Donkey Kong Blows Out 25 Candles

Nintendo’s Donkey Kong turns into a true silverback gorilla as he celebrates his 25th year this month. Donkey Kong was created by Shigeru Miyamoto and has appeared in many video games since 1981. But it wasn’t until 1994 that he started wearing his one and only article of clothing – the necktie!

Donkey Kong was born to help sell the poorly received RadarScope to American gamers and to say he did a good job would be an understatement. Donkey Kong became a sensational breakthrough not only for Nintendo but for the entire videogame industry as the game became one of the best-selling arcade machines of the 1980s.

Some sources say over 80,000 Donkey Kong machines were shipped in the US alone. In contrast, Street Fighter II‘s total global sales was only around 60,000 machines.

Due to the game’s success, Nintendo released Donkey Kong Junior and Donkey Kong 3, eight titles for the Game & Watch platform, and Donkey Kong based on the arcade versions. In the 1990’s, a new wave of Donkey Kong franchise was released for various platforms including Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong Country 2, and Donkey Kong Country 3 (SNES), Diddy Kong Racing and Donkey Kong 64 (Nintendo 64).

Donkey Kong also appeared on Mario sport and party spinoffs and the Super Smash Bros. franchise. As far as his solo career is concerned, he starred Donkey Konga, Donkey Konga 2, Donkey Konga 3, and Donkey Kong Jungle Beat.

Unlike many Hollywood stars who started their careers 25 years ago, Donkey Kong’s career is still alive and swinging. He will be seen in a number of new projects such as Mario Hoops 3-on-3, DK-King of Swing DS, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, and Yoshi’s Island 2 (Nintendo DS) DK Bongo Blast (GC) and Donkey Kong Wii.

Not bad for an 800-pound monkey wearing nothing but a necktie! Happy Birthday, Donkey Kong!

Nintendo’s Donkey Kong turns into a true silverback gorilla as he celebrates his 25th year this month. Donkey Kong was created by Shigeru Miyamoto and has appeared in many video games since 1981. But it wasn’t until 1994 that he started wearing his one and only article of clothing – the necktie!

Donkey Kong was born to help sell the poorly received RadarScope to American gamers and to say he did a good job would be an understatement. Donkey Kong became a sensational breakthrough not only for Nintendo but for the entire videogame industry as the game became one of the best-selling arcade machines of the 1980s.

Some sources say over 80,000 Donkey Kong machines were shipped in the US alone. In contrast, Street Fighter II‘s total global sales was only around 60,000 machines.

Due to the game’s success, Nintendo released Donkey Kong Junior and Donkey Kong 3, eight titles for the Game & Watch platform, and Donkey Kong based on the arcade versions. In the 1990’s, a new wave of Donkey Kong franchise was released for various platforms including Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong Country 2, and Donkey Kong Country 3 (SNES), Diddy Kong Racing and Donkey Kong 64 (Nintendo 64).

Donkey Kong also appeared on Mario sport and party spinoffs and the Super Smash Bros. franchise. As far as his solo career is concerned, he starred Donkey Konga, Donkey Konga 2, Donkey Konga 3, and Donkey Kong Jungle Beat.

Unlike many Hollywood stars who started their careers 25 years ago, Donkey Kong’s career is still alive and swinging. He will be seen in a number of new projects such as Mario Hoops 3-on-3, DK-King of Swing DS, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, and Yoshi’s Island 2 (Nintendo DS) DK Bongo Blast (GC) and Donkey Kong Wii.

Not bad for an 800-pound monkey wearing nothing but a necktie! Happy Birthday, Donkey Kong!