Yes, the Donkey Kong cartridge for the Atari 2600 game console debuted in late 1982, becoming available more widely by the spring of 1983. It became one of the most popular Atari 2600 games of all time.
But there is more to the story than that …
Atari is a company that has been around since 1972 and is known for producing video game consoles, home computers, and arcade games. Donkey Kong is a classic arcade game that was first released in 1981 by Nintendo. So, the question of whether Atari had Donkey Kong is a bit complicated.
To understand the answer, we need to look at the history of both Atari and Donkey Kong. In the 1970s and 1980s, Atari was one of the leading companies in the video game industry. They produced popular consoles like the Atari 2600 and arcade games like Asteroids and Tempest.
Donkey Kong, on the other hand, was created by Nintendo in 1981. The game was a hit and spawned numerous sequels and spin-offs. It also introduced the world to Mario, who would go on to become one of the most iconic video game characters of all time.
So, did Atari have Donkey Kong? Technically, no. Atari did not produce or publish Donkey Kong. However, Atari did produce a version of Donkey Kong for its 2600 console in 1982. This version of the game was developed and published by Atari, and it was somewhat similar to the original arcade game, but it had some differences due to the limitations of the 2600 console.
In conclusion, Atari did not have Donkey Kong in the sense that they did not create or publish the original arcade game. However, they did produce a version of Donkey Kong for their 2600 console, which was based on the original game.
Next up in the Atari rolodex: What was the first ever horror game?
