Konami is the Sega of game development...a sad ending, one of the worst ever in the history of software companies. Oh, Konami games were so awesome during the golden age: Arcade, NES, SNES, MSX, Mega Drive, PS1 games were something really special. In those days, I was one of the few guys who always preferred Konami games over the Capcom ones. They felt more polished, for my taste at least. During the and early 2000's, personally I started feeling something...weird, in the wrong way I mean. Then...a complete ! But I have to say that the PC Engine/Coregrafx Mini is really impressive for what it is, and I still play it today. I consider it as the equivalent of a custom PC Engine collection, and features like secret games and many easter eggs were something really shiny when it was released. It was pricy, but it was worth of that price IMHO. Honestly I would have never expected that. Thanks for the video. 👾
Kind of based on 20-20 hindsight, but what I've learned through watching many videos (and what I was told a log time ago by a wise man), the money is in software, not hardware. Most console producers made as much, if not more money licencing software for the console, rather than from selling the hardware itself. The console was the medium to deliver the software, and when you look at how many titles were released for some of these consoles you can see why. Most kids didn't care about how many 'bits' the console had or how good the graphics and sound were. they just wanted good games. They bought a console for the games, which is why the 'killer app' became key. People bought a NES for Mario, Megadrive for Sonic and a SNES for Streetfighter. No other reason. Hardware takes a LOT of R&D investment and also manufacturers were seemingly obsessed with pushing the technological envelope, but a lot of that effort (and cash) was wasted because it was all about the games. That's why things like the Atari Jaguar failed. It was streets ahead in terms of tech but in the end the fundamental question was always: What games can you get for it? The answer for the Jaguar was : Not a lot...so people bought something that had good games instead...
Exactly, the razor blade model. Lots of companies, especially Sony, have sold their consoles at a loss, knowing they will make it back on the software.
Konami has a console? I've heard of some obscure machines, like Capcom's CPS, but I've never heard of Konami having a console. You've certainly caught my curiosity. 1:08 - Oh, Konami had 2600 games (well, liscenced ones)? I thought early Konami were dedicated to just arcades, MSX and Famicom (though I suppose the 2nd bit gen systems did pre-date those). Still, new news to me which is always great to hear from these videos. 4:03 - So... much like the Sega Pico and kind of like the Bandia Playdia... this was actually surprisingly common for Japanese companies around this time. With the amount of licences that Konami had worked with via their arcade game output, you'd think they'd be able to capitalise on this education game market better than what they did. 8:17 - We could of had another creative attempt at a console in the 5th generation; gosh I love learning about the insanity of this generation of gaming. The handheld idea sounds interesting, though I question it's feasibility. It does seem strange that whilst 3-4 consoles were able to survive at once, the Game Boy just gobbled up the handheld market. Rare were planning to make a handheld of their own I believe; don't suppose you have plans for a video on that (or already have one)? 11:08 - On the plus side, at least we get new Bomberman games; happy to see at least one of the Hudson IPs thrive (that said, I would like a Bloody Roar). 12:41 - Getting me nostalgic here; certainly wasn't expecting Castlevania 64 to get shown off in this video. I feel Konami could have done well in entering the console market; hardware experience, diverse game library, connection to other companies through it's licences, but might have struggled with the amount of competition all welling up at the same time and the long-run costs of creating and marketing a console. The handheld idea, whilst particularly interesting, would have likely been even less successful unless they figured some great battery solution.
Konami has always been a favorite developer of mine, whose catalog I really admire, and I keep myself wondering why they couldn't release a console of their own... Not even something like SNK's Neo Geo or Capcom's CPS console... As I can see from that video, Konami has always aimed for popularity first, even more than the cutting-edge technological developments. Too bad that they moved their direction to mobile phones' games almost exclusively or to pachinko, which is a retreat at the same time as it's a conservative move towards popularity... The glory days of Konami seem to be over. But I don't know...
What was the Alex Kidd Pico game? I've never seen that before. But theit line of LCD games was highly successful, though that was possibly thanks to them having the TMNT rights.
@@TheLairdsLair i have a odd question does cybermorph on the atari jaguar use the same physics engine for flight as zarch\virus for flight only? or does cybermorph have its own unique flight physics engine i have searched and searched and cant find the answer anywhere on the internet if you could give me the answer I'm looking for i would greatly appreciate it thanks.
@Cary Wise, not sure why you left that comment here rather than on a Jaguar video, but no it doesn't, they are totally different and CyberMorph was developed from scratch.
3 21 69 my birthday woohoo I shall play the lotto tonight....come on Konami.....if I win due to this I shall spend it all on Konami stock.....and your patreon gets a cut.....rumor has it Nintendos looking to buy 49 percent.....does anyone know if Konami has any meaning to it's naming.
Konami is the Sega of game development...a sad ending, one of the worst ever in the history of software companies.
Oh, Konami games were so awesome during the golden age: Arcade, NES, SNES, MSX, Mega Drive, PS1 games were something really special.
In those days, I was one of the few guys who always preferred Konami games over the Capcom ones. They felt more polished, for my taste at least.
During the and early 2000's, personally I started feeling something...weird, in the wrong way I mean. Then...a complete !
But I have to say that the PC Engine/Coregrafx Mini is really impressive for what it is, and I still play it today. I consider it as the equivalent of a custom PC Engine collection, and features like secret games and many easter eggs were something really shiny when it was released. It was pricy, but it was worth of that price IMHO. Honestly I would have never expected that.
Thanks for the video. 👾
I preferred Konami to Capcom too
Kind of based on 20-20 hindsight, but what I've learned through watching many videos (and what I was told a log time ago by a wise man), the money is in software, not hardware. Most console producers made as much, if not more money licencing software for the console, rather than from selling the hardware itself. The console was the medium to deliver the software, and when you look at how many titles were released for some of these consoles you can see why. Most kids didn't care about how many 'bits' the console had or how good the graphics and sound were. they just wanted good games. They bought a console for the games, which is why the 'killer app' became key. People bought a NES for Mario, Megadrive for Sonic and a SNES for Streetfighter. No other reason. Hardware takes a LOT of R&D investment and also manufacturers were seemingly obsessed with pushing the technological envelope, but a lot of that effort (and cash) was wasted because it was all about the games. That's why things like the Atari Jaguar failed. It was streets ahead in terms of tech but in the end the fundamental question was always: What games can you get for it? The answer for the Jaguar was : Not a lot...so people bought something that had good games instead...
Exactly, the razor blade model. Lots of companies, especially Sony, have sold their consoles at a loss, knowing they will make it back on the software.
While there's a lot that goes into getting those games together and out on shelves, in the end that's what matters.
Konami has a console? I've heard of some obscure machines, like Capcom's CPS, but I've never heard of Konami having a console. You've certainly caught my curiosity.
1:08 - Oh, Konami had 2600 games (well, liscenced ones)? I thought early Konami were dedicated to just arcades, MSX and Famicom (though I suppose the 2nd bit gen systems did pre-date those). Still, new news to me which is always great to hear from these videos.
4:03 - So... much like the Sega Pico and kind of like the Bandia Playdia... this was actually surprisingly common for Japanese companies around this time. With the amount of licences that Konami had worked with via their arcade game output, you'd think they'd be able to capitalise on this education game market better than what they did.
8:17 - We could of had another creative attempt at a console in the 5th generation; gosh I love learning about the insanity of this generation of gaming. The handheld idea sounds interesting, though I question it's feasibility. It does seem strange that whilst 3-4 consoles were able to survive at once, the Game Boy just gobbled up the handheld market. Rare were planning to make a handheld of their own I believe; don't suppose you have plans for a video on that (or already have one)?
11:08 - On the plus side, at least we get new Bomberman games; happy to see at least one of the Hudson IPs thrive (that said, I would like a Bloody Roar).
12:41 - Getting me nostalgic here; certainly wasn't expecting Castlevania 64 to get shown off in this video. I feel Konami could have done well in entering the console market; hardware experience, diverse game library, connection to other companies through it's licences, but might have struggled with the amount of competition all welling up at the same time and the long-run costs of creating and marketing a console. The handheld idea, whilst particularly interesting, would have likely been even less successful unless they figured some great battery solution.
Konami has always been a favorite developer of mine, whose catalog I really admire, and I keep myself wondering why they couldn't release a console of their own... Not even something like SNK's Neo Geo or Capcom's CPS console... As I can see from that video, Konami has always aimed for popularity first, even more than the cutting-edge technological developments. Too bad that they moved their direction to mobile phones' games almost exclusively or to pachinko, which is a retreat at the same time as it's a conservative move towards popularity... The glory days of Konami seem to be over. But I don't know...
Wish companies kept their mini consoles available. The PCE/TG was a blink and you missed it deal.
Nowadays it's a get in get out world....God forbid they stick with a quality product
Thanks Laird - this was interesting
Glad you enjoyed it!
What was the Alex Kidd Pico game? I've never seen that before.
But theit line of LCD games was highly successful, though that was possibly thanks to them having the TMNT rights.
An article about Konami, and not one clip of Track and Field and Hyper Sports. :(
There were only so many clips I could use - I didn't include footage of Contra, Time Pilot or The Simpsons either unfortunately!
I love the Castlevania series. Konami is one of my favorite developers. I hope someday we will get a new Castlevania game.
Konami had also dipped their toe into the pachinko market as well, I think.
They have been into Pachinko pretty much since the company was set up, always been profitable for them.
Jim Sterling has made an interesting few videos about Konami that I'm sure will shed some light
@@TheLairdsLair i have a odd question does cybermorph on the atari jaguar use the same physics engine for flight as zarch\virus for flight only? or does cybermorph have its own unique flight physics engine i have searched and searched and cant find the answer anywhere on the internet if you could give me the answer I'm looking for i would greatly appreciate it thanks.
@Cary Wise, not sure why you left that comment here rather than on a Jaguar video, but no it doesn't, they are totally different and CyberMorph was developed from scratch.
@@TheLairdsLair thank you
Did the guy say it was "jappin"? 😱
That's a new one on me, lol
3 21 69 my birthday woohoo I shall play the lotto tonight....come on Konami.....if I win due to this I shall spend it all on Konami stock.....and your patreon gets a cut.....rumor has it Nintendos looking to buy 49 percent.....does anyone know if Konami has any meaning to it's naming.
Did Konami ever release any slot machines? Not pachinko?