The Konami Code Shows Up In the Strangest Places

There are misdemeanors I have committed in this life, I’ll admit it. For example, I recently got a ticket for jaywalking and it cost me $200. For jaywalking. I’m still very angry about this situation and am actively devising a plan to exact revenge on the LAPD, and guess what! Now you’re all accomplices.

When it comes to cheating, I am a repeat offender – in not just my academic life, but also my video gaming life. (I was a homeschooled kid, so let’s not all go tell that to my mom all at once.) I’ve been using the famous Konami Code to cheat in video games since Contra, but I never thought it could help me cheat in real life – specifically, to fix my television.

The video above was inspired by my bewilderment at the fact that entering a slight variation of the classic Konami Code into my Vizio TV’s remote control actually allowed me to reset my Netflix app. How? Why? My television is a total piece of crap and, to my knowledge, has nothing to do with video games aside from the fact that it’s the means for which I play them. But that’s irrelevant. This is yet another funny instance of video games infiltrating the real world, and I love it.

Cheat codes in games have always fascinated me, and left me with not a single ounce of guilt for utilizing their benefits. Everyone knows Warcraft 2 was way more fun with the “It Is A Good Day To Die” God-mode cheat enabled, and I stick by my opinion that RollerCoaster Tycoon is downright unplayable unless you “persuade” the park guests to never complain about your unreasonably dangerous coasters, that may or may not have a completed track. Sure you didn’t gain anything, but wasn’t NFL 2K much more entertaining when the code “LARD” was used, giving you only extremely fat players? Hilarious!

And who can forget the fabulous Game Genie? You know, that piece of hardware for the NES, SNES, and even the Game Boy that allowed for “game enhancements”? Over five million Game Genie units have been sold – let’s face it. People love to cheat.

Before I cause any more confusion, some of you may be wondering why I keep saying the “Konami Code” instead of the “Contra Code.” I explain this in my video: While Contra was the first game to make the up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A cheat code popular, Gradius (1986) was where it originated. So, if you really want to fight about it, you can still call it the Contra Code and have it be socially acceptable, but just rest assured that you are wrong.

Once you’ve memorized the Konami Code button commands, the fun never ends! Here are some websites that give a virtual high-five to any visiting nerds:

On GeekHype.com, entering the Konami Code on the homepage will give you a pop-up message of a familiar gaming quote. Unfortunately, they spell it wrong so that kind of ruins it. Or… makes it funnier?

And try it on this guy’s website!

Typing the code + enter on GameSpot and Giant Bomb both lead you to the Contra sections of their site. Clever! But… shouldn’t it lead to Gradius? Come on, guys!

Recognize this from the ESPN.com Konami trick from 2009? Visit Cornify.com, enter the code, then keep pressing enter. It’ll be like MySpace all over again.

This one’s fun. Check out Cubeecraft and enter the code. Don’t be afraid to click Download afterward. I tried it and, from what I can tell, it’s probably not a virus.

From now on, I’ll only work with web designers who incorporate the Konami Code into their online portfolios. Try it!

It’s hit or miss, but you can find many more sites that utilize the Konami Code at Konamicodesites.com

But back to video games! Courtesy of Wikipedia, here is a long list of games that use the Konami Code, or a slight variation.

Whether the result is infinite ammo, thirty extra lives, God mode, or just really fat characters, there should be no shame in cheating. Isn’t that what life is really all about? Finding shortcuts, loopholes, and Photoshopping Pizza Hut coupons? Take the standpoint of the Game Genie: You’re not cheating; you’re simply enhancing the game.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go plummet my RollerCoaster Tycoon park guests into a fiery death. Happy code hunting!

Kotaku columnist Lisa Foiles is best known as the former star of Nickelodeon’s award-winning comedy show, All That. She currently works as an actress/web host in Hollywood and writes for her game site, Save Point. For more info, visit Lisa’s official website