Konami Code: what is it?

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The konami cheat code, also known as the contra code, was first seen in the game Gradius in 1986. It unlocks unique features in games and has become an iconic symbol of gaming culture. It is also used by web developers to unlock easter eggs or bonus features on their websites.

The konami cheat code is one of the oldest cheat codes in existence and originally appeared in video games released by Konami. It made its first appearance in 1986 and has since been implemented in many non-konami games. Also known as the contra code, contra command, and 30 lives code, this code unlocks unique features in games that recognize it. It is a simple code that consists of pressing the sequence up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, b, a and start on the keyboard. Many variations of the konami code have also become popular over time.

Known in Japan as konami commando, it was first seen in the scrolling space shooter game called Gradius which was released on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Kazuhisa Hashimoto, the developer of the game, wrote the code while working on the game because he found the game quite difficult. He incorporated the code after testing it and the game went into commercial production. When used in Gradius, the player can unlock a number of power-ups that he would otherwise only slowly get through the game. When the code was entered backwards, it gave the player an additional 30 lives and these combined features have increased the popularity of this game.

Gamers in North America discovered the use of the konami code with the hit game Contra, which continues to be quite a popular video game. Entering the code in Contra gives players 30 more lives similar to entering it upside down in Gradius. Players who discovered and shared it started calling it the contra code, and the name stuck. While there have been more than 100 konami games that have used the code and many more non-konami that recognize it, it is still known as the contra code. The code has become an iconic symbol of gaming culture, being printed on T-shirts and other items.

The konami code is used by many web developers to unlock cool easter eggs or bonus features on their websites. It involves embedding a piece of code into your site’s script, and any user who enters the code is surprised by a secret function. Entering the konami code into a browser window may result in redirecting the user to a new page or listening to a piece of music.

Other features that can be unlocked include viewing images, an alert window, or replacing or flipping text. Some websites use short-term code as a gag. Some of the funniest examples include ESPN simultaneously using konami code to display rainbows and unicorns on their website, and Newsweek changing their page headlines to report a zombie attack.




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