Hey Charlie,
I don't understand why you locked the thread. Ideas should go into general, but it could have been moved. I think you're out of your depth here.
First off, maybe it is not a "play on words" but it is using words playfully. It's a common source of humor in English speaking countries
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 802AAibJ0G. Haven't you ever seen the Simpsons? Bart has a recurring gag where he calls Moe's Tavern and asks for people with "playfully worded names". Example; Amanda Hugandkiss (Moe then tells the bar, "I need Amanda Hugandkiss" ie "I need a man to hug and kiss.")
Secondly, Nolok is inspired by the Koopalings from the Mario series.
http://www.mariowiki.com/images/thumb/3 ... Bros_U.png There father's name is "Bowser, King Koopa" and is a common source of humor for Mario fans because "Bowser" and "King Koopa" are used interchangeably in U.S. releases.
http://www.collegehumor.com/article/569 ... mes-bowserThis leads to harmless confusion on whether or not they are the same character.
Bowser's name actually depends on specific countries and game titles. In some countries and game titles he's "King Koopa" or "Demon King of the Koopas" and in recent U.S. games he's usually just "Bowser". In fact, Koopa comes from playing with the name of a traditional Korean food. Another example of "playful" word use and STK would be paying homage to its source material.
http://www.mariowiki.com/King_Koopa#Nam ... _Languages Princess Peach had a similar name change. Two names for one character? Happens all the time
http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Tom_Riddle and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darth_Vader. Who is to say that the events of SuperTuxKart don't come before SuperTux? That, Patrick Taunts doesn't get so infuriated that he takes the monicker Nolok.
I think it makes Nolok more playful and a sort of comic foil. Nolok menacingly saying he's the going to eat the hippy GNU is a little dark, isn't it? And that's the point right, to make a game that's fun for all ages?
The biggest problem is that the joke wouldn't translate to other languages.
It's fine you think it's unfunny. I think you were rash to lock the thread for the reasons you gave.