A strange little side quest
The rules may be simple on screen, but the backstory around Prison Break Out is anything but tiny. Early computer role-playing games helped turn rules, inventories, exploration and character progression into systems that could support long-form digital adventures. A second detail makes the picture even better: Nintendo's Donkey Kong arrived in 1981 and introduced the character first known as Jumpman, who later became Mario. It is a good reminder that simple game mechanics can carry a surprising amount of history.
