game genies/gamesharks

[17daysolderthannes]

OK, I've never actually owned a game genie or gameshark before (why? I don't know), but since apparently the owner of my local used game store doesn't want to sell them (why? I don't know) he gave me an NES and 2 Genesis Game Genies and a playstation 1 gameshark. I tried the 2 genesis ones on a genesis 2 and the green light on the side came on but nothing displayed on the screen. They seem pretty dusty so it may be just the pins. The real question is though:

How exactly do you use a game genie? if you plug it in by itself without a game, does it do anything? does a playstation 1 gameshark require some sort of boot disc and can it be used with a playstation 2? how do you open up a Genesis game genie (I didn't see any external screws)? I think I probably just need to clean the pins, but I want to make sure I'm doing it right when I test them after cleaning.

[bicostp]

You put both the Game Genie and the cartridge in the system at the same time, sort of like Sonic & Knuckles. It should bring up a screen that lets you input codes. Then you hit Start and the game starts normally with the patches.

Basically the Game Genie passes the game cartridge through normally, but interrupts certain values and replaces them with others when they're loaded. ('Values' can be anything form how many lives you have to how high you can jump.)

I don't know about the Playstation Gameshark, but if it's the one that plugs into the parallel port on the back of the PSX it won't work on the PS2. (I have the CDX, which acts as a boot disc.)

[17daysolderthannes]

I think it is the one that plugs into the parallel port because it has some weird plugs I know aren't on the PS2. So game genies won't even give you an error screen if you plug them in by themselves? I mean I know HOW they work because I've watched friends use them before as a kid, but I just wasn't sure the exact procedure, like for instance the genesis one with the switch on the side. I'll snoop around the web when I get a chance and see what I can dig up too.

[tom61]

Yeah, you need a game in it. The switch is for disabling or enabling codes in the game.

The PSX gamesharks plug into the parrallel port, do change the boot up screens with or without a disc inserted, and are not compatible with the PS2.

[17daysolderthannes]

Yeah, you need a game in it. The switch is for disabling or enabling codes in the game.

The PSX gamesharks plug into the parrallel port, do change the boot up screens with or without a disc inserted, and are not compatible with the PS2.

well, I did try plugging in sonic and turning it on, but nothing happened, but like I said the pins are pretty dirty so I'm sure that has a lot to do with it.

[17daysolderthannes]

*update*

The genesis game genie *I think* I tried (I got 2, one was in much better shape but the torn label threw me off) did have some corrosion on the cartridge slot side, so maybe itll work after all since I cleaned it.

However, I have a new question: I cleaned the NES game genie up and, in spite of what some people think, it fit into my Yobo FC just fine and I booted it up with TMNT III attached and the code screen came up, but after I pushed start, the screen just went white. I tried again with Punch Out and the same thing happened, just with a black screen instead. Has anyone else tried a game genie with a Yobo FC before? Have you gotten it to work? I thought maybe there wasn't enough power to operate the game genie since the Yobo FC doesn't use as much juice as a regular NES.

[17daysolderthannes]

*update* I tried with Ninja Gaiden II and Super Mario 3 and they both worked with cheats! So, apparently NOAC is compatible with game genies after all, for those of you that need a couple extra lives or don't want to have to play through the early levels EVERY TIME.