Cheat Carts: Good for reloading levels? (GameGenie, etc)

[arkanoid]

Hi,

I'm not sure of exactly how cheat carts work. I know some offer additional functionality besides entering simple infinite lives cheat codes.

Basically, I'm not interested in cheats, I simply want a way to reload levels. I'm tired of restarting from the begining of Thunder Force IV, just to reach the last stage I have to complete. Is there any way I can do this with the GameGenie or ActionReplay carts?

I remember my friend had a SNES AR cart and was able to "train" his cart to give infinite lives on any game. Is there any way to do something similar for reloading levels, without having to rely on published "codes"?

If so, will both cards do this?

[gtmtnbiker]

I imagine that you find a cheat code that allows you to specify a certain level. The way cheat codes work is that they modify the game memory. So if you know the location where the level is stored, you could make a code for it.

The other option is to use an emulator that has save states.

[Ziggy]

You know, a lot of games that don't have a password or save function have in-game (no cheat cart needed) cheats for level select. Usually you input a combination of buttons on a menu or something. Sonic 2 has level select, so does Ninja Assassins.

And yes, there are codes for cheat carts that will allow you to start out on a desired level. You might not be able to find it for ANY game. And like gtmtnbiker said, you can make a code too. Just google the title of the game along with game genie to find codes for it.

[arkanoid]

cheers guys. i've already Googled known GG and AR codes for TF4 and there seems to be a real lack of them. The only cheats available seem to be the 99 lives cheat and the GameGenie region lockout code.

so this is why I was kind of hoping i could "train" the cheat cart to find the numbers for each level - kind of thing - or something.

well, i guess i can just use emulation gamestates....but emulators are so boring. they just make me want to sleep.

[Ziggy]

I have no idea how to come up with Game Genie codes, but you should give it a Google and see if it's something you might be able to do. I know some of it is trial and error, and I believe you can use emulators to help find codes faster.

[CRTGAMER]

I have no idea how to come up with Game Genie codes, but you should give it a Google and see if it's something you might be able to do. I know some of it is trial and error, and I believe you can use emulators to help find codes faster.

Here! Compliments of Racketboy member "Anapan".

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 29&t=19023

[Ziggy]

Uh.... I wasn't talking about looking up codes, I was talking about creating codes that don't already exist.

[Niode]

Well the way you 'create' cheats for cheat cartridges is you analyse the hex values that are stored in memory, you try and find a unique string of numbers as possible and then find what hex value modifies that string. It's all trial and error but you can create your own cheats for games by analysing the memory in this way. This might not be possible with conventional cart based AR (I don't know if there is away of getting into the menu while the game is still running/paused) but using an emulator will be an easy way of finding out the hex values you need to modify since you can analyse the memory on the fly and input search strings for the values you need. Then you can translate that into an AR/GG code for your cheat cartridge.

Hope that helps.

[CRTGAMER]

Uh.... I wasn't talking about looking up codes, I was talking about creating codes that don't already exist.

Okay sorry. Still, very handy original book scans provided by "Anapan" if anyone needs them. Maybe a level code there.

[gtmtnbiker]

Well the way you 'create' cheats for cheat cartridges is you analyse the hex values that are stored in memory, you try and find a unique string of numbers as possible and then find what hex value modifies that string.

Aren't these codes simply offset/value pairs? What you need to do first is to figure out where the value for level is stored. One way is to compare multiple save files. Let's say that you are on level 2, with a score of 5000. Save the same just before you hit level 3. Then save it again just after you hit level 3. Compare the two saves to see what's different using some sort of binary editor. You may have to repeat the process multiple times for the same levels (2 & 3) or perhaps other levels to figure which offset holds the level.