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{{trope}}
{{creator}}
[[File:konami_logo.png|frame]]
[[File:Konami 4th logo 1.svg|thumb|]]


{{quote| [[Konami Code|UP, UP, DOWN, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, B, A]]}}
{{quote|[[Konami Code|UP, UP, DOWN, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, B, A]]}}


Konami is a popular Tokyo-based maker of video games, toys and trading cards, founded in 1969 as a jukebox rental and repair business in Osaka, Japan. Konami was one of the leading third-party developers during the NES era, with such best-selling games as ''Gradius'', ''Contra'' and ''Metal Gear''. It is currently the fourth-largest game company in Japan, behind [[Nintendo]], Sega Sammy and [[Namco Bandai]].
Konami is a popular Tokyo-based maker of video games, toys and trading cards, founded in 1969 as a jukebox rental and repair business in Osaka, Japan. Konami was one of the leading third-party developers during the NES era, with such best-selling games as ''Gradius'', ''Contra'' and ''Metal Gear''. It is currently the fourth-largest game company in Japan, behind [[Nintendo]], Sega Sammy and [[Namco Bandai]].


Due to Nintendo's restrictions on third-party licensing during that era, Konami could release only five games per year for the NES. Konami found a way around this by creating a quasi-independent subsidiary known as "Ultra Games", which published the first ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Video Game)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' game, ''Skate or Die'', ''[[Metal Gear 1987 (Video Game)|Metal Gear 1987]]'', and an expanded version of ''[[Gyruss (Video Game)|Gyruss]]'', among others. (They made a similar move in Europe with Palcom Software Ltd.) After Nintendo relaxed its standards, Konami closed Ultra in 1992 and absorbed its remaining employees into its American branch. Some of the other Konami staff left that same year to create [[Treasure]] Co. Ltd., a company well known for its fast-paced shooters (''[[Gunstar Heroes]]'', ''[[Radiant Silvergun]]'', ''[[Ikaruga]]'', etc.) Konami also owns a majority stake in [[Hudson Soft]] (recently Hudson became a wholly owned subsidiary), though the latter still operates more or less independently.
Due to Nintendo's restrictions on third-party licensing during that era, Konami could release only five games per year for the NES. Konami found a way around this by creating a quasi-independent subsidiary known as "Ultra Games", which published the first ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (video game)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' game, ''Skate or Die'', ''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]'', and an expanded version of ''[[Gyruss]]'', among others. (They made a similar move in Europe with Palcom Software Ltd.) After Nintendo relaxed its standards, Konami closed Ultra in 1992 and absorbed its remaining employees into its American branch. Some of the other Konami staff left that same year to create [[Treasure]] Co. Ltd., a company well known for its fast-paced shooters (''[[Gunstar Heroes]]'', ''[[Radiant Silvergun]]'', ''[[Ikaruga]]'', etc.) Konami also owns a majority stake in [[Hudson Soft]] (recently Hudson became a wholly owned subsidiary), though the latter still operates more or less independently.


In the mid-80s, Konami became famous by one of their [[Classic Cheat Code|Classic Cheat Codes]], dubbed the "[[Konami Code]]". First appearing to US players in the 1986 NES port of ''[[Gradius (Video Game)|Gradius]]'' and made popular in the 1988 NES port of ''[[Contra (Video Game)|Contra]]'', it provided the players of the notoriously-diffiicult game with 30 lives, rather than the original 3. Due to the game's popularity, the Konami Code now enjoys a pop-culture status on par with the famous 'XYZZY' keyword from ''Colossal Cave Adventure'' -- mention the 'Konami Code', and it's a sure bet than any console gamer worth his eyeteeth will know ''exactly'' which code you mean.
In the mid-80s, Konami became famous by one of their [[Classic Cheat Code|Classic Cheat Codes]], dubbed the "[[Konami Code]]". First appearing to US players in the 1986 NES port of ''[[Gradius]]'' and made popular in the 1988 NES port of ''[[Contra (video game series)|Contra]]'', it provided the players of the notoriously-difficult game with 30 lives, rather than the original 3. Due to the game's popularity, the Konami Code now enjoys a pop-culture status on par with the famous 'XYZZY' keyword from ''Colossal Cave Adventure'' -- mention the 'Konami Code', and it's a sure bet than any console gamer worth his eyeteeth will know ''exactly'' which code you mean.


Fast forward to 2012, Konami's reputation nose dives into a shockingly low state. While the company avoided the DLC/online pass related ire that's become all too common in modern gaming, they made up for it with their [http://www.destructoid.com/jimquisition-konami-224682.phtml abysmal publishing decisions throughout 2011-2012], which can be summed up as Konami [[They Just Didn't Care|not giving a damn ]] to [[Epic Fail|hilariously awful levels]]. The highlights include [[What an Idiot|releasing the Metal Gear Solid HD collection the same day as mega hit Modern Warfare 3]], releasing ''three'' separate Silent Hill games within a mere ''[[Beyond the Impossible|three week span]]'', several games around this time not having enough copies during launch day, the company not advertising games from new franchises at all, switching release dates for games unannounced, and [[Porting Disaster|releasing a fatally flawed]] ''[[Porting Disaster|Silent Hill 1]]'' [[Porting Disaster|port, despite being aware of the port's horrible quality prior to released]]. Needless to say, Konami's looking worse than even Capcom in 2012.
Fast forward to 2012, Konami's reputation nose dives into a shockingly low state. While the company avoided the DLC/online pass related ire that's become all too common in modern gaming, they made up for it with their [http://www.destructoid.com/jimquisition-konami-224682.phtml abysmal publishing decisions throughout 2011-2012], which can be summed up as Konami [[They Just Didn't Care|not giving a damn ]] to [[Epic Fail|hilariously awful levels]]. The highlights include [[What an Idiot!|releasing the Metal Gear Solid HD collection the same day as mega hit Modern Warfare 3]], releasing ''three'' separate Silent Hill games within a mere ''[[Beyond the Impossible|three week span]]'', several games around this time not having enough copies during launch day, the company not advertising games from new franchises at all, switching release dates for games unannounced, and [[Porting Disaster|releasing deeply flawed "remasters" of the three main]] ''[[Silent Hill]]'' [[Porting Disaster|games, despite being aware of the ports' dubious quality prior to release]].


In 2015, the company announced they were ceasing their console gaming involvement to concentrate on their mobile games and their non-video gaming ventures, like slot machines and pachinko. That's after [[Silent Hills]] was cancelled and [[Hideo Kojima]] left Konami.
Also got [[They Changed It Now It Sucks]] in regards to their new logo.


In no way related to the [[Ship Manteau|Konata/Kagami pairing]] of ''[[Lucky Star]]'', or to [[Popotan|a certain character named Konami]], or to any kind of "economy".
In no way related to the [[Portmanteau Couple Name|Konata/Kagami pairing]] of ''[[Lucky Star]]'', or to [[Popotan|a certain character named Konami]], or to any kind of "economy".
----
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=== Konami is responsible for the following video game franchises: ===
=== Konami is responsible for the following video game franchises: ===


* ''[[Amidar (Video Game)|Amidar]]''
* ''[[Amidar]]''
* ''[[Antarctic Adventure (Video Game)|Antarctic Adventure]]''
* ''[[Antarctic Adventure]]''
* ''[[Azure Dreams (Video Game)|Azure Dreams]]''
* ''[[Azure Dreams]]''
* ''[[Badlands]]''
* ''[[Badlands]]''
* The [[Bemani]] games:
* The [[Bemani]] games:
** ''[[Dance Dance Revolution (Video Game)|Dance Dance Revolution]]'', until recently, [[No Export for You|the only one of the series ever released outside of Japan]].
** ''[[Dance Dance Revolution]]'', until recently, [[No Export for You|the only one of the series ever released outside of Japan]].
** ''[[Dance Masters]] Dance Masters/Dance Evolution''
** ''[[Dance Masters]] Dance Masters/Dance Evolution''
** ''[[Beatmania]]''
** ''[[Beatmania]]''
** ''[[Para Para Paradise]]''
** ''[[Para Para Paradise]]''
** ''[[Pop N Music|Pop'n Music]]''
** ''[[Pop'n music|Pop'n Music]]''
** ''[[Keyboardmania]]''
** ''[[Keyboardmania]]''
** ''[[Guitar Freaks]]'' & ''Drummania''
** ''[[Guitar Freaks]]'' & ''Drummania''
* ''[[Boktai (Video Game)|Boktai]]''
* ''[[Boktai]]''
* ''[[Castlevania (Video Game)|Castlevania]]''
* ''[[Castlevania]]''
* ''[[Contra (Video Game)|Contra]]''
* ''[[Contra (video game series)|Contra]]''
* ''[[Crime Fighters]]''
* ''[[Crime Fighters]]''
* ''[[Crypt Killer]]''
* ''[[Crypt Killer]]''
* ''[[Elebits]]''
* ''[[Elebits]]''
* ''[[Frogger (Video Game)|Frogger]]''
* ''[[Frogger]]''
* ''[[Ganbare Goemon (Video Game)|Ganbare Goemon]]''
* ''[[Goemon (series)|Ganbare Goemon]]''
* ''[[Gradius (Video Game)|Gradius]]''
* ''[[Gradius]]''
** ''[[Parodius (Video Game)|Parodius]]'' which is [[Serial Numbers Filed Off|the same series]], but parodied as a [[Cute Em Up]].
** ''[[Parodius]]'' which is [[Serial Numbers Filed Off|the same series]], but parodied as a [[Cute'Em Up]].
** ''[[Otomedius (Video Game)|Otomedius]]'', a combination of ''Gradius'' plot elements and ''Parodius'' sense of humor. Lots of [[Fan Service|girls]], too.
** ''[[Otomedius]]'', a combination of ''Gradius'' plot elements and ''Parodius'' sense of humor. Lots of [[Fan Service|girls]], too.
* ''Gungage''
* ''Gungage''
* ''[[Gyruss (Video Game)|Gyruss]]''
* ''[[Gyruss]]''
* ''[[Live Powerful Pro Baseball (Video Game)|Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu]]''
* ''[[Live Powerful Pro Baseball|Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu]]''
** ''[[Foreign Remake|MLB Power Pros]]''
** ''[[Foreign Remake|MLB Power Pros]]''
* ''[[Konami Krazy Racers]]''
* ''[[Konami Krazy Racers]]''
* ''[[Lightning Legend Daigo no Daibouken]]''
* ''[[Lightning Legend Daigo no Daibouken]]''
* ''[[Lost in Blue (Video Game)|Lost in Blue]]'' (known as ''Survival Kids'' in Japan)
* ''[[Lost in Blue]]'' (known as ''Survival Kids'' in Japan)
* ''[[Love Plus]]''
* ''[[Love Plus]]''
* ''[[Maze of Galious]]''
* ''[[Maze of Galious]]''
* ''[[Meine Liebe]]''
* ''[[Meine Liebe]]''
* ''[[Metal Gear (Video Game)|Metal Gear]]''
* ''[[Metal Gear]]''
* ''[[Metamorphic Force]]''
* ''[[Metamorphic Force]]''
* ''[[Mitsumete Knight (Video Game)|Mitsumete Knight]]'' (made in cooperation with RED Company, the creators of ''[[Sakura Taisen]]'')
* ''[[Mitsumete Knight]]'' (made in cooperation with RED Company, the creators of ''[[Sakura Taisen]]'')
* ''[[Mystic Warriors (Video Game)|Mystic Warriors]]''
* ''[[Mystic Warriors]]''
* ''[[Never Dead]]''
* ''[[Never Dead]]''
* ''[[Policenauts (Visual Novel)|Policenauts]]''
* ''[[Policenauts]]''
* ''Pro Evolution Soccer''/''Winning Eleven''
* ''Pro Evolution Soccer''/''Winning Eleven''
* ''Project Overkill''
* ''Project Overkill''
* ''[[Rocket Knight Adventures (Video Game)|Rocket Knight Adventures]]''
* ''[[Rocket Knight Adventures]]''
* ''[[Rumble Roses]]''
* ''[[Rumble Roses]]''
* ''[[Rush N Attack (Video Game)|Rush N Attack]]''
* ''[[Rush N Attack]]''
* ''[[Scramble (Video Game)|Scramble]]''
* ''[[Scramble]]''
* ''[[Shadow of Destiny]]''
* ''[[Shadow of Destiny]]''
* ''[[Silent Hill]]''
* ''[[Silent Hill]]''
* ''[[Snatcher (Visual Novel)|Snatcher]]''
* ''[[Snatcher]]''
* ''[[Suikoden (Video Game)|Suikoden]]''
* ''[[Suikoden]]''
* ''[[Sunday VS Magazine Shuuketsu Choujou Daikessen (Video Game)|Sunday VS Magazine Shuuketsu Choujou Daikessen]]''
* ''[[Sunday VS Magazine Shuuketsu Choujou Daikessen]]''
* ''[[Sunset Riders (Video Game)|Sunset Riders]]''
* ''[[Sunset Riders]]''
* ''[[Thunder Cross (Video Game)|Thunder Cross]]''
* ''[[Thunder Cross]]''
* ''[[Time Pilot (Video Game)|Time Pilot]]''
* ''[[Time Pilot]]''
* ''[[Tokimeki Memorial (Franchise)|Tokimeki Memorial]]''
* ''[[Tokimeki Memorial]]''
* ''[[Track and Field (Video Game)|Track and Field]]''
* ''[[Track and Field]]''
* ''[[Tutankham (Video Game)|Tutankham]]''
* ''[[Tutankham]]''
* ''[[Twinbee (Video Game)|Twinbee]]''
* ''[[Twinbee]]''
* ''[[Vandal Hearts]]''
* ''[[Vandal Hearts]]''
* ''[[Violent Storm]]''
* ''[[Violent Storm]]''
* ''[[Yie Ar Kungfu]]''
* ''[[Yie Ar Kung-Fu]]''
* ''[[Zone of the Enders (Video Game)|Zone of the Enders]]''
* ''[[Zone of the Enders]]''




=== Licensed Games: ===
=== Licensed Games: ===


* ''[[Alien S (Film)|Alien S]]'' (arcade game)
* ''[[Alien (franchise)|Alien S]]'' (arcade game)
* ''[[Animaniacs (Animation)|Animaniacs]]''
* ''[[Animaniacs]]''
* ''[[Asterix (Comic Book)|Asterix]]'' (arcade game)
* ''[[Asterix]]'' (arcade game)
* ''[[Batman Returns]]'' (NES and SNES games)
* ''[[Batman Returns]]'' (NES and SNES games)
* ''[[Batman the Animated Series (Animation)|Batman the Animated Series]]'' (Game Boy game)
* ''[[Batman: The Animated Series|Batman the Animated Series]]'' (Game Boy game)
** ''The Adventures of Batman & Robin'' (SNES game)
** ''The Adventures of Batman & Robin'' (SNES game)
* ''[[Ben 10 Alien Force (Animation)|Ben 10 Alien Force]]: The Rise of Hex''
* ''[[Ben 10: Alien Force|Ben 10 Alien Force]]: The Rise of Hex''
* ''[[Biker Mice From Mars (Animation)|Biker Mice From Mars]]''
* ''[[Biker Mice From Mars]]''
* ''[[Bucky O Hare and The Toad Wars (Comic Book)|Bucky O'Hare]]''
* ''[[Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars|Bucky O'Hare]]''
* ''[[Cabbage Patch Kids]]: Adventures in the Park''
* ''[[Cabbage Patch Kids]]: Adventures in the Park''
* ''[[Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix]]''
* ''[[Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix]]''
* ''[[Dragon Booster (Animation)|Dragon Booster]]''
* ''[[Dragon Booster]]''
* ''[[G.I. Joe (Video Game)|G.I.Joe]] (Arcade game)
* ''[[G.I. Joe (arcade game)|G.I.Joe]] (Arcade game)
* ''[[The Goonies (Video Game)|The Goonies]]''
* ''[[The Goonies (video game)|The Goonies]]''
* ''[[How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Film)|The Grinch]]''
* ''[[How the Grinch Stole Christmas (film)|The Grinch]]''
* ''[[Hellboy (Comic Book)|Hellboy]]: The Science of Evil''
* ''[[Hellboy (comics)|Hellboy]]: The Science of Evil''
* ''[[Hi no Tori]]'' (Famicom and MSX games)
* ''[[Hi no Tori]]'' (Famicom and MSX games)
* ''[[King Kong]] 2'' (Famicom and MSX games)
* ''[[King Kong]] 2'' (Famicom and MSX games)
* ''[[Monster in My Pocket]]'' (NES game)
* ''[[Monster in My Pocket]]'' (NES game)
* ''[[The Mummy Trilogy (Film)|The Mummy]]''
* ''[[The Mummy Trilogy|The Mummy]]''
* ''[[Plan 9 From Outer Space (Film)|Plan 9 From Outer Space]]''
* ''[[Plan 9 from Outer Space]]''
* ''[[The Simpsons (Video Game)|The Simpsons]]''
* ''[[The Simpsons (video game)|The Simpsons]]''
* ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Video Game)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' (NES)
* ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (video game)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' (NES)
** ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the Arcade Game (Video Game)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the Arcade Game]]'' (Arcade and NES)
** ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the Arcade Game]]'' (Arcade and NES)
** ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Turtles in Time (Video Game)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Turtles in Time]]'' (Arcade and SNES)
** ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Turtles in Time]]'' (Arcade and SNES)
** ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the Manhattan Project (Video Game)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the Manhattan Project]]'' (NES)
** ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the Manhattan Project]]'' (NES)
** ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Tournament Fighters (Video Game)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Tournament Fighters]]'' (NES, Genesis and SNES)
** ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Tournament Fighters]]'' (NES, Genesis and SNES)
* ''[[Tiny Toon Adventures (Animation)|Tiny Toon Adventures]]''
* ''[[Tiny Toon Adventures]]''
* ''[[Top Gun]]'' (NES and Game Boy games)
* ''[[Top Gun]]'' (NES and Game Boy games)
* ''[[X-Men (Video Game)|X-Men]]''
* ''[[X-Men (video game)|X-Men]]''
* The ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh]]'' video games and Trading Card Game
* The ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'' video games and Trading Card Game
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh Reshef of Destruction (Video Game)|Yu-Gi-Oh Reshef of Destruction]]''
** ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! Reshef of Destruction|Yu-Gi-Oh Reshef of Destruction]]''




=== Anime series produced/sponsored by Konami: ===
=== Anime series produced/sponsored by Konami: ===
* ''[[Best Student Council (Anime)|Best Student Council]]''
* ''[[Best Student Council]]''
* ''[[Bomberman Jetters (Anime)|Bomberman Jetters]]''
* ''[[Bomberman Jetters]]''
* ''[[Dragonaut the Resonance (Anime)|Dragonaut the Resonance]]''
* ''[[Dragonaut: The Resonance|Dragonaut the Resonance]]''
* ''[[Saint October (Anime)|Saint October]]''
* ''[[Saint October]]''
* ''[[Sky Girls]]''
* ''[[Sky Girls]]''
* ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]''
* ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]''
* ''[[Tokimeki Memorial (Visual Novel)|Tokimeki Memorial]] ~ Only Love''
* ''[[Tokimeki Memorial]] ~ Only Love''


=== Names associated with Konami: ===
=== Names associated with Konami: ===
* Koji Igarashi (co-designer of ''[[Castlevania Symphony of the Night|Castlevania: Symphony of the Night]]'' and current producer of the ''[[Castlevania (Video Game)|Castlevania]]'' series since 2001's ''Castlevania Chronicles'', as well as ''[[Tokimeki Memorial (Visual Novel)|Tokimeki Memorial]] 1'''s scenario writer, and programmer of the PC-Engine ports of ''[[Gradius (Video Game)|Gradius]] II'' and ''[[Twinbee (Video Game)|Detana!! Twinbee]]'')
* Koji Igarashi (co-designer of ''[[Castlevania: Symphony of the Night]]'' and current producer of the ''[[Castlevania]]'' series since 2001's ''Castlevania Chronicles'', as well as ''[[Tokimeki Memorial]] 1'''s scenario writer, and programmer of the PC-Engine ports of ''[[Gradius]] II'' and ''[[Twinbee|Detana!! Twinbee]]'')
** Ayami Kojima (artist of various ''Castlevania'' artwork, though she's done some non-''Castlevania'' stuff as well. No relation to...)
** Ayami Kojima (artist of various ''Castlevania'' artwork, though she's done some non-''Castlevania'' stuff as well. No relation to...)
* [[Hideo Kojima]] (lead designer for the ''[[Metal Gear]]'' series, as well as ''[[Snatcher]]'' and ''[[Policenauts]]''. Also the producer of the ''[[Zone of the Enders (Video Game)|Zone of the Enders]]'' series and the ''[[Boktai (Video Game)|Boktai]]'' series, and the drama director of ''[[Tokimeki Memorial (Visual Novel)|Tokimeki Memorial]] Drama Series 1 : Nijiiro no Seishun'')
* [[Hideo Kojima]] (lead designer for the ''[[Metal Gear]]'' series, as well as ''[[Snatcher]]'' and ''[[Policenauts]]''. Also the producer of the ''[[Zone of the Enders]]'' series and the ''[[Boktai]]'' series, and the drama director of ''[[Tokimeki Memorial]] Drama Series 1 : Nijiiro no Seishun'')
* Yoshiki Okamoto (designer of the classic arcade games ''[[Time Pilot]]'' and ''[[Gyruss (Video Game)|Gyruss]]'', before his firing; he would later join [[Capcom]])
* Yoshiki Okamoto (designer of the classic arcade games ''[[Time Pilot]]'' and ''[[Gyruss]]'', before his firing; he would later join [[Capcom]])
* Naoki Maeda (sound director for the ''[[Dance Dance Revolution (Video Game)|Dance Dance Revolution]]'' series and the producer of a majority of Konami original songs that debuted in DDR)
* Naoki Maeda (sound director for the ''[[Dance Dance Revolution]]'' series and the producer of a majority of Konami original songs that debuted in DDR)
** Takayuki Ishikawa (aka dj Taka; he is to ''[[Beatmania IIDX]]'' as Naoki is to DDR)
** Takayuki Ishikawa (aka dj Taka; he is to ''[[Beatmania IIDX]]'' as Naoki is to DDR)
* Mikio Saito (aka Metal Yuhki ; composer of ''[[Castlevania Rondo of Blood|Castlevania: Rondo of Blood]]'', and composer and music producer of the ''[[Tokimeki Memorial (Visual Novel)|Tokimeki Memorial]]'' series)
* Mikio Saito (aka Metal Yuhki ; composer of ''[[Castlevania: Rondo of Blood]]'', and composer and music producer of the ''[[Tokimeki Memorial]]'' series)
* Shingo Takatsuka (nickname "Seabass"; head designer and producer for the ''[[Pro Evolution Soccer]]'' series)
* Shingo Takatsuka (nickname "Seabass"; head designer and producer for the ''[[Pro Evolution Soccer]]'' series)
* [[Michiru Yamane]] (composer for many ''Castlevania'' soundtracks)
* [[Michiru Yamane]] (composer for many ''Castlevania'' soundtracks)
* [[Akira Yamaoka]] (the father of ''[[Silent Hill]]'')
* [[Akira Yamaoka]] (the father of ''[[Silent Hill]]'')
----
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=== Tropes associated with Konami: ===


{{creatortropes}}
* [[Arc Number]]: The number 573 appears in many of Konami's games in some way.
* [[Arc Number]]: The number 573 appears in many of Konami's games in some way.
* [[Classic Cheat Code]]: [[Captain Obvious|Guess]].
* [[Classic Cheat Code]]: [[Captain Obvious|Guess]].
* [[Easter Egg]]: A lot of Konami's games have these, usually referencing a different game.
* [[Easter Egg]]: A lot of Konami's games have these, usually referencing a different game.
* [[Eenie Meenie Miny Moai]]
* [[Eenie Meenie Miny Moai]]
* [[Everythings Better With Penguins]]: Pentarou, their mascot in the 80s and 90s.
* [[Everything's Better with Penguins]]: Pentarou, their mascot in the 80s and 90s.
* [[Iconic Logo]]: [[Your Mileage May Vary|Well, at least the logo on the page image]].
* [[Iconic Logo]]: [[Your Mileage May Vary|Well, at least the logo on the page image]].
* '''[[Konami Code]]'''
* '''[[Konami Code]]'''
Line 151: Line 151:
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Video Game Companies]]
[[Category:Video Game Companies]]
[[Category:Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Franchise)]]
[[Category:index]]
[[Category:index]]
[[Category:Konami]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Trope]]
[[Category:Japanese Games]]

Latest revision as of 19:32, 14 April 2024

/wiki/Konamicreator

Konami is a popular Tokyo-based maker of video games, toys and trading cards, founded in 1969 as a jukebox rental and repair business in Osaka, Japan. Konami was one of the leading third-party developers during the NES era, with such best-selling games as Gradius, Contra and Metal Gear. It is currently the fourth-largest game company in Japan, behind Nintendo, Sega Sammy and Namco Bandai.

Due to Nintendo's restrictions on third-party licensing during that era, Konami could release only five games per year for the NES. Konami found a way around this by creating a quasi-independent subsidiary known as "Ultra Games", which published the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game, Skate or Die, Metal Gear, and an expanded version of Gyruss, among others. (They made a similar move in Europe with Palcom Software Ltd.) After Nintendo relaxed its standards, Konami closed Ultra in 1992 and absorbed its remaining employees into its American branch. Some of the other Konami staff left that same year to create Treasure Co. Ltd., a company well known for its fast-paced shooters (Gunstar Heroes, Radiant Silvergun, Ikaruga, etc.) Konami also owns a majority stake in Hudson Soft (recently Hudson became a wholly owned subsidiary), though the latter still operates more or less independently.

In the mid-80s, Konami became famous by one of their Classic Cheat Codes, dubbed the "Konami Code". First appearing to US players in the 1986 NES port of Gradius and made popular in the 1988 NES port of Contra, it provided the players of the notoriously-difficult game with 30 lives, rather than the original 3. Due to the game's popularity, the Konami Code now enjoys a pop-culture status on par with the famous 'XYZZY' keyword from Colossal Cave Adventure -- mention the 'Konami Code', and it's a sure bet than any console gamer worth his eyeteeth will know exactly which code you mean.

Fast forward to 2012, Konami's reputation nose dives into a shockingly low state. While the company avoided the DLC/online pass related ire that's become all too common in modern gaming, they made up for it with their abysmal publishing decisions throughout 2011-2012, which can be summed up as Konami not giving a damn to hilariously awful levels. The highlights include releasing the Metal Gear Solid HD collection the same day as mega hit Modern Warfare 3, releasing three separate Silent Hill games within a mere three week span, several games around this time not having enough copies during launch day, the company not advertising games from new franchises at all, switching release dates for games unannounced, and releasing deeply flawed "remasters" of the three main Silent Hill games, despite being aware of the ports' dubious quality prior to release.

In 2015, the company announced they were ceasing their console gaming involvement to concentrate on their mobile games and their non-video gaming ventures, like slot machines and pachinko. That's after Silent Hills was cancelled and Hideo Kojima left Konami.

In no way related to the Konata/Kagami pairing of Lucky Star, or to a certain character named Konami, or to any kind of "economy".


Konami is responsible for the following video game franchises:


Licensed Games:


Anime series produced/sponsored by Konami:

Names associated with Konami:


Konami provides examples of the following tropes: