Video game question.

[TheGoofster]

When you play video games do you ever use cheat codes (either from a book or from a web site)?
My son has a bunch of games for his Gamecube, and whenever he gets stuck he always asks me to go on line and find the answer for him - to which I almost always reply "No Way, figure it out yourself".
Not too long ago, there were no such things as cheat codes on-line (there were a few expensive books, but that was about all), now it seems that every single game has either a cheat code or secret tips. Personally I like to beat the game without any help.

 

[Beth76]

It's a game and he's not playing for money. I don't really see how it's actually cheating.

 

[salmoneous]

But many games from today are built from the ground up knowing there will be easily found cheat codes. When "figure it out yourself" means - try 200 random things hoping one of them is the right move, the game is no longer fun.

I don't use cheat codes or solutions often, but sometimes they are necessary to keep the game fun.

 

[snowman]

DNephew loves cheat codes - I'm the one who introduced him to them (mostly to unlock hidden levels, etc). But, nobody would read them to him so he pushed himself to learn to read better so he could cheat....fair trade in my opinion.

For myself, on the other hand, I'm not big on cheat codes but I do partake of walk-thrus for help when I get stuck and just need to know where to go from here or how to beat the Big Baddy. Of course when we played Myst there is no way we could have gotten thru it without the walkthru....it would have landed in the trash.

YMMV

 

[TheGoofster]

It's a game and he's not playing for money. I don't really see how it's actually cheating.

They are called cheat codes. Don't look at me, I didn't make the name up.
The problem I have with them is that it makes things to easy. Even though it is not for money or any other such thing, by figuring a puzzle or problem out by himself he not only gains a little more confidence, I think it also helps him get a little bit smarter. For example, he gets stuck in a maze, so he asks me to go on-line and find out where the exit is. I could do that, and he could easily get out, OR, I could tell him to try harder and find it on his own. So he spends a little more time trying, and guess what - he finds it. Now he feels better about himself, and better about the game. He's happy, I'm happy, All God's children are now happy because he didn't use a cheat code.

 

[cardaway]

I don't like to use them. I feel like I'm missing out on something if I don't play it without any help. There have been times when I really couldn't get any further though without them, and I would definately be missing out if I didn't see the end of the game.

Usually it's to beat "the big boss" in games where basically you know how to win, you just can't hit buttons enough to beat it and get to the next level.

My wife gets around this by just giving the game to one of the kids and let them do that part.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

They are called cheat codes. Don't look at me, I didn't make the name up.
The problem I have with them is that it makes things to easy. Even though it is not for money or any other such thing, by figuring a puzzle or problem out by himself he not only gains a little more confidence, I think it also helps him get a little bit smarter. For example, he gets stuck in a maze, so he asks me to go on-line and find out where the exit is. I could do that, and he could easily get out, OR, I could tell him to try harder and find it on his own. So he spends a little more time trying, and guess what - he finds it. Now he feels better about himself, and better about the game. He's happy, I'm happy, All God's children are now happy because he didn't use a cheat code.

If he's stuck in a maze and he wants the exit, he's asking for a walkthru and not a cheat code.

 

[TheGoofster]

But many games from today are built from the ground up knowing there will be easily found cheat codes. When "figure it out yourself" means - try 200 random things hoping one of them is the right move, the game is no longer fun.

I don't use cheat codes or solutions often, but sometimes they are necessary to keep the game fun.

I agree that there are some games that are enhanced by using a cheat code or secret code, but I believe that most games are still designed to be beaten without any help.
Now, after he beats a game, I have no problem of going on-line and finding out new things that might make a second run through more enjoyable. But I really do think that the first time should be done (as much as possible) without any help.
IF there is a game where he has tried everything he can (I almost always watch what he plays, so I usually know) and he still can't find the answer, I might go and check on-line for the answer, and then come back and give him a clue as to what to look for, but even that is not usually necessary.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I was actually just thinking about this recently, as I've wanted to pull out my Myst and Riven games. I did buy the books for them, as I had a couple of times where I got stuck. I'm talking stuck for several weeks, though, before I finally went looking for a hint.

 

[TheGoofster]

If he's stuck in a maze and he wants the exit, he's asking for a walkthru and not a cheat code.

Yeah, you're right. I should have clarified between walkthough and cheat code.
A walkthrough helps you figure out what to do next
A cheat code changes the game in your favor. (like become indestructable)

Either way, I still don't usually go on-line for help, unless absolutely necessary.

 

[Colorado Mom]

My wife gets around this by just giving the game to one of the kids and let them do that part.

This is totally my stratagy!!!!!

We do use cheat codes and I will help find them at times. For us it's more the hidden levels and secrets of the games we want. Often I will just print it out and they have to read it, great way to get them to read.

 

[cardaway]

I do agree it's better to call them hints in some cases.

For adventure games we have used them in the past and there is even a great site (www.uhs-hints.com) that will give you subtle hints so you can still figure out most of it yourself. On some of these games you simply need somebody to give you an idea where to look. And in some cases, it's not you, it's basically poor game design.

 

[Beth76]

Some of these things could drive you crazy trying to figure them out. I'd much rather give my kid a cheat code than to have him throw the controller at the tv in frustration.

ETA: ...as a last resort. I do try to make my son figure it out on his own first.

 

[salmoneous]

For adventure games we have used them in the past and there is even a great site (www.uhs-hints.com) that will give you subtle hints so you can still figure out most of it yourself.

Holy 1990's Batman.

Wow, haven't seen a reference to UHS in a loooong time. Hmmm, now I'm tempted to break out one of my Monkey Island games and give it another go.

 

[yeartolate]

My son uses them occasionally...but not to cheat per se....some of the codes allow you to do some hysterical things. I remember the kids howling over the lego star wars cheats (something with funky blasters and moustaches)

 

[Blue Skies]

My DH used cheat codes all the time.

My DS and I have been home sick... and yesterday he played my DH's PSP Pirates of the Caribbean game -- and he won the hole game on his own!

DS didn't give up when he was having difficulty with the game - and the victory was more sweet as a result! My DS has been having a good time rubbing it in with DH that he won Dad's game (and DH has been stuck on a level for a while).

 

[cardaway]

Holy 1990's Batman.

Wow, haven't seen a reference to UHS in a loooong time. Hmmm, now I'm tempted to break out one of my Monkey Island games and give it another go.

That woudl be one of the games we needed hints on. One of the items was simply really hard to see.

And I believe there was a Monkey Island game made in the last few years and they were all great. In fact I just found out there was recently a new Sam and Max game. Guess what I'm looking for next time I'm in a store that carries games.

 

[disneysnowflake]

We bought a Gameshark several years back.
We wanted it to be able to get Pokemon we couldn't normally get after they beat the game. I believe there were a couple of Pokemon you could only get by attending certain Pokemon events.
You put the Gameshark into your Gameboy, then put in the code.

Well, that was a disaster.

While the codes did work to get some of the rare ones and even ones in nifty colors, the Gameshark messed up the entire game. They lost all the work they spent a month working on.

Usually you'd have to ride a water type Pokemon on water to travel. Well, the water type Pokemon rode around on the ground instead. You couldn't use your bicycle anymore on the game, either. You had to walk. Then it just restarted the entire game.

That was a waste of $30, and we've never tried anything else like that again.

I'm all for walkthrus and guide books. We own all the Pokemon guide books and the Animal Crossing guides. I don't trust cheat codes anymore.

Oh, and my oldest son found a code for Roller Coaster Tycoon to have endless money. He thought it was cool at first until he realize that he lost the fun of winning the game if he used it.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

When all else fails do cheat codes come out

 

[cybrkitn]

DS4 doesn't even know what cheat codes are ! But he is darn good at playing his Nintendo DS and Super Mario Bros. He gets very excited when he wins or figures something out.

I've even started playing Super Mario Bros on the NDS b/c I remember playing the original game on the old NES when it first came out (and I remember that there were hidden areas to be found). Back then we used the old Nintendo Power or calling the Nintendo hot line for help when we were stuck. Even then the hot line ops wouldn't give you the answer straight out, they would give you hints so that you could figure it out.

Cheat codes are too easy unless you are absolutely stuck. DH had to go online for help defeating an enemy in his PS's Final Fantasy X game. But that was only after several attempts (even days) of trying on his own.