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A cheat cartridge is a device that connects to any sort of cartridge-based video game system. It allows a user to input special cheat codes to manipulate a game in a way not permitted by its original programming. Usually the effect is to gain infinite lives, ammunition, unlock secrets, or do things that would otherwise allow an unfair advantage (or disadvantage in some cases). Some games even have codes to activate unreleased levels, weapons, or items that may not have been available normally, and some even have codes to access debug menus used by programmers.
Functions
A cheat cartridge's operation is simple. The device connects to the same port as normal game cartridges, thus allowing it to be plugged into the console's game slot. The game to be cheated is then attached to the device itself using another identical port.
When powered on, the console will run the software stored on the cheat device. This is usually a menu from which the correct game is selected, and various cheats toggled on or off. When the user is ready, the device then runs the actual game. However, the activated cheats modify values in the game's code as it passes through the device, producing the desired effects, such as infinite lives and ammunition.
Cheats can usually be modified and games added to the device through its software. However the editing is done in hexadecimal format, so only users with knowledge of the hexadecimal notation used can successfully make changes. Entering random values can produce strange or devastating results, or possibly no results at all. For this reason, cheat cartridges come pre-loaded with most of the popular games at the time of the device's release, and more advanced devices (such as Action Replay for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS) can connect to a computer to download additional games and cheats from the internet. Another type of cheat system, used for home consoles that use discs instead of cartridges, plugs into the secondary memory slot of the system. A cheat disc is inserted into the console and run. After running the cheat disc software, the device in the memory slot keeps the cheat software running while the cheat disc is removed from the console and a game is inserted and played with the selected cheats enabled. Systems using this method include Action Replay Max for the Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation 2, and Nintendo Gamecube.
Devices
Some popular commercial cheat devices:
- Galoob's Game Genie – an early cheat cartridge, one of the first
- Datel's Action Replay – Also referred to as 'Pro Action Replay' in cartridges starting from the 8-bit era). More recent Action Replay cartridges are simply save game transfer devices.
- InterAct's and Mad Catz's GameShark
- Datel's Equalizer for Nintendo 64.
- Konami's Game Master – No longer developed, made for the MSX.
- Pelican's Code Breaker – Manufactures cheating devices and books for most consoles.
- Orbit's i-cheat — A cartridge for the Nintendo DS UK Site US Site
- EMS's GB Hunter — A Game Boy emulator for the Nintendo 64 which has a built-in cheat device.
- EMS's N64 Passport A multi-region adaptor for the Nintendo 64 which has a built-in cheat device.
- Cheaters Evolved's Illusion Cheat Device. Official Website
See also
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