History MediaNotes / GameShark

These cheat devices aren't really in vogue anymore and haven't been since [[UsefulNotes/TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames the Sixth Generation]], owing mostly to the paradigm shifts in console gaming to online play on one hand and in homebrew scenes to software-based hacks that don't require external devices to install on the other hand. The only company left making these things is Datel, makers of the Action Replay line. You can still get an Action Replay for the [[Platform/PlaystationPortable PSP]], Platform/NintendoDS, Platform/Nintendo3DS[[note]]This one is a kludge -- it plugs into your computer[[/note]] and Platform/{{Wii}}, but they can be rendered useless by a single software update -- which is why there isn't an Action Replay for the Platform/XBox360 or Platform/{{PS3}} onward. The Action Replays for the PSP, 3DS and Wii have been superseded by homebrew cheat applications while the Platform/PlaystationVita got a homebrew cheat software but never an external cheat device in its lifetime.

Third, it could be harmful to your save file. Some games interact with the console in interesting ways and can be made to behave unpredictably with a [=GameShark=], and if the save file is corrupted, bad things can happen -- for instance, ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' on the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS will not load at all, because it calls your town at startup for the intro. This is why [=GameShark=] users prefer to make backup saves, in case they inadvertently make the game {{Unwinnable}}. Later generation devices, like the [=GameShark=] proper, Action Replay MAX, and Code Breaker, advertised themselves as not messing ''directly'' with your save file and thus safer.

These cheat devices aren't really in vogue anymore and haven't been since [[UsefulNotes/TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames the Sixth Generation]], owing mostly to the paradigm shifts in console gaming to online play on one hand and in homebrew scenes to software-based hacks that don't require external devices to install on the other hand. The only company left making these things is Datel, makers of the Action Replay line. You can still get an Action Replay for the [[UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable PSP]], UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS[[note]]This one is a kludge -- it plugs into your computer[[/note]] and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, but they can be rendered useless by a single software update -- which is why there isn't an Action Replay for the UsefulNotes/XBox360 or UsefulNotes/{{PS3}} onward. The Action Replays for the PSP, 3DS and Wii have been superseded by homebrew cheat applications while the UsefulNotes/PlaystationVita got a homebrew cheat software but never an external cheat device in its lifetime.

A [=GameShark=] is a standard console cheat device. Unlike a PC trainer, it's usually a physical device that plugs into the cartridge slot and in turn accepts the game cartridge, much like the TropeCodifier, the UsefulNotes/GameGenie. The TropeNamer comes from the next generation, designed to work with disc-based consoles.

->''"You wouldn't be trying to give yourself a bogus score using some ingenious trick would you? That's just about as low as anyone could possibly stoop! I can't believe you sometimes."''

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gameshark.jpg]]

Devices like these are particularly useful for accessing DummiedOut content. Whether accessing this content counts as "cheating" is a matter of debate:

* The infamous HotCoffeeMinigame in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'' was DummiedOut after considerable controversy and can only be accessed this way.

** Most ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games have at least one {{Mon}} that you can only obtain legitimately through a company-sponsored event. These are rare and not accessible to all gamers, but the only other way to get these Mons is through a glitch or a [=GameShark=].
** The infamous HotCoffeeMinigame in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'' was DummiedOut after considerable controversy and can only be accessed this way.
** This is the only way to access the almost-finished "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banjo_Tooie#Bottles.27_Revenge Bottle's Revenge]]" two-player mode in ''VideoGame/BanjoTooie''.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'' has a half-finished two-player mode which can be activated by means of a [=GameShark=] -- each player has to use the same controller in turn.
** Many {{Fighting Game}}s have extra unfinished characters or computer-only characters that are playable in this manner.

Some games are infamous for being "immune" to these devices, or at least difficult to play with them without locking up the game. For instance, Creator/TriAce games like ''VideoGame/StarOceanTheSecondStory'' or ''VideoGame/ValkyrieProfile'' have non-static coding values and are thus harder to mess with (although you can get around this if you know the "activator code" -- which in ''Star Ocean''[='=]ss case was about 29 lines long).

A [=GameShark=] is a standard console cheat device. Unlike a PC trainer, it's usually a physical device that plugs into the cartridge slot and in turn accepts the game cartridge, much like the TropeCodifier, the VideoGame/GameGenie. The TropeNamer comes from the next generation, designed to work with disc-based consoles.

These cheat devices aren't really in vogue anymore and haven't been since [[UsefulNotes/TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames the Sixth Generation]], owing mostly to the paradigm shift in console gaming to online play on one hand and in homebrew scenes to software-based hacks that don't require external devices to install. The only company left making these things is Datel, makers of the Action Replay line. You can still get an Action Replay for the [[UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable PSP]], UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS[[note]]This one is a kludge -- it plugs into your computer[[/note]] and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, but they can be rendered useless by a single software update -- which is why there isn't an Action Replay for the UsefulNotes/XBox360 or UsefulNotes/{{PS3}} onward. The Action Replays for the PSP, 3DS and Wii have been superseded by homebrew cheat applications while the UsefulNotes/PlaystationVita got a homebrew cheat software but never an external cheat device in its lifetime.

These cheat devices aren't really in vogue anymore and haven't been since [[UsefulNotes/TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames the Sixth Generation]], owing mostly to the paradigm shift in console gaming to online play. The only company left making these things is Datel, makers of the Action Replay line. You can still get an Action Replay for the [[UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable PSP]], UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS[[note]]This one is a kludge -- it plugs into your computer[[/note]] and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, but they can be rendered useless by a single software update -- which is why there isn't an Action Replay for the UsefulNotes/XBox360 or UsefulNotes/{{PS3}} onward. With their homebrew scenes having opened up the consoles to hacks that don't require external devices, the Action Replays for the PSP, 3DS and Wii have been superseded by homebrew cheat applications while the UsefulNotes/PlaystationVita got a homebrew cheat software but never an external cheat device in its lifetime.

** This is the only way to access the almost-finished "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banjo_Tooie#Bottles.27_Revenge Bottle's Revenge]]" two-player mode in ''[[VideoGame/BanjoKazooie Banjo-Tooie]]''.

Some games are infamous for being "immune" to these devices, or at least difficult to play with them without locking up the game. For instance, Creator/TriAce games like ''VideoGame/StarOceanTheSecondStory'' or ''VideoGame/ValkyrieProfile'' have non-static coding values and are thus harder to mess with (although you can get around this if you know the "activator code" -- which in ''Star Ocean 2'''s case was about 29 lines long).

These cheat devices aren't really in vogue anymore and haven't been since [[UsefulNotes/TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames the Sixth Generation]], owing mostly to the paradigm shift in console gaming to online play. The only company left making these things is Datel, makers of the Action Replay line. You can still get an Action Replay for the [[UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable PSP]], UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS[[note]]This one is a kludge -- it plugs into your computer[[/note]] and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, but they can be rendered useless by a single software update -- which is why there isn't an Action replay for the UsefulNotes/XBox360 or UsefulNotes/{{PS3}}.

A [=GameShark=] is a standard console cheat device, but it differs from a PC trainer in that it's usually a physical device. This idea became popular for consoles with the release of the Game Genie, which a cartridge could plug into, and the whole bit could plug neatly into the gaming machine. Aside from the legalities, game companies raised a stink about the delicateness of some components, although in fact if left in place the genie protected your machine by virtue of having a more robust design. In addition, this forced a rule into many old gaming magazines that any time you entered a contest for a high score in a video game, you had to send in a single picture that showed both the television with the game and score on display, and also the gaming console itself, to show that it was unadulterated.

Court cases on this issue would side in favor of the device maker, on the grounds that you bought the console and the game, you have every right to decide how you wanted to play it, including through the use of an external device.

However, Game Genies type devices can cause save files to be corrupted, rendering some games broken. This can be seen on ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' on the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, where if a save is messed up the game will not load period, because your town is called at startup for the intro.

The switch to disc-based console games saw the [=GameShark=] proper, Action Replay [=MAX=], and Code Breaker: sleeker devices with self-booting capabilities and even some multimedia tricks, with the assurance of not messing with saves ''directly''. These devices have generally complied with companies' worries, although dedicated hackers can still use a fair amount of 'grey area' for tinkering.

Aside from the usual concerns about cheating, it's usually recommended to create backup saves in case a cheat [[UnWinnable inadvertently creates some problem later]], or save immediately after a relevant cheat works and then restart to prevent unpredictable glitches.

There is also a small subset of games that are rather infamous for being "immune" to the devices, or difficult to play with them without locking up the game. Creator/TriAce games such as ''VideoGame/StarOceanTheSecondStory'' or ''VideoGame/ValkyrieProfile'' can be cited, mainly because the coding values in these games aren't static. These can often be defeated with the use of an "activator code" on the cheat device (the ''Star Ocean 2'' one was about 29 lines long).

A rare few games have unimplemented (and usually unfinished) content that can be accessed with one of these, including a sort of makeshift two-player mode in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'' (both parties are player-controlled, and two players can pass the controller back and forth; the first party winning is a "win" with the usual consequences and the second party winning is a "loss"), unfinished characters in several {{fighting game}}s, the almost-finished [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banjo_Tooie#Bottles.27_Revenge Bottle's Revenge]] two-player mode in ''[[VideoGame/BanjoKazooie Banjo-Tooie]]'', and the infamous [[HotCoffeeMinigame sex minigame]] in one of the ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' games.

More common are games released in multiple regions that have content which is unlockable in one region but not another, or is simply [[DummiedOut inaccessible through normal play]]. The ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games, for example, typically have at least one Mon that's available only through use of a glitch, through a Wi-Fi/company-licensed event, or the use of a [=GameShark=]. Exactly whether or not using the [=GameShark=] for this purpose is considered cheating is still up for debate.

With the other cheat device manufacturers falling out of the market after the [[UsefulNotes/TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames Sixth Generation]], Datel, makers of the Action Replay line, is the last company standing, though as noted on the VideoGame/GameGenie article, the changing paradigm of console gaming, with its focus on online connectivity, may mark the end of an era. Datel has produced Action Replays for the [[UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable PSP]], UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, but software updates to those consoles can render a Replay device unusable. Datel skipped over the UsefulNotes/XBox360 and UsefulNotes/{{PS3}} altogether for similar reason. They've released an Action Replay for the [[UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS 3DS]], it's only for use with [=DS=] games, and also has its own compatibility issues.

One for the [=3DS=] games has been made, however. It plugs into your computer, and you insert the game into it. The game gets loaded with the codes, and then you go from there. It's anyone's guess how long it'll last, however. It works with both physical and downloaded games, though downloaded games require an additional SD card reader to be used.

With the other cheat device manufacturers falling out of the market after the [[TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames Sixth Generation]], Datel, makers of the Action Replay line, is the last company standing, though as noted on the VideoGame/GameGenie article, the changing paradigm of console gaming, with its focus on online connectivity, may mark the end of an era. Datel has produced Action Replays for the [[UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable PSP]], UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, but software updates to those consoles can render a Replay device unusable. Datel skipped over the UsefulNotes/XBox360 and UsefulNotes/{{PS3}} altogether for similar reason. They've released an Action Replay for the [[UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS 3DS]], it's only for use with [=DS=] games, and also has its own compatibility issues.

With the other cheat device manufacturers falling out of the market after the [[TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames Sixth Generation]], Datel, makers of the Action Replay line, is the last company standing, though as noted on the VideoGame/GameGenie article, the changing paradigm of console gaming, with its focus on online connectivity, may mark the end of an era. Datel has produced Action Replays for the [[UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable PSP]], UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, but software updates to those consoles can render a Replay device unusable. Datel skipped over the UsefulNotes/XBox360 and UsefulNotes/{{PS3}} altogether for similar reason. They've released an Action Replay for the [[Nintendo3DS 3DS]], it's only for use with [=DS=] games, and also has its own compatibility issues.

However, Game Genies type devices can cause save files to be corrupted, rendering some games broken. This can be seen on ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' on the NintendoDS, where if a save is messed up the game will not load period, because your town is called at startup for the intro.

Aside from the usual concerns about cheating, it's usually recommended to create backup saves in case a cheat [[UnWinnable inadvertently creates some problem later]], or save immediately after a relevant cheat works and then restart to prevent [[LostForever unpredictable glitches]].

With the other cheat device manufacturers falling out of the market after the [[TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames Sixth Generation]], Datel, makers of the Action Replay line, is the last company standing, though as noted on the VideoGame/GameGenie article, the changing paradigm of console gaming, with its focus on online connectivity, may mark the end of an era. Datel has produced Action Replays for the [[UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable PSP]], UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, and [[UsefulNotes/NintendoWii Wii]], but software updates to those consoles can render a Replay device unusable. Datel skipped over the XBox360 and PS3 altogether for similar reason. They've released an Action Replay for the [[Nintendo3DS 3DS]], it's only for use with [=DS=] games, and also has its own compatibility issues.

One for the 3DS games has been made, however. It plugs into your computer, and you insert the game into it. The game gets loaded with the codes, and then you go from there. It's anyone's guess how long it'll last, however. It works with both physical and downloaded games, though downloaded games require an additional SD card reader to be used.

With the other cheat device manufacturers falling out of the market after the [[TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames Sixth Generation]], Datel, makers of the Action Replay line, is the last company standing, though as noted on the VideoGame/GameGenie article, the changing paradigm of console gaming, with its focus on online connectivity, may mark the end of an era. Datel has produced Action Replays for the [[UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable PSP]], UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, and [[UsefulNotes/NintendoWii Wii]], but software updates to those consoles can render a Replay device unusable. Datel skipped over the XBox360 and PS3 altogether for similar reason. They've released an Action Replay for the [[Nintendo3DS 3DS]], it's only for use with [=DS=] games, and also has its own compatibility issues. They also released a cheat device for the 3DS, but it's only capable of editing saves rather than making changes while the game runs.

With the other cheat device manufacturers falling out of the market after the [[TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames Sixth Generation]], Datel, makers of the Action Replay line, is the last company standing, though as noted on the VideoGame/GameGenie article, the changing paradigm of console gaming, with its focus on online connectivity, may mark the end of an era. Datel has produced Action Replays for the [[UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable PSP]], UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, and [[UsefulNotes/NintendoWii Wii]], but software updates to those consoles can render a Replay device unusable. Datel skipped over the XBox360 and PS3 altogether for similar reason. They've released an Action Replay for the [[Nintendo3DS 3DS]], it's only for use with [=DS=] games, and also has its own compatibility issues.

One for the 3DS games has been made, however. It plugs into your computer, and you insert the game into it. The game gets loaded with the codes, and then you go from there. It's anyone's guess how long it'll last, however, and it doesn't work with downloaded games.

One for the 3DS has been made, however. It plugs into your computer, and you insert the game into it. The game gets loaded with the codes, and then you go from there. It's anyone's guess how long it'll last, however, and it doesn't work with downloaded games.

With the other cheat device manufacturers falling out of the market after the [[TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames Sixth Generation]], Datel, makers of the Action Replay line, is the last company standing, though as noted on the VideoGame/GameGenie article, the changing paradigm of console gaming, with its focus on online connectivity, may mark the end of an era. Datel has produced Action Replays for the [[UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable PSP]], UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, and [[UsefulNotes/NintendoWii Wii]], but software updates to those consoles can render a Replay device unusable. Datel skipped over the XBox360 and PS3 altogether for similar reasons, and while they've released an Action Replay for the [[Nintendo3DS 3DS]], it's only for use with [=DS=] games, and also has its own compatibility issues.

With the other cheat device manufacturers falling out of the market after the [[TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames Sixth Generation]], Datel, makers of the Action Replay line, is the last company standing, though as noted on the VideoGame/GameGenie article, the changing paradigm of console gaming, with its focus on online connectivity, may mark the end of an era. Datel has produced Action Replays for the [[PlaystationPortable PSP]], NintendoDS, and [[NintendoWii Wii]], but software updates to those consoles can render a Replay device unusable. Datel skipped over the XBox360 and PS3 altogether for similar reasons, and while they've released an Action Replay for the [[Nintendo3DS 3DS]], it's only for use with [=DS=] games, and also has its own compatibility issues.

With the other cheat device manufacturers falling out of the market after the [[TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames Sixth Generation]], Datel, makers of the Action Replay line, is the last company standing, though as noted on the GameGenie article, the changing paradigm of console gaming, with its focus on online connectivity, may mark the end of an era. Datel has produced Action Replays for the [[PlaystationPortable PSP]], NintendoDS, and [[NintendoWii Wii]], but software updates to those consoles can render a Replay device unusable. Datel skipped over the XBox360 and PS3 altogether for similar reasons, and while they've released an Action Replay for the [[Nintendo3DS 3DS]], it's only for use with [=DS=] games, and also has its own compatibility issues.

-->-- Colonel Campbell, ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2''

A Game Shark is a standard console cheat device, but it differs from a PC trainer in that it's usually a physical device. This idea became popular for consoles with the release of the Game Genie, which a cartridge could plug into, and the whole bit could plug neatly into the gaming machine. Aside from the legalities, game companies raised a stink about the delicateness of some components, although in fact if left in place the genie protected your machine by virtue of having a more robust design. In addition, this forced a rule into many old gaming magazines that any time you entered a contest for a high score in a video game, you had to send in a single picture that showed both the television with the game and score on display, and also the gaming console itself, to show that it was unadulterated.

However Game Genies type devices can cause save files to be corrupted, rendering some games broken. This can be seen on ''AnimalCrossing'' on the Nintendo DS, where if a save is messed up the game will not load period, because your town is called at startup for the intro.

The switch to disc-based console games saw the Gameshark proper, Action Replay Max, and Codebreaker: sleeker devices with self-booting capabilities and even some multimedia tricks, with the assurance of not messing with saves ''directly''. These devices have generally complied with companies' worries, although dedicated hackers can still use a fair amount of 'grey area' for tinkering.

There is also a small subset of games that are rather infamous for being "immune" to the devices, or difficult to play with them without locking up the game. Creator/TriAce games such as ''VideoGame/StarOceanTheSecondStory'' or ''ValkyrieProfile'' can be cited, mainly because the coding values in these games aren't static. These can often be defeated with the use of an "activator code" on the cheat device. (The ''Star Ocean 2'' one was about 29 lines long.)

A rare few games have unimplemented (and usually unfinished) content that can be accessed with one of these, including a sort of makeshift two-player mode in ''FinalFantasyTactics'' (both parties are player-controlled, and two players can pass the controller back and forth; the first party winning is a "win" with the usual consequences and the second party winning is a "loss"), unfinished characters in several {{Fighting Game}}s, the almost-finished [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banjo_Tooie#Bottles.27_Revenge Bottle's Revenge]] two-player mode in ''[[BanjoKazooie Banjo-Tooie]]'', and the infamous [[HotCoffeeMinigame sex minigame]] in one of the ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' games.

More common are games released in multiple regions that have content which is unlockable in one region but not another, or is simply [[DummiedOut inaccessible through normal play]]. The ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games, for example, typically have at least one Mon that's available only through use of a glitch, through a Wi-Fi/company-licensed event, or the use of a GameShark. Exactly whether or not using the GameShark for this purpose is considered cheating is still up for debate.

A GameShark is a standard console cheat device, but it differs from a PC trainer in that it's usually a physical device. This idea became popular for consoles with the release of the Game Genie, which a cartridge could plug into, and the whole bit could plug neatly into the gaming machine. Aside from the legalities, game companies raised a stink about the delicateness of some components, although in fact if left in place the genie protected your machine by virtue of having a more robust design. In addition, this forced a rule into many old gaming magazines that any time you entered a contest for a high score in a video game, you had to send in a single picture that showed both the television with the game and score on display, and also the gaming console itself, to show that it was unadulterated.