Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right. A, B. A
non-sensible phrase to many, but strikes a nostalgic chord in the hearts
and minds of gamers from the mid 80’s up till those of the early 21st
century. Cheat codes, were what they were called. Theses sequences of
button combinations could allow you anything from infinite amo to
infinite health, enabling god mode to letting you skip whole levels all
together. So what happened? After the release of the Xbox 360,
PlayStation 3, and Nintendo’s Wii, Gamers saw a gradual decline in the
release of cheat codes and an increase in Walkthroughs and strategy
guides. No longer were gamers aloud to cheat their way to a bazooka with
infinite rockets, they had to earn it by beating the game twice, on
hard, while collecting all collectables, without dieing.
There are many different theories as to why game developers abandoned cheat codes for unlockables. One theory being that games were just harder back in the day. Gamers needed cheat codes. I can imagine many more destroyed TV sets and mangled gaming consoles due to frustrated gamers had cheat codes not been around. As developer limitation decreased as too did difficulty in game, ergo, decreasing cheat code relevance.
Another factor may well have been the implementation of achievements. Gamer scores became a badge of pride among peers and one could only attain a high gamer score by unlocking in-game achievement. In most of the few new games that still allowed cheat codes, the gamer was required to turn off achievements in order to use them. cheat codes would allow an unfair advantage and allow gamers to complete achievements much quicker and easier. With this higher emphasis on achievements, most developers soon abandoned cheat codes all together.
However, one of the most reoccurring theories is that the death of the cheat code was not on the hands of a newer calmer gaming generation or Achievement, but in the hands of Online gaming and DLC. As Xbox online and PlayStation network took off so did the concept of downloadable content as well as pre-order incentive. Why allow gamers to access additional content with just a few button taps when you can, instead, charge them for said additional content and make a quick buck? With Online gaming on the rise much additional content was now being released in the form of micro transactions. New weapons and costumes were no longer unlockable by five digit pass phrases, but instead by three digit credit card security codes.
In the end, all these theories may have played a role in the death of the cheat code. But gaming is still evolving and progressing as a medium and cheat codes have played a significant role that evolution. So perhaps instead of mourning the death of the cheat code, we should celebrate it as a cherished memory, unique to us gamers of old. Besides, the exhilarating feeling of punching in a non-sensible sequence of letters and numbers will always live on, just in the form of $25 redeemable online codes.
-Brice
There are many different theories as to why game developers abandoned cheat codes for unlockables. One theory being that games were just harder back in the day. Gamers needed cheat codes. I can imagine many more destroyed TV sets and mangled gaming consoles due to frustrated gamers had cheat codes not been around. As developer limitation decreased as too did difficulty in game, ergo, decreasing cheat code relevance.
Another factor may well have been the implementation of achievements. Gamer scores became a badge of pride among peers and one could only attain a high gamer score by unlocking in-game achievement. In most of the few new games that still allowed cheat codes, the gamer was required to turn off achievements in order to use them. cheat codes would allow an unfair advantage and allow gamers to complete achievements much quicker and easier. With this higher emphasis on achievements, most developers soon abandoned cheat codes all together.
However, one of the most reoccurring theories is that the death of the cheat code was not on the hands of a newer calmer gaming generation or Achievement, but in the hands of Online gaming and DLC. As Xbox online and PlayStation network took off so did the concept of downloadable content as well as pre-order incentive. Why allow gamers to access additional content with just a few button taps when you can, instead, charge them for said additional content and make a quick buck? With Online gaming on the rise much additional content was now being released in the form of micro transactions. New weapons and costumes were no longer unlockable by five digit pass phrases, but instead by three digit credit card security codes.
In the end, all these theories may have played a role in the death of the cheat code. But gaming is still evolving and progressing as a medium and cheat codes have played a significant role that evolution. So perhaps instead of mourning the death of the cheat code, we should celebrate it as a cherished memory, unique to us gamers of old. Besides, the exhilarating feeling of punching in a non-sensible sequence of letters and numbers will always live on, just in the form of $25 redeemable online codes.
-Brice
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