Cheat code?!? What's a cheat code?

Don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with using codes to get beyond a certain spot in a game. We do buy computer games for enjoyment and fun after all, not to be annoyed and frustrated. Reviewers use them all the time, because deadlines being what they are, getting stuck in an in-depth game could mean an empty page in the magazine. However, much like adventure gamers do not like online hints, they become a crutch, and their mere existance can cause the faint of heart to take the low road out of a tough situation.

But "What is a cheat code?" some of you might ask. By definition, a cheat code is an undocumented feature of a computer game that will let you do things that normally you could never do or have difficulty doing. The most common type of cheat code is what is known as a type in code, which is to say that a string of characters (most often some sort of word) is typed in on the keyboard during the game just as if you were entering it into a word processor. Many cheat codes are very powerful indeed. Some will let you be invincible, others will let you walk through the walls of the game like a phantom, and yet others will even let you win the game outright.

So it is reasonable to ask why cheat codes were created in the first place if they are so powerful and can ruin the fun of a game (I believe that someone of note once said "Everything in moderation. . ."). The answer is really quite logical when you think about it for a minute. Originally, companies would put codes in early versions of a product in order to test them. They would allow testers to jump to certain levels eaisly, and then test various combinations of items. It also makes it much eaiser to demo a game when you are not dying every time you start up the game. Cheat codes are still used for just this purpose in a very real way, but often they are never removed from the final version of a game.

There are two ways to succeed at computer games: You can work hard, practice, and be the best that you can be . . . or you can cheat. For those who prefer the formor approach, good luck. For those who want to win, and I mean really win, check out the rest of this page and prepare to beat the level, blast the boss, and beffuddle the enemy . . .

Finally, it may be true that cheaters never truely win, but they definitely advance to the next level!