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I remember being 10 and writing in to complain about the term "hell" from the DK Rap. Pretty sure I got a response apologizing for the language, and indeed "Hel

I remember being 10 and writing in to complain about the term "hell" from the DK Rap. Pretty sure I got a response apologizing for the language, and indeed "Hell" was replaced with "Heck" in later renditions (e.g. in Super Smash Bros Melee). There's another interview about DK64 floating around where somebody from Rare comments on all the complaints they received about it. Another interesting tidbit from this article... I didn't realize the Expansion Pak was used for lighting. From what I'd heard before, they added the Expansion Pak as a requirement because it stopped random crashes from occurring. But they never figured out why exactly it fixed them.

megablast 5y ago
Why did you complain?? I’m Confused.
- SirHound 5y ago
  I’m assuming a strict religious (US?) upbringing. The guys at Rare had probably never given it a second thought.
  - atribecalledqst 5y ago
    Not religious, but young enough that I still worried about using swears. But yes, US. I generally thought "hell" was considered a low-grade swear everywhere in US but could be wrong.
- sysihyk 5y ago
  To get free apology (and probably some more material compensation as well).
mattlondon 5y ago
What the hell is wrong with hell? Facetious of course, but genuinely curious why hell is a problem?
- laumars 5y ago
  You reminded me of this scene from The Simpsons https://youtu.be/ThcThv7Yaq0 https://youtu.be/ThcThv7Yaq0
- hansel_der 5y ago
  maybe because reference to "hell" somewhat implicates and validates a diametral, christian-like eternalism which in turn undermines religious freedom?
- wsc981 5y ago
  Many Dutch people might curse with horrible diseases and inflictions (kanker - cancer, kolere - cholera, tyfus -typhoid), but religious Dutch people tend to frown upon ‘godverdomme’ - ‘goddamn’. Back when I was young one would often hear this curse word in Hollywood movies. My father, if he heard this word, would want us to change channels. However my father wouldn’t have been bothered hearing ‘hell’. ‘Godverdomme’ (goddamn) can be more appropriately translated into ‘god damn me’. It’s obvious why this might be offensive to a Christian. I guess from the US Christian point of view maybe there’s some sort of similar association when people say ‘hell’ …
- Sesse__ 5y ago
  Different cultures have different sources of dirty words. US dirty words are based on sexual references (e.g. “fuck”), while other languages (like my native Norwegian) will have dirty words based on diabolics (e.g. “hell” or various names for the devil). Other languages will have yet other categories that most swear words are derived from.
ashleyn 5y ago
DK64's use of the word "Hell" is notorious among American gamers of the N64 era, especially those with strict upbringings. I remember being mildly shocked by it as well. Years later I learned that in the UK, where Rare was based, "Hell" was not considered a swear word as much as it is in the US. (God help you if you say "bloody" though - but I hear they've eased up on that too.) This was the first time I realised whether or not something was considered a "swear word" was cultural.

megablast 5y ago

Why did you complain?? I’m Confused.

SirHound 5y ago
I’m assuming a strict religious (US?) upbringing. The guys at Rare had probably never given it a second thought.
- atribecalledqst 5y ago
  Not religious, but young enough that I still worried about using swears. But yes, US. I generally thought "hell" was considered a low-grade swear everywhere in US but could be wrong.
sysihyk 5y ago
To get free apology (and probably some more material compensation as well).

mattlondon 5y ago

What the hell is wrong with hell? Facetious of course, but genuinely curious why hell is a problem?

laumars 5y ago
You reminded me of this scene from The Simpsons https://youtu.be/ThcThv7Yaq0 https://youtu.be/ThcThv7Yaq0
hansel_der 5y ago
maybe because reference to "hell" somewhat implicates and validates a diametral, christian-like eternalism which in turn undermines religious freedom?
wsc981 5y ago
Many Dutch people might curse with horrible diseases and inflictions (kanker - cancer, kolere - cholera, tyfus -typhoid), but religious Dutch people tend to frown upon ‘godverdomme’ - ‘goddamn’. Back when I was young one would often hear this curse word in Hollywood movies. My father, if he heard this word, would want us to change channels. However my father wouldn’t have been bothered hearing ‘hell’. ‘Godverdomme’ (goddamn) can be more appropriately translated into ‘god damn me’. It’s obvious why this might be offensive to a Christian. I guess from the US Christian point of view maybe there’s some sort of similar association when people say ‘hell’ …
Sesse__ 5y ago
Different cultures have different sources of dirty words. US dirty words are based on sexual references (e.g. “fuck”), while other languages (like my native Norwegian) will have dirty words based on diabolics (e.g. “hell” or various names for the devil). Other languages will have yet other categories that most swear words are derived from.

ashleyn 5y ago

DK64's use of the word "Hell" is notorious among American gamers of the N64 era, especially those with strict upbringings. I remember being mildly shocked by it as well. Years later I learned that in the UK, where Rare was based, "Hell" was not considered a swear word as much as it is in the US. (God help you if you say "bloody" though - but I hear they've eased up on that too.) This was the first time I realised whether or not something was considered a "swear word" was cultural.