Cheat cartridge

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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.

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[edit] 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 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 for a system. A cheat disc is then inserted into the console and run. After running said software, the device in the memory slot keeps the software running while the cheat disc is removed from the console and a game is inserted and played with the usual debatably unfair advantages. These systems include Action Replay Max for the Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation2, and Nintendo Gamecube.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Game Boy

Cheat cartridges have been made for many Game Boy models. The most popular brand (before about 2006) 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 (very rare on cheat systems for new consoles (e.g. Nintendo DS).[citation needed] The only means of fixing this problem was to erase your game file(s), which will rid the cartridge of any problems the cartridge might have caused.

[edit] Cartridges

Some well known devices include:

  • Most likely the first cheat cartridge ever
  • 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
  • Manufactures cheating devices and books for most consoles

[edit] See also