Players would enter up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A and Start on a controller to activate the "Konami code." It was first used in the game Gradius, but later made famous on Nintendo with Contra. William Warby/Flickr hide caption
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William Warby/Flickr
Players would enter up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A and Start on a controller to activate the "Konami code." It was first used in the game Gradius, but later made famous on Nintendo with Contra.
William Warby/Flickr
Kazuhisa Hashimoto, the man who invented the "Konami code" cheat that became pervasive in video gaming and pop culture, has died.
To use the code, players would press up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A and the Start button on the controller to make games easier. It was named after the popular Japanese gaming and entertainment company Konami, where Hashimoto worked.
Konami confirmed Hashimoto's death in an email to NPR and said in a tweet that it was saddened to hear the news. His age has been variously reported as 61 and 79.
We are saddened to hear about the passing of Kazuhisa Hashimoto, a deeply talented producer who first introduced the world to the "Konami Code".
Our thoughts are with Hashimoto-san's family and friends at this time. Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/vQijEQ8lU2
Hashimoto is credited with work on at least nine video games. He created the code when he was in charge of taking the arcade version of the spacecraft shooting game Gradius and converting it for the Nintendo console in 1986.
"I hadn't played that much and obviously couldn't beat it myself, so I put in the Konami code," he said in a 2003 interview. "Because I was the one who was going to be using it, I made sure it was easy to remember."
The code is burned into the memories of many kids that grew up playing video games in the 1980s and '90s. It's used in more than 100 games, such as Castlevania and Mortal Kombat III.
The code famously gave players 30 lives in the game Contra, which was released in 1988.
As the code gained popularity, Konami poked fun at it. If players use the code in the game Gradius III, their ship blows up.
It also found its way into pop culture easter eggs, a secret nod to geekery. A character in the Disney movie Wreck-It Ralph, for example, uses it as a password. Type the code in on some websites and it triggers secret tricks. There are murals and tattoos. Even a command for Amazon's Alexa device.
Yuji Takenouchi, a friend and composer who also worked at Konami, announced Hashimoto's death on Twitter.
"We pray for the souls. As someone who got on the same boat and shared a little time, the obituary was a bit painful," a translated tweet said. "Please keep making games in heaven. Thank you very much."
FAQs
Kazuhisa Hashimoto (橋本和久, Hashimoto Kazuhisa, November 15, 1958 – February 25, 2020) was a Japanese video game developer, best known for having created the Konami Code, a cheat code used in numerous video games typically granting the player extra lives or other benefits, and which has become often used as an Easter egg ...
What is the infamous Konami Code? ›
Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-B-A-Select-Start, chances are good that you grew up in the 80s. This is because this combination of buttons is the infamous Konami Code, a cheat code that video games (and others, including some websites and software) have continued to reference since it first appeared in 1986.
What happens if you tell Google the Konami code? ›
Reciting the code to Google Assistant will cause it to say either "Cheat mode enabled.", "You destroyed the Vile Red Falcon and saved the universe. Consider yourself a hero" with a trophy emoji or a similar response.
Who created the Konami code? ›
The Konami Code was created by Kazuhisa Hashimoto, who was developing the home port of the 1985 arcade game Gradius, a horizontal scrolling shooter released on the NES in 1986.
What is the most famous cheat code? ›
#1: Konami Code
Various There really is no other cheat in gaming that can match the Konami Code in popularity. Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start has been embedded in our brains through countless uses across a variety of games.
Is the Konami code in Mario? ›
These can and probably will take the challenge out of the game, but can really help if You happen to be stuck. Below are the cheats with instructions. Enjoy. Music Test: On the title screen, enter the Konami code (Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Select) and “Grassy Hills” should appear.
Is the Konami code in Fortnite? ›
How to enter the Fortnite Konami Code for the black hole mini game. While you're on the black hole screen, enter the following Fortnite Konami Code using your d-pad to get started: PS4: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, O, X, Options. XBO/PC: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start.
What is the famous Nintendo cheat code? ›
Players would enter up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A and Start on a controller to activate the "Konami code." It was first used in the game Gradius, but later made famous on Nintendo with Contra.
Does Google have a cheat code? ›
How do I unlock Google Cheat? Performing a voice search for "up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right" will prompt Google to respond with "Cheat mode unlocked."
Why did Konami kick out Hideo? ›
Essentially,Kojima went over-budget for the final game of the Metal Gear Solid series,The Phantom Pain.. Konami didn't like this one bit,since it was planning to exit from AAA game development as a whole and focus on other avenues such as mobile gaming and…. Yeesh,pachinko machines..
Konami Group Corporation (Japanese: コナミグループ株式会社, Hepburn: Konami Gurūpu kabushiki-gaisha.) is a Japanese multinational entertainment company and video game developer and publisher headquartered in Chūō, Tokyo.
What is the old Konami Code? ›
UP, UP, DOWN, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, B, A, START. Some of us could push those buttons on a video game controller in our sleep, just from muscle memory. But what's most amazing about the Konami Code is its staying power: In the world of game cheats, the sequence is still king.
Did Atari have cheat codes? ›
But the cheat codes for the Atari 2600 were different. Sometimes they were a way to defeat a seemingly unbeatable arcade game. Other times, they were nothing more than hidden graffiti-signatures left by programmers who had to fight to get even the slightest bit of recognition for their work.
How much money is Konami worth? ›
Market cap: $8.20 Billion
As of April 2024 Konami Holdings has a market cap of $8.20 Billion. This makes Konami Holdings the world's 1851th most valuable company by market cap according to our data.
Is Konami a Nintendo? ›
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.() is a Japanese video game developer and publisher that has published games for Nintendo's systems since 1985. They own many game franchises like Metal Gear and Castlevania.
What was the old Nintendo cheat code? ›
Cheat Codes (Hard Mode) MSX
| Effect | Code |
|---|
| 2 Extra Lives | Left, Down, Down, Down, Down, Right, Up, Right |
| 5 Extra Lives | Up, Up, Left, Right, Up, Left, Down, Down |
| Level Select (1-30) | Right, Right, Up, Up, Down, Left, Up, Up |
| Level Select (1-85) | Down, Left, Down, Up, Up, Left, Left, Right |
4 more rowsThe original Konami Code was used in a port of the 1985 arcade space-shooter game Gradius. When entered on the pause screen, it instantly provides the player with all the powerups that the player normally collects gradually.
What is the Konami Code Saw 2? ›
Achievement/Trophy Tip: Old School
For Old School (Entered the legendary Konami Code), at the first screen (where you have to press start to enter the main game menu) enter the following code: UP, UP, DOWN, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, CIRCLE, X, START. Once entered the Trophy/Achievement will pop.
