Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, A, B. It’s one of the most popular cheat codes of all time, appearing in more than 100 games, and gamers know it as the Konami Code. But did you know it was never intended to be used by gamers at all?

In 1986, game developer Konami ported the classic side-scroller Gradius to Nintendo’s NES system. While the port was being worked on, a programmer named Kazuhisa Hashimoto found the game remarkably hard to play. Fed up with Gradius‘ high level of difficulty, he decided to create a special code that would make the game considerably easier to play test.

That’s how the famous keystroke sequence was birthed. Entering it at the start of the game gave players a full cache of power-ups to start out with. Entering it in reverse gave players thirty extra lives.

The code made it to the retail version of the game because Hashimoto never removed it after play testing was complete. No one seems to know how the code’s existence became widespread knowledge — did Hashimoto himself tell a friend who told a friend and so on? did some lucky gamer happen upon the code while entering random keystrokes? — but regardless of how, it became so popular that Konami developers started using it for play testing in nearly every game they worked on. And just like before, they left it in the retail version of the game, for savvy players “in the know” to use.

Eventually, developers outside of Konami caught on to the code’s popularity, and began putting it into their games as well. You’ll find it in such classics as Contra, Castlevania, Dance Dance Revolution, Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3, and more. The Konami Code appears in many modern games as well, including Half-Life 2, Mercenaries 2, Plants vs. Zombies, Quake 4, and Little Big Planet 2.

The code is so popular, it’s taken on a life of its own outside of gaming, too. A huge number of websites have at one time or another displayed easter eggs when users input the Konami Code, including Facebook, Google Reader, Digg, Marvel.com, Gamespot, Netflix.com, MLB.com, and many more.

Created by Konami for the Nintendo DS, Love Plus⁺ quickly gained popularity in Japan and hit an all time high when a college guy actually married his virtual partner. Sad, I know, but it did push the game into the limelight. So, a year later, we haven’t been hearing much of the game (maybe outside of Japan) – until now.

In an effort to revive its declining tourism industry, the little town of Atami has “partnered up” with Love Plus⁺. This town used to be the destination of choice for honeymooners and couples looking for a romantic getaway. Located in the eastern part of Shizuoka, Japan, Atami is known for its hot springs. Thanks to decreasing marriage statistics and increasing outside-of-the-country travel statistics, not too many couples head over to Atami anymore.

Enter the new breed of couples – one human, one virtual. Atami launched a campaign targeting male players (are there any female players? I wonder…) of Love Plus⁺. Believe it or not, the town has received LOTS of Love Plus⁺ guests.

It’s quite strange, actually. Young men go to the town and check into a hotel as if they had a real partner with them. Some would even go as far as to pay for two people. (Apparently, in Japan, the norm is to pay per person and not per room.) The business owners, naturally, indulge their customers. After all, these not-so-ordinary guests are breathing a bit of life back into their businesses. Here, take a look at a video report of what’s going on in there.

So guys, can’t find a date? Maybe you ought to consider taking these guys’ lead.

(I can’t help but add this question: How come I haven’t really heard of gals engaging in this sort of thing? Any ideas why?)

Now, even Konami’s banner game, Dance Dance Revolution, is being jeopardized, too. Activision has filed papers to trademark the name Dance Hero. The rights for the name will be used for a “computer game software,” “interactive video game programs,” “computer game discs,” “downloadable computer game software,” and other related categories.

Of course, this could also mean nothing. Activision has also trademarked other names like Guitar Villain and Drum Villain but no games were announced bearing these names. But then the recently trademarked DJ Hero name is being rumored to be under development as a turntable-mashup game.

Mercury Steam Entertainment

Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has used Europe’s leading video game event, the annual Games Convention in Leipzig, to unveil a landmark new title for PLAYSTATION®3 and Xbox 360 from its European Product Planning department entitled Lords of Shadow, which is due for release in 2010.

Developed by Madrid-based Mercury Steam, Lords of Shadow is a stunning new action-adventure IP, boasting an incredible level of visual detail and far-ranging gameplay. Set in Southern Europe during the middle ages, Lords of Shadow has beautifully-realised locales that play host to an epic battle between good and evil. This is a story of one man’s journey to discover the true meaning of sacrifice amidst murder and betrayal.

Best described as a dark fairy tale, Lords of Shadow casts the player as the mysterious Gabriel. At its heart it is a vast third-person-viewed adventure, but combat and puzzle solving also play a major part in the main quest, while dark artifacts can be used to enhance Gabriel’s powers.

Lords of Shadow also utilises a unique multi-functional weapon system called the Combat Cross™, wherein Gabriel’s favored armament can serve a multitude of purposes. For ranged attacks, an extendible chain can cause major carnage but also grip enemies, for melee the Combat Cross™ can be extended into a stabbing weapon, or changed into a heavier night stick style device for defensive capabilities.

With a play area that spans forest glades, underground catacombs and snowy wastelands, Lords of Shadow is a key title for Konami. It represents the most ambitious offering from the European Product Planning department to date, with the beautiful visuals married to fine-tuned gameplay that features a wide range of monstrous enemies and huge, screen-filling boss creatures.

“Lords of Shadow is a momentous title for us,” commented Dave Cox, Executive Producer and Head of Product Planning for Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH. “Every element of the game pushes the host hardware to its limits, with Mercury Steam producing a game that has breath-taking visuals, incredible cinematic qualities, and varied and engrossing gameplay. It is truly an epic game but telling a human and emotive story. This is a title we hope will set a new standard for action-adventure titles.”

Lords of Shadow will be released for PLAYSTATION®3 and Xbox 360 in 2010.

I’ve mentioned numerous times that I am a rhythm game addict—more specifically, an addict for the Guitar Hero/Rock Band type rhythm games. I’ve got both games at home. I already have my Guitar Hero controller but I’m still waiting for my Rock Band special bundle to arrive (it’s currently being shipped to my address).

I love the instrument based rhythm games so much that I even have the Konami Guitar Freaks and DrumMania games with the original controllers. Unfortunately, Konami’s games have been overshadowed by its American counterparts over the last few years. But if Konami had its way, their new games will blow the two titles out of the water. The Japanese company is set to release Rock Revolution, which will go head-to-head with the two other titles. The new title will also feature a guitar peripheral and a drum kit that is reportedly designed by real musicians. Much like Rock Band, it will also have downloadable content from both Xbox Live and the Playstation Store. Weirdly enough, all of the songs in the game will be cover versions.

From what has been reported, Rock Revolution will also carry features that are similar to the ones that are coming out in the upcoming Guitar Hero 4. This includes a virtual music studio where players can make their own songs using up to eight tracks. There will also be a jam mode.

The Wii version of the game will be radically different as it will have “air guitar” and “air drum” play dynamics that is similar to the playing style of Samba de Amigo. There will also be a Nintendo DS version that will use the stylus for a “rhythm matching” game.

It seems like Konami is going to cover all the bases in order to really make its presence felt again in this particular genre. I’m betting that this is going to do really, really well.