Talk:Konami Code

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Suggestion: Add the links to the various web comics that reference to the Konami code. Not a general link to their site/wikipedia, but the link to the exact strip that portrays this code.

A variation of the Konami Code that has also entered the gaming vernacular is: up-up-down-down-left-right-left-right-B-A-Select-Start. This came from its use on Contra; the extra button press was used to start a two-player game with each player having 30 lives. Contra was best enjoyed as a two-player contest, which accounts for this version of the Code becoming widespread. For the record, however, the Select button is not used in the "official" Code.

I remember there being a Konami game on the SNES or N64, that using the Konami code immediately killed you. Rhymeless 03:17, 29 Aug 2004 (UTC)

  • From the article:
Gradius III (SNES)
Normally entering the code while paused destroyed the player instantly. However, if the player entered the code using the L and R buttons for Left and Right, they received full Powerups.
It actually gave you all the power-ups before you pressed Start, as sort of a teaser, but destroyed you as soon as you unpaused. --Poiuytman 00:48, 29 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Isn't there also an up, right, right, down, down, down, left, left, left, left, B, A, B, A, start code? --Dante Alighieri | Talk 18:03, Jan 28, 2005 (UTC)

I'm almost positive that there's an extra B, A in there. I'll try it on my friend's emulator - this is important stuff. --Empty commercial spaces | Talk 17:45, Mar 14, 2007 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Re-write of Variations, changed to History

I pretty much replaced the Variations section with History (which might need to be renamed -- it's more of a summary), and transferred some of the relevant information over. My apologies to the original section author for removing much of the content, but most of the information was already covered in the intro or in the list of games itself. --Poiuytman 14:16, 21 Feb 2005 (UTC)

[edit] "Start" is not part of the code!

There's a small community of pedantics (myself included) who are irritated whenever we see "start" or "select start" mentioned as part of the code. They have nothing to do with it; they're just used to pick 1-player or 2-player after the code has already been accepted.

If we're going to consider "start" part of the code, we may as well also tack on "wait a few seconds. Hold right. Jump! Shoot the flying thing!"

But the clearest proof that it's not part of the code is that you can add on extra buttonpresses after A but not anywhere else in the code. For example:

U U D D L R L R B A U U U Start will work

but

U U D D L R L R U U U B A Start won't.

In most older games, the player would begin the game or unpause immediately after inputting the code, so including Start in the code became standard usage. Perhaps it can be clarified in the intro. --Poiuyt Man talk 02:42, 30 May 2005 (UTC)

Suggestion to add Screenshot of Stepmania running the song mentioned under DDR Extreme: http://img168.imageshack.us/my.php?image=screen002578qm.jpg

[edit] Holy table of contents, Batman!

Not sure about the official policy here, but that table of contents is needlessly long. Here's a proposed format change:

  • Batman Returns (SNES) - In options, use controller 2 and press Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A. Use controller 1 to adjust the number of lives.

How do you feel about that? Might take a while to apply to all those games... --Headcase 19:16, 14 January 2006 (UTC)

I definitely agree that the game titles should not each be headers. --Pagrashtak 21:24, 14 January 2006 (UTC)
I would also support this change. --Measure 22:26, 30 January 2006 (UTC)
Done. -- Robbyjo 22:05, 1 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bubble Bobble

  • I think this code was also used in arcade bubble bobble to start each life fully powered up. - mildewman
What exactly, would "Fully powered up" mean in bubble bobble? only weapon is a bubble and I don't recall anything as advanced as rapid fire? --Measure 23:36, 6 February 2006 (UTC)
Bubble Bobble did have rapid fire, as well as a longer range shot; and the Power Up code also provided speed (as in the shoes). Kinitawowi 03:03, 4 January 2007 (UTC)
Hmm... Since Bubble Bobble was released by Taito in 1986 for the arcades, and this code was invented by Konami for a console game the same year, I doubt the code was in the original arcade version of Bubble Bobble. No mention of this code over at Bubble Bobble, for that matter. --Measure 00:19, 7 February 2006 (UTC)
It's a different code (LRUDLRUD). Kinitawowi 03:03, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] List of Games

It seems to me that the section, "Specific uses in games," is way too long to include in this article. What is everyone's thoughts about moving that section to a new page called something like "List of games using the Konami Code" and linking to it from here? --Measure 23:53, 6 February 2006 (UTC)

I created List of Konami code games, and copied the information over from this article. Any objections to removing the list from this page and just linking to the list? --Measure 00:58, 9 February 2006 (UTC)

I personally would rather not see an entire article that's just a list of cheat codes. Wikipedia is not a how-to or cheat guide. Friday (talk) 16:28, 9 February 2006 (UTC)
I know we've hashed this out eleswhere, but if you really want this kind of list gone, take a look at Category: Computer and video games by platform and start doing something about the thousands of lists under that. If those can stay, I see no reason not to have this list. --Measure 18:21, 9 February 2006 (UTC)
Don't give them any ideas, or even more useful content will vanish from Wikipedia. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 69.86.205.145 (talk • contribs) .
Street Fighter II Also used "Up Up down Down Left Right Left Right Strong Jab" in attract mode to display the number of credits the machine had taken as well as how often each character had been selected. However this was a Capcom game dated around 1991.

[edit] Super Nintendo Konami Codes?

Aren't there some games for the Super Nintendo that entering the Konami code has an adverse affect? I could swear I read as much in Nintendo Power as a tot... --Jpawloski 14:31, 16 February 2006 (UTC)

As mentioned at the top of this talk page, on the SNES, some games required "LR" instead of "Left Right". Pressing the regualar left-right buttons could bring death instead of rewards. --Measure 17:42, 16 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Mentions in Popular Culture

This is the next section in this article that I will take issue with. Most of these mentions aren't really relevant to what the code is, and what it represents. Perhaps we can remove the bulletted list of points, and have a paragraph talking about how the code has been integrated into popular cutlure in general. Perhaps the paragraph could mention significant firsts, such as the first non-konami game to use the code, or the first tv show or movie it appeared in?

I just think the bulleted list looks ugly, and doesn't really belong in the main article. --Measure 17:42, 16 February 2006 (UTC)

~Keep in mind that some people (including myself before I realized I was wrong) might think the new Silent Hill movie mentions the code. A character in the movie is mouthing some directions that she has to memorize which goes "Left Left Right Right Left Right Left Right 3B 4A", the 3B and 4A being room numbers. I thought it was the code at first, until I realized she didn't say up or down. Just thought I'd mention that incase someone tries adding it into the article without proof.

Deftones new album Saturday Night Wrists contains this
The Moldy Peaches song "Anyone Else But You" contains the line "Up up down down left right left right B A start, Just because we use cheats doesn't mean we're not smart."

There is a rock band with the name "Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start": www.upupdowndown.org

--- In the popular culture references, I re-inserted the reference to the Ask A Ninja episode that makes a specific reference in the background to the Konami Code. I also inserted list bullet points before the list points in the section to try and clean up the format a bit, since most articles use the list bullet points in similar sections. It makes the formatting more consistent with other articles.

I'm not sure why the Ask a Ninja reference was removed, but please discuss before removing as it appears to be a legitimate, verifiable popular culture reference of the code. 15:25, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

The removal was discussed, right here in this very section of this talk page. The bulleted list of pop culture references is WAY too long, and should be eliminated. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 65.216.70.186 (talk • contribs) .

The people who designed the Konami USA Website [1] either recieved instruction or have a good sense of humor, the code is in the lower left hand corner of the webpage in barely readable font, but that is in fact the original Konami code.

[edit] Is this a reference to the "Konami Code"?

I just recently found this page looking for something entirely unrelated, but now that I see the code, I noticed a somewhat surprising similarity with a cheat recently discovered in the PS2 version of Half-Life. A hitherto undiscovered code was revealed for the first time ever just days ago that unlocks all of the "Decay" missions in the game. The code reads as follows:

p2_R3, p1_L3, p1_up, p1_up, p2_down, p2_down, p1_left, p1_right, p2_left, p2_right, p1_X, p1_O, START

However, simplified, the code reads as this:

R3, L3, Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, X, O, Start

Note that the placement of the X and O buttons on PlayStation controller, pressed in this order, is startlingly similar to the placement of the B and A buttons on Nintendo controllers. So, am I grasping at straws or is there a possible connection here? If it seems like I'm missing a stupefyingly obvious relation here, I'd like to point out that Konami has little to do with the Half-Life series or developers, much less a PS2 port of the game developed by a different company. Also, I've never heard of this code before ever in my life. MarphyBlack 20:30, 11 July 2006 (UTC)

if the code does work in HL2 indeed, then the developers had the original Konami Code in mind as inspiration for sure. As the article states, it was once (and in some circles still is) a badge for "hardcoreness" Rhe br 21:44, 11 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Earliest "password"

I would dispute that xyzzy from Colossal Cave belongs in this article. It's part of the game itself - you can learn the code in-game and its use isn't considered cheating. I don't think it's in the same category as the Konami Code at all. (That may be why it's referred to as a "password" instead of a "cheat code", but if that distinction's being made, the Konami Code is definitely the latter and not the former.) —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 74.56.253.93 (talk • contribs) .

Sounds like a good point. How would you like to re-phrase the paragraph? Measure 17:09, 8 November 2006 (UTC)


I quite agree. xyzzy is required to progress in Colossal Cave, and the player is told of its existence in-game. Cheat codes are defined as undocumented secrets that assist the player. Thus, xyzzy should not be considered a cheat code.

Was xyzzy documented somewhere? There's hardly a code today that isn't documented somewhere, usually in a strategy guide and on web-pages. Should we go though the list of Konami code games and remove any instances where the code was stated in the manual? How would we even check that?
Hmm... Maybe I just disagree with your definition of Cheat Code. Wiki just says "Cheat codes are codes that can be entered into a video game to change the game's behavior."
I don't care if we have to take XYZZY out of the article, but we should either say that this is the first code ever, or make reference to the first code ever, whatever that is. We need to do this because the Konami Code is likely the most popular code ever. --Measure 19:56, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Do promotional screenshots count?

http://www.britishgaming.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/42atc_00_chat.jpg

As well as the obvious Giant Crab Reference, note the Konami code there. That's in Clubhouse Games, btw--The last sheikah 18:29, 15 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Add to Pop Culture reference

In the episode of "Megas XLR" "Rearview Mirror, Mirror (Part 1)," Coop accidentally enters something similar to the Konami Code into Megas that transports him to the alternate dimension.

Is there a reason that this reference is more significant than the dozens of others that have been in the article? --Measure 00:02, 18 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Article move

Moving the article just seems unlogical (iLogical, according to his Steveness), if someone starts a band named Wikipedia (and it becomes relevant enough to deserve an article), will we move Wikipedia's article to Wikipedia (encyclopedia) ??

The Konami Code is the code per se, the band is named after it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 200.148.44.171 (talk • contribs)

  • Agreed. It would make sense to have disambiguation if one was not named after the other and they were unrelated, but in this case, I think the article on the cheat should belong at The Konami Code. I understand that the mover's intentions were good, and s/he probably didn't think it would require a discussion since s/he failed to take that fact into account. --Czj 03:38, 5 November 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Article Re-name

Can we drop the "(Cheat)" from the name of this article? I don't see why we should have the extra word in the title just because some barely-notable band is using the name?

[edit] Why remove pop culture references?

I was google specifially to find the source of the Moldy Peaches lyric. I usually find Wikipedia to be pretty thorough on cataloging this kind of reference but in this case you've dumped the info! Luckily other sites were using an earlier version of the article. I vote that (some) of it goes back in. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Andybak (talk • contribs) 12:34, 3 December 2006 (UTC).

I have no problem putting some of it back in if we can decide what kind of trivia we should include in the article. Why should some of the references be included and others not? As it was before removal, there were dozens of bits of information some of which may have deserved to be included, but most of which was just junk.
As for the Moldy Peaches, Wiki should never be a source of original research See Wikipedia:NOR. Unless another source can be found, the reference should not be included in the article.
In any case, We need to form a policy for this page on what qualifies as a useful tidbit so that we can manage any list of pop culture references that forms. --Measure 19:21, 4 December 2006 (UTC)
Okay, my personal opinion is that there is no reason not to have them there, especially if there is a section specifically titled for it. I could understand the argument that there should not be that section at all, but to put it there and then not allow obvious references not to be listed implies that there aren't any, which is false. If there are plenty of references and a place to put them, they should be put there! I therefore added the bit about the Deftones song regardless of the note. I say either delete the whole section or let people add to it (and again, WHY NOT?) -Darwin
The section is *about* pop-culture references; it's not a *list* of them. For example, the article on Julia Child might mention that her cookbooks covered a wide range of dishes, yet not list every single dish she ever cooked. --Mike Schiraldi (talk) 16:49, 22 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Referenced by Wikipedia in Search Box?

<--- Go into the search bar to the left of this site and hit the down arrow key.Atirage 06:37, 27 January 2007 (UTC)

Nice... actually, that's just your browser showing you your personal search history. The list you get by pressing the down arrow is generated by yourself, or other users of your computer, not by wikipedia. --Measure 23:18, 15 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Changed image of the code to my free image [Image:Konamicode.svg]

was that OK?

Mandrke 05:05, 15 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Band named after konami code

http://upupdowndown.org/

the band is called Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start is that referenced enough or are you guys gonna go WP:NAZI on my ass...

Mmm, yep. --Wirbelwindヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 09:14, 21 June 2007 (UTC)
If i named a band "George W Bush" that wouldn't be a good enough reason to post a link on his Wikipedia page. Read through the history of the Konami Code page and you'll see that there are dozens of insignificant bands and songs and wrestlers and poems and books and cakes and interpretive dances that make reference to the code. Nobody cares, and it doesn't belong on this page. --Mike Schiraldi 03:48, 22 June 2007 (UTC)
Should "Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start" redirect to this page, or should it have its own disambiguation? The redirect may cause confusion. --snooble 17:25, 17 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Is my image annoying.

199.172.169.15 throught that my image is "takes away more than it adds." i rerverted it but it got me thinking, is it annoying?

and if so, how would you fix it, colour, shape and position can be fixed.

Mandrke 07:47, 13 July 2007 (UTC)

I like your picture. I think the "Start" should be removed, though, since it's not part of the code, and i also think it's better to use text captions in Wikipedia rather than embedding captions inside graphics -- that way, they're easier to change, they can be selected with the mouse, and most importantly, they can be translated. In fact, as the page currently stands, the caption is redundant -- it shows up in the picture and below the picture. I think we should definitely have a graphic on this page, but i'd touch it up like this:
The Konami Code
The Konami Code

--Mike Schiraldi 13:01, 13 July 2007 (UTC)

the current picture looks great, but a PNG image? that image can easily be made into an SVG file, Doing now... 203.122.235.59 07:51, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Pop culture references?

I came specifically to this page to show someone the list of pop culture references to the Konami code, only to discover that since someone else didn't find it as interesting as the rest of us, they removed it. Scanning the discussion page shows that I'm far from the only one annoyed by it's absence. Please bring it back!! 64.131.243.239 21:19, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

It's linked in the See Also section. --Mike Schiraldi 02:22, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] pop culture?

What happened to the pop culture references that are supposedly in the "See Also" section? Wikipedia is my favorite place for pop culture references. It's often the most correct because anyone can add and when someone sees something new, they can put it on the page. It feels like some people are dominating this page and not letting constructive changes occur.

Also, I don't think it's fair to call the band Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start "barely-notable". There will be people coming to wikipedia looking for information on them. I think, since they named their band after this code, they should at least be linked. And I especially I don't see why comics featuring the code are any more notable than a tv episode, song lyric, or band name.

I think this could be solved extemely easily: a new, separate page called "Pop culture references to the Konami Code". I have started the page and linked it to the Konami Code page. Please add any and all known references.

Ingridjames (talk) 11:22, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

It's been suggested that you guys check out the WP:OWN page. Remember, everyone can edit Wikipedia. Ingridjames (talk) 12:50, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

In the anime Battle Athletes Victory, a siamese pair of cyborg track runners are defeated when the heroines whisper the Konami code prompting the cyborgs to repeat the code and press the self-destruct buttons on their foreheads (labelled "A" and "B"). [2] (Can't seem to find a Google video clip of this though. Pakopako (talk) 19:41, 16 April 2008 (UTC))

[edit] Disputed section

Following this AfD: Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/List of pop culture references to the Konami Code, the popular culture section has been merged back in, but with unverified claims removed here. Only statements that can be sourced should be placed back in the article. Unverified popular culture statements should be placed on this talkpage until they can be referenced. SilkTork *YES! 00:52, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

I've reverted a full blanking of the section. AtaruMoroboshi (talk) 15:04, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Music

Bands such as the Moldy Peaches, The Ataris, Pettit Project, and Schoolyard Heroes have alluded to or referenced the konami code. [citation needed]

  • Put in the Deftones reference with a citation to LastFM. Although it's pretty plain to see by just looking at the playlist on the album page, but never mind. Also noted that it's an exception to the normal rule as it gets the code wrong. Slavedriver (talk) 13:33, 1 April 2008 (UTC)
I think we need a better source than a last FM page. AtaruMoroboshi (talk) 11:16, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

The Neskimos actually have a song titled "The Contra Code" from the album "Battle: Perfect Selection"

[edit] On the Internet

This "hidden" feature also appears on other websites such as Gamespot.com. Once entered, the user is redirected to NES Contra cheat codes page. [citation needed]

(How can I post proof that this works? If you do go to Gamespot.com and input the code using Internet Explorer or perhaps another ActiveX capable browser, you will be re-directed. Pakopako (talk) 19:41, 16 April 2008 (UTC))
A verifiable source will do AtaruMoroboshi (talk) 19:50, 16 April 2008 (UTC)
WP:NOTE lists five bullet points for notability. By these criteria, neither the Digg, Penny Arcade, Wonkette, nor Real Life links belong either. Particularly, they fail the "Presumed" and "Independent of the subject" tests.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.81.135.91 (talk) 14:13, 12 May 2008 (UTC)
Notability criteria applies to article subjects, not explicitly content within the article. As a said, verifiable source is needed to support the statement. AtaruMoroboshi (talk) 11:56, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
How's this[3]? Pakopako (talk) 06:41, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Other

Ring Of Honor wrestler Jimmy Jacobs calls his finisher the Contra code. Whenever he applies the move the announcer would usually shout "Its the Contra code! Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, A, B!"

In the film Stay Alive, Swink tells Phin that to unclothe the zombie concubines he must input the Konami Code.

In the Hellsing Ultimate OVAs, Jan Valentine recites the code during an attack on Hellsing HQ, deeming it "bringin' the motherf...in' death, by Konami!" [citation needed]

[edit] Notable bands?

I don't understand why Ataru's favorite bands are more notable than mine. What are the criteria? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.81.135.91 (talk) 14:14, 12 May 2008 (UTC)

Before we continue, I'd politely suggest that you please read over wp:civility, and also review the previous articles for deletion regarding this page. You've also reached your three reverts for this article, I've posted about that on your talk page about that. Simply saying "I went to talk" does not mean you can continue to revert edits without consensus. The content for the popular culture impact section has been contentious - but for example "The band Select Start based of Tampa, Florida derived its name from the Konami Code, and fans have been over heard shouting the code at shows", band does not have a wiki article, reference was a myspace page -whereas The Moldy Peaches, is a band notable enough to have an article, with a song featured in an Academy Award winning movie, with reference support from the official movie soundtrack website. Other bands had weak reference support from lyric database websites. This section serves to provided a representative sample the appearance of the code in popular culture - not every single instance in the wild should be included, which means a list of 10 bands all that have names or songs about the Konami Code is not necessary. AtaruMoroboshi (talk) 19:17, 12 May 2008 (UTC)
Okay, but how about website references? I find the Digg link most tenuous -- you reject Gamespot above because it doesn't have any coverage in the mainstream media, but neither does the Digg link you added. The only coverage I can find via Google is Digg's own story about it. If there were a popular Digg story about the band Select Start from Tampa, would that merit its inclusion here? Or if there were a popular story on Gamespot about Gamespot's use of the code? It just feels to me like you're being non-neutral here, picking and choosing what's notable and then defending your seemingly arbitrary choices not through publication of clear criteria, but rather through persistent reversion. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.81.135.91 (talk) 19:29, 12 May 2008 (UTC)
Note: Please remember to sign your posts with four tildes. Now again, I will clarify - no where did I reject in the insertion of the Gamespot link because it lacks mainstream media coverage. I only said, a verifiable source is needed as a supported reference. I think properly sourced, it would be a great addition to the article. I'd also appreciate you do not accuse me of ulterior motives. Note notability criteria doesn't actually apply to in article content, only the article subject matter itself. Though, many of article items I removed, would not have passed criteria for notability. Ultimately, a reference to the Konami code in the context of an internationally recognized band on the sound track of a highly visible Academy Award winning film is a far stronger and visible representative sample of the code in pop-culture than a local band with a myspace page. AtaruMoroboshi (talk) 12:04, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Digg & Wonkette

I think it's time to get rid of the Digg and Wonkette links. The only coverage Digg ever got was on Digg itself, and the code doesn't even work there anymore. As for Wonkette, what was the mention? Was it significant? How much longer should we leave the "citation needed" tag up before we remove the assertion? --82.253.215.120 (talk) 17:56, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

The Wonkette statement has been sourced (again) with an updated link. It was removed at this diff [4]. Your reasoning to remove the digg link is flawed - despite the functionality of the konami code may not work in Digg anymore, it can be verified and sourced, and is fundamentally no different than the Google reader or Gamespot.com also integrating the code into their website. AtaruMoroboshi (talk) 14:11, 12 June 2008 (UTC)
Digg has no coverage other than self-coverage. And it doesn't even work anymore. If we're going to have a limited number of references listed, surely there are more deserving ones than this. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.37.100.234 (talk) 21:20, 12 June 2008 (UTC)
Please remember to sign your posts with four tildes. AtaruMoroboshi (talk) 13:18, 13 June 2008 (UTC)
You state that Digg is not valid because the source is self-referential. With that logic, the gamespot reference [5] is also does not meet your criteria. The crux of these sources is verifiability not explicit notability. Both Digg and Gamespot are high-profile websites - and both integrated the Konami code into their website. The fact that Digg no longer supports the feature is irrelevant; it did at one point and it can be sourced and verified. AtaruMoroboshi (talk) 13:26, 13 June 2008 (UTC)
You say, "The fact that Digg no longer supports the feature is irrelevant." What is that statement based on besides your own opinion? I think it's extremely relevant. If we're not going to provide an exhaustive list of all code referenced, we have an obligation to present the best subset possible. A defunct website feature which went almost completely unnoticed does not strike me as part of the "cream of the crop."--84.37.100.234 (talk) 07:26, 14 June 2008 (UTC)