A few days ago I've got a GameShark Pro V3.2 for the Nintendo 64. I was really impressed about the PC connectivity and the software which is available for the Gameshark. I would like to purchase a Gameshark for the PlayStation now. However it's a bit difficult to find information about the Gameshark products for the PlayStation 1. As far as I know there are cartridge based versions and cd based versions. Unfortunately I haven't found any information about the features of the different versions. Well I'm interested in a cd based version and the SharkLink cable which connects the PlayStation to the PC via the serial port. That's a big advantage compared to the caetla based solutions. Which Gameshark versions are compatible with the SharkLink cable?
I have both the CD version (CDX) and the cart-based version. The CD version worked very well, considering it didn't need any extra hardware. It didn't work with some games, however, which is an advantage that the cart-based one had over the CDX. The cable worked pretty well with the CDX for finding cheats, albeit quite slowly. The game would sometimes freeze mid-search/transfer as well. When I got the cart-based Gameshark, I didn't have a PC with a serial port, so I couldn't test it for link compatibility. That's about all I know about these devices.
As far as I know the cart-based Gameshark needs the Comms Link card and a parallel cable for pc connectivity. Only the cd version is compatible with the serial (Sharklink) cable. Or am I wrong? My computer does not have an ISA slot for the old Comms Link card an therefore I would like to go for the serial Sharklink cable and a cd based Gameshark. Ebay has lots of Gameshark 4.0 auctions. Does anyone know if version 4.0 is compatible with the serial Sharklink cable?
Sorry for jumping into this thread out of nowhere... I've never used the CD version, so I can't comment on that. However, the cart-based one (at least of the XPloder Professional, which should be nearly identical to a Gameshark if I remember correctly) doesn't need a special communication card, just a regular parallel (LPT/printer) port. Just to avoid any confusion, here's a picture of the cart: http://www.psillustrated.com/psillustrated/hard_rev.php/262/xploder-professional-playstation.html The software needs an old MS DOS, but works flawlessly even when running in a VM. The only downside of this cart I can think of is that there have never been any firmware updates at all; at least that is what I was told by technical support around 3-4 years ago. Therefore, it might need some fiddling to get it running with some games.
There is a Windows software for the Xploder called x-killer. I have a few different firmware versions for the Xploder V3-FX: 3.20 (30/07/1999), 4.41 (30/09/1999), 4.52 (05/11/1999)
Don't know, but the official sotware was supposed to be compatible with it. There was also an unofficial software version by GSCC. And finally, Hanimar made a few tools for the AR 3. I can't even find a picture of the AR 3, looks like it's rare...
The Action Replay Playstation 1&2 catridge: http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/3142/210144-ar_large.jpg Used the optional PC ISA comms card & Dos Action.exe software to find codes, update, etc. Action Replay Pro (v3) cartridge was bigger (black) catrtridge and had built in memory & in-game interface (froze the game) for finding codes. It was updateable with special Audio CD's that the Action Replay read and converted back to data in order to update. Also connectable to a PC via the parallel port and Windows PC software to find codes and update. http://www.gavsweb.com/images/ActionReplay_Gameshark_v3_Pro.jpg Pic of board, not in cartridge case unfortunatly. Note the RAM chips at the top for the internal trainer and the button on the side to freeze the game. I think the V3 Pro is now probably pretty rare as soon after the release Sony removed the expansion port on the back of the PS1. Action Replay CDX was a bootable CD version. Sony removed the expansion port on the Playstation (to save costs probably as Sony never made a product that used it.... and maybe because they don't like Datel for obvious reasons). http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/414SKwGsaaL._SL500_AA280_.jpg Action Replay was sold as GameShark in the USA by Interact. Unfortunately Interact went bump years later due to bad joystick & hardware sales. The GameShark name got bought up by Mad Catz for stupid money and they released GameShark 4 on CD which was a re-branded "Code Breaker"/"Xploder" (inferior copy of GameShark/Action replay).
Various utilities and firmwares for the Xplorer/Xploder cartridge (compatible with AR/GS codes): http://www.murraymoffatt.com/playstation-xplorer.html
If I remember where I put mine, I can take pictures, if anyone is interested. There was also a feature you didn't mention : V-Mem, aka virtual memory card. You could compress your saves, and create "virtual" memory cards located on the AR 3.
