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Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong potential names

Donkey Kong is one of Nintendo’s most-recognized characters and franchises, but it turns out that the name could have gone in a different direction.

You may recall that in 1983, Nintendo and Universal were going head to head in court over the IP. Universal wasn’t happy with “Donkey Kong”, feeling that it was based on King Kong. Nintendo won in the end, and the final name stuck after a judge determined that it was  “at best” a parody.

Donkey Kong icons Switch Online

Nintendo is changing up its lineup of classic icons on Switch Online, and now designs based on Donkey Kong are up for grabs. These will be available until July 1 at 4:59 PM PT / 7:59 PM ET.

This is the latest in a series of icons that require you to play the game. But when we say that, you simply need to boot up Donkey Kong on the NES Switch Online app – even just for a couple of seconds works.

Donkey Kong cancelled game Vicarious Visions

Vicarious Visions, the studio now known as Blizzard Albany that previously developed projects such as Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, and some Skylanders titles, was apparently working on a 3D Donkey Kong game at one point. Given the timing here, it should have ended up on Switch had it come to fruition. 

DK Vine previously published a report about the situation this year. While some of the specific details have come into question, Did You Know Gaming today followed up with its own findings.

donkey kong movie

A new solo animated movie for Donkey Kong is in the works, a report from GiantFreakinRobot claims.

Much about the supposed project is not yet known. However, Illumination would be in charge of handling the film and Seth Rogen would again be voicing the character. Rogen is set to play Donkey Kong in next year’s Super Mario animated movie, which is on track for December 2022.

Billy Mitchell has long been known as one of the top Donkey Kong and Pac-Man players in the world. But his reputation took a hit in 2018 after he was accused of obtaining a high score in Nintendo’s arcade classic by playing with an emulator, which is “strictly forbidden”. His record was removed soon after, and he was banned from submitting scores to Twin Galaxies. Guinness World Records also decided to throw out his Donkey Kong scores and records for Pac-Man.

We’re now hearing that in April 2019, Mitchell filed suit against Twin Galaxies. Speaking with Ars Technica, he said the case was “officially served to Twin Galaxies” in February. A detailed complaint was then added in March.

Earlier this year, Billy Mitchell – one of the top Donkey Kong players – had his high scores heavily scrutinized. The primary issue was that Mitchell was thought to have achieved his scores on an emulator instead of real arcade hardware.

Since the initial accusations and after some of his scores were removed, Mitchell has been looking to clear his name. He came a long way in doing so yesterday after live streaming himself playing Donkey Kong and matching scores that were investigated in the past.

Billy Mitchell has been the focus of much scrutiny this week. Twin Galaxies determined that Mitchell’s high scores achieved in Donkey Kong were not earned on natural arcade hardware, but rather through emulation which leaves the door open to cheating. Mitchell’s scores were thrown out, and he was banned from submitting future scores in the future. Guinness World Records is also wiping the slate clean.

We haven’t heard from Mitchell himself this week – until today. At the Midwest Gaming Classic in Milwaukee, he offered up the following statement:

If there’s one person who has something to gain from Billy Mitchell’s high scores in Donkey Kong having been thrown out, it would be Steve Wiebe. As depicted in the 2007 documentary, The King of Kong, Wiebe had been attempting to overtake Mitchell’s score at the time.

So what does Wiebe make of the recent controversy surrounding Mitchell? Before saying that it’s been “surreal” being back in the news a decade later, he told Variety:

Yesterday, Twin Galaxies delivered its verdict surrounding Billy Mitchell. It was ultimately decided to have Mitchell’s scores in Donkey Kong and other games removed. Moreover, he will no longer be able to submit scores to Twin Galaxies.

In line with Twin Galaxies’ decision, Guinness World Records is also removing Mitchell’s Donkey Kong scores along with his records for Pac-Man. This is due to the belief that Mitchell achieved his scores through emulation software and was not earned on an arcade machine.

Guinness said in a statement:

As many of you know, there’s been an ongoing saga over Billy Mitchell’s supposed high score in Donkey Kong. Twin Galaxies handed down its verdict today, stripping Mitchell of his scores in Donkey Kong as well as other games. Additionally, he’s been banned from submitting scores to Twin Galaxies – a significant blow as it’s the world’s largest tracker of gaming records.

Twin Galaxies ultimately determined that Mitchell’s high score of 1,047,200 was not earned on an arcade machine. Instead, it’s believed that he achieved the record through emulation software. Steve Wiebe is now said to be the first official million point record holder following today’s news.

Twin Galaxies explained its decision in a lengthy statement today:


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