The Konami Code, Contra, and Our Logo Reboot

Some kids were good at Contra. I was not one of them.

If it weren’t for the Konami Code ( ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A Start ) I wouldn’t have lasted more than a few minutes. That simple sequence was the great equalizer: thirty extra lives, instant hope, and an inside joke that every gamer knew.

Why Contra Shaped Our Logo

When it came time to redesign the CTRL ALT BELIEVE logo, I wanted it to feel bold and instantly recognizable, like the Contra “C” I remembered from my childhood. That shape had attitude. It said, "You’re about to enter a battle." Perfect for a brand built around faith-as-adventure.

But instead of copying it, we glitched it.
The new "C" keeps the Contra shape but looks like it’s breaking apart, duplicating, and sliding pixels out of place. It’s a nod to the messy, imperfect world we live in, and the reboot grace offers us.

A Fun Easter Egg

Just for fun, I swapped out Bill and Lance (the original Contra commandos) for… me and Bobby.
Because if you’re going to pay homage to your favorite game as a kid, you might as well step onto the battlefield yourself. It’s a wink to anyone who knows the original artwork, and a reminder that this brand isn’t just about design, it’s personal.

Why the Konami Code Still Resonates

The Konami Code was more than a cheat code. It was mercy in pixel form. A way to keep going when the game was too tough.

That’s the gospel too.
We can’t win on our own. We fail. We run out of lives. But when we hit BELIEVE, God gives us the ultimate restart.  Not thirty lives, but eternal life.

Leveling Up Christian Apparel

This logo is more than a redesign. It’s a reboot; a blend of geek nostalgia, bold design, and faith that doesn’t quit. It represents what we’re about at CTRL ALT BELIEVE: conversation-starting Christian T-shirts that you’d actually want to wear.

Because sometimes faith needs a little glitch, a little grit, and maybe even an old-school cheat code.

Check out the new logo and our latest designs here.
Bonus points if you still know the Konami Code by heart.