User:TheJoebro64/drafts/DK
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Donkey Kong[lower-alpha 1] is a video game series and media franchise created by the Japanese game designer Shigeru Miyamoto for Nintendo. The franchise follows the adventures of Donkey Kong, a large, powerful gorilla. Donkey Kong series include the original arcade game trilogy by Nintendo R&D1; the Donkey Kong Country series by Rare and Retro Studios; and the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series by Nintendo Software Technology. Various studios have developed spin-offs in other genres such as racing and rhythm. The franchise also incorporates animation, comics, merchandise, and theme parks.
Donkey Kong | |
---|---|
Created by | Shigeru Miyamoto |
Original work | Donkey Kong (1981) |
Owner | Nintendo |
Years | 1981–present |
Print publications | |
Comics | Super Mario-Kun |
Films and television | |
Film(s) | The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) |
Animated series | |
Games | |
Traditional | LCD games |
Video game(s) |
|
Audio | |
Original music | "DK Rap" |
Miscellaneous | |
Theme park attraction(s) | Super Nintendo World |
Related franchise(s) |
Miyamoto designed the original 1981 game to salvage unsold arcade cabinets following the failure of Radar Scope (1980). Donkey Kong was a major success and was followed by the sequels Donkey Kong Jr. (1982) and Donkey Kong 3 (1983). The franchise then went on a hiatus as Nintendo shifted its focus to the spin-off Mario franchise. Rare's 1994 reboot, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) game Donkey Kong Country, reestablished Donkey Kong as a major Nintendo franchise. Rare developed Donkey Kong games for the SNES, Game Boy, and Nintendo 64 until they were acquired by Microsoft in 2002; subsequent games have been handled by Nintendo, Retro Studios, Namco, and Paon.
The main Donkey Kong games are platformers in which the player must reach the end of a level. Donkey Kong was initially the antagonist, but became the protagonist starting with Country. The original games featured a small cast of characters, including Donkey Kong, Mario, Pauline, and Donkey Kong Jr. Rare's games expanded the cast with friendly Kongs, such as Diddy, Cranky, Funky, and Dixie, and the Kremlings, an army of antagonistic crocodiles led by Donkey Kong's nemesis King K. Rool. Mario, the protagonist of the 1981 game, went on to become Nintendo's mascot and the star of the Mario franchise, and Donkey Kong characters frequently appear in Mario games like Mario Kart, Mario Party, and Mario Tennis. Donkey Kong has also crossed over with other franchises in games such as Mario & Sonic and Super Smash Bros.
Donkey Kong is one of the bestselling video game franchises, selling over 65 million units by 2021. The 1981 game was Nintendo's first major international success and established it as a prominent player in the video game industry. The franchise has pioneered or popularized concepts such as in-game storytelling and pre-rendered graphics, inspired other games (including clones), and influenced popular culture.