Video game cheats, codes, and guides are the focus of topics found in this category.
A video game cheat refers to a player using a non-standard means of gaining an advantage or disadvantage within the game, for the purpose of making the game easier or, in some cases, harder than it would otherwise be.
A common cheat involves the use of a cheat code, generally a character combination that is entered in order to change the behavior of the game. A cheat code might move the game to the next level, give the player's game character additional powers, or cause some other effect. The code could be a series of keyboard combinations that were programmed into the game code, but not made known to the general public. Some cheat codes are activated by entering certain high score names, holding keys or buttons while a player's character is dying, or picking items up in a particular order.
Originally, cheat codes were added to the code by the game developer or programmer for the purpose of testing the various modules of the game without having to start from the beginning each time. The use of cheat codes by game developers has been decreasing, however. One reason is the popularity of multi-user games today, where fairness is valued and expected. The objectives of gameplay have also evolved, moving away from high scores and completing games to experiencing the gameplay. Thus, many contemporary video games have removed cheat codes entirely.
Other cheat codes are created by hackers who modify game data, and may be released by third-party software that exploits software bugs in a game.
Cheating in a video game can also be achieved through hardware. Cheat cartridges are devices designed to connect to cartridge-based video game systems, allowing the user to input cheat codes to manipulate the gameplay in various ways, usually to gain infinite lives or ammunition, unlock secrets, or gain some other advantage during the game. For newer consoles, cheat cartridges have been replaced by cheat discs, which serve the same function.
Memory editors can be used in PC games to locate the memory areas where known values, such as the number of lives, are located, then allowing the user to freeze these values, preventing the game from altering the information.
Regardless of the method of execution or delivery, topics related to video game cheats or cheat codes are appropriate for this category, which in no way implies that it is appropriate to use them in a game.
For the purpose of categorization, sites whose focus is on teaching players to play specific or multiple video games, or which provide guides to gameplay, may also be listed in this category. Game support forums or gamer community forums should be listed in the Forums & Discussions category, however.
Recommended Resources
Offering details on more than five thousand games, Adventure Gamers is a source of information on adventure games, which are all about stories, exploring worlds, and solving puzzles, offering coverage of the adventure game genre of computer gaming, with game reviews, an overview of the best adventure games, and introduction to new games, as well as an online discussion forum. Its team is acknowledged, along with its writing policies, history, and advertising opportunities.
https://adventuregamers.com/
Created by Stephen Granade in 2001, the site is focused on adventure games. A history of the creation of the site and the earlier experiences of the author are given, particularly his employment with The Mining Company, which became About.com. The site consists of many of the guides that had originally been published for TMC and About.com, including an introduction to interactive fiction, how to play a text adventure game, and other guides and how-to articles.
http://www.brasslantern.org/
Operated by Datel Electronics, Codejunkies is the home of Action Replay, a cheat system that is available from its online store, Codejunkies Direct. The company offers several cheat code packages, which are defined here, along with their prices. Some of the games and game systems for which cheats are available include Pokemon, NitroTag, Amiibo, Evo, Power Saves (PS), the SD Media Launcher, and several Nintendo and PlayStation games. Its policies, terms and conditions are included.
https://www.codejunkies.com/
Online since 1999, the site includes game previews, reviews, and game release dates, along with walkthroughs, hints, and solutions, interviews with industry leaders and developers, and directories of adventure game sites, game publishers and developers, and patches. Upcoming games are listed, sometimes with teasers, demos, or trailers, lists, with links, to freeware games, sorted alphabetically, annual game lists, and a gamer forum, which requires registration for participation.
http://www.gameboomers.com/
Specializing in non-standard methods of creating an advantage in a game, the gamer site provides up-to-date game cheats, hints, and walkthroughs of a large variety of game genres for several game platforms, including PSP, PS3, PS2, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS, Gameboy Advance, Nokia N-Gage, and others. Other topics include game news and reviews, a collection of playable arcade games, and gaming discussion forums.
https://www.gamecheats.eu/
Previously known as I/O Error, FileLeech, and FileFront before taking its current name, the game site has been online since 1998, serving as a player and developer community offering gamers access to gaming files, including mods, models, skins, maps, sound packs, server files, tools, and other resources, which are sorted by game or by file type. Reviews, informational articles, videos, and special offers are put forth, and gaming forums are included. Files may be uploaded.
https://www.gamefront.com/
Originally a video gaming site, the owner, Future Publishing, merged its Total Film, Edge, and Computer and Video Games sites into GamesRadar in 2014, creating GamesRadar+, which has an expanded focus that includes video games, as well as movies, television, and comics. The site includes game cheats and guides, game reviews, the PS4, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, plus newly released films, Edge Magazine, Retro Gamer, and SFX Magazine. Advertising opportunities may be available.
https://www.gamesradar.com/
A multi-platform videogame website that provides daily videogame coverage that includes news, reviews, previews, hints and cheats and other editorials. This website caters to a wide range of platforms including PC, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PSP, GBA, DS, mobile, Wii and MMPOG. The website is truly a great place for every videogame enthusiasts for it also allows visitors to play games, join in discussion forums and to download games.
http://www.gamezone.com/
Maintained by in-house staff and others working from home, the site employs coders who make its game cheats and others who help to create and maintain the site, the server, forum, and back end. Offering a secure cheat loader and driver software that keeps anti-cheat programs from detecting the user online. Cheat options can be configured inside the game. Cheats may be purchased from the site, which also includes a forum which can be seen only be registered users.
https://www.ilikecheats.net/
Offering well-researched, specialized, and up-to-date strategy manuals for massively multi-player online games, especially MMORPGs. Guides are posted by the name of the game, and are sorted alphabetically, and by author. For each listed guide, a synopsis and the number of pages is provided, and the full guide may be purchased online. A description of its affiliate program is included, along with instructions for becoming an author of a guide. Advertising opportunities are included.
https://www.killerguides.net/
As a resource for popular trivia sites, My Cheat Site links to other sites that give the answers to several trivia games, including Word Whizzle Search, Word Addict, Wordalot, CodyCross, Word Cookies, Wordscapes, New York Times Crosswords, Word Jam, WordBrain, Pixwords, Word Champion, and others, which may be sorted by top games. Alternatively, topics may be found by a site search. New resources may be submitted by anyone who is registered with the site.
http://mycheatsite.com/
Neoseeker is a gaming resource for tech hobbyists, enthusiasts, and hardcore gamers. Games may be found through a site search by title. Alternatively, its guides, cheats, and games are listed by category. Guides include an overview of the game, playing instructions, and guides on other facets of the game, such as maze guides or starting regions guides, monsters guides, and so on. In the cheats section, new cheats and top cheats are highlighted, while others may be found by the platform.
https://www.neoseeker.com/
The roleplaying game site includes roleplay directory that features advertising for various roleplaying games, including direct links to game rules, new player guides, and other game pages. Other topics include a Codex for posting templates, a Theme directory, and a Playby directory to assist gamers in finding a face for their character, guides for managing roleplays, and an area where players can find new roleplay partners. Contests may be started by staff or by other members.
https://rpginitiative.com/
Founded in 2001, Rune Tips is a Runescape fan site that provides guides, features, and tools to help new and experienced Runescape players in as many ways as possible, as well as posting up-to-date news of developments within the game. Several game-related guides and tools are presented, along with game and dungeon maps, maps to mining sites and hunting locations, and a fairy ring map. A clan directory, clan forums, and an online discussion forum are included.
https://www.tip.it/
Founded in 2005, StrategyWiki became a gaming community in 2008, with the goal of offering free, collaborative video game strategy guides. Originally, its guides were presented in plain text with limited formatting and embellishments other than ASCII art, but more recent guides utilize rich text, tables, and inline images. Its wiki format allows for multiple editors, but the site includes only one collaborative guide per game, which may be updated by other writers.
https://strategywiki.org/
Super Cheats is an unofficial gaming site offering guides, cheats, and game reviews submitted by the public. Recent submissions are highlighted on the index page of the site, along with the most popular cheats. For listed games, available guides, cheats, hints, and tips are published, along with game questions and answers. General forums, game forums, and team forums are featured. Visible for anyone to read, registration with the site is required in order to participate in discussions.
https://www.supercheats.com/
The Sims fan-site was started in 1999. Members share resources and information about The Sims games, providing content to the site that includes tutorials and reference material, custom content, and hundreds of thousands of free creations for all of The Sims games, which may be sorted by popularity, artist levels, and publishing date. A workshop tool allows users to create custom content for The Sims 3. An online discussion forum has been in operation since The Sims 1.
https://www.thesimsresource.com/
