Donkey Kong is an iconic Nintendo mascot, a large, muscular gorilla known for his red tie with the initials “DK”. He first appeared in 1981 and has become a central character in various platform and racing games, contributing to Nintendo’s identity.
Tl;dr
- Donkey Konga famous Nintendo character, could have had another name.
- Alternative names suggested include Kong Dong, Steel Kong, Funny Kong.
- The name Donkey Kong was chosen to represent an immobile and stubborn gorilla.
- A remaster of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is scheduled for January 2025.
An iconic video game name could have been different
Do you think you know all the secrets of the famous Donkey Kong Nintendo? It turns out that the barrel-throwing gorilla, well-known in the video game world, could have had an entirely different name. In fact, court documents recently discovered by MarioBrothBlog on X (formerly Twitter) reveal alternative names that could have been chosen for this iconic character.
Alternative names that would have changed the situation
Among these, we find proposals such as Kong Dong, Steel Kong, Funny Kong, Bill Kong, and even Kong Boy. These names were considered when the character was created in 1981, before the name Donkey Kong is ultimately chosen.
The genesis of the name Donkey Kong
Behind this choice lies a precise desire of creator Shigeru Miyamoto. He wanted to convey the idea of an immobile and stubborn gorilla, like the character who stands between Mario, then known as “Jumpman”, and Pauline, the damsel in distress to be saved. The name “Donkey”, meaning “donkey” in English, was chosen to evoke this stubborn character.
A promising future for the Donkey Kong franchise
The franchise Donkey Kongalthough less active than before, has not said its last word. Indeed, fans can look forward to the upcoming arrival of Donkey Kong Country Returns HDa remaster of the popular Wii game scheduled for January 2025. This version for Nintendo Switch will benefit from a graphic overhaul and improved game mechanics, in line with the more powerful hardware.
What do we think?
The richness of the video game universe lies in its ability to reinvent itself and surprise. The story of the creation of the name Donkey Kong perfectly illustrates this dynamic. It’s fascinating to imagine how a simple choice of name could have helped shape the identity of such an iconic character. The upcoming remaster of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is further proof of the staying power of this franchise, which continues to captivate players, almost four decades after its creation.
