Game Genie (Game Gear)
From Sega Retro
Game Genie | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Made for: Sega Game Gear | ||||||||||||||||||||
Manufacturer: Codemasters | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distributor: Galoob (US, UK) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Type: Cheat tool | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The Sega Game Gear version of the Game Genie is a specialised "cheat cartridge" (or "video game enhancer") which allows the user to manipulate video games.It was developed by Codemasters
Contents
Hardware
The Game Genie attaches to the end of a cartridge and is then inserted into the cartridge port of the console for which it was designed.
Upon starting the console, the player may enter a series of characters referred to as a "code" or several such series that reference addresses in the ROM of the cartridge. Each code contains an integer value that is read by the system in place of the data actually present on the cartridge. The Game Genie cannot manipulate RAM, though it can make the console read different values from SRAM.
Because they patch the program code of a game, Game Genie codes are sometimes referred to as patch codes. These codes can have a variety of effects. The most popular codes give the player some form of invulnerability, infinite ammunition, level skipping, or other modifications that allow the player to be more powerful than intended by the developers. In rare cases, codes even unlock hidden game features that developers had scrapped and rendered unreachable in normal play.
The Sega Game Gear's Game Genie has a more complicated design than those for other systems. When inserted into the cartridge slot, another slot will pop-up to insert the Game Gear cartridge. It also has a compartment which contained a book of codes.
The codes were printed on sticky labels to put on the back of the Game Gear cartridge. When entering codes, the player could easily see what to type in rather than looking through the book. Many of these codes can now be found online as well.
On the screen in which a code is entered for the Game Gear Game Genie, a player typing the word "DEAD" will cause the screen to move up and down, possibly as an Easter egg.
History
Though developed by Codemasters, distribution was handled by Camerica in Canada and Galoob in the United States (and Europe, with the help of third-party distributors). Following the controversy of a Nintendo Entertainment System version of the device, of which Nintendo unsuccessfully tried to block, the Game Gear (and Mega Drive enhancer) were adopted by Sega as officially licensed products.
The Game Genie brand has since been discontinued; however, the idea lived on through Action Replay and GameShark hacking devices on newer consoles in the years which followed. Game Genie codes have since become a supported feature in most emulators.
Codebooks
GGCD1
- Alien 3
- Alien Syndrome
- Arch Rivals
- Ariel, Disney's The Little Mermaid
- Ax Battler--A Legend of Golden Axe
- Ayrton Senna's Super Monaco GP II
- Batman Returns
- Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse
- Chakan
- Chase H.Q.
- Chuck Rock
- Clutch Hitter
- Crystal Warriors
- Devilish
- Disney's TaleSpin
- Dragon Crystal
- Factory Panic
- Fantasy Zone
- G-LOC Air Battle
- George Foreman's K.O. Boxing
- Global Gladiators
- Halley Wars
- The Incredible Crash Dummies
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
- Joe Montana Football (Version A)
- Joe Montana Football (Version B)
- KLAX
- Krusty's Fun House
- Land of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse
- Lemmings
- The Lucky Dime Caper starring Donald Duck
- The Majors: Pro Baseball
- Ninja Gaiden
- Olympic Gold Barcelona Ô92
- Out Run Europa
- Pac-Man
- Paperboy
- Pengo
- Predator 2
- Prince of Persia
- R.C. Grand Prix
- Revenge of Drancon
- Shinobi
- Shinobi II The Silent Fury
- The Simpsons: Bart Vs the Space Mutants
- Slider
- Sonic the Hedgehog--Version 0
- Sonic the Hedgehog--Version 1
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Space Harrier
- Streets of Rage
- Super Golf
- Super Off-Road
- Super Smash TV
- Super Space Invaders
- Taz-Mania
- The Terminator
- Tom and Jerry
- Vampire, Master of Darkness
- Wonderboy
- Woody Pop--Version A
- Woody Pop--Version B
GGCD2
- Bram Stoker's Dracula
- Desert Speed Trap
- Double Dragon
- Ecco the Dolphin
- The Incredible Crash Dummies
- Jurassic Park
- Mortal Kombat
- Sonic Chaos
- Sonic Chaos
- Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six
- Streets of Rage 2
- Strider Returns
- Surf Ninjas
- Tengen World Cup Soccer
- World Series Baseball
- WWF Steel Cage Challenge
GGCD3
- Addams Family
- Cliffhanger
- Desert Strike
- James Pond 2
- Last Action Hero
- PGA Tour Golf
- Robocop 3
- Star Wars
- Winter Olympics
- Road Rash
- Strider Returns (Extra codes)
- Streets of Rage 2 (Extra codes)
- Desert Speedtrap (Extra codes)
- Bram Stoker's Dracula (Extra codes)
GGCD4
- Bartman Meets Radioactive Man
- GP Rider
- Ms. Pac-Man
- Poker Face Paul's Poker
- Robocop versus the Terminator
GGCD5
Volume 1, No2
- Addams Family
- Bartman Meets Radioactive Man
- Bram Stoker's Dracula (Extra Codes)
- Cliffhanger
- Desert Speedtrap (Extra Codes)
- Desert Strike
- GP Rider
- James Pond II
- Last Action Hero
- Ms. Pac-Man
- NBA Jam
- Paperboy 2
- PGA Tour Golf
- Poker Face Paul's Poker
- Road Rash
- Robocop 3
- Robocop versus the Terminator
- Star Wars
- Streets of Rage 2 (Extra Code)
- Strider Returns (Extra Code)r
- Winter Olympics
GGCD6
GGD7
GGD8
GGD9
GGD10
- Dynamite Headdy
- Taz In Escape from Mars
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
- Marvel Comics' X-Men: The GamesMaster's Legacy
GGCD11
GGCD12
GGCD13
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GGCD14
- Bubble Bobble
- RBI Baseball '94
- Tom and Jerry-The Movie
- Quest for the Shaven Yak Starring Ren Ho‘k and Stimpy
GGCD15
GGCD16
GGCD17
Physical scans
Official Codebook
Promotional material
References
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