I read a book about this, and from what I remember, the reason Miyamoto was put in charge of the project was basically that Nintendo of America needed a new game by last week and Nintendo of Japan had no one else to spare. They were basically like "well, everyone who actually has experience is super busy, and we can't take them off of their projects. But we have an intern who has some good ideas, and hey, better than nothing, right?"
I was working the register at a store near where I live and a few times I thought I had just sold some stuff to Reggie, but I didn't think it could be true. One day I saw him come in and as he was walking up to the register I finally worked up enough courage to ask him: "are you... Reggie?" And he smiled and responded: "that's me." It was surreal.
fun fact: Shigeru Miyamoto was presented with the opportunity to put a patent on jumping in video games since Donkey Kong was the first game which featured the player being able to jump. Miyamoto thankfully decided against patenting it because he knew that would be horrible for other video game developers.
@Dovydas S. Mainly from Game Over by David Sheff. Probably the best book of Nintendo history you'll ever read. Written in the early 90's and has lots of anecdotes from the early days of Nintendo when memories were still fresh It's out of print, but absolutely worth reading anyway you can.
@Jordan Guy Do this in the morning when you first wake up and your body heat will rise giving your more energy throughout the day. Also take up meditation...your welcome! ;)
There's one more fun thing to this story. After the game became a success the other programmers wanted some of that sweet money. But Miyamoto grabbed it all, ran up to the roof, yelled "I am the Donkey CEO now!" and summoned fireballs that burned down the building.
For the respect towards Gunpei Yokoi (Father of Samus Aran & Wario) and love for the massively underrated Donkey Kong 94’ (the first instance of 3D Mario’s jump mechanics) this is sincerely my favorite video of yours ever.
DK is a marvel of programming. So many little details that make it look nice, for example how the barrels falls, how they bounce when they land falling from a girder. And then the extremely challenging, frustrating and yet satisfying gameplay.
@Jatoxo ok kid with a weeb pfp, you surely know how to make a funny joke that made everyone laugh. Imagine saying that programming in Fortran is same as today programming in c++ or c#. Like were you actually born yesterday
@Willi Hansen I'm not gonna copy paste what I already said again lmao. Was my point to say Donkey Kong wasn't impressive for it's time? No, it was not. Learn2read noob
Looking at Nintendo’s history with some of the toys and products they used to put out, it’s no wonder they’re always breaking the mold by doing some weird stuff in the realm of gaming.
one of my favorite things about donkey kong’s development history is when lead designer john nintendo was showing his friend hideo kojima one of their earlier builds which would be his inspiration for making elephant stranding 2 (box set commentaries featuring john travolta)
I love you so much it’s indescribable Dunkey, you’re a beautiful human being and your take on life will be timeless eternally 🫶🫶p.s.i’m indescribably inebriated atm
It was Christmas and my parents gifted me this on the Game Boy, thinking it was Super Mario. I never revealed to them my utter disappointment and played the game with a smile on my face (yes, THIS game as a child) After all these years however, I'm happy I played a historical videogame masterpiece out of randomness
Really good docu-video, I'm a big Nintendo fan I didn' t know they produced such toys and a freaking love tester, seriously nintendo? Instantly videogamedunkey classic
Incredible that how Nintendo went from making toys to making arcade and console games throughout the years,and they started with a simple plumber and a ape. Thanks Genpei and Miyamoto for creating these iconic video game characters.
Donkey Kong for the GB is absolutely legendary, subversive and innovative beyond it's years. Is kind of like MGS 2 before MGS 2 the way it pulls the rug beneath the player. I hope it gets reviewed next!
Donkey Kong for Gameboy is an amazing game that I didn't expect to be good. I recognized the name so I asked for it. I remember my mom got it for me while I was recovering from surgery one time. We don't really do gifts outside of birthdays and Christmas so it stuck out to me. I wasn't expecting such an amazing puzzle platformer title. If you've played the Mini Mario games that is basically the first game in the series with similar gameplay.
@Super Dude Are you trying to tell me that you don't love Dunkey? (Gasp!) Who are you, wait a minute... Are you JonTron? (AKA Timothy Brentwood). At least you remembered to like your own comment, troll.
Donkey Kong for the gameboy was an entire game built around the same mechanics presented in the arcade version. I didn't realize this until I grew up. It still holds well to this day and is one of the best out there.
tbh it's obvious the "story" Dunkey presents isn't at all intended (especially with Miyamoto) but he somehow makes it believable as fuck. Really cut deep.
The range that Seth Rogen managed to bring to this arcade with just a few beeps is just amazing. I can remember as a kid in the arcade being taunted by Donkey Kong's famous laugh "ehuhehehehheh" as he took the princess and jumped up 20 stories. I still hear it in my nightmares
@MK Ultra I know how to tag people. Doesn't work on the mobile browser though which is where I predominantly watch/listen and comment from as I still get access to features locked behind premium now on the app like being able to turn the screen off while continuing playback. Thanks for the condescending concern though, means a lot.
The range that Seth Rogen managed to bring to this arcade with just a few beeps is just amazing. I can remember as a kid in the arcade being taunted by Donkey Kong's famous laugh "ehuhehehehheh" as he took the princess and jumped up 20 stories. I still hear it in my nightmares
Repent. Believe in Jesus. John 3:16 KJV - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Luke 13:3 KJV - I tell you nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
@sixstringpsycho Other people managed to get old without taking a ton of stupid decisions, so no, I don't think it's age. Also, a bunch of crap he did and said in interviews is almost 20 years old. It's got nothing to do with age and his "fall" has been in the making for many years.
@Jesserror I mean, Bobby Kottick still runs Activision-Blizzard even though he not only does nothing about all the bullying and sexual harrasment that happens there, but actively hides it and participates in it himself. He hired a woman (after media started talking about the mistreatment of women there) as a co-leader, who left after realizing she was paid less than her male co-leader. He gives himself so many millions in bonuses (on top of his salary) that even the investors started to be against it. Not to mention people like Harvey Weinstein. The idea that horrible people who keep making money get fired is pretty idealistic. That being said though Miyamoto does seems like a genuinly good person.
so glad he addressed the tie fighter thing. when it first flashed up in the video, i was like, is he really not gonna say anything about that?! but then he did, after a beat. thank goodness.
History Channel has the Toys that Made America and this season did an episode on early video games. They have one coming up that is going to focus on video games after the crash in '83 that I'm fairly certain is going to focus on Nintendo, Sega, and Sony and is probably going to be the season finale. I know it's not Dunkey, but it's something and is a really interesting.
Check out jeremy parish's nes works or famicom works series, he does very in depth retrospectives on each game released for the nes with a focus on their history/creation and impact. Also has series for game boy, snes, virtual boy and a couple other shorter ones
Donkey Kong '94 is an amazing game though, Mario takes all the athletics from Mario 64 and brings it back to the construction yard. Still dies to fall damage.
the gameboy game is actually the biggest game I have for the classic gameboy, it feels bigger than pokemon gold/silver. there are sooooo many levels and ways of interaction with the scenery. yeah I had 99 lives because I rock and never made it past the final level...
the funny thing about the ending is that it seems like a joke, but gameboy donkey kong is actually an insanely good game & still probably one of the best 2d platformers nintendo has ever made.
Another Donkey Kong December and another video with no dislikes. Dunkey does it again!
I literally cannot see any dislikes!!!
dunkay kang
What a beautiful day to live in 2014
@Agent Man #42 Lanky Kong should’ve KONGED you
Wow, still 0 dislikes. Great, hehe!
I read a book about this, and from what I remember, the reason Miyamoto was put in charge of the project was basically that Nintendo of America needed a new game by last week and Nintendo of Japan had no one else to spare. They were basically like "well, everyone who actually has experience is super busy, and we can't take them off of their projects. But we have an intern who has some good ideas, and hey, better than nothing, right?"
@Mike There is no such thing as staying home in Japan.
@duckqueak If Miyamoto stayed home sick that day the world would’ve ended.
@SSid07 Games best one and most complete is "how nintendo conquered america"
Some real butterfly effect shit.
Video game creators?
5:23 Dunkey has never been more adorable. What a goddamn wholesome ass video. He told that story as if he had been growing up at the same time.
"donkikon"
I was working the register at a store near where I live and a few times I thought I had just sold some stuff to Reggie, but I didn't think it could be true. One day I saw him come in and as he was walking up to the register I finally worked up enough courage to ask him: "are you... Reggie?" And he smiled and responded: "that's me." It was surreal.
I met him one time when he was speaking at Cornell since I live near by. He's just as nice in person as in Nintendo directs!
fun fact: Shigeru Miyamoto was presented with the opportunity to put a patent on jumping in video games since Donkey Kong was the first game which featured the player being able to jump. Miyamoto thankfully decided against patenting it because he knew that would be horrible for other video game developers.
It's seriously hard to tell what are fake facts, jokes or real stories. Dunkey does amazing with these retrospectives
@Choas_Lord_512 idk why people were so upset at this comment lol.
nintendo miyamoto is a real guy look it up
@Del GATO! And King Shark is a shark.
@Dovydas S. Mainly from Game Over by David Sheff. Probably the best book of Nintendo history you'll ever read. Written in the early 90's and has lots of anecdotes from the early days of Nintendo when memories were still fresh
It's out of print, but absolutely worth reading anyway you can.
@Joey Murywhere are you getting this info from? Books, wiki, magazines? Very curious.
dunkey ending the video with "more donkey" really shows how he's passionate about the fact that he grew up in new donk city
The way dunkey says "Donkey Kong" at the end is pure bliss.
Donkey Kong December is back! Dunkey never disappoints!
Damn it didn't feel like 5 minutes video, I want more of this
I was so immersed in this that I felt genuinely upset when it ended
@Jordan Guy Do this in the morning when you first wake up and your body heat will rise giving your more energy throughout the day.
Also take up meditation...your welcome! ;)
It really made me FEEL like a Donkey Kong.
ya me too the end was especially funny "it was called( drum roll) doneky kong!
i forgot it wasnt gonna be a 20min video at the LEAST
@JC MCgee ok I gotchu, probably won’t take long in this weather
we need more retrospective videos like this
this is the greatest story I ever heard. I think I cried tears at how beautiful it was.
The map, the graphics, the new weapons, the bikes, the battle pass!! I'm loving this season so far!
This is a certified Dunkey classic
Finally it's the most wonderful time of the year.
Donkey Kong December
Cranky did start all the Donkey Kong Craze,man.
Ok guys bring yours walnuts🎵Deasnuts🎵Pineapple Smells🎶
Grapes🎵Melons🎵Oranges and Coconut Shells Aww Yeah🎵🎶 It's Dunkey Kong December 🎶
There's one more fun thing to this story.
After the game became a success the other programmers wanted some of that sweet money. But Miyamoto grabbed it all, ran up to the roof, yelled "I am the Donkey CEO now!" and summoned fireballs that burned down the building.
videogamedunkey, you are such a brilliant artist and creator. Thank you for your funny and honest videos.
I fell into a trance and forgot the video length. I thought he was about to give the entire history in an hour long retrospective.
@Roddy Dykes @TinyZ
The Donkey Kong video he just uploaded made the dream real.
I’d watch it if he did
Love to see the Dunkey Kong series during this tough Christmas!
I never thought I would see the return of Donkey Kong December. Dunkey has really done it again, bravo
Say I won't do it
Dunkey, this is some of your best work yet. Dam, you are a genious.
For the respect towards Gunpei Yokoi (Father of Samus Aran & Wario) and love for the massively underrated Donkey Kong 94’ (the first instance of 3D Mario’s jump mechanics) this is sincerely my favorite video of yours ever.
I remember beating it on both difficulties in Donkey Kong 64 and it was one of the hardest things I've ever done in a video game
I finally learned the donkey lore, thank you Dunkey 🙏🏽
this 5 minute video feels like an immersive and gripping 2 hour documentary. how does Dunkey do it
Correction 5 minutes and 34 seconds
This was only 5 minutes?
WOAH I had to check.. that's crazy it doesn't feel like it
Probably cause you experienced some of this yourself
Idk
Literally could watch these all day
this was one of the best documentaries ever made
and it came out 2 days ago lol dunkey is a legend
we knew dunkey could never forget nor forsake dunkey kong december
I remember playing this game in the arcade I actually felt like I was a donkey.
I really liked this and wish he kept going. I would watch a long form doc narrated by Donkey about Nintendo's rise. Or even just a Miyamoto doc.
DK is a marvel of programming. So many little details that make it look nice, for example how the barrels falls, how they bounce when they land falling from a girder. And then the extremely challenging, frustrating and yet satisfying gameplay.
@Jatoxo I asked you to tell me if you consider ANYTHING impressive from that time! Can you not read? And why do you have to be rude now?
@Jatoxo ok kid with a weeb pfp, you surely know how to make a funny joke that made everyone laugh. Imagine saying that programming in Fortran is same as today programming in c++ or c#. Like were you actually born yesterday
@Willi Hansen I'm not gonna copy paste what I already said again lmao. Was my point to say Donkey Kong wasn't impressive for it's time? No, it was not. Learn2read noob
@JatoxoSure, Let's compare 80s games programming to the modern games and call it basic.
There's no public internet and stackoverflow backthen m8.
@Jatoxo Which 1981 game would you consider superior programming then? Or was everything from that period mediocre rubbish?
I think ”Donkey Kong” at it’s core is all about the important question the player faces right from the start, namely, how high can you get?
Finally a large enough project where they can afford to bring donkey Kong in the game 😁
The history of Donkey Kong. Amazing. What a way to start Donkey Kong December.
Looking at Nintendo’s history with some of the toys and products they used to put out, it’s no wonder they’re always breaking the mold by doing some weird stuff in the realm of gaming.
Ah yes, the first "Barrel" type game.
A masterclass of innovation.
The original barrel roll!
You can even call it.. the first Barrel Strand game...
52 dislieks
We have to rename it from "Rogue-Like" to "Barrel-Like"
Well because..
That's that
It is just a shyame we had to wait nearly 30 years for the second Barrel type game: Donkey Kong Barrel Blast
Ah, Donkey Kong December. My favorite time of year!
one of my favorite things about donkey kong’s development history is when lead designer john nintendo was showing his friend hideo kojima one of their earlier builds which would be his inspiration for making elephant stranding 2 (box set commentaries featuring john travolta)
I love you so much it’s indescribable Dunkey, you’re a beautiful human being and your take on life will be timeless eternally 🫶🫶p.s.i’m indescribably inebriated atm
It was Christmas and my parents gifted me this on the Game Boy, thinking it was Super Mario.
I never revealed to them my utter disappointment and played the game with a smile on my face (yes, THIS game as a child)
After all these years however, I'm happy I played a historical videogame masterpiece out of randomness
Just in time for Donkey Kong December, Dunkey never dissapoints.
It's a Christmas season tradition.
I knew he wouldn't let us down
@4:47 "this game is about life"
Facts. That hit me hard.
Really good docu-video, I'm a big Nintendo fan I didn' t know they produced such toys and a freaking love tester, seriously nintendo? Instantly videogamedunkey classic
Incredible that how Nintendo went from making toys to making arcade and console games throughout the years,and they started with a simple plumber and a ape.
Thanks Genpei and Miyamoto for creating these iconic video game characters.
I remade this very game in 3d. It was a blast!
This made me feel like a Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong for the GB is absolutely legendary, subversive and innovative beyond it's years. Is kind of like MGS 2 before MGS 2 the way it pulls the rug beneath the player. I hope it gets reviewed next!
I remember beating it on both difficulties in Donkey Kong 64 and it was one of the hardest things I've ever done in a video game
I'd genuinely love to hear a documentary with his voice.
I’m craving a 90 minute Dunkey Documentary just discussing video game history. I would pay to see it in a theater.
@J-Beezy have my children please
Wow! The creator of My Movie 123! Now that is something people would pay to see in a theater!
Imagine Dunkey getting a biopic in the very far future
Action button pacman review
A Dunkumentary, if you will.
Donkey Kong '96 for Game Boy was my go to for decades. I still have my original cart and it is the pinnacle of that OGDK feel.
Donkey Kong December is back. Looking forward to a new Donkey Kong video every day per tradition!
Gottal love how dunkey trolls us so, yet we keep coming back
Donkey Kong on the Gameboy was my first and favorite childhood game. I've beaten it so many times.
this is a certified dunkey classic
@DreSaidSo dunkey certified comment
Dunkey Kong
no way dunkey hearted my comment lesgooooo 🥲
So Knack then
no its not
Glad to see another installment in the Donkey Kong December franchise
Donkey Kong for Gameboy is an amazing game that I didn't expect to be good. I recognized the name so I asked for it. I remember my mom got it for me while I was recovering from surgery one time. We don't really do gifts outside of birthdays and Christmas so it stuck out to me. I wasn't expecting such an amazing puzzle platformer title. If you've played the Mini Mario games that is basically the first game in the series with similar gameplay.
Dunkey we need more of this thanks
I love Donkey Kong December, it's my favourite Christmas tradition
Donkey Kong December is back! Dunkey never disappoints!
@Memelvin TT-PP TP must mean troll posting.
@Super Dude based
If he doesn't do it every day, I'm telling Reggie.
@UnowDValcon the only one brave enough to say what we're all thinking
@Super Dude Are you trying to tell me that you don't love Dunkey? (Gasp!) Who are you, wait a minute... Are you JonTron? (AKA Timothy Brentwood). At least you remembered to like your own comment, troll.
The best part about this video is I can't tell if these are real things that happened or not
You always have such great scripts for your vids, Dunk
Grabbed my Switch. Put the NES games, Donkey Kong. Passed the 3 levels on 5 mins with one live. What a time to be alive.
Donkey Kong for the gameboy was an entire game built around the same mechanics presented in the arcade version. I didn't realize this until I grew up. It still holds well to this day and is one of the best out there.
Man thank god he’s still consistently uploading Donkey Kong every single day this month
Say he do it
You got his good grace
*HE'S THE LEADER OF THE BUNCH*
*YOU KNOW HIM WELL*
@Satellaview 64 i don't even know who tf Justin Trudeau is
@MT Lino it is funny that Justin Trudeau is gay
dunkey history videos are always a welcome addition to his catalogue!
when he said "this game is about life" i felt that
I remember playing donkey Kong on gameboy in like grade 3. Good stuff.
tbh it's obvious the "story" Dunkey presents isn't at all intended (especially with Miyamoto) but he somehow makes it believable as fuck. Really cut deep.
The range that Seth Rogen managed to bring to this arcade with just a few beeps is just amazing. I can remember as a kid in the arcade being taunted by Donkey Kong's famous laugh "ehuhehehehheh" as he took the princess and jumped up 20 stories. I still hear it in my nightmares
MK Ultra
Will do
MK Ultra
Alrighty.
MK Ultra
Super.
@MK Ultra
I know how to tag people. Doesn't work on the mobile browser though which is where I predominantly watch/listen and comment from as I still get access to features locked behind premium now on the app like being able to turn the screen off while continuing playback. Thanks for the condescending concern though, means a lot.
Smoke up, Bowser! Hurhurhurhur!
The range that Seth Rogen managed to bring to this arcade with just a few beeps is just amazing. I can remember as a kid in the arcade being taunted by Donkey Kong's famous laugh "ehuhehehehheh" as he took the princess and jumped up 20 stories. I still hear it in my nightmares
Hope we'll see another traditional muffin tier list soon as it's 17th anniversary approaches. It's donkey Kong december, after all
The perfect video to kick off Donkey Kong December
So glad donkey kong december is still in full swing
I just realized that both Mario and Miyamoto debuted as unassuming everymen and eventually became heroes. That's actually beautiful.
Repent. Believe in Jesus. John 3:16 KJV - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Luke 13:3 KJV - I tell you nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
@Dr. Büni Matter of fact, the real hero was Satoru Iwata... NEVER FORGOTTEN!!!
@sixstringpsycho Other people managed to get old without taking a ton of stupid decisions, so no, I don't think it's age. Also, a bunch of crap he did and said in interviews is almost 20 years old. It's got nothing to do with age and his "fall" has been in the making for many years.
@Claurio Silva Neves then you become a star (star powerup)
@Jesserror I mean, Bobby Kottick still runs Activision-Blizzard even though he not only does nothing about all the bullying and sexual harrasment that happens there, but actively hides it and participates in it himself. He hired a woman (after media started talking about the mistreatment of women there) as a co-leader, who left after realizing she was paid less than her male co-leader. He gives himself so many millions in bonuses (on top of his salary) that even the investors started to be against it. Not to mention people like Harvey Weinstein. The idea that horrible people who keep making money get fired is pretty idealistic. That being said though Miyamoto does seems like a genuinly good person.
When he said he'd do a Donkey Kong video for every day of December, he never stated he'd do it in the same year. The long (donkey) con....
Yet another videogamedunkey video masterpiece 👌🏿👌🏿👌🏿
Miyamoto's story sounds like my dream come true lol
so glad he addressed the tie fighter thing. when it first flashed up in the video, i was like, is he really not gonna say anything about that?! but then he did, after a beat. thank goodness.
Would love a series about early Nintendo games like this
My favourite Nintendo game is Hanafuda Playing Cards
History Channel has the Toys that Made America and this season did an episode on early video games. They have one coming up that is going to focus on video games after the crash in '83 that I'm fairly certain is going to focus on Nintendo, Sega, and Sony and is probably going to be the season finale. I know it's not Dunkey, but it's something and is a really interesting.
Yes!
Zelda please!
Check out jeremy parish's nes works or famicom works series, he does very in depth retrospectives on each game released for the nes with a focus on their history/creation and impact. Also has series for game boy, snes, virtual boy and a couple other shorter ones
Take a look at Strafefox channel. It's a superb youtube channel on the history of video games.
Dunkey is very corageous finally giving a biographic documentary series of his origin story.
This game is ALMOST the best, completely factual overview of the history and development of Donkey Kong I've ever seen, and I'm not making that up.
This was the first Donkey-type game. Incredible.
*Dunkumentary-* A video with wonderful narrative and brilliant editing that you also can't distinguish truth from fiction.
You have a point about the difficulty...I've never actually beaten the first screen of Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong December 2, the moment we've all been waiting for!
I want more of these.
Bruh I had that bowling game. My cousins always collected junk off the street and they gave me that for Christmas. It was awesome
The rabbit coaster looks legitimately awesome, it reminds me of Mighty Beanz
Mighty Beanz, my beloved
MightyBeanz!!
@Wally Hackenslacker Yes! This thing looks awesome!
I'm more partial to the Home Bowling set tbh.
Yes! I forgot about them. You have saved my life.
I like that they added a Donkey Kong to this game, very cool addition tbh
Donkey Kong '94 is an amazing game though, Mario takes all the athletics from Mario 64 and brings it back to the construction yard. Still dies to fall damage.
the gameboy game is actually the biggest game I have for the classic gameboy, it feels bigger than pokemon gold/silver. there are sooooo many levels and ways of interaction with the scenery.
yeah I had 99 lives because I rock and never made it past the final level...
Donkey Kong (Game Boy) is legit one of my favorite games of all time
Glad to see Donkey Kong December is back again, truly the first monkey type season.
I love Nintendo Miyamoto! He's so cool!
Donkey Kong for Gameboy is honestly goated and still holds up
the funny thing about the ending is that it seems like a joke, but gameboy donkey kong is actually an insanely good game & still probably one of the best 2d platformers nintendo has ever made.
Laughing so hard at everyone having the same immersive experience with this video. a muh fuckin mastapiece
I've heard they got the name Donkey because they wanted to say Mean, found the word Jackass/Donkey, and didn't know it was its own animal
Please keep up the Dunk History 🙏