Konami files trademark for Contra Run and Gun

Konami has filed a trademark for "Contra Run and Gun," according to a listing on the United States Patent and Trademark Office website.

The trademark was filed on June 4 by Konami's Japanese division. The listing states the trademark will be used for "video game software; video game programs; computer game software; computer game programs; electronic game programs."

During the company's 2011 pre-E3 press conference, Konami teased something related to the Contra series. A glowing fireball flew across the screen to create the "C" in the Contra logo, along with the words "They're coming." Since the press conference Konami has shared no further details on what the tease may have been for.

The original Contra, a run and gun action game, initially launched in 1987 as a coin-operated arcade game. The title was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988. The latest entry in the series, Hard Corps: Uprising, launched as a downloadable title for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2011. The game was a prequel to 1994 Sega Gensis title Contra: Hard Corps.