Difference between revisions of "Action Replay (Mega Drive)"

Latest revision as of 08:42, 29 December 2023

Accessory
Program

Action Replay

Manufacturer: Datel

Type: Cheat tool

Release	Date	RRP
US	1991	$6969^[1]
US (Pro)	199x	$8989^[1]
DE	199x	DM 149.00149.00^[7]
ES	199x
UK	1991-11^[2]^[3]	£49.9949.99^[4]^[5]
UK (Pro)	1992	£39.9939.99^[6]

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Action Replay is a cheat device created for the Sega Mega Drive. It was originally released by Datel in the United Kingdom in late 1991, and was the latest in a line of cheat devices which continue to this day.

The Mega Drive Action Replay was the first cheat device to be released for the console, pre-dating the Game Genie by the best part of a year. Unlike the Game Genie, however, no Action Replay cartridges were ever licensed or endorsed by Sega, though unlike rivals Nintendo, the company did not actively seek to prevent such devices from being sold.

Hardware

All Mega Drive Action Replays are cheat cartridges that act as a passthrough between the Mega Drive console and game cartridge, and when activated, can permanently set memory addresses to specified values, thus potentially altering gameplay. As a side-effect of this design, Action Replays also act as region converters, allowing Japanese games to be played on Western systems (likely a key part of its success in Europe).

Unlike the Game Genie which converts memory addresses and values into more human-readable codes, Action Replay codes are just memory addresses (represented in hexadecimal) followed by a value, albeit formatted in such a way to make it less obvious. For example, the Action Replay code FFFFE 00001 (which enables the level select in Sonic the Hedgehog) sets the value at memory address 00FFFFE0 to 1. Some emulators which support Action Replay codes expect a format that more easily reflects this, e.g. FFFFE0:0001 or even just FFFFE0:1.

Unlike its Game Gear and Master System counterparts the Mega Drive Action Replay was released in North America, though was unable to find the same level of success as the Game Genie.

Models

A few different models of the Action Replay were released during the early 1990s:

Action Replay

The original Action Replay cartridge was released in late 1991, and allowed for up to four codes to be enabled at a time.

Pro Version Action Replay/Pro Action Replay

Early 1992 saw an enhanced version of the cartridge be released, which ups the code limit to twenty and includes a "trainer", which can be used monitor changes in RAM and to "find" compatible Action Replay codes. This change means the switch on the side now has three positions; codes on (top), codes off (middle) and trainer (bottom).

Datel also also provided a cheat book containing game codes with this version.

Pro Action Replay 2

The last revision in 1994 sets the code limit to 100, and has a selection of cheat codes built-in to the cartridge, negating the need to input them every time. It is also able to trick the game into thinking it is running on a specific region of Mega Drive console, thus acting as a fully-fledged region converter (though only for those with PAL consoles, as the device was only sold in Europe).

Code list scans

Magazine articles

Main article: Action Replay (Mega Drive)/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Action Replay (Mega Drive)/Promotional material.

Photo gallery

Action Replay
Pro Version Action Replay
Pro Action Replay
Pro Action Replay 2

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

MegaTech (UK)

87

^[6]

Sega Power (UK)

75

^[5]

	81
Based on 2 reviews

Action Replay (Mega Drive)

Mega Drive, US
Cover

Mega Drive, US (Pro Version)
Cover

Mega Drive, UK
Cover

Mega Drive, UK (alt?)
Cover

Mega Drive, UK (Pro Version)
Cover

Mega Drive, UK (Pro Version; alt)
Cover

Mega Drive, UK (Pro Version; alt 2)
Cover

Mega Drive, UK (Pro)
Cover

Mega Drive, UK (Pro; alt)
Cover
Cart Manual Code Book

Mega Drive, UK (Pro 2)
Cover

Mega Drive, DE (Pro)
Cover

Mega Drive, DE (Pro; alt)
Cover

Mega Drive, DE (Pro 2)
Cover

Mega Drive, ES (Pro)
Cover

Mega Drive, EU (Pro)
Cover

References

Sega Mega Drive cheat code devices
(Pro) Action Replay \| Game Genie \| Game Wizard \| Genipak \| Magicard \| Vzlomshchik Kodov

Sega Mega Drive
Topics	Technical specifications (Hardware comparison) \| History \| List of games \| Magazine articles \| Promotional material \| Merchandise \| Cartridges \| TradeMark Security System
Hardware	Japan \| North America \| Western Europe \| Eastern Europe \| South America \| Asia \| South Korea \| Australasia \| Africa EZ Games \| Genesis 3 \| LaserActive \| Mega Jet \| Mega PC \| Mega Play \| Mega-Tech System \| Mega 6 \| Nomad \| Teradrive \| Mega Drive Mini \| Mega Drive Mini 2 New Mega Drive \| Tianli VCD/DVD Players \| "Consoles on a chip" \| Licensed clones (Magic 2 \| Mega Game II \| Power Pegasus \| Super Bitman) Unlicensed clones
Add-ons	Game Box \| Power Base Converter \| Mega-CD \| 32X (Mega-CD 32X) \| Mega Modem \| Demo System DS-16
Cases	Sega Genesis Nomad Carrying Case \| System Carry Case
Controllers	Control Pad \| Six Button Control Pad \| 6 Button Arcade Pad \| Arcade Power Stick 6B \| Konami Justifier \| MK-1470 Action Chair \| Activator \| Arcade Power Stick \| Keyboard \| MegaFire \| Mouse \| Mega Stick \| Menacer \| Remote Arcade System \| Ten Key Pad \| Third Party Controllers
Accessories	4 Way Play \| AC adaptor \| Cleaning System \| Control Pad Extension Cord \| Game Factory \| Genesis Speakers \| Headset \| HeartBeat Catalyst \| Microphone \| Region converter cartridges \| Mega Terminal \| Nomad PowerBack \| RF Unit \| SCART Cable \| Stereo Audio Video Cable \| Team Player \| Video Monitor Cable \| Third-party AC adaptors \| Third Party Accessories
Network services	Sega Channel \| Sega Game Toshokan \| Mega Anser \| Mega Net \| TeleBradesco Residência \| XB∀ND
Development tools	ERX 308P \| ERX 318P \| Sprobe \| SNASM68K \| SNASM2 (Mega Drive) \| SNASM2 (32X) \| PSY-Q Development System (Mega Drive) \| PSY-Q Development System (32X) \| 32X CartDev \| Sega Mars Development Aid System \| Sega 32X Development Target
Unreleased	Edge 16 \| Floppy Disk Drive \| Mega Play 1010 \| Sega VR \| Teleplay System \| Video Jukebox

[:File:GamePro_US_035.pdf_p16-1] 1.0 ^1.1 GamePro, "June 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 16

[:File:SegaPower_UK_24.pdf_p18-2] Sega Power, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-04), page 18

[:File:SegaPro_UK_01.pdf_p9-3] Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 9

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_13.pdf_p12-4] Mean Machines, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-27), page 12

[:File:SegaPower_UK_26.pdf_p65-5] 5.0 ^5.1 Sega Power, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-05), page 65

[:File:MegaTech_UK_07.pdf_p15-6] 6.0 ^6.1 MegaTech, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-20), page 15

[:File:SegaMagazin_DE_02.pdf_p73-7] Sega Magazin, "November/Dezember 1993" (DE; 1993-11-03), page 73

[1]

[7]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 | type=Cheat tool
 | madefor=[[Sega Mega Drive]]
-| alsoworks=
 | releases={{releasesMD
 | md_date_us=1991
@@ Line 13: / Line 12: @@
 | md_rrp_us_1=89{{magref|gamepro|35|16}}
 | md_type_us_1=Pro
-| md_date_uk=1991-11{{magref|segapower|24|18}}
+| md_date_uk=1991-11{{magref|segapower|24|18}}{{magref|segapro|1|9}}
 | md_rrp_uk=49.99{{magref|mm|13|12}}{{magref|segapower|26|65}}
 | md_date_uk_1=1992
@@ Line 19: / Line 18: @@
 | md_type_uk_1=Pro
 | md_date_de=199x
-| md_rrp_de=149,-{{magref|segamagazin|2|73}}
+| md_rrp_de=149.00{{magref|segamagazin|2|73}}
 | md_date_es=199x
 }}
 }}
-{{stub}}'''''Action Replay''''' is a cheat device created for the [[Sega Mega Drive]]. It was originally released by [[Datel]] in the United Kingdom in late 1991, and was the latest in a line of cheat devices which continue to this day.
+{{stub}}'''Action Replay''' is a cheat device created for the [[Sega Mega Drive]]. It was originally released by [[Datel]] in the United Kingdom in late 1991, and was the latest in a line of cheat devices which continue to this day.
 The Mega Drive Action Replay was the first cheat device to be released for the console, pre-dating the [[Game Genie (Mega Drive)|Game Genie]] by the best part of a year. Unlike the Game Genie, however, no Action Replay cartridges were ever licensed or endorsed by Sega, though unlike rivals [[Nintendo]], the company did not actively seek to prevent such devices from being sold.
 ==Hardware==
-Several versions of the Mega Drive Action Replay exist and many more packaging variants were created, however the core functionality of the cartridge remains the same. In addition to the standard Action Replay cartridge, Datel released the '''Pro Version Action Replay''' (which introduced a cheat finding feature), '''Pro Action Replay''' and '''Pro Action Replay 2''' (the latter sometimes dropping the "2", but otherwise includes some "built-in" cheats for popular games).
+All Mega Drive Action Replays are cheat cartridges that act as a passthrough between the Mega Drive console and game cartridge, and when activated, can permanently set memory addresses to specified values, thus potentially altering gameplay. As a side-effect of this design, Action Replays also act as region converters, allowing Japanese games to be played on Western systems (likely a key part of its success in Europe).
-All versions of the Action Replay act as a pass-through device between the Mega Drive console and a game cartridge, intercepting signals and adjusting how the game runs depending on what codes have been added by the player. As a side-effect of this design, Action Replays also act as region converters, allowing Japanese games to be played on Western systems (likely a key part of its success in Europe). In addition, Datel provided regularly cheat books containing game codes.
+Unlike the Game Genie which converts memory addresses and values into more human-readable codes, Action Replay codes are just memory addresses (represented in hexadecimal) followed by a value, albeit formatted in such a way to make it less obvious. For example, the Action Replay code {{CheatCode|FFFFE 00001}} (which enables the level select in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (Mega Drive)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'') sets the value at memory address {{hex|$FFFFE0}} to {{hex|1}}. Some emulators which support Action Replay codes expect a format that more easily reflects this, e.g. {{CheatCode|FFFFE0:0001}} or even just {{CheatCode|FFFFE0:1}}.
 Unlike its [[Pro Action Replay (Game Gear)|Game Gear]] and [[Pro Action Replay (Master System)|Master System counterparts]] the Mega Drive Action Replay was released in North America, though was unable to find the same level of success as the Game Genie.
+===Models===
+A few different models of the Action Replay were released during the early 1990s:
+====Action Replay====
+The original Action Replay cartridge was released in late 1991, and allowed for up to four codes to be enabled at a time.
+====Pro Version Action Replay/Pro Action Replay====
+Early 1992 saw an enhanced version of the cartridge be released, which ups the code limit to twenty and includes a "trainer", which can be used monitor changes in RAM and to "find" compatible Action Replay codes. This change means the switch on the side now has three positions; codes on (top), codes off (middle) and trainer (bottom).
+Datel also also provided a cheat book containing game codes with this version.
+====Pro Action Replay 2====
+The last revision in 1994 sets the code limit to 100, and has a selection of cheat codes built-in to the cartridge, negating the need to input them every time. It is also able to trick the game into thinking it is running on a specific region of Mega Drive console, thus acting as a fully-fledged region converter (though only for those with PAL consoles, as the device was only sold in Europe).
 ==Code list scans==
@@ Line 74: / Line 87: @@
 | console=Mega Drive
 | region=UK
+| cover=ActionReplay MD Box MegaDrive.jpg
+}}
+{{Scanbox
+| console=Mega Drive
+| region=UK (alt?)
 | cover=ActionReplay EU MD box.jpg
 }}
@@ Line 79: / Line 97: @@
 | console=Mega Drive
 | region=UK (Pro Version)
+| cover=ProVersionActionReplay MD Box MegaDrive.jpg
+}}
+{{Scanbox
+| console=Mega Drive
+| region=UK (Pro Version; alt)
 | cover=ProVersionActionReplayPro MD EU Box.jpg
 }}
 {{Scanbox
 | console=Mega Drive
-| region=UK (Pro)
+| region=UK (Pro Version; alt 2)
-| cover=ProActionReplay MD UK Box.jpg
+| cover=ProVersionActionReplay MD UK Box Alt.jpg
 }}
 {{Scanbox
 | console=Mega Drive
-| region=UK (Pro Version) (alt)
+| region=UK (Pro)
-| cover=ProVersionActionReplay MD UK Box Alt.jpg
+| cover=ProActionReplay MD UK Box.jpg
 }}
 {{Scanbox
 | console=Mega Drive
-| region=UK (Pro) (alt)
+| region=UK (Pro; alt)
 | cover=ProActionReplay MD UK Box Alt.jpg
+| cart=ProActionReplay MD Cart.jpg
+| manual=Pro Action Replay MD EU Manual.jpg
+| item1=Pro Action Replay MD UK Code Book.jpg
+| item1name=Code Book
 }}
 {{Scanbox
@@ Line 104: / Line 131: @@
 | console=Mega Drive
 | region=DE (Pro)
+| cover=ProActionReplay MD DE Box Black.jpg
+}}
+{{Scanbox
+| console=Mega Drive
+| region=DE (Pro; alt)
 | cover=ProActionReplay MD DE Box.jpg
 }}
@@ Line 115: / Line 147: @@
 | region=ES (Pro)
 | cover=ProActionReplay MD ES Box.jpg
+}}
+{{Scanbox
+| console=Mega Drive
+| region=EU (Pro)
+| cover=ProActionReplay MD EU Box.jpg
 }}

Difference between revisions of "Action Replay (Mega Drive)"

From Sega Retro

Latest revision as of 08:42, 29 December 2023

Contents

Hardware

Models

Action Replay

Pro Version Action Replay/Pro Action Replay

Pro Action Replay 2

Code list scans

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Photo gallery

Physical scans

References