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Dixie Kong’s Double Date!

Statues of Donkey Kong, Candy Kong, Dixie Kong, and Diddy Kong on the porch of DK’s treehouse. A statue of Funky Kong is visible through the window. Screenshot from Donkey Kong Bananza.

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It might only be four screens, but that's enough to fill every chamber of our hearts! How did Dream: Land of Giants become Banjo-Kazooie while influencing everything from Donkey Kong Country 3 to Sea of Thieves? Prepare for an education, son, on a new #Kongversation! www.dkvine.com?p=podcasts&s...

The key art for the Kongversation's "The Dream: Land of Giants ROM" episode. Edson wanders through a jungle with an ancient statue head ruin leaning in the foliage behind him.

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Join the Idaho Crew at 8 PM EDT/5 PM PDT, five minutes before the autumn equinox, as they play "Bananza Antics," the final Emerald Rush event in Donkey Kong Bananza! Why wait for the harvest when you can go to Feast Layer tonight? Why wait for Halloween when your Candy is here? www.twitch.tv/dkvine

The VoidCo rewards card for the "Bananza Antics" event showing 100 Banandium Chips (3,000 emeralds), 300 Banandium Chips (10,000 emeralds), a Candy Kong statue (8,000 emeralds), 600 Banandium Chips (500,000 emeralds), and a Funky Kong statue (1,000,000 emeralds). The High Score is currently at 1,570,353 emeralds. Screenshot from Donkey Kong Bananza.

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 21/09/2026

I know what I’m about. #My9Games is easy. It’s the tenth that’s brutal, as Banjo-Tooie and Star Fox Adventures have been knifing one another for the spot over the last few years.

My 9 Games:

1. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest
2. Donkey Kong Bananza
3. Sea of Thieves
4. Banjo-Kazooie
5. Grabbed by the Ghoulies
6. Diddy Kong Racing
7. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!
8. Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
9. Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze

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We're approaching Donkey Kong Land 2's 30th anniversary! While it being a handheld retread of Donkey Kong Country 2 WAS disappointing in isolation, it was still an exciting stepping stone to Country 3. Two Donkey Kong games in two months! Here's the announcement from Nintendo Power Vol. 85.

The blurb announcing Donkey Kong Land 2 in the June 1996 issue of Nintendo Power. Still titled "Donkey Kong Land 2: Diddy's Kong Quest," the half-page features Super Game Boy-enhanced screenshots of Diddy next to a Squawks Barrel and Zinger, Dixie Kong riding a roller coaster behind a Klank, Squitter in an ice cavern underneath a Zinger, and Diddy on the deck of a pirate ship near a Neek. In the upper right corner is a render of a Krook from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.

"Diddy and Dixie retrace their steps, spins and twirls from last year's Super NES hit, DKC 2, in this Super Game Boy adaptation from Nintendo and Rare. The quality of the graphics speak for themselves in the screen shots shown here. What you can't see is the incredible animation that gives the characters a 3-D feel even on Game Boy. The story is the same as DKC 2. Diddy and Dixie are out to rescue Donkey Kong. Along the way they meet friendly animals including a pogo snake, a speedy spider and a fiery seal. Early indications are that DKL 2 is faithful translation of DKC 2, so don't expect new stages. Nintendo will release DKL 2 this fall."

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 20/09/2026

We'll be streaming and thieving at 11 AM EDT/8 AM PDT (4 PM BST) on our first voyage of Sea of Thieves: Season 21! A Sea of Thieves that's old enough to drink? No, don't be silly. The game is British. It started going to the pub all the way back in Season 18. www.twitch.tv/dkvine

The Sea of Thieves: Season 21 title screen, depicting Larinna lounging against a palm tree on a beach, with a galleon approaching the shore.

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 19/09/2026

It's the end of Stinky Ape Summer, and our seasonal Sea of Thieves wrap-ups, on the #Kongversation's annual Talk Like a Pirate Day episode. Jeff and I invite you to take your summer fling down to the boardwalk one last time! Or is that... "boar walk"? www.dkvine.com?p=podcasts&s...

The key art for the Kongversation's "Sea of Thieves: Season 20 (Talk Like a Pirate Day 2026)" episode. The Gold Hoarder and his Skelly minions stand in the interior of the Glorious Sea Dog Tavern, surrounded by a singular of wild boars.

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 18/09/2026

Dropping to my knees and arguing with God that Tuesday won’t be the final content update in Donkey Kong Bananza.

Donkey Kong drops to his knees and argues with God (or L.O.G.) on the Kongo Beach of DK Island. Screenshot from Donkey Kong Bananza.

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 18/09/2026

One thing I always appreciated post-Reign is how uncomfortable Clark clearly was with the idea of him ACTUALLY having been dead, unable to say it and always rationalizing what happened. And that’s the kind of mental anguish I wish “Dead Again!” had actually explored, beyond small moments like this.

Superman remembers being in the afterlife with his father, Jonathan Kent, in a panel from Superman (Vol. 2) #96.

“We’ve discussed this! When I was… gone and you were in the hospital - -

- - we helped each other survive death!”

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 18/09/2026

Just submitted @mattcornah.bsky.social’s 'Doctor Who' tender bid.

“Donkey Who” artwork by Matt Cornah. Features Dixie Kong as the Fifth Doctor, Donkey Kong as the Fourth Doctor, Diddy Kong as the Seventh Doctor, and Kiddy Kong as Matt Smith.

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 17/09/2026

The #Kongversation is putting its foot down on the Dream: Land of Giants ROM! Cameron and I will discuss all four screens, all three enemies, the dinosaur, Dinger the dog, and Edson. Look, this is mostly an excuse to geek out over mid-1990s rendered graphics, okay? We ARE Donkey Kong Country fans.

A dinosaur's foot breaks through the forest canopy and steps on Edson, a teenage boy wielding a sword. Screenshot from the Dream: Land of Giants ROM.

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 17/09/2026

“On one adventure we met Conker, a squirrel that PEES on things! He later helped me overthrow a magic pig man from space, and he later became king when a Nazi weasel’s coup attempt went awry. You ever watch the ‘Alien’ films? It was exactly like that. Once again, I’m Diddy Kong.”

Diddy Kong introduces himself to Pauline in Racing Layer.

“DK and I are BEST friends. We've been on a bunch of adventures together!”

Screenshot from Donkey Kong Bananza.

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 16/09/2026

I can probably stack a few more on here before DK's back completely gives out. Where you at, Dixie and Cranky?

The Donkey Kong & Pauline plush from SAN-EI, with SAN-EI's Diddy Kong plush and Fangamer's Kazooie and Laylee plushes all stacked on DK's back.

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 16/09/2026

We can't celebrate Donkey Kong Country 3's 30th anniversary in November before belatedly recognizing the 20th anniversary of its remake! @joycontent.bsky.social returns to the #Kongversation for a Spotlight on the final installment of Rare's Game Boy Advance trilogy! www.dkvine.com?p=podcasts&s...

The key art for the Kongversation's "Spotlight: Donkey Kong Country 3 (Game Boy Advance)" episode. Dixie Kong and Kiddy ride on the back of the Queen Banana Bird as she chases Baron K. Roolenstein, who has commandeered Funky Kong's Hovercraft, across the Northern Kremisphere.

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Join the Idaho Crew as they go back to where it all began for them on our Twitch channel. No, not Donkey Kong Country. Not even the arcade Donkey Kong. They'll be playing Mario Party 6, the first game they streamed for us five years and eight months ago, at 8 PM EDT/5 PM PDT! www.twitch.tv/dkvine

The Miracle Book is popped open on the "I Wanna Banana" page, which represents a 3D diorama depiction of the "Banana Shake" minigame. Donkey Kong looks on (with a banana in hand) as Peach shakes bananas from one palm tree, while Luigi gets several Donkey Kong-themed hammers falling on his head from the other. Surrounding Donkey Kong are two special DK Barrels, painted in all-yellow with reverse colors on the "DK" emblem.

Screenshot from Mario Party 6.

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The #Kongversation will be pigging out on (or cocking up) some kraken-good Sea of Thieves: Season 20 chat in a bonus Talk Like a Pirate Day episode! Jeff and I will discuss Custom Seas, as well as the other changes made this summer to Rare's long-running pirate adventure.

A kraken's tentacles rise up around a broken shipwreck filled with pigs and chickens on the shore of Old Sailor Isle. Screenshot from Sea of Thieves.

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Rare is big into cheeky branding! It was likely viewed as cute to give Diddy and Dixie matching Nintendo and Rare logos to celebrate that partnership. (Diddy's clothing went unadorned in 1994.) Nintendo stuck with it for lack of better options until finding a new way for their hats to match!

Donkey and Diddy Kong high-five. Both wear simple red clothes, without the patterns and insignias they'd become known for. Promotional render from Donkey Kong Country.

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 13/09/2026

"What if something appears that shouldn't? You either dismiss it, or you accept that there is much more to the world than you think. But not Donkey Kong Racing and Kameo. Those won't be released on this thing. C'est la vie! You'll have many bitter disappointments." Happy 25th to the GameCube!

The back of the NTSC Nintendo GameCube box when it was released in 2001. It includes an infamous flowery quote by Shigeru Miyamoto.

"What if everything that you see is more than what you see-the person next to you is a warrior and the space that appears empty is a door to another world? What if something appears that shouldn't? You either dismiss it, or you accept that there is more to the world than you think. Perhaps it is really a doorway, and if you choose to go inside, you'll find many unexpected things."

Of note is the inclusion of three Rare games: Star Fox Adventures, Donkey Kong Racing, and Kameo: Elements of Power. Only Star Fox Adventures was released before Microsoft purchased Rare. Kameo wound up on the Xbox 360, while Donkey Kong Racing would evolve into Sabreman Stampede before quietly being canceled in the mid-2000s.

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But they’ll still have Pantsland, right?

Mr. Pants, his mistress Mrs. Pie, their son Toby, their dog Socks, and their cat Vest stand in the rolling green hills of Pantsland. Artwork from It’s Mr Pants.

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 13/09/2026

Feeling burned out. Decided to take today off to recharge. That also meant no Sunday Sea of Thieves stream. "Hey, it'll be nice not constantly sailing into storms," I muttered to myself. Began playing Star Fox Adventures on the Switch 2. Immediately sailed into a storm. Thanks, Rare.

Standing behind the wheel of General Scales' flying galleon in a thunderstorm high above Dinosaur Planet. Screenshot from Star Fox Adventures.

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Donkey Kong: “THE RING IS MINE!” Diddy Kong:

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But wouldn’t he use the One Ring if it meant acquiring more bananas? He’d be tempted, sure, but he does have a history of putting his own needs aside for the greater good, or at least the benefit of those he cares about.

Donkey Kong stands before the Banandium Root in the Planet Core’s Heart of Gold.

DK: “(OK…wish time.)”

His dialogue option has returning to the surface for Pauline selected over “Bananas!”

Screenshot from Donkey Kong Bananza.

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Donkey Kong would resist the One Ring. His Gollum-like hoarding tendencies are fulfilled by bananas. Golden Bananas scratch the same itch as Dragon Sickness, while Banandium gives him the power that Sean Bean and his tomato-slurping father sought. With his greed satiated, he’s as true as Samwise.

Donkey Kong extends his hand outwards and smiles. Screenshot from Donkey Kong Bananza.

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