Google Chromebook Pixel Features Konami Code Easter Egg

The Google Chomebook Pixel includes an Easter egg for nostalgic 80s kids: type in the Konami code and the LED display gives off a little light show.

For those of you with foggy memories, the Konami code is Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-B-A (on consoles it ended with Start; Select was optional when playing with two players).

Type in the key sequence at any time and the LED strip flashes in a sequence corresponding to the code. Watch the .gif at Wired.

Originally introduced in the Nintendo game Contra, the code offered players 30 lives instead of the usual three, a virtual necessity to beat the ridiculously difficult game (not the Laser! I already had Spread! Where do I hit it? Pings! I hear pings! Duck, fire jump. Duck, jump...no, don't fall and die!)

The code made appearances in other Konami games, like Gradius and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, then made its way into songs, movies and other media. Konami subverted the code in Graduis III for the Super Nintendo. Instead of adding powerups, it made the ship explode. Instead, gamers had to use the L and R buttons instead of the directional pad. Sneaky.

Unlike other Chromebooks, which have minimal hard drive space, the Pixel has 65 GB of memory -- low for a laptop, but it comes with a terabyte of space on Google Drive free for three years. It has a nearly 13-inch touchscreen with 4.3 million pixels.

But with premium specs comes a premium price.

A wi-fi only model is $1299, more than a comparable Macbook Air or Microsoft Surface Pro. For $1449, you get LTE capability, available in April. The Chromebook Pixel is on sale now and ships next week.