Cheat codes are individual techniques or exploits used in video games to create an advantage beyond normal gameplay, usually to make the game easier. Cheats can be activated from within the game itself, inserted by third-party software, created by external hardware, or realized by exploiting software bugs.
Definition
Cheat codes refer to the individual techniques or exploits used by players to gain an advantage beyond normal gameplay, usually in order to make the game easier. The term 'cheats' covers these specific methods when they are put into practice within a game.
How cheats are activated
Cheats may be activated from within the game itself, inserted by third-party software, or created by external hardware. They can also be realized by exploiting software bugs; whether this counts as cheating depends on whether the bug is considered common knowledge and its use as legitimate gameplay.
Impact on communities
Cheating in online games and in speedrunning is widely acknowledged as one of the most problematic issues affecting online gaming communities, erasing trust and sportsmanship between competing gamers.
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