Konami is recognized as the fourth biggest video-game manufacturer in Japan. Following the poor performance of the arcade sector, Konami diversified and entered into the manufacture of slot machines. Since 1978, the company began to establish strong ties with several game developers in the US so that they could get a clear idea about what players were looking for. Konami had the finances as well as the expertise required to turn the venture into a success.
Apart from its involvement in the online gambling industry, Konami is also popular for manufacturing arcade cabinets, arcade games, and trading cards. It also operates physical fitness and health clubs. At the moment, Konami is one of the most renowned companies not only for its gambling equipment, but also for its gaming equipment. The popularity of the company is such that you can ask any teenager about their favourite video game and there is a good chance that the reply will be one of the games produced by the ingenious engineers at Konami. In addition, there is also a good chance that gamblers across the world have probably had a go at one of Konami’s slot machines without having any idea that it was produced by this powerhouse of gaming and gambling equipment.
Kagamasa Kouzuki founded Konami in 1969. The firm was initially a repair business and jukebox rental in Osaka, Japan. Its name is derived from the names of its founders – Kagamasa Kouzuki (CEO and Chairman), Yoshinobu Nakama (partner), and the other partner, Tatuso Miyasako. The meaning of ‘Konami’ is ‘little waves,’ and the company began designing arcade games as early as 1973. Super Cobra and Scramble were released in 1981 and both games achieved greater success in Japan in comparison to that enjoyed in the US. Computer software was already being marketed by Konami by 1982, before the partners decided to enter into the home game consoles sector.
Over the years, Konami has designed and manufactured some truly fantastic slot machines. The company’s headquarters were moved to Vegas in 2005, which is where it started producing slot machines. Prior to relocation, the company was based in Tokyo, but also had US bases in Nevada as well as in California to gain a better understanding of the gaming requirements of American players. Konami also has a base in Sydney, Australia because of the huge interest in gaming and real money slots in the country.
Read More
Read Less
The Konami Code is one of the most interesting things about the games released by the company. Many of Konami’s games feature cheat codes known as Konami codes. Gradius was the first game in which Konami used such a code when Nintendo was making waves in the market. The classic game of ‘Contra’ also had cheat codes, as intended by the company. Players of the games which had cheat codes were merely expected to press a specific set of buttons on the console after pausing the game. As a result, players could receive help in getting past difficult levels, or simply just enhance their gaming experience.
The Konami Code soon gained a lot of popularity and was used in several other games as the years passed by. Kazuhisa Hashimoto was the man responsible for creating the code as he found it very difficult to play Gradius when he was testing it.
With its increasing reputation doing it plenty of good, Konami began to license some of the best games which would potentially be converted into Hollywood movies in the future. The first Konami game that hit the movie screens was Silent Hill. Castlevania, Metal Gear Solid, and other popular games are also in production.
The first ever Konami slot to be released was the Rocky slots – based on the movie series. Other popular penny slots designed and manufactured by Konami include Money in the Bank, Ioha Gold, Dance Dance Revolution, Atlantic Treasure, African Treasure, Billionaires, Cash Inferno, Lucky Dice, Pro Evolution Soccer, Coinopolis, A Big Payoff, Karaoke Revolution, and China Mystery. Each of the games is unique and offers thorough entertainment to players. The features in each game reflect the quality of work done at Konami, but it is guaranteed that you will be in for some of the best sound effects, gameplay, and graphics when engaging in any type of Konami game. The reason is because the company has spent millions of dollars on development and research and has such a strong background in gaming.
Rocky Slots - Rocky is arguably the most popular slot machine to have been released by Konami. As a matter of fact, the company holds the rights to the film franchise as well as all the merchandise related to it, including slots and other gaming and gambling products. No matter where you come across a Rocky game, Konami is the company that holds the license for the product.
Destiny of Athena - Staking options for the Destiny of Athena slot start at 45 credits and go all the way up to 2,250 credits. This mythology-themed game has plenty of features to keep you entertained. When you land three owls on the reels, you need to pick one of the three presented options. They will either reveal a free spins feature with 2x, 3x, 5x or 20x multipliers or another free spins feature with 10x, 15x, 25x, or 100x multipliers.
Action Staked Sevens- One of the games that is quickly becoming a favourite among players from all corners of the world is Action Staked Sevens. The gameplay in this slot is straightforward and basic while offering players the opportunity to win exciting prizes. There is a bonus feature in the game which enables players to claim up to thirty free games. Also, the Rolling for Riches option is a feature that can see you win up to four progressive jackpots.
African Diamond- This is a multi-denomination slot that comes with line configurations of 10, 20, 25, and 30. Players who are interested in rolling high can have a great time playing this game as you can play 1500 credits at a time. If you activate the bonus round, you will have the opportunity to claim up to 25 free games when playing this feature. What is more exciting is that all your winnings will be doubled when playing the free games.
China Shores - The China Shores slot machine is also a multi-denomination slot machine that allows players to bet up to 1500 coins on each spin. The line configurations available are 20, 25, and 30. The volatility of the game is very high, and players stand a chance to win at least fifteen free games.
Ancient Dragon- Another multi-denomination slot, Ancient Dragon allows a maximum bet of 2500 credits per line. Players can choose their own line configuration and the options at their disposal are in fifty and one hundred line increments. You can also win up to 25 free games by activating the features when playing Ancient Dragon.
Secret of the Mermaid - Embark on an underwater adventure with Secret of the Mermaid, a Konami slot that comes with five reels and 30 paylines. Stakes start at 45 credits and go up to 22,500 credits. The highlight of this slot is the free spins round, in which wilds turn into multiplier symbols that can add between a 2x and 5x multiplier to your win.
Clairvoyant Cat- With the opportunity to bet 1500 credits on a single payline, Clairvoyant Cat is a multi-denomination slot game where players can choose between 20 and 30 paylines.
Gypsy Fire - The Gypsy Fire slot lets you choose a bet starting from 30 credits and that increases to 1,500 credits. The scatter symbol is the key to the free spins round. When you land 3, 4, or 5 of these on the reels, you'll receive 8, 12, or 20 free spins. You can also win more free spins during the round if more scatter symbols land on the reels. Similar to Secret of the Mermaid, wilds here turn into multiplier symbols during the free games.
If you're a fan of Konami slot machines, then we suggest you also check out games developed by Pragmatic Play and Amatic. These providers produce top-quality slots with innovative features and great graphics, just like Konami.
All our Konami slots and the casinos which allow them are checked by our team to ensure they are safe. Read our guide to Online Gaming Regulators and Licensing Bodies for full details on the organisations that regulate the online gaming market.
Our guide to Aristocrat gaming in the UK. Play the best Aristocrat slots for free at VegasSlotsOnline or at our recommended British online casinos.
Play free IGT slots in the UK, like Cleopatra, Da Vinci Diamonds, and White Orchid. These slots and more are available at our top IGT casinos in the United Kingdom.
Looking to play Microgaming slots online in the UK? Check out our review of Microgaming slots and our collection of their free games.
Play NetEnt slots online for free or real money in the UK. Choose from popular slots like Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, and Dead or Alive.