Cheat codes in computer and video games have a long history. Practically from the first days, computer games, cheats were imbedded to make thorough play testing easier for game developers. One early code for the game Manic Miner was actually the game maker’s phone number. Game makers did not bother removing the cheats and gamers embraced them. Like hidden bonus tracks on CDs and special features on DVD’s, they became expected. Whether for personal computer, gaming console, or handheld game system, only infrequently is there a game without cheats included.

Cheat codes have given birth to a mini industry of their own. Now there are cheat books, cartridges, magazines, and websites. As soon as young players learn to read they’re searching for cheat code books at the school Book Fair and local game stores. Scraps of paper with codes copied on them litter their desks. Whether you’re five or fifty, if you have limited playing time, you want to make the most of what you’ve got. Game cheats let you move ahead steadily, skip levels, and when game stoppage occurs, instead of throwing the controller across the room in anger you can often use a code to bypass the difficulty. Cheat codes are awesome that way.

Some games are so tough they’re impossible to get through unless you resort to using cheat codes. Sometimes codes are imbedded into a game for just that reason-testers found them too hard to play. Lots of gamers say cheat codes add extra replay value to a game. You can try replay a game you’ve already beaten and find new stuff hidden in it, change your characters, and make replay a whole new experience.

Using game cheats is too much fun not to take advantage of them. Even though the word “cheat” makes it sound wrong, it’s not. Besides, where games have high scorers gamers with game cheats activated are usually discounted in the final count anyway. Mostly, people just use cheats to up the excitement.