Donkey Kong

They Create Worlds

TCW Podcast Episode 227 - Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong, a game and character that stands as one of the foundational elements of video game history, has a popular narrative with some inaccuracies that need correction. Thanks to the efforts of Kate Willaert and Norman Caruso, we can better understand the influences and origins of Donkey Kong. Nintendo’s use of hardware from another game, Radar Scope, imposed technical limitations that prevented them from securing the desired Popeye license. Donkey Kong drew inspiration from games like Crazy Climber and Space Panic, and its four stages even incorporate elements of the Eastern storytelling structure known as Kishōtenketsu. Join us as we delve into the fascinating origins of Donkey Kong like never before!

Futurama - Quarters! A Million Allowances Worth of Quarters!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbPWti2CoRg

"Critical Kate" Willaert: https://www.acriticalhit.com/

Norman Caruso "The Gaming Historian": https://thegaminghistorian.com/

In The Year 2525 - Zager & Evans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb7poHQuMWg

Wikipedia (Donkey Kong - 1981 Video Game): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong_(1981_video_game)

Space Firebird (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0MSz55Ct-0

Radar Scope (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kbliYx51ok

Galaxian (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0OTi8hLYpg

How the Famicom was Born: https://glitterberri.com/developer-interviews/how-the-famicom-was-born/

Shmuplations - Shigeru Miyamoto – 2000 Developer Interview: https://shmuplations.com/miyamoto2000/

Shmuplations - Donkey Kong - A Record of Struggle: https://shmuplations.com/donkeykong/

Popeye The Sailor Man - A Dream Walking: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2rt7c6

Crazy Climber (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZxndttbLIY

Space Panic (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLd1xABCsaQ

Design Bytes SMB 1-1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La2aGhZxLkQ

Barrel Jumping Championship 1957: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvuK8NNSOnI

Scramble (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk6BTqzLLfk

Kishōtenketsu Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7to8TC5sJVc

Lionel Hutz Explains "The Truth": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nc88_ZEfxg

Gaming Historian - How the Mario Characters Got Their Names: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTyxQfpOEbE

Disinclined to acquiesce…: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SLGgIMCUzk

Donkey Kong (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBHJhla8TO4

Donkey Kong Cereal Commercials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGvDhBdClFY

Donkey Kong Cartoon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zyfayak2djo&list=PLP9LnKF6J6Lod1PYlsQ2zJ9OsZT-ALBga

New episodes are on the 1st and 15th of every month!

TCW Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @tcwpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds

Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Alex's book, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line retailers: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1

Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode - Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download: http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode

Outro Music: RoleMusic - Bacterial Love: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love

Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/