Game Genie
Console cheats legitimised
Codemasters/Galoob's cheat device for NES, SNES, Genesis, and Game Boy that brought the POKE culture to consoles - and survived Nintendo's legal challenge.
Overview
The Game Genie was a cheat device that intercepted game code on NES, SNES, Genesis, and Game Boy, allowing players to enable effects like infinite lives and level skips. Created by Codemasters and distributed by Galoob, it became mainstream after surviving a landmark lawsuit from Nintendo—establishing that game enhancement devices were legal.
Fast Facts
- Developers: Codemasters (design), Galoob (distribution)
- Released: 1990 (NES)
- Platforms: NES, Game Boy, SNES, Genesis
- Legal battle: Nintendo v. Galoob (Nintendo lost)
- Sales: Millions of units
- Legacy: Legitimised game modification
How It Worked
| Step | Process |
|---|---|
| 1 | Insert Game Genie into console |
| 2 | Insert game cartridge into Genie |
| 3 | Enter codes from book |
| 4 | Game runs with modifications |
Technical Approach
Unlike computer equivalents:
- Intercepts data between cart and console
- Modifies specific memory reads
- Pre-coded - Users entered known codes
- No searching - Codes provided in book
The Nintendo Lawsuit
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Plaintiff | Nintendo |
| Claim | Copyright infringement |
| Argument | Creates “derivative work” |
| Ruling | Galoob won |
| Impact | Established legal precedent |
The court ruled Game Genie didn’t create permanent copies and users could modify their own gameplay experience.
Code Format
Game Genie used encoded addresses:
NES: AAEAULPA (infinite lives)
Encoded: Address + value pairs
Books: Thousands of pre-made codesPlatform Versions
| Version | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NES | 1990 | Original |
| Game Boy | 1990 | Portable |
| SNES | 1992 | 16-bit |
| Genesis | 1992 | Sega platform |
Cultural Impact
Game Genie brought cheating mainstream:
- Acceptable - Sold in toy stores
- Social - Share codes at school
- Magazine coverage - Codes published monthly
- Accessibility - Difficult games completable
Legacy
Game Genie legitimised game modification for a generation of console players. The lawsuit established precedent that players could modify their gaming experience. Modern accessibility options and difficulty sliders echo Game Genie’s philosophy that players should control their experience.