Viewing Single Trivia
▲
2
▼
The racer Krunch wasn't originally designed as a Kremling. According to former Rare artist Kevin Bayliss (in a now defunct Facebook page for Rare alumni), the character predated the conversion from Pro-Am 64 to Diddy Kong Racing and was originally a generic crocodile character, brought in to introduce a "bad guy" into the game's roster.
When it was decided to incorporate Diddy Kong into the game and change the title to Diddy Kong Racing, it was also decided to turn the crocodile character into a Kremling named Krunch, perhaps to better tie it into the new Donkey Kong-infused lore. The decision to turn Krunch into a Kremling, a Nintendo-owned species, also automatically gave Nintendo the rights to the character as well, even retaining said rights after the Microsoft buyout in 2002, whereas all the other Diddy Kong Racing racers outside of obviously Diddy are now owned by Microsoft.
When it was decided to incorporate Diddy Kong into the game and change the title to Diddy Kong Racing, it was also decided to turn the crocodile character into a Kremling named Krunch, perhaps to better tie it into the new Donkey Kong-infused lore. The decision to turn Krunch into a Kremling, a Nintendo-owned species, also automatically gave Nintendo the rights to the character as well, even retaining said rights after the Microsoft buyout in 2002, whereas all the other Diddy Kong Racing racers outside of obviously Diddy are now owned by Microsoft.
Source Gaming article on Krunch's history:
https://sourcegaming.info/2017/11/15/new-content-approaching-krunch/
DKVine article on Diddy Kong Racing's copyrights:
https://dkvine.com/?p=news_body&post=6391
Rare scribes confirming that Krunch is still owned by Nintendo:
http://web.archive.org/web/20070628215552/http://rareware.com/extras/scribes/25jun07/index.html
https://sourcegaming.info/2017/11/15/new-content-approaching-krunch/
DKVine article on Diddy Kong Racing's copyrights:
https://dkvine.com/?p=news_body&post=6391
Rare scribes confirming that Krunch is still owned by Nintendo:
http://web.archive.org/web/20070628215552/http://rareware.com/extras/scribes/25jun07/index.html
Comments (1)
So the characters in Diddy Kong Racing that weren't promoting upcoming Rare games other then Diddy and Krunch are owned by Microsoft, despite being able to get featured in the remake. Clearly this is supposed to be part of the Donkey Kong series, thus making the game Nintendo property.
You must be logged in to post comments.
Related Games
Donkey Kong Racing
Diddy Kong Racing DS
Diddy Kong Pilot
Donkey Konga
Donkey Kong Plus
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Donkey Kong no Ongaku Asobi
Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Curse
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Donkey Kong: Coconut Crackers
Donkey Kong Country
Mini Mario & Friends: Amiibo Challenge
Donkey Kong 3
Donkey Kong Junior
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Banjo-Tooie
Super Donkey
Donkey Kong
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Land 2
Crazy Kong
Banjo-Kazooie
Donkey Kong
Game & Watch Gallery
Donkey Kong 3
Donkey Kong Bongo Blast
Donkey Kong Land III
Game & Watch Gallery 3
Donkey Kong: Original Edition
Nintendo Land
Donkey Konga 2
DK: Jungle Climber
Donkey Kong Country
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros.
DK: King of Swing
Donkey Kong
Mario Kart DS
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Donkey Konga 2
Banjo X
Donkey Kong Country 2
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Banjo-Pilot
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong Land
Game & Watch Gallery 2
Donkey Kong 64
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D