The Donkey Kong series got its start in 1981, when Shigeru Miyamoto created the arcade classic Donkey Kong. The game, which starred the famous ape and Mario, Nintendo's future mascot, would become one of the most popular games of the early 1980's. Several direct sequels would be made, including Donkey Kong Jr. and Donkey Kong 3. Donkey Kong has recently had something of a revival with 2010's Donkey Kong Country Returns. Unlike previous games, which were developed by Rare, this title was developed by Retro, another Nintendo studio in the West.