| Arcade games |
DONKEY KONG
· At least 4 versions exist! The original Japanese version has “© Nintendo 1981” on the title screen (picture #1) and the text “HOW HIGH CAN YOU TRY?” (picture #3) preceding each game screen, instead of “HOW HIGH CAN YOU GET?” (picture #4). This grammatical error was fixed in all later versions (U.S. and Japan). There were 2 versions released in the U.S.; the later one has “© 1981 Nintendo of America, Inc.” on the title screen (picture #2). This is also the only version which doesn’t have the ladder trick (described below). Also, the Japanese versions can only show 4 monkeys (100m) since it always has 4 levels per stage (and in the same order: 1-2-3-4), whereas the U.S. versions shows up to 6 (150m) and in the following order: 1-4 (50m); 1-3-4 (75m); 1-2-3-4 (100m); 1-2-1-3-4 (125m); 1-2-1-3-1-4 (150m).
· The early red cabinets also had a trick that could be done with a drinking straw to give unlimited gameplay. A straw inserted in the middle outside section of the upper hinge would turn sideways inside the machine and be positioned just above the credit switch. By jiggling the straw up and down, you could get up to 99 credits in seconds.
· The game originally started out with Popeye characters in the roles (Popeye as jumpman/Mario, Bluto as Donkey Kong, and Olive Oyl as Pauline), but due to licensing disagreements with King Features, this idea was scrubbed. King Features later agreed to licensing them to Nintendo when Donkey Kong became popular.
· Ladder trick: All versions (except the later U.S. release), have a trick in which if you stand on a ladder with one hand visibly touching the girder above you, the barrels can’t roll down the ladder (picture #5). Only a barrel thrown from Donkey Kong or a fireball can kill you when doing this.
· ”Taunt” maneuver - On rivets screen, get as close to Kong as possible, jump straight up, and push to the right when you are in the air. If you’re in the right spot, you’ll get 100 points! {Mike Robinson}
· It’s possible to somewhat “control” the barrels (on the barrel screen) - if you’re running towards a ladder and a barrel is above you, the barrel will always roll down the ladder.
· When the bonus timer reaches 0, you have a second or 2 before you actually die, so it’s possible to complete any screen w/o earning any bonus points (picture #6).
· The graphics ROM contains an unused sprite of a cement “pie” tipped over, hinting that perhaps they were intended to be shown falling off the end of the conveyors? {Jeff Kulczycki}
· BUG: Kill screen - At the start of Level 22 is a “kill” screen – there isn’t enough time to complete the screen. In total, there are 116 playable screens that you can complete before reaching the kill screen - level one has two (2) stages, level two has three (3) stages, level three has four (4) stages, level four has five (5) stages, and levels 6 thru 21 have six (6) stages each, and of these (not including the kill screen) over half are "barrel" stages. The 117th and final stage (level 22-1, a "barrel" stage) offers few opportunities for points (perhaps 400-500 at most) before the timer expires.
