Professional Documents
Culture Documents
245)
SECTIONS
-======-
Simple
1. Basic Instructions on enabling cheats in MAME
2. Cheat Description Meanings
3. Cheat Ordering
Advanced
4. **N/A** Cheat Format Information **N/A**
Credits/Lists
5. General Credits
6. Games utilising ROM cheats with credits (NO LONGER UPDATED - new ROM cheat
credits will be given in the XML)
7. Games utilising EEPROM/Mapped Memory cheats with credits
8. Games utilising Forced Range cheats with credits
9. Games utilising Dynamic (Relative Addressing) cheats with credits
10. **N/A** Games which may use the same cheats **N/A**
11. Games which currently have no cheats with reason
Work to be done
12. General list of work to be done
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 1 Basic Instructions on enabling cheats in MAME
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: Since the MAME 0.147 cheat collection release the cheat.zip has been
replaced with cheat.7z so you should move or delete the cheat.zip file
from your MAME directory.
First of all do NOT unpack the cheat.7z file - it will work just fine as a 7z,
it contains over 172,000 xml/json files so unpacking it is not advised.
First of all unzip or copy the cheat.7z file into the same directory
that contains MAME EXE File. (All platforms apart from Mac OS 9/X ).
For MAME OS X (not SDLMAME OSX!) the cheat.7z file should be in:-
${HOME}/Library/Application Support/MAME OS X
As standard the MAME Cheat Engine is turned OFF, there are several ways of
turning it ON depending on which platform you are running MAME on.
MAME: This is the standard MAME command line compile, go to your MAME
directory open up the MAME.INI file with a text editor (the one you
are using to read this will probably do!).
Find '### Mame CORE misc options ###' and change 'cheat 0' to
'cheat 1'. If you have no INI file then just start MAME from the
command-line with the -createconfig option eg. 'MAME -createconfig'.
If you manually use MAME every time from the command-line you can also
just add '-cheat' to the command line.
MAMEUI: This is the MAME with build in frontend compile for Windows. Go to
the Options Menu, and select "Default Options". Go to the
Miscellaneous tab and check the box that says "Enable Game Cheats".
UNIX/LINUX : Go to your MAME directory open up the MAME.CFG file with a text
editor (the one you are using to read this will probably do!).
Find 'cheat off' and change it to 'cheat on'. If you have no
CFG file then just start MAME from the command-line with the
-createconfig option eg. 'MAME -createconfig'. If you manually
use MAME every time from the command-line you can also just add
'-cheat' to the command-line.
MAC: From the front-end, go to the Misc tab, and check the box that says
"Allow Cheats" or "Enable Cheats".
Step 3 (Cheat!)
===============
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 2 Cheat Description Meanings
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Always means the cheat is permanent, ideal for always having a certain
weapon or feature eg always have 3 rainbows on Rainbow Islands.
Infinite means exactly what it says - you will have an inexhaustible supply of
the named item be it lives, time, ammo or something else. On some
rare occasions you may need to deactivate the cheat before you can
finish a level, if this need to be done you will see F6 at the end
of the cheat description.
Select current level - Select a level and you can progress to it by losing a
life. You should only activate this type of cheat
during game play or according to the comments.
Select next level - Select a level and when you complete the current level you
will progress straight to the selected level. You can also
activate this on the title/attract screens though the
effects cannot always be guaranteed! (you will either
start on the selected level or the next level after the
selected one or level 1).
Select Starting Level - this should be the default, and will gradually replace
the above two types
Select Score - This cheat allows you to select your score or/and the other
player's score, ideal for sports games where you need a certain
score to win and/or progress. It must ONLY be activated during
game play. Also note the score may not display correctly until
the score has changed properly!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 3 Cheat Ordering
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is how I order the cheats - I try and stick to it as often as I can.
Some games don't conform to this standard either because it's better as is or
the cheats were done a while ago and I haven't changed them. DO NOT report any
games that don't follow this standard - it's pretty low on the list of
priorities right now.
Section 1 contains all the cheats valid for all players. Infinite Credits will
come first normally.
Section 3 contains cheats that are hard to button-hole and have fairly obscure
effects on the game that only the die-hard player of that game may really want.
These sort of cheats can often be merged into section 2, though in some
circumstances the sheer number of these cheats will seriously clutter out the
normal everyday cheats (section 2). In that case they should be separated into
another section and the P1 / P2 separation in that section should be maintained
if possible.
Section 4 contains any none cheat related things. Eg. Sound test timer and region
switch codes.
WHAT'S IN EACH SECTION
----------------------
Infinite Credits
Infinite Time (if 'Finish this Round Now!' is worthwhile it should
directly follow this cheat)
Infinite Lives
Infinite Energy (if 'Drain all Energy Now!' is worthwhile it should
directly follow this cheat)
Infinite Ammo
Infinite Bombs
Invincibility (if Invincibility doesn't turn off after a short while of
disabling it then there should be separate 'ON' and 'OFF'
cheats)
Always have this weapon
Get this weapon Now!
Play with this character Now!
Select starting level
Select current level
Select next level
SPACING/BLANK COMMENTS
----------------------
Blank Comment cheats should be added to improve the readability of the cheats
in the cheat engine were appropriate.
There should be a blank after section 1 if section 2 has 3 or more cheat entries
for each player OR if section 1 has itself got three or more cheat entries.
If there are 3 or more cheat entries for each player in section 2 then the
entries for each player should be separated with a blank comment.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 4 Cheat Format Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The cheat engine has been radically changed, the cheat format that was here is
no longer applicable. Information about the new format may follow some time in
the future.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 5 General Credits
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following people have contributed cheats to this cheat file since it's
first release in early 1998. By contributing I mean they have either emailed
me the cheats or have posted cheats on the cheat forums or have even just
pointed out errors with the cheat file. The names are sorted alphabetically
by first name, I prefer real names but aliases are included:
Abystus,
Andrea Q (aka asper),
Andresb,
Angel L. Fradejas,
AnimaInCorpore,
Ben Jos Walbeehm,
Bortus,
C-TYPE,
Cal,
Chris Aruffo,
Chris Henry,
Chuck Livingston,
Coyotepaw,
CyberTaco,
Daniel Clegg,
Daniel Donoghue,
Darkfantager,
DarthMarino,
Dave Haywood (aka Haze),
David Jumper,
Deb,
Deckrine,
Don Hodges (aka PhantomDJ),
Doug Works,
Dude,
Eli Flores,
EmuZoneAD,
Eric King,
F. D. Vorck,
Federico Stein,
Felipe de Almeida Leme,
FerJoe,
Filipe de V. Estima (aka Bugfinder),
Franck Charron,
Freegamer,
From A Distance,
Gmitra,
Heihachi_73,
Heiko Herold (aka Hman),
Heisanevilgenius,
INVorig,
Iain Odlin,
Ian Patterson (a programmer of an earlier MAME Cheat Engine iteration),
ImGaryTorres,
JCK of the Ultimate Patchers (lots and lots....possible alter-ego of Steph),
Jaguar,
James Henstridge,
Jamey Pittman (aka jpittman),
Jamie,
Jeff Gerstmann (aka Gleemonex),
Joe Ho,
John Sensebe,
Jon Attree,
Jon Colverson,
Jos' Miguel Aunin Juan,
Joseph Rard,
Jym,
Kelvin Chung (aka kelvSYC) {he likes his fighters far too much to be healthy! ;-
P },
Ken Lui,
Kenshiroh,
Kevin Butler,
Kim Scarborough,
KiwI_SLT,
Kralicek,
Kranser,
Laurence Pittenger,
Leo,
Lloyd Hannesson,
Lone Soldier,
Luca G. Nieddu,
Luigi,
Lurendrejer,
Lysanth,
M'Lord Sandwich,
M.A.S.H. (Multiple Arcade Special Helper) alias Xgebken,
MRG,
MRMIdAS,
Mac Lak (neogeo cheats and author of the defunct CheckCDB cheat checker),
Marc Lafontaine (the programmer of the original MAME cheat engine)
Marc Sira,
Marceau Mallard,
Marcovich,
Martin Fernandez,
Martin Pugh ( aka Pugsy, you wouldn't believe how MANY cheats this bloke has
found!!! - oh that's me! ;-) ),
Maurizio Zanello,
Michael Horton (alias Just Michael),
Michel Colman,
Mike Haggar (he of the FinalBurn & Nebula cheat files)
Mohsin,
MomoneDk,
Nate,
Nathan Duran,
Nathaniel Fedewa,
Neorage,
NotAGoodName,
PAC-MAD/Doctor Flip of the Ultimate Patchers,
Pablo Fernandez (AKA Darksoft),
Paul Priest (aka Tourniquet),
Paul Slabowski,
Paulo Cordeiro,
Pon,
RON024,
Radiohead,
Red,
RedBeam,
Riaan Prinsloo,
Robert J Baker,
Robert MacCarthy (aka Crashtest),
Rodney Norton (aka Slade),
RyogaMasaki,
SFJake,
SSJVegeta (aka Eiji),
Santeri Saarimaa,
Scott Tunstall,
Seeker2002,
Sgt Capcom,
ShimaPong aka 'The Destroyer of the cheat.dat Cheat Engine',
Shun,
Southpaw,
Steph Humbert of the Ultimate Patchers (lots and lots),
Sum,
T L Hawkins,
TabihitoGaiden,
Tafoid (lots of "Sound Test" cheats and XML cheat loading tests between releases),
Taucher0815,
Techno_Vamp,
Tetrisguy,
The Gizmo,
The Rabbit,
The StarCreator,
The tECHIDNA,
Thierry Jaboeuf,
Thorwak,
Tom,
Tyler Weems,
Udirnel,
Valentino Georgiou,
Vas Crabb (aka cuavas),
VisitntX,
Voodoo666,
Walk,
Wayder,
Whipon,
Who Wants to Know?,
WhosAsking,
WunderEnrique,
Xavier,
YMI,
Yip Ho Fan,
Yuuki-chan,
Zakriya Aleem (aka zakria),
Zan Hsieh,
Zanic.
andrewrae,
aycaramba,
d9x,
dink,
dragon2snow,
dranore,
drivium,
einstein95,
enaitzjga,
hap,
invincibility,
jAsOn,
jdurgi,
megaman_exe,
mike myers,
nolberto82,
nyc7398,
pac_man_fan2,
pasky13,
rabbyzero,
syndromtr,
tehdrewsus,
ugetab (R.I.P. July 2010),
walterh78
If I've missed anybody out or if you are included twice (real name and alias)
then please let me know. You could even send some cheats along with the info,
I haven't heard from some of you for ages!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 6 Games utilising ROM cheats with credits (NO LONGER UPDATED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Games utilising ROM cheats, where the cheat actually changes the program code
rather than the game data. Individual credits will be given due to the extra
work and skill - though only for cheats where RAM cheats are either not
possible or buggy! Sometimes it is actually a LOT quicker to make a ROM hack
than find a RAM cheat.
UPDATE: As of the MAME 0.245 cheat collection release this list will no longer be
maintained. For some time any Program Code cheats from other cheat finders
(ie not mine - Pugsy) have been directly identified with the original author
nickname in the individual XMLs.
Examples:-
<!-- This ROM cheat was made by Username -->
<!-- This Program Code cheat was made by Username -->
This list will remain until any credits below have been rolled into the XML files,
however this is low on my list of priorities so expect this list to stay static
for years to come.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 7 Games utilising EEPROM/Mapped Memory cheats with credits
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a list of games that currently make use of cheats that poke direct to
mapped memory or EEPROM. Generally these cheats are to reveal game functions
such as hidden game characters. Note: If the mapped memory being poked is
actually program code it is classed as a ROM cheat!
EEPROM
gunbird2 [Unlock Aine] (Found by Tourniquet) { CODE HAS BEEN REMOVED POST MAME
0.175 :( }
s1945iii [Unlock X-36] (Found by Tourniquet) { CODE HAS BEEN REMOVED POST MAME
0.175 :( }
sailormn/sailormno [REGION] (Found by either sum or zanhsieh - REPLACED WITH
STANDARD CHEATS 0.126)
sfa3/sfa3h/sfa3b/sfa3u/sfa3ur1/sfz3a/sfz3ar1/sfz3j/sfz3jr1/sfz3jr2 [Colour Unlock]
(Found by RedBeam & fixed by NotAGoodName)
Mapped Memory
sb2003 + sb2003a [EEPROM region] (Found by unknown)
mk3 + clones [Unlock Smoke] (Found by Tourniquet) [CHEAT DISABLED - NO LONGER
WORKS, replaced with alternative character cheat]
umk3 + clones [Unlock Secret Chars] (Found by Tourniquet) [CHEAT DISABLED - NO
LONGER WORKS, replaced with alternative character cheat]
kof99 + clones [Unlock Secret Chars] (Found by unknown) [CHEAT DISABLED - NO LONGER
WORKS, replaced with enable character cheat]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 8 Games utilising Forced Range cheats with credits
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a list of the games currently make use of the force range type cheat as
added in the new cheat engine. It basically allows you to take a location and
make sure that the value stays within a range of values. An example is Arkanoid
where by finding the Y pos of the ball sprite we can ensure by a simple cheat
that the ball never leaves the playing area as soon as it attempts to we poke
the location with a value which will effectively push the ball up a bit so that
you can have another go at hitting the ball. They will hopefully used more in
future as people understand them.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 9 Games utilising Dynamic (Relative Addressing) cheats with credits
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a list of games that currently use 'dynamic' cheats. Dynamic cheats
are basically just relative addressed cheats. The problem with some games when
you do a cheat search is that you can easily find for example the energy
location and poking it will seem to work fine, but if you advance a level you
will find that the cheat no longer works. In fact the next time you play the
level you found the cheat for you will probably find that the cheat doesn't
work there either. Again this list is sorted in the order that cheats were
added (oldest cheats first).
This section has been removed, it was work for work sake and only really useful
for myself (Pugsy). Due to new methods it no longer has any relevance for me.
I've dropped it from MAME 0.245 onwards.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 11 Games which currently have no cheats with reason
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following games do not yet have cheats (Infinite Credits does NOT count as
a proper cheat) for at least one of the following reasons (not all reasons will be
used at any one time):-
1. The game has not yet been properly emulated by MAME or it crashes when
I try to play it :-(. Some games which are broken still have cheats -
however, if it's NOT properly emulated and no good cheats could be found
then reason 1 will be quoted over all other reasons (apart from 3 & 6).
I also use this reason if I can't figure out the control method or it's
too awkward for me to waste time figuring out. There are LOTs of 'reason 1'
and they will not get checked again till they get reported as working.
2. I don't know what cheats to find as the game is hard to understand and is
perhaps in a another tongue - eg Japanese (not including Mahjong games though).
Or the the game doesn't appear suitable for cheat finding.
4. I've got cheat(s) for the game but I haven't had chance to test them or redo
the cheat description(s).
5. The game was added or fixed in one of the last versions and I haven't had
chance
to find any cheats yet. If there is no reason quoted, then it is for this
reason.
7. I've had a quick look at this game and it seems suitable for cheat finding,
there's maybe RAM set up, although RAM banking may make RAM searching
impossible.
but even a simple search for an Infinite Lives cheat
didn't turn up any cheats after whittling down the locations.... These can
be taken as a challenge!!!
8. Although it is possible to find cheats for this game, unfortunately the cheats
are not constant. IE The next time you load the game (or even reset it) the
cheat locations will have changed. This effects a LOT of games, occasionally it
is possible to find the odd cheat though as some locations maybe constant. This
dynamic memory location problem is quite prevalent in neo-geo fighter games -
and
there maybe some cheats in the cheat file that don't work and this will be the
most
likely cause. Relative Address (dynamic memory) Cheats can be often be found
for
these but it involves a bit more time to find them, this has been put on the
backburner.
9. This game hasn't got any cheats, however there is a clone or parent of this
game
which has cheats. It may just need a straight copy of the cheats.
10. Nobody has submitted any cheats for this game and I am so sick and tired of
this
genre I can't motivate myself to find any cheats for this game. However, I
would expect it to be any easy game to find cheats for and you only have to
look
at games of the same genre to find out which cheats can be found (eg. for
baseball
games look at another baseball game).
11. I haven't had chance to look at the game for one reason or another -
A COP OUT! ;-) I may have had a look at the game in the past but I can't
remember - I will use this reason in that case too. I'll only use this reason
if none of the other reasons fit. Expect to see this reason a lot if the cheat
file doesn't get updated often enough.
12. This game requires a large chd (eg. Dragon's Lair which requires a massive
lossless chd
conversion of the laserdisc). The game may or may not work but the size of the
chd is a
massive hindrance - the availability & obtain-ability may also be an issue. BUT
PLEASE
DON'T POST/EMAIL ANY LINKS TO ANY OF THE FILES - if you have all the files
required and
the game works and you want to help then please find the cheats and post them
on the
cheat forums.
13. This is a mechanical game (eg pinball), cheats may be added for some of these
in future
releases if they prove to be suitable.
14. This non-arcade system has been added during the amalgamation of MESS into
MAME. If the
system has games included in the softwarelist then cheats may well appear in
the future.
Currently there are a few issues that preclude cheat functionality for this
system.
******************************************************************************
* ALL CHEATS REQUIRED GAMES LIST WAS LAST UPDATED ON 09 JULY 2022 *
* Note: This no longer lists reason 6 + 13 games as there are now too many *
* and it easily triples the size of this file with little benefit *
******************************************************************************
Overall:-
----------
Fix any flickering invincibility cheats to stop the flickering using ROM cheats [AS
AND WHEN]
Convert single byte multi-part cheats to poke 2,4 bytes [AS AND WHEN]
Convert cheats that are poking the same location into list cheats + poss. dropping
Now! duplicated cheats [AS AND WHEN]
Reduce number of <action>s in Mahjong cheats with one base address - see mhgaiden
as an example [AS AND WHEN]