huge Nintendo fanatic. Dunno if it's true.

[@MagusMarquillin]

"when you think Nintendo, who is the first character who comes to mind?" Well, obviously it's Mario, because you shoved him front and center when you asked.

[@gitgeronimo9375]

Oh how far you’ve come, Norman. Even starting this video by misspelling Michael Chrichton’s name. I’d love to see this video remade.

[@lukenluken]

Amazing man, awesome video. Keep them up please!

[@d.danger4335]

Wow a decade now and it’s amazing

[@JamesOhGoodie]

You should have included the best part of Donkey Kong's saga: Universal Pictures tried to sue Nintendo because they said the game infringed on their copyright on "King Kong". This lawsuit was headed by Sid Sheinberg, who'd later become infamous for trying to re-edit Terry Gilliam's "Brazil". Howard Lincoln found out Universal DIDN'T own the copyright to "King Kong", and the studio in fact went out of their way years before to prove the license was public domain. Needless ot say, Nintendo won.

[@2006man]

Somebody probably said it here already, but the current DK isn't DK Jr. DK Jr. is missing in action currently, and the current DK is the grandson of the original DK.

[@mevb]

In the DKC manual, it is stated that Cranky is grampa, not his dad. It is actually in DK64 that told about this mistake. In other words Donkey Kong Junior is actually the current DK's dad.

[@dellosayshello5405]

I just realized the intro is a comparison to between past and current well current at the time games

[@calebxcuyugan]

Popeye is one of my favourite tv shows I just love him

[@a1.70]

I have good memories playing donkey kong on the SNES with a old school friend. I remember his carts used to be in terrible condition with no boxes and manuals. Only if he knew the value today.

[@ToiletPlugger]

Wasn't it true that nintendo or someone was developing a popeye game but didn't have the rights for it so they did DK and Mario on a whim?

[@icarus212001]

No, since that Popeye game was made and released.

[@JsRetroVideoGames]

I heard that was true. And then after all the money they made off Donkey Kong, they were able to pay for the rights to do their popeye game in 1982 and that's why the game play is similar to Donkey Kong.

[@a1.70]

The Popeye characters were originally going to be used in the game that later became Donkey Kong. Popeye was released because I have the arcade port on my NES

[@unclebugspayton]

Excellent! Keep up the great work.

[@damonkatumaru]

Nintendo was sued by universal studios since they though they had the rights to Kong because of their movie King Kong. Just when Nintendo was on the ropes to loose the lawsuits, Kirby stepped in, pointing out that the movie studios admitted that the Kong's open domain. Thanks to Kirby, Nintendo manage to save their license and Kirby won a Boat named after DK, as well as the pink puff ball's named after him.

[@CasualVideoGamer]

Yeah, he had removed his account & videos not too long ago due to some personal issues. Though it seems he had gotten over the personal issues and is coming back with stuff. At the moment, he's re-uploading his older videos.

[@PrinceDavid]

Great video Norman. I can't wait to see more!

[@danieldougan8613]

I'm glad you got a new camera, Norman.

[@akisey1]

dude, your show should be on TV! Very professional

[@Beanbruh]

For a sec I thought he was gonna say If you don’t know who shigeru Miya Miyamoto is you need some serious help

[@cavee2147]

that was cranking Kong on the Donkey Kong arcade game and Donkey Kong jr. is today's Donkey Kong

[@courage1363]

Well the theory is so wrong, because in Smash Bros Brawl when you use Snakes Codec in Shadow Moses Island, Octacon will state that the current Donkey Kong is actually Cranky Kongs Grandson, not is regular son, since the DK on the gameboy's version of Donkey Kong could be Cranky Kong in his younger days, because Donkey Kong Country didn't appear till November and all the release dates in the Gameboy version of Donkey Kong where before November and also to bebunk it more that in the trivia section on the Super Mario wiki page on the Gameboy version of Donkey Kong states that "This will be the last appearance of the Original Donkey Kong".

[@AVGNROCKS1996]

Classic Game Room is a featured video? FREAKIN SWEET

[@07mcnallyl]

welcome back gaming historian!

[@Bustersword07]

Its funny how this video is teaching you how Donkey Kong was created but we are learning how Mario was created too.

[@spydersoup8447]

Here's one thing that Nintendo confirmed. That orignal Donkey Kong arcade game actually took place in New Donk City. Yes, I mean the same city from the recently released Super Mario Odyssey. To prove this is true, try going through the buildings in the city while it's night while Jump Up, Super Star is playing, they will have the same structures from one of the levels from the arcade game. Also, have a look at this cover. 6:12 That lady Donkey Kong is holding, doesn't she look familiar to you?

[@xXSpongeBroBrownPantzXx]

2:47 our boi shigeru doin the t-pose before it was cool.

[@Treasurefan02]

Woah, that's cool that they added in character development to Donkey Kong.

[@key099able]

i will be suprised to see gametrailers do a retrospect of the mario series and all your history made a episode of mario

[@dellosayshello5405]

I like how the early video he still has the same mannerism as avgn or avgn like creator during that time

[@DannyHauger]

You do a really great job with these videos, the photos, the narration. You have a bright future and I look forward to watching your career "level up"! If you ever need background guitar music for videos I would love to compose for them!

[@BloodyNightmare1991]

Danny Hauger this video is 7 years old, he's already "leveled up" as you say with having over 275,000 subscribers and putting out content regularly. Lol.

[@carolinasleeper4484]

and his new videos are on par with a professional documentary, except without the bullshit to lengthen them to an hour.

[@RPGtourguide]

I wonder why the name change for Donkey/Cranky... is it a custom of their civilization that, after a certain age, you are given a new name which fits your personality? Hmmm...

[@NationJJ]

Just traveling back in time.

[@StringedGuitar17]

I clicked on a Donkey Kong video. I got a Donkey Kong ad.

[@nathanyarymowich]

I love when he says zelda and link comes up! 2:30

[@legatodark]

Glad ur back ^_^

[@AgentOrange502]

after watching two videos, im definitely subscribing.

[@MotownWes]

Donkey Kong is absolutely my favorite Character from the Mario universe.

[@timboslice1979]

DK on SNES was awesome. It pushed the limits of the SNES and almost looked 32-bit. Amazing.

[@Q9R42]

Checking out all your videos on youtube that you're uploading now. Will be fun to see new videos later (:

[@stonewall11b1984]

Great video. Keep em coming!

[@karnagefails333]

Great video homie!!

[@zmbdog]

How is it a "theory"? You just said the manual states that new DK is the son of the original!

[@Metroid250]

I wonder if he made episodes before this one (and deleted them), or if he's just that good at production and editing.

[@goldenlink4732]

Mario's appeared in over 200 video games? Wow, guess it'll be a long time before I get every game with Mario in it :D

[@frenchfrey65]

wow... i never learned so much at once! this was utterly AWESOME! The name origin had me lmao! all i can say is that you should have a tv show like everyone else says XD

[@benkrygsheld]

Skipped one of the most important parts of the Donkey Kong story and a HUGE part of gaming history, the Universal vs Nintendo lawsuit over the game and the movie King Kong.

[@troyandrew6154]

He covered that in another video he made

[@BHNative]

Subscribing. Your channel is awesome. I wish I could spend more time here learning about the gaming history.

[@rupman27isback]

Awesome video! You need a whole video of Metroid!!!!!!

[@dj32milli]

A suggestion for a future video would be the history of capcom or history of atari

[@jessejace]

That thing about the coin shortage caused by Space Invaders is an urban legend. There's a lot of evidence to suggest it isn't true.

[@DoubleWonderful]

great video... i saw these on that website a couple of months ago....making your own website? nice! keep up the great work

[@johneysupergd7796]

Well, for those people wich will think that donkeykong was one of the first arcade in the us , well no think again because there were 7 arcade games released before donkeykong, including sheriff,rader scope, space fever,helifire ,space launcher etc,,,it’s sad that most of those games are all forgotten.

[@KHayes666]

My favorite part is still 4:20 Captain Lou!

[@newguy90]

This is old, but I think you're kind of off. IIRC, the game that made Donkey Kong possible was the arcade game Popeye, which had been developed by Nintendo. Popeye was a huge hit in North America, but Nintendo couldn't secure the license for a sequel. The failed sequel eventually became Donkey Kong.