Xbox Cheat Codes

For as long as video games have been in existence, there have been ways to get around the original programming. In the beginning, people had to make use of glitches or bugs in the programming of video games in order to manipulate scores, lives, or gameplay. Eventually, the makers of video games started including specific programming that would allow players to unlock secret content by achieving certain scores or completing in-game challenges. This unlockable content would often give players the same amount of manipulation over the game as they would have gleaned from glitches, but players were still looking for even easier shortcuts, and eventually the cheat code was born. By simply pressing a sequence of buttons, a player could very easily gain access to controls over gameplay that would allow them to do feats that were otherwise impossible within the constraints of the unmodified programming of the game. Players could become invincible, invisible, get unlimited amounts of ammunition or in-game money, etc. With cheat codes, anything was possible.

By the time Microsoft’s Xbox came onto the scene in 2001, cheat codes were being used for ports such as the PC, N64, and the Playstation. Because of the long-time existence of cheat codes, many venues could be tapped to find cheat codes for virtually any game on the Xbox. Cheat seekers could visit websites such as Cheat Code Central or Cheat Planet for user submitted cheats in addition to the cheats that had been submitted by the makers of specific games. In addition to these websites, many magazines were in existence that contained cheat codes for several platforms. In November of 2001, Official Xbox Magazine provided an Xbox-specific magazine for owners of the console seeking cheat codes, previews, and game reviews.

Unfortunately for lovers of the cheat code frenzy, many game makers have begun phasing out the use of punch-button cheat codes. With the Xbox, players could expect to find more unlockable content through achievements than through pressing a sequence of buttons. Currently, these types of codes still exist for Xbox 360 games such as Grand Theft Auto IV, however, these cheat codes are even harder to find on the 360. For extensive lists of any sort of cheat codes or extra content, visit websites such as cheatcc.com, gamesradar.com/cheats, and ign.com.