We can’t get over Donkey Kong’s alternate NSFW name
As far as gaming icons go, they don't come much bigger than Donkey Kong. While Mario is the overall-wearing mascot of Nintendo these days, remember that before Mario could run, Jumpman was 'jumping' in Donkey Kong. Mario was originally introduced in 1981's Donkey Kong, where the titular grouchy gorilla was the villain.
Although it's technically true that the Donkey Kong from the OG arcade game is the grandfather of the DK we know today, the Kong dynasty has been synonymous with gaming for decades. Now, resurfaced court documents reveal what Donkey Kong's name could've been.
Donkey Kong's OG name raises a few eyebrows
Eurogamer reports a list of alternative Donkey Kong names that appeared in court documents from a 1983 lawsuit between Universal and Nintendo. As Eurogamer notes, this is ironic considering the sides have now joined forces and developed Illumination's The Super Mario Bros. Movie from last year.
Gaming historian Norman Caruso reportedly scanned the documents in 2020, and now, they've been shared by Supper Mario Broth. On the list are the likes Kong Holiday, Rookie Kong, and Funky Kong. You'll know Funky Kong is now a popular character in the franchise and one of DK's friends.
The name on the list that's raising a few eyebrows is Kong Dong. We're not sure who suggested the idea, but it's safe to say Kong Dong Country might not have sold as well. Nintendo and Universal locked horns in the '80s because the latter claimed Donkey Kong was infringing on its own copyright for King Kong.
Universal lost the case, and Nintendo was allowed to keep Donkey Kong as one of its underrated side characters. The judge decided that Donkey Kong was (at best) a parody and said, "Donkey Kong creates a humourous impression by jumping up and down and strutting back and forth to tease Mario.
"The Donkey Kong gorilla is thus quite different from King Kong, a ferocious gorilla in quest of a beautiful woman who goes on rampages, chases people, crushes them underfoot, or throws them to the ground, and fights with dinsosaurs, giant snakes, airplanes and helicopters, all culminating in his tragic and bloody death."
Loving and being confused by the idea of Kong Dong in equal measure, gamers couldn't help but find it funny. One fan wrote, "Imagine the DK Rap with any of these names," while another added, "In that other timeline, this is the flourished franchise they all know and love." A third concluded, "Nintendo has the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever in the next new DK game."
Sadly, there's no news on that long-awaited 3D Donkey Kong game. The recent Nintendo Direct revealed a Switch remaster of Donkey Kong Country Returns, which we now know will retail for a hefty $60. As for Kong Dong, we hope to see him in the Mario movie sequel.
