Action Replay

For the Indian film, see Action Replayy. For the Howard Jones EP, see Action Replay (EP).
Action Replay cartridge for the Amiga 500
Action Replay cartridge for Commodore 64
Action Replay MAX DUO for Nintendo DS
Action Replay ISA card for PC 1994

Action Replay is the brand name of a series of video-game cheating devices (such as cheat cartridges) created by Datel. Action Replays are available for major modern gaming systems including the Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi, and the PlayStation Portable, as well as older systems including the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and the Xbox. PowerSaves by Action Replay is a related series of video-game cheat devices that store game saves created by Datel, which allow users to cheat without modifying the game code being executed—unlike the main Action Replay series, which cheats by modifying game code itself. PowerSaves are available for game systems such as the Wii on an SD card and the 3DS.

Typical features

Typically options include cheats, level warping, and display of internal game data not normally viewable by the player.

Criticisms

Datel, the maker of Action Replay, has received several criticisms from the gaming world over its products. One of the most frequent complaints is the so-called "planned obsolescence", where codes for a just-released game require the most recent version of the cheat software.

Datel encrypted the codes on the Action Replay for PS2, GC and GBA. The encryption was meant to stop hackers from translating its codes for use in other cheating devices, but it also prevented users from making their own codes, as well as the creation of codes using a template. (There is, however, a program called 'GCNCrypt' that decrypts and encrypts Action Replay codes for the Nintendo GameCube, making editing and hacking of codes possible.) Cheat codes normally involve a memory address, a value, and sometimes a trigger that says when the code is activated (always on, on at the start, on after a certain button press). Sometimes, cheat codes possess a pointer address which points to multiple other memory addresses. Therefore, for some games, it is possible to create a code template and derive hundreds of codes by modifying the values. For example, in a role-playing game, one can use a code template and a table of values to create a code that will give any character any piece of equipment in the game. With encrypted codes, it was not possible to use such a template, and any codes had to be created and distributed by Datel. However, because of the sheer number of codes that can be created in this fashion, it was not plausible for Datel to release a list of codes with this versatility. Action Replay for the DS now allows cheat codes (the previous Action Replay only managed game saves), using unencrypted codes, and has a trainer toolkit available that allows users to create their own codes.

The PS2 Action Replay occasionally corrupts the memory cards, leaving corrupt files on the card that cannot be deleted by the PS2. The Action Replay can fix the memory card by formatting it, but the corrupted data cannot be restored.

Cheating in online games is also usually frowned upon, with game companies making efforts to prevent and detect it. However, with an Action Replay it is possible to cheat without being detected, or in a game for which there is normally no way to cheat. Examples include Phantasy Star Online for the Dreamcast, in which it was possible to manufacture items offline using an Action Replay and then carry them online undetected; there was no way to determine if an item had been manufactured or legitimately won. Action Replay can also disable anti-cheating code and prevent detection; however, since most modern versions only allow codes to be created by Datel and they have so far not taken this route, there are no anti-detection codes—for current-generation systems.

Other criticisms include the loss of data and/or progress when using Action Replay. Sometimes, data loss can make a game unavailable to play. Entering an inappropriate or wrong code may not cause a noticeable loss of play until Action Replay is removed from the user's system, at which point the data error takes effect.

Versions for computers

The ISA-based Action Replay needed memory-resident drivers for real and protected mode. The card had a grabber, a trainer, and a slowdown feature. It could also interrupt the current game or save it to disk (freezer).

Models running firmware 4.0 and beyond use EEPROM instead of ROM and thus are upgradeable.[1]

In December 1998, Datel released a version for Windows 95/98.[2]

Versions for video game consoles

Third generation

Fourth generation

Fifth generation

Sixth generation

Seventh generation

Versions for hand-held consoles

See also

References

  1. ↑ "README included in ZIP archive for PC". 2009-12-11. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
  2. ↑ "statement retrieved from Archive.org". 2009-12-11. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
  3. ↑ "Datel Lawsuit coming in 3.. 2.. 1..". 2010-02-01. Retrieved 2014-03-08.

Links