Konami code

Origin

The “Konami Code” otherwise known as the “Contra code”, first appeared in the 1986 release of “Gradius” for the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System, or “Famicom” in Japan.), It is used in many Konami games and Non-Konami games. The most famous use of the code is in the game “Contra”, a two player shooter also for the NES. In Contra it gave you thirty lives, dubbing it the “30 lives code”. There are many variations of the code, used in many games. The code itself is “UP UP, DOWN DOWN, LEFT RIGHT, LEFT RIGHT, B, A, START BUTTON.”

Usage as Easter Egg

The Konami Code has been showing up a lot recently as the preferred method for unlocking cool easter eggs (“bonus” features) on popular websites.

On April 26th, 2009, an unnamed designer working for ESPN.COM created an Easter Egg in which one could “Cornify” the page by entering the Konami code.

As of May 8th, 2009, the Konami Code can be entered into Facebook to activate lens flare effects when you click your mouse.

Using the Konami Code while reading comments on Digg.com automatically expands and collapses all nested replies.

As of June 14th, 2010, entering the Konami Code on Newsweek.com changes all the headlines to ones about a Zombie invasion.

A larger list of sites using the Konami Code can be found at http://konamicodesites.com/

Notable YTMND’s

• Jesus Gets 30 Lives
• Push It To the Limit
• ESPN.com’s Night of the Unicorns
• LOLCONTRA