Donkey Wrong

[+Random Terrain]

Take a look at this if you haven't already:

 

http://www.snopes.com/business/misxlate/donkeykong.asp

The bottom line is that no evidence backs up any of the explanations that the name "Donkey Kong" came about because of a misread fax, mispronunciation, or mistranslation. Shigeru Miyamoto, the game's inventor and the one person who unquestionably knows the origins of the name he chose, has repeatedly affirmed that he used the word "donkey" to convey a sense of stubbornness and the name "Kong" to invoke the image of a gorilla.

[Corby]

See I always wondered about why the name donkey kong!!!!!

[Kurisu]

I have always thought the name was intentional, and never believed any of those stories about it originally being "Monkey Kong" for, well, the very reasons listed on the page: It would be just too convenient for it to have been one thing, then changed to that via whatever method.

 

In any case, it is still fun to occasionally scream out "Monkey Kong" in an odd voice at appropriate times.

[+save2600]

This was explained a long time ago, in an arcade journal we used to get (Play Meter, back in the early 80's). They claimed that the translation from Japan didn't go very well as the original game or idea over there was more like Stupid/stubborn Monkey or 'Large gorilla that acts like jackass'. So replace the word jackass and we get Donkey in the English. Same with Large gorilla = Kong

 

Miyamoto prolly changed his tune regarding the origins to be a little more diplomatic in his later years. My guess anyway. If he really wanted to convey the word 'stubborn' that was insulting as well, might the game have been called 'Stubby Kong'?

 

Donkey Wrong... LMAO!

Edited January 5, 2010 by save2600

[+save2600]

I do remember reading though the main thing that was mistranslated from the Isle of Japan were the sequence of the boards. That's obvious... the rivet stage *should* have been the last. And the pie factory is actually quite easy. Whoops!

[DrLove0378]

Would we have ended up saying "it's on like Monkey Kong!" ?

[Shawn]

I thought for sure Miyamoto said he thought "donkey" ment "idiot".

[Cebus Capucinis]

No, it would have been "It's on like Monkey Dong"