Which 1981 arcade game introduced Nintendo's character Donkey Kong?

The 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong introduced Nintendo's character Donkey Kong.

Nintendo released Donkey Kong in arcades in 1981 after designer Shigeru Miyamoto led development of a game built around climbing platforms and rescuing a kidnapped character. The player controlled an unnamed carpenter who had to avoid barrels and reach the top of each stage. Nintendo later named that character Mario.

Donkey Kong was not originally intended as a spin-off of an established Mario series; it was the beginning of the relationship between Mario and the giant ape. The game also helped establish Mario as a recurring Nintendo character, although he was called “Jumpman” in much of the original promotional material.

The character Donkey Kong later appeared in sequels and received a new platform-game series from Rare in the 1990s. This original arcade title should not be confused with Donkey Kong Country, which was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1994.