BootlegGames Wiki
Register
No edit summary
Tags: Visual edit apiedit
No edit summary
Tag: Visual edit
(8 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Infobox game
 
{{Infobox game
|name = Game Genie
+
|name = Game Genie
|image = Image:GameGenieMenu.png|GameGenieMenu.png‎
+
|image = File:GameGenieMenu.png
 
|caption = Game Genie's menu.
|imagewidth = 250
 
 
|publisher = [[Galoob]]/[[Realtec]]
|caption = Game Genie menu
 
|publisher = [[Galoob]] / [[Realtec]]
 
 
|developer = [[Codemasters]]
 
|developer = [[Codemasters]]
|console = Famicom/NES, SNES, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Game Boy, Game Gear
+
|console = Famicom/NES, SNES, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Game Boy, Game Gear
|date = 1990}}
+
|date = 1990
  +
}}
The '''''G<span style="font-size:14px;">ame Genie</span>'''''<span style="font-size:14px;"> was an Unlicensed Video Game Enhancer developed by </span>[[Codemasters]]<span style="font-size:14px;"> and published by </span>[[Galoob]]<span style="font-size:14px;">. it was sold in the US, Canada and the UK.</span>
 
  +
The '''''Game Genie''''' was a line of cheat devices (marketed as a "video game enhancer") developed by [[Codemasters]] and published by [[Galoob]]. It was sold in the US, Canada and the UK.
   
==History==
+
== History ==
  +
The Game Genie was first invented in 1990 by game developer [[Codemasters]], and sold by Camerica in Canada and Galoob in the United States. The cartridge sits between the game console and the game itself, temporarily modifying program data at runtime allowing the player to manipulate game behavior and sometimes access unused assets and functions.
   
 
=== Legal Issues ===
The Game Genie was first invented in 1990 by game developer [[Codemasters|Codemasters.]] The design was bought by American unlicensed game publisher [[Camerica]]. The Game Genie was a new and unique accessory that allowed you to add patches as number and letter codes that overwrited the games original codes. This would allow you to use cheats or just mess about with your games. The Game Genie was planned to be released at the end of 1990.
 
  +
As with most unlicensed games and peripherals, Nintendo took umbrage at the Game Genie's release, contending that the device produced derivative works and filed a [[Wikipedia:Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. v. Nintendo of America, Inc.|lawsuit]] against Galoob for copyright infringement. Sales of the Game Genie initially stopped in the U.S., but not in Canada. In many gaming magazines of the time, Galoob placed Game Genie ads saying "Thank You Canada!".
   
  +
The trial concluded in 1991, with District Judge Fern M. Smith ruling that the Game Genie was in no way violating Nintendo's copyrights, and viewed it as being no different from "skipping portions of a book" or fast-forwarding through a purchased movie, as no derivative content was made whatsoever. Nintendo appealed the verdict to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, but lost as the Ninth Circuit affirmed the lower court's decision.
==== Legal Issues ====
 
The planned 1990 release never happened, since Nintendo heard about this and took [[Codemasters]] and [[Camerica|Camerica&nbsp;]]to court. Nintendo stated that overwriting the games original code was copyright infringement and was not allowed. Nintendo lost the case, but this meant that the Game Genie's release was delayed a year. Although [[Camerica|Camerica&nbsp;]]won the case, the delay of the Game Genie meant that they were in serious financial problems. This resulted in them selling the Game Genie rights to a small Californian company, Galoob. Due to legal issues with Nintendo, sales of the Game Genie stopped in the US. The sales then resumed in the US after the courts decided that the Game Genie did not infringe copyright or result in any derivative works.
 
   
==UK Sales==
+
== UK Sales ==
 
Galoob and Codemasters worked with toymaker Hornby Hobbies, a division of Scalextrics. Hornby managed all official sales for the Game Genie in the UK. Codemasters worked very closely with them throughout the entire life of the Game Genie.
  +
 
== Sales ==
 
The Game Genie was a huge commercial success and was very popular in North America. It sold 5 million NES Game Genies which pushed both Galoob and Codemasters safely in the video game market. Game Genie was released for many other consoles including the Game Gear, Game Boy, SNES and the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.
  +
 
== Famicom Version ==
 
A 60-pin Famicom version of the Game Genie was released under license by [[Realtec]] and was sold in Poland, South America and Taiwan, and likely other countries where 60-pin Famicom clones were common. The box art was largely unmodified from the NES version and still depicted the 72-pin Game Genie.
  +
 
== Problems ==
 
Like any cheat cartridge, it would always have code problems. Overloading a certain game with codes may cause it to crash. The Game Genie instruction manual suggests that players should try another code. The most well-known problem with the NES Game Genie is that it gradually damages the NES, putting stress on the 72-pin connector until the NES is unplayable without the Game Genie attached to the game. This means that the 72-pin connector must be replaced if this happens.
   
Galoob and [[Codemasters]] worked with toy maker Hornby Hobbies, a division of Scalextrics. Hornby managed all official sales for the Game Genie in the UK. [[Codemasters]] worked very close with them throughout the entire life of the Game Genie.
 
==Sales==
 
The Game Genie was a huge commercial success and was very popular in North America. It sold 5 million NES Game Genies which pushed both Galoob and [[Codemasters]] safely in the video game market. Game Genie was released for many other consoles including the Game Boy, SNES and the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.
 
==Famicom version==
 
A 60-pin Famicom version of the Game Genie was released under license by [[Realtec]], and was sold in Poland, South America and Taiwan, and likely other countries where 60-pin Famicom clones were common. The box art was largely unmodified from the NES version and still depicted the 72-pin Game Genie.
 
==Problems==
 
Like any Video Game Enhancer, it would always have code problems. Overloading a certain game with codes may cause it to crash. The Game Genie instruction manual suggests that you try another code. The most well known problem with the NES Game Genie is that it gradually damages your NES. It slowly bends the 72-pin connector until the NES is unplayable without the Game Genie attached to the game. This means that you must replace the 72-pin connector if this happens.
 
 
==Resurrection==
 
==Resurrection==
At CES 2012, company Hyperkin announced a resurrection of the Game Genie brand. The consoles that it is released on are the 3DS, DSi, DS, Wii, PS3 and PSP. Also, a planned release for the new Game Genie is also going to be on a new upcoming console called Save Guru.
+
At CES 2012, company Hyperkin announced a resurrection of the Game Genie brand. The consoles that it is released on are the 3DS, DSi, DS, Wii, PS3, and PSP. Also, a planned release for the new Game Genie is going to be on a new upcoming console called Save Guru.
  +
==Other Facts==
 
  +
==Trivia==
*A well known joke code for the NES Game Genie "IKAAAE" will either do small or big glitch, useless modifications to the game like glitch the sound, controls won't work or the game will just crash. It is well known due to the fact that it does the same basic thing to almost every NES game (especially Super Mario Bros).
+
*A well-known joke code for the NES Game Genie "IKAAAE" will either do small or big glitch, useless modifications to the game like glitch the sound, controls won't work or the game will just crash. It's well known since it does the same basic thing to almost every NES game (especially ''Super Mario Bros'').
 
*Typing the code "DEAD" on the Game Gear Game Genie will cause the screen to move up and down. This happens on every game which means that it is most likely an easter egg.
 
*Typing the code "DEAD" on the Game Gear Game Genie will cause the screen to move up and down. This happens on every game which means that it is most likely an easter egg.
 
*The NES emulator FCEUX, allows players to create Game Genie codes knowing what they do even if the player has no experience with cheat code programming.
 
*The NES emulator FCEUX, allows players to create Game Genie codes knowing what they do even if the player has no experience with cheat code programming.
  +
  +
== Gallery ==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
NES Game Genie.png|NES Game Genie
 
NES Game Genie.png|NES Game Genie
Line 37: Line 44:
 
SNES Game Genie.png|SNES Game Genie
 
SNES Game Genie.png|SNES Game Genie
 
PS3 Game Genie.png|PS3 Game Genie
 
PS3 Game Genie.png|PS3 Game Genie
NES Game Genie Code Input Screen.png|NES Game Genie Code Input Screen (Comes Up on Screen before the Title Screen when a Game is Booted with Game Genie)
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  +
[[Category:Games]]
  +
[[Category:Famicom/NES games]]
  +
[[Category:Codemasters]]
 
[[Category:Cheat devices]]
 
[[Category:Cheat devices]]
  +
[[Category:Add-ons]]
  +
[[Category:Hardware]]
  +
[[Category:1990 video games]]

Revision as of 22:26, 3 May 2020

The Game Genie was a line of cheat devices (marketed as a "video game enhancer") developed by Codemasters and published by Galoob. It was sold in the US, Canada and the UK.

History

The Game Genie was first invented in 1990 by game developer Codemasters, and sold by Camerica in Canada and Galoob in the United States. The cartridge sits between the game console and the game itself, temporarily modifying program data at runtime allowing the player to manipulate game behavior and sometimes access unused assets and functions.

Legal Issues

As with most unlicensed games and peripherals, Nintendo took umbrage at the Game Genie's release, contending that the device produced derivative works and filed a lawsuit against Galoob for copyright infringement. Sales of the Game Genie initially stopped in the U.S., but not in Canada. In many gaming magazines of the time, Galoob placed Game Genie ads saying "Thank You Canada!".

The trial concluded in 1991, with District Judge Fern M. Smith ruling that the Game Genie was in no way violating Nintendo's copyrights, and viewed it as being no different from "skipping portions of a book" or fast-forwarding through a purchased movie, as no derivative content was made whatsoever. Nintendo appealed the verdict to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, but lost as the Ninth Circuit affirmed the lower court's decision.

UK Sales

Galoob and Codemasters worked with toymaker Hornby Hobbies, a division of Scalextrics. Hornby managed all official sales for the Game Genie in the UK. Codemasters worked very closely with them throughout the entire life of the Game Genie.

Sales

The Game Genie was a huge commercial success and was very popular in North America. It sold 5 million NES Game Genies which pushed both Galoob and Codemasters safely in the video game market. Game Genie was released for many other consoles including the Game Gear, Game Boy, SNES and the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.

Famicom Version

A 60-pin Famicom version of the Game Genie was released under license by Realtec and was sold in Poland, South America and Taiwan, and likely other countries where 60-pin Famicom clones were common. The box art was largely unmodified from the NES version and still depicted the 72-pin Game Genie.

Problems

Like any cheat cartridge, it would always have code problems. Overloading a certain game with codes may cause it to crash. The Game Genie instruction manual suggests that players should try another code. The most well-known problem with the NES Game Genie is that it gradually damages the NES, putting stress on the 72-pin connector until the NES is unplayable without the Game Genie attached to the game. This means that the 72-pin connector must be replaced if this happens.

Resurrection

At CES 2012, company Hyperkin announced a resurrection of the Game Genie brand. The consoles that it is released on are the 3DS, DSi, DS, Wii, PS3, and PSP. Also, a planned release for the new Game Genie is going to be on a new upcoming console called Save Guru.

Trivia

  • A well-known joke code for the NES Game Genie "IKAAAE" will either do small or big glitch, useless modifications to the game like glitch the sound, controls won't work or the game will just crash. It's well known since it does the same basic thing to almost every NES game (especially Super Mario Bros).
  • Typing the code "DEAD" on the Game Gear Game Genie will cause the screen to move up and down. This happens on every game which means that it is most likely an easter egg.
  • The NES emulator FCEUX, allows players to create Game Genie codes knowing what they do even if the player has no experience with cheat code programming.

Gallery