Hi Everyone, I know Nintendo had a small feud with Galoob over the Game Genie and tried to stop it from being sold. I also heard that Nintendo started implementing Checksums and other anti-cheat mechanisms into games to block the use of the Game Genie. Apparently, later versions of the Game Genie had the ability to hide Genie modifications from checksum routines. Is this true? And how did the Game Genie forge the checksum of games?
Few games do anything like that. Game Genie on NES can only intercept 3 addresses in ROM. On SNES only 5. You might be able to take out a checksum routine with 1 or 2 but that leaves you with alot less to work with. Also if this were true, you'd see games with Game Genie codes that need a "master code". Although for SNES it's possible if there are codes that tell you to keep the GG switched off until a certain point it could be they are trying to avoid detection. But then again I doubt you'd try to detect it if it can be turned off which they would have known that it could be. It's certainly possible to make anti-cheat routines in NES/SNES/Genesis games. But I really don't think too many games bothered. I do remember trying to make codes for Simpsons Bart Vs Space Mutants and finding the designed the game in a way to avoid useful game genie codes being created. I think most developers though probably didn't bother and didn't care. Afterall I'm not sure Game Genie existed in Japan. If it didn't then most developers would never think about it.
Hrm... I thought the Game Genie had some inherent way to beat Checksum routines without the need to waste code slots. Like a stealth mode or something. In regards to code slots, I heard that you could daisy chain Game Genies to get more codes entered into a single game. Is this true?
The Game Genie has no way to magically know about checksum codes. A checksum routine could be anything in the game's code. It's just not possible for the Game Genie to anticipate such a thing. The best you could do is have a toggle if the routine only happens at a certain time so you can avoid patching then. I'm unaware if you can chain SNES or Genesis Game Genies but I do know you CAN chain NES Game Genies to get more than 3 codes. There is a limit to the number you can chain but this might vary some based on the condition of all the connectors involved. But if you want to stack 2 together for 6 codes that is no problem. stack 3, probably fine as well. After that I'm not sure. For SNES and Genesis you might be able to stack em but I've never tried or heard of anyone that has tried.
I tried to stack N64 Gamesharks for lulz, it broke both of them. Color Dreams games aren't compatible for the Game Genie according to the manual.
Well, the Toaster NES is already under strain from a Game Genie. I'd hate to try and force feed it 2 additional Game Genies (^_^);
