When we think of Donkey Kong, the iconic ape from Nintendo, we can’t imagine him being called anything else. However, a deep dive into the history of the character reveals some surprising and amusing facts. Back in the ’80s, Nintendo found themselves in a legal battle with Universal over the resemblance of Donkey Kong to King Kong. In court documents from 1983, it was revealed that Nintendo had a plethora of potential names for the character before settling on Donkey Kong. Some of these names include “Bill Kong”, “Steel Kong”, and even the cringe-worthy “Kong Dong”.
The list of proposed names for Donkey Kong is truly bizarre and amusing. From “Funny Kong” to “Custom Kong”, Nintendo explored a range of possibilities before landing on the now-iconic name. The inclusion of “Kong Dong” in the list is particularly eyebrow-raising, and it’s hard to imagine a world where that name made it past the drawing board. Additionally, names like “Funky Kong” raise questions about the creative process behind the character.
Despite Universal’s claims of Donkey Kong being a rip-off of King Kong, the court ruled in favor of Nintendo, stating that the two characters were fundamentally different. Judge Sweet highlighted the stark contrast between the childlike and humorous nature of Donkey Kong versus the ferocious and destructive behavior of King Kong. This ruling solidified Donkey Kong’s place in pop culture history and paved the way for future iterations of the character.
While the legal battle between Nintendo and Universal is now a thing of the past, the documents detailing the origins of Donkey Kong offer a fascinating glimpse into the character’s evolution. The doodle by Miyamoto from a 1981 meeting adds another layer of history to the character’s creation. Despite the questionable name choices and legal drama, Donkey Kong has stood the test of time and continues to be a beloved figure in gaming.
As we reflect on the journey from “Kong Dong” to Donkey Kong, it’s clear that Nintendo made the right choice in selecting a name that would become synonymous with gaming greatness. The upcoming release of Donkey Kong Country in HD on the Nintendo Switch is a testament to the enduring popularity of the character. While names like “Bill Kong” and “Kong Down” may have faded into obscurity, Donkey Kong remains a timeless and iconic figure in the world of video games. What is your favorite proposed DK name?
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