For those of us who really cherish our gaming time, certain developers and studios will always capture our attention, as will some of the biggest and most prominent AAA games publishers. Brand awareness is obviously paramount for companies, which means that for some of the most important, just the name alone can be sufficient reason for players to try their games.
Founded all the way back in 1969, arguably one of the most famous international brands out there is Konami, which actually started out in Osaka as a jukebox rental and repair business. Heading into the 1970s they transformed into a manufacturer of amusement machines, principally supplying video arcades, sparking what became the principal focus of activity for the company.
After the 1978 launch of their first video games cabinets to the Japanese market, including Super Destroyer and a Space Invaders clone called Space King, overseas moves came when Konami soon began exporting their products to the United States and Australia. By the 1980s they were producing iconic and unforgettable games titles, including Scramble and Frogger in 1981, then button-mashing favourites like Track & Field in 1983, and Yie Ar Kung-Fu in 1985.
Iconic games and global branding reach
Through the 1980s and well into the 1990s, Konami had already achieved global fame, particularly around those produced for home entertainment systems and consoles, via platforms including Nintendo and Sega. Indeed, this was also the period which spawned remarkable franchises that are still going strong today, including Castlevania that debuted in 1986, then Metal Gear when the first release came in 1987.
From 1987 t0 1991, earnings for Konami rocketed from $10 million to just over $300 million, as licensed games also became great hits for their business. The most popular was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, going on to become their highest-grossing arcade game of all time, alongside enjoying huge success via the console platforms. By 1993 and continuing to grow rapidly, the company relocated its Japanese headquarters to Minato in Tokyo.
Global expansion also followed, accompanied by ventures focusing towards the fledgeling online industry amidst rapid adoption and growth of the internet, alongside gaining an important foothold within the gambling industry with casino games. Konami Australia Pty Ltd was established by 1996, aimed at serving the Asia-Pacific marketplace, producing both casino management systems and associated games like pokies, often known elsewhere as video slots.
Already based in the United States, casino gaming operations were moved to Las Vegas by 2003, which became the American hub for both physical and online iGaming products. Between their US and Australian operations, Konami is now a truly global player within the casino gaming space, which means that most of their products are available at the biggest and most expansive online casino sites.
Providing top casinos with real money pokies
Given that Konami has established itself as a major player in casino gaming, the company is has now become a firm favourite for iGaming operations around the world, especially within the United States and Australia given their two key bases in both regions. But not all gaming facilities and websites feature their extensive range of pokies, including the Stuffed Coins and Fortune Streak series of pokies, available at physical venues and online casino sites.
For this reason, searching to find the best online pokies for Australian players can sometimes be challenging, according to the CasinoAus review team. They focus on important criteria when evaluating the most reputable online casino sites, focused on ensuring that gameplay is both safe and fair. Only those ticking all the boxes are recommended, including key elements like having plenty of pokies to choose from, alongside great bonus and free spin offers.
Now recognised as one of the most cutting edge casino software developers, while many games are based around the traditional concepts of 3-reel and 5-reel pokies, other ideas and innovations are now hitting the most popular Aussie iGaming sites. These include graphically rich video pokies, featuring high-definition animated images and video content, plus interactive pokies which spin around exciting stories and immersive gameplay.
Likewise, there are special groups of pokies that incorporate progressive jackpots, making them hugely popular with players in Australia and elsewhere, offering the chance for players to become instant multi-millionaires. Indeed, it’s fair to say that over the last couple of decades, Konami has become one of the most important companies in casino gaming, which means that unless we have carefully followed their activities, we may not have known otherwise.
