• Tag Archives Nintendo

  • Game Genie (NES)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

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    The Game Genie was an ingenious device that was developed by Codemasters for Camerica and Galoob. It basically let you hack cartridge based games. While there were ultimately various versions of the Game Genie available for different systems, the original was launched in 1990 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. There would later be versions for the Game Boy, Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo and Game Gear. There was a more advanced device dubbed the Game Genie 2 that was later developed. It reached the prototype stage with the Super NES but ultimately it was never released.

    The Game Genie acted as a pass through with the cartridge plugging in to the Game Genie and then the Game Genie plugging into the cartridge slot of the appropriate game system. When the system was powered on it would bring up a menu and you could enter one or more codes. These codes changed values at certain ROM addresses. Effectively, this was like entering a POKE command on a Commodore 64 or Atari 8-bit computer or using a hex editor to change values on a PC game.

    Numerous codes were available at launch and more were published frequently. There was even a subscription service through which you could obtain the latest “official” codes. You could also enter in codes randomly and observe their effect. More often than not you wouldn’t notice anything or it would lead to a system freeze but you could also happen upon some unique beneficial or otherwise interesting effect. Codes would commonly provide things like extra lives, invulnerability, additional ammo or other inventory, etc. They could also occasionally even unlock unfinished levels or other aspects of the game that were not meant to be seen.

    While the best way to experience the Game Genie is an original device with an original system, many emulators also have the ability to accept Game Genie codes natively. If you didn’t know what the purpose of that was, now you do.

    The Game Genie ultimately faded away to be replaced by the Game Shark and other similar devices but it was really the Game Genie that started it all.


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  • GamePro (April 1992)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: GamePro – Issue Number 33 – April 1992

    Though I preferred EGM and the slightly more obscure VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, GamePro was one of the most popular gaming magazines published in the U.S. lasting from 1989 until the end of 2011. The April 1992 issue includes:

    • Letters from the GamePros
    • The Mail
    • Cutting Edge – Play video games by telephone or by television!
    • Hot at the Arcades – Ride with Sunset Riders. Roll with B.O.T.T.S.
    • Special Feature: Genesis and Super NES Games for ’92 – 16-bit gamers are in for some treats this year, no matter which system you own.
    • Pro Reviews
      • Nintendo: King’s Quest, G.I. Joe: The Atlantis Factor, Wacky Racers, Gemfire
      • Genesis: Kid Chameleon, Earnest Evans, Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?, Devilish, Toki
      • Super NES: The Super Scope, Xardion, Preview: Out of this World
      • TurboGrafx-16: Ballistix
      • Game Boy: Batman: Return of the Joker; Snow Bros, Jr; Ultima: Runes of Virture
      • Game Gear: Fantasy Zone, Popits
    • Special Feature: Big Basketball Blowout II
      • ProReviews: Jordan vs. Bird (Genesis), Double Dribble: Five on Five (Game Boy)
      • Previews: Arch Rivals (Genesis), David Robinson’s Supreme Court (Genesis), Bulls vs. Lakers (Genesis and SNES), Roundball (NES), Tecmo Super NBA Basketball (NES), NBA Super All-Star Challenge 2 (Game Boy), Basketbrawl (Lynx)
      • Special Review: Michael Jordan Flight for IBM PC
    • Overseas ProSpects – A new Tetris surfaces in Japan – Tetris Plus Bombliss
    • S.W.A.T. (Secret Weapons and Tactics) – The hottest tips and tactics from GamePros everywhere.
    • Ask the Pros – The GamePros answer your questions about G.I. Joe (NES), Mega Man (NES), Streets of Rage (Genesis), Darius Twin (SNES).
    • ProNews – All the video game news that’s fit to print.
    • Advertiser Index – Here’s what’s coming up next in GamePro.

    …and more!


    📂This entry was posted in Retro Games 📎and tagged

  • Nintendo Magazine System (October 1992)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Nintendo Magazine System – Issue Number 1 – October 1992

    Nintendo Magazine System is a magazine that was published in the U.K. that covered various Nintendo systems. There was also a Nintendo Magazine System published in Australia that served as the official Nintendo magazine there for a time but I’m not sure what (if any) the relationship was. The October 1992 issue includes:

    Cover Story

    • The magic is back as those barmy boys in blue, Murtaugh and Riggs make their Super NES debut in Ocean’s long-awaited Lethal Weapon licence. This is quite simply one of the hottest licences you’re likely to see this year, and NMS has got the hot exclusive of what to expect when the game arrives.

    Super NES Reviews

    • Super Mario Kart – Leaving behind his eternal battle against Bowser and Co., Mario is now set to outdo Nigel Mansell in the driving stakes. Check out our exclusive review and get ready for the ride of your life!
    • Rival Turf – Fightin’ and fumpin’ action as another humdinger of a scrap hits the Super NES. Are you man enough to take on half the world’s thugs in a fight to the death? Nah, didn’t think so…
    • Final Fight – Proving that the Super NES is unrivaled when it comes to coin-op conversions, Final Fight is here in all its glory. Stand aside as we show you what’s what in street fightin’ thuggery.
    • Zelda III – For those of you who prefer something a little more ‘deep’, Zelda is here to give you all sleepless nights.

    NES Reviews

    • Batman: R.O.J.
    • Battletoads
    • Blues Brothers

    Game Boy Reviews

    • Super Hunchback – An arcade classic hits the Game Boy in real style! Super Hunchback from Ocean is an all-new rendering of the ancient coin-op, packing in stacks of playability and super graphics.

    NMS Contents

    • Editorial – In which the Editor of this milestone in magazinery spouts forth on a series of topics of his choice. Excitement guaranteed in copious quantities!
    • News – Just about everything you wanted to know about the World of Nintendo is gratuitously exposed on these fine pages. Want to know about new games? Fancy boning up on all the new Nintendo hardware? Turn to these pages – NOW!
    • Super Mario Kart – It’s the hottest new game since…um, the last one, and it is completely brilliant! Super Mario Kart is the name of the game packing in all the thrills of high-speed kart racing and including all your favorite characters from the fantastic realm of Mariodom! Amazing! Check it out in this massive FIVE-PAGE review!
    • Mailbag! – It’s as sanitized as you could ever want it to be. The Mailbag, where you write in and get a gently humorous reply!
    • Q+A – Have you got a query about the zany, wacky wild world of Nintendo? Well then, put it down on a piece of paper and send it in to NMS. Jazza will examine the best letters and answer the queries contained therein on these pages!
    • Super Game Guide – Tips! Tips! Get yer tips in this massive playing tips spectacular, boasting stunning guides to The Addams Family, F-Zero and Pilotwings for the Super NES! Cosmic!
    • Beat ‘Em Up Comparison – In this topper head-to-head review, Jaleco’s Rival Turf and Capcom’s Final Fight slug it out in a battle to determine which is the best scrolling beat ’em up on the Super NES. Which of these worthy contenders wins?
    • Charts – Here at Nintendo Magazine System, we just bet you want to know which games are shifting the greatest amount of units. That’s why we’ve spent many hours putting together and then laying out these stunning lists of games. Ready yourself for excitement overload when you turn to these pages!
    • Advance Screening – We’ve got a stunning eight pages packed with massive previews on the games that matter! Check out Lethal Weapon, Drop Zone, Dinosaurs, Axelay and plenty more besides in these thrill-packed pages!
    • Game Styles – In another brand new feature, Jaz gets hold of every example of a gaming genre and reviews them all so you can compare and contrast them and choose the cart that most appeals to you. This month, he’s reviewing EVERY (and we mean every) sports game available for the NES, Super NES and Game Boy! Wow!
    • Nintendo Index System – Just about every game of true significance is reviewed on these pages, providing you with a definitive index to the software related world of Nintendo!

    …and more!


    📂This entry was posted in Game Boy Nintendo (NES) Retro Games Super Nintendo (SNES) 📎and tagged