Cheat codes (also called debug codes or backdoors) are codes that can be entered into a video game to change the game's behavior, alter characters' looks and abilities, skip levels, or access other hidden features. Image File history File links Emblem-important. ... Cheat code means: Cheat codes are codes that can be entered into a video game to change the games behavior. ... In communications, a code is a rule for converting a piece of information (for example, a letter, word, or phrase) into another form or representation, not necessarily of the same type. ... “Computer and video games” redirects here. ...

History

The practice of cheat codes and secrets in a video game was started in the Atari 2600 game Adventure. Afterwards, codes were implemented and used by game developers to playtest certain aspects of their games; for example, a common use of a cheat code is to skip to a level in a game. In moddable games, such cheat modes are often left in released titles specifically for modder use. The Atari 2600, released in October 1977, is the video game console credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in. ... Adventure is a 1980 video game for the Atari 2600 video game console and is considered the first action-adventure game. ... A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual) that creates video games. ... A playtest is the process by which a game designer tests a new game for bugs and improvements before bringing it to market. ... In computer and video games, a level (sometimes called a stage, course, episode, round, world, map, wave, board, phase, or landscape) is a separate area in a games virtual world, in modern games typically representing a specific location such as a building or a city. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The practice became well-known, and now many games have cheat codes intentionally included as a form of easter egg or unlockable prizes. Some video game magazines have sections devoted to providing these codes. Booklets are also produced that collect cheat codes for a large number of games. Many codes, for both older and more recent games, can be found at specialized websites. A virtual Easter egg is a hidden message or feature in an object such as a movie, book, CD, DVD, computer program, or video game. ... Video game journalism is a branch of journalism concerned with the reporting and discussion of video games. ... A website (alternatively, Web site or web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos and other digital assets that is hosted on one or several Web server(s), usually accessible via the Internet, cell phone or a LAN. A Web page is a document, typically written in HTML...

The method of entering cheat codes varies; on video game consoles, the code is frequently a sequence of button presses. Alternatively, on computers such as the Amiga or PC, the code may be textual and entered using the keyboard, or through a more complex combination of input devices. In some recent games, the cheats are also enabled by adding special settings in game configuration files. “Game console” redirects here. ... This article is about the family of home computers. ... A personal computer (PC) is a computer whose price, size, and capabilities make it useful for individuals. ... Input and output devices together make up the hardware interface between a computer and the user or external world. ...

Usage

While normal cheat codes are built into the game by the programmers, unofficial cheat codes can be created by manipulating the contents of the memory address for a running game. On video game consoles, this is done using a cheat cartridge. Users of some early home computers called these codes pokes, named after the command used to input them. Nowadays, cheating like this is considered "hacking" because the user must use external software or hardware to change values in the game memory. In computer science, a memory address is a unique identifier for a memory location at which a CPU or other device can store a piece of data for later retrieval. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... In computing, PEEK is a BASIC programming language function used for reading the contents of a memory cell at a specified address. ...

Cheat codes are, by definition, considered cheating and most serious players only use them for experimentation, if at all. Sometimes, though, using cheat codes is necessary, particularly in the case of bugs: If a serious game-stopping bug is encountered, a cheat code may be able to bypass it without the need to start the whole game over again from the beginning.

The game Micro Machines for the NES had a bug where the game would freeze if the player reversed over the start/finish line at the start of the race. This was due to a single zero being a one in the code. Discovered after thousands of games were made, Codemasters, rather than throw the cartridges away, which would have been very costly, used technology from their Game Genie cheat cartridge to rewrite the code in every game. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... “NES” redirects here. ... Codemasters (earlier known as Code Masters) is one of the oldest British video game developers. ... Cartridge for the VIC 20 homecomputer In various types of electronic equipment, a cartridge can refer one method of adding different functionality or content (e. ... Game Genie cartridges for the (clockwise from top) Super NES, NES, Sega Game Gear, and the Game Boy systems. ...

Often cheats spell a word, possibly comical or relating to the cheat (for example, "Start", "Left", "A", "B" would spell "Slab").

See also

• Cheating (video games)
• Konami Code
• God mode

Cheating in video games is a process whereby a player of a video game creates an advantage beyond the bounds of normal gameplay, usually to make the game easier. ... The Konami Code The Konami Code (A.K.A. Contra Code) is a cheat code that can be used in many Konami video games, usually giving the player a large number of lives or fully charging up the abilities of the character. ... It has been suggested that Godmoding be merged into this article or section. ...

External links

• Cheats and Hints at the Open Directory Project