Nintendo reveals its Kong Dong in court documents

You may be familiar with Nintendo and its iconic character Donkey Kong, who has been featured in the DK rap and various video games. However, before settling on this well-known name, Nintendo considered several other names for the beloved monkey character. One of the proposed names was “Kong Dong.”

While it may seem humorous, the choice of name for a video game character is a significant decision. Imagine a world where Donkey Kong was known as Kong Dong, leading to potentially awkward situations for both players and their families. Despite the initial chuckles, maybe “Kong Dong” wouldn’t have been such a bad choice after all.

The revelation about the name “Kong Dong” comes from old court documents from the 80s, originally uncovered by gaming historian Norman Caruso in 2020. These documents, now receiving renewed attention, shed light on the legal battle between Nintendo and Universal over the resemblance of Donkey Kong’s name to King Kong, a property owned by Universal. Despite the dispute, Nintendo was allowed to keep the name.

Before reaching this resolution, Nintendo presented a long list of alternative names considered for Donkey Kong, including Funny Kong, Kong the Kong, Funky Kong, and even the infamous Kong Dong. Other noteworthy names on the list included Custom Kong, Kong Down, and several others with unique connotations.

Reflecting on these forgotten names, it’s interesting to consider the possibilities that could have been. Would Custom Kong have hosted a show like Pimp My Ride, or would Kong Down have been a dramatic exclamation in a different context? The naming process for Donkey Kong certainly had its share of creative options.

Now that you’ve been introduced to Nintendo’s quirky naming history, what are your thoughts on the matter? Feel free to share your opinions below.