The internet is honoring Konami Code creator Kazuhisa Hashimoto

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Konami Code Kazuhisa Hashimoto

The creator of the Konami Code, Kazuhisa Hashimoto, has died. Konami confirmed the news on Twitter this morning.

“We are saddened to hear about the passing of Kazuhisa Hashimoto, a deeply talented producer who first introduced the world to the ‘Konami Code.’ Our thoughts are with Hashimoto-san’s family and friends at this time. Rest In Peace,” Konami tweeted.

Fans of retro games will remember the Konami Code from NES games like Gradius and Contra. On the NES controller, players would press up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, and Start.

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The code did not always have the same effect. In Gradius, the code gives players all of the ship’s power-ups. The cheat is used at the title screen of Contra to start the game with 30 lives. Meanwhile, entering the code in the SNES version of Gradius III will blow up your ship.

For many fans, the code was ingrained in their memory. It has been used in dozens of games over the years. Due to its prevalence, it has become something of a pop-culture symbol for gaming.

So it should be no surprise that many fans are paying tribute. Needless to say, the reaction to Hashimoto-san’s death has been heartwarming. Here are just some of the tweets:

What’s your favorite Konami Code memory? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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