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. 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. Four different video game consoles from different generations. ... Cheat codes are codes that can be entered into a video game to change the games behavior. ...

Functions

A cheat cartridge's operation is simple. The device uses the same type of port that a normal game cartridge does, thus allowing it to be plugged into the console's game slot. The game to be cheated at 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 as normal. However, the activated cheats modify different values within the game's code as it passes through the device, producing various effects such as infinite lives and ammunition.

Cheats and games can usually be modified and added to the device through its software in hexadecimal format. However, only users with advanced computer knowledge can successfully do so, and entering in 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 Gameboy Advance and Nintendo DS) can connect to a computer to download additional games and cheats from the internet. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Xbox

The inclusion of a special hardware chip, or modchip, is the only way of allowing non-hard-programmed cheats on an Xbox. This modification allows users to perform acts such as copying entire games onto the hard drive, thus eliminating the need for a physical disc, and installing operating systems and software, which can allow memory editing to take place. Modification of the Xbox is considered by Microsoft and other companies to be illegal, and Microsoft claims they will ban anyone using a modded Xbox on their online gaming service, Xbox Live. Xenium Mod Chip attached to an Xbox. ... The Xbox is a sixth generation era video game console produced by Microsoft Corporation. ... An operating system (OS) is a set of computer programs that manage the hardware and software resources of a computer. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Computer program. ... Microsoft Corporation, (NASDAQ: MSFT, HKSE: 4338) is a multinational computer technology corporation with global annual revenue of US$44. ... Multiplayer is a mode of play for computer and video games in which multiple people can play the same game at the same time. ... Xbox Live is a subscription-based online gaming service for Microsofts Xbox and Xbox 360 video game consoles. ...

Game Boy

Cheat cartridges have been made for many Game Boy models. The most popular brand was GameShark, although an Action Replay Advance was released. These cheat cartridges granted the player access to a menu, which had a selection of games the player could activate cheats for. Extended use of these cheat cartidges could corrupt the game you used. The only means of fixing this problem is to erase your game file(s), which will rid the cartridge of any problems the cartridge might have caused. GameShark is the brand name of a line of video game enhancers and other products for a variety of console video game systems and Windows based computers. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Cartridges

Some well known devices include:

• Galoob's Game Genie

• Most likely the first cheat cartridge ever

• 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

• Datel's GameShark (distributed by Mad Catz.)

• Maker of only cheat cartridge/disk available for Nintendo 64, Xbox, and PlayStation 2

• Konami's Konami game master

• No longer developed, made for MSX Computer Standard

• Pelican's Codebreaker

• Manufactures cheating devices for most consoles

Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. ... Game Genie cartridges for the (clockwise from top) Super NES, NES, Sega Game Gear, and the Game Boy systems. ... Datel (previously Datel Electronics) produced a wide range of hardware and peripherals for home computers in the 1980s, for example replacement keyboards for the ZX Spectrum, the PlusD disk interface (originally designed and sold by Miles Gordon Technology) and the Action Replay cartridge. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... In the history of video games, the 8-bit era was the third generation of video game consoles, but the first after the video game crash of 1983 and considered by some to be the first modern era of console gaming. ... A saved game is a piece of digitally stored information about the progress of a player in a computer or video game. ... Datel (previously Datel Electronics) produced a wide range of hardware and peripherals for home computers in the 1980s, for example replacement keyboards for the ZX Spectrum, the PlusD disk interface (originally designed and sold by Miles Gordon Technology) and the Action Replay cartridge. ... GameShark is the brand name of a line of video game enhancers and other products for a variety of console video game systems and Windows based computers. ... Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. ... The Nintendo 64 ) is Nintendos third home video game console, and its third home video game console for the international market. ... The Xbox is a sixth generation era video game console produced by Microsoft Corporation. ... The PlayStation 2 , abbreviated PS2) is Sonys second video game console, the successor to the PlayStation and the predecessor to the PlayStation 3. ... Konami Corporation ) (TYO: 9766 NYSE: KNM SGX: K20) is a leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines and video games. ... The Konami Game Master is a special cheat cartridge that operates only with Konami games released for the MSX computer standard. ... Sony MSX 1, Model HitBit-10-P MSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s. ... The Pelican Accessories logo. ...

See also

• Cheating (video games)
• Galoob v. Nintendo