Konami

Konami Corporation (コナミ) {{tyo|9766}} (NYSE: KNM) is a leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling computer and video games. The company was founded in 1969 as a jukebox rental and repair business in Osaka, Japan by Kagemasa Kozuki, the still-current chairman and CEO. The name "Konami" is a conjunction of the names Kagemasa Kozuki, Yoshinobu Nakama, Hiro Matsuda, and Shokichi Ishihara, who were partners acquired by Kozuki and the original founders of Konami Industry Co., Ltd in 1973. Konami also means "Small waves."

Games

Over the years, some of the biggest and most memorable video games have been created by Konami. Genre-defining titles attributed to Konami include the dating simulation Tokimeki Memorial series, the vampire hunting Castlevania series, the action/shooter Contra series, the platform/adventure Ganbare Goemon series, the espionage action Metal Gear series, the console role-playing Suikoden series, and the rythmic dancing Dance Dance Revolution (aka Dancing Stage) series. Konami is particularly notable for its side-scrolling shoot-em-up games (also known as SHMUPS), such as Gradius, Parodius, and Twinbee. Konami's games based on cartoon licenses, especially the ', Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Tiny Toon Adventures series, are still remembered fondly. Recent cinematically-styled franchises from Konami are the continuing Silent Hill survival horror game franchise, and the Metal Gear series, which underwent a public renaissance with Metal Gear Solid. Another successful franchise is Winning Eleven, the spiritual sequel to International Superstar Soccer, which is extremely popular in Asia, Latin America and Europe.

Related Topics:
Tokimeki Memorial - Castlevania - Contra - Ganbare Goemon - Metal Gear - Suikoden - Dance Dance Revolution - Dancing Stage - SHMUPS - Gradius - Parodius - Twinbee - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Tiny Toon Adventures - Silent Hill - Survival horror game - Metal Gear Solid - Winning Eleven - International Superstar Soccer - Asia - Latin America - Europe

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Konami is also notorious for its famous password, the Konami Code, which traditionally gives many powerups in its games. Although variants also exist, as in the Parodius series, and button naming can differ depending on the controller used, the classic Famicom or NES combination is: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start.

Related Topics:
Konami Code - Powerup - Parodius

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