Konami Corporation (コナミ) is a leading video game developer and publisher.
The company was founded in 1969 in Osaka, Japan by Kagemasa Kozuki . It is now headquartered in Tokyo.
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.
Many easter eggs are hidden in a number of Konami games through the mechanism of the Konami Code. While in the game's start screen, the player presses "Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-B-A" (the NES code) in rapid succession. The exact results vary per game.
In 2003, Konami of America closed down their arcade division due to heavy losses. All machine inquiries and new machines will be handled by Betson Enterprises.
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