Episode

Level 1: Donkey Kong (1981) - The Popeye Game That Changed Nintendo Forever

Podcast: Surely You Can't Be Serious Podcast
Published: Jan 20, 2026
Duration seconds: 1451
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Summary

Donkey Kong almost starred Popeye, Olive Oyl, and Bluto. Learn the shocking origin story behind Nintendo's 1981 breakthrough hit: the near-fatal lawsuit, how Mario and Donkey Kong got their names, and why their lawyer became immortalized in gaming history. This is the untold story of the arcade classic that launched a gaming empire and defined 1981 as the golden year of video games.