After Game Genie went away, I couldn't get into coding for Action Replay because it was much less user friendly. These days games come out so frequently that it's difficult to keep up with all the.

Have you ever wondered why cheating and cheat codes have been such an important part of gaming for so long? Only in the past decade have we seen a lot of interest in cheating – although the motivation behinds those old cheats still lives in in surprising ways. Here’s how cheats first came to be – and why they stayed around.

Codes and Countermeasures

Cheating during a fighting game? Where’s the skill?

Why did cheat codes first become such a staple in early video games? Did developers want their players to cheat? Actually, those performed a very different, very important service: They allowed the developers to cheat.

The coding and development process, even for the first games, was an endless trial of testing, tweaking, and reviewing that had to be performed largely by hand. With this in mind, it’s easy to see why developers would want a way to, say, skip instantly between levels – or defeat a final boss in a few seconds – or run a level with infinite levels or health. This allowed them to test very specific parameters without wasting time. Even the famous Konami Code was created during a debugging phase to help save time.

Most of these “cheat” codes made it into the final versions of games because they were too much trouble to take out. It wasn’t very long until gamers realized they existed, and just how powerful those codes could be. As the early 1990s progressed, it became clear that there were two ways to beat a game – the traditional way, or by hunting down CSGO cheat codes.

Part of the Machine

For several years in the 1990s, cheats were as much a part of gameplay as…well, the actual gameplay. Many gaming magazines were sold on the strength of their promises to unveil all the latest cheats for new games. Eventually even products entirely devoted to cheating emerged, like the Game Genie cartridge. Developers started having a little fun making cheats a core part of the gaming experience.

But then something started to change – or rather, many things changed. The “cheat” industry started to become competitive and even combative for video game producers, and it became clear that cheats were compromising the quality of games and their experience. Games themselves were getting longer and more complex, and the older generation of cheat-happy developers were replaced by younger gamers who had big ideas and much less time to waste programming back doors. Finally, software had grown much more advanced and using permanent cheats in game testing was no longer necessary. The cheat code industry quickly faded.

Secrets and Selling Points

Cheats do still exist – ask any GTA fan.

Of course, cheat codes still exist in games today – just take a look at the latest GTA 5 cheats for those who truly want to go off road. But they have grown more eclectic, and the reasons for using them have changed. The traditional cheat code has been replaced by easter eggs, little secrets for devoted players to find out, often messages directly from developers – things that still add a new experience, but don’t sacrifice gameplay in today’s carefully constructed, often plot-driven games.

There are, of course, more cutthroat reasons for ditching cheat codes: Today’s publishers are focused on tapping revenue streams from DLC, and revealing cheats would undermine potential profits. In fact, some cheats focus on protecting game brands by only “unlocking” on illegal downloads and making gameplay all but impossible. Fortunately, those longing for nostalgia can always download an emulator and pop into God mode for their old games.

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It would be impossible to tell when the machine was in 'beast mode' because the OP claims that 'beast mode' only happens when there is a suspected AP at the table. I guess it's akin to VW telling its engines to run clean when it's plugged into an emissions tester. That never happens.
Does SHFL make clean machines? Absolutely. Is there source code possible to make it possible to have a 'beast mode'? Absolutely. Would SHFL make any claim that it would give operators use of that code? Never. Does it happen anyway? Who knows.
Just because casinos make 0.2% - 7% off of every hand (depending on the game) doesn't mean it's enough. For a company like CZR who is hanging on a wire, rigging a slot machine or game to go from 5% to 50% has a direct impact on its bottom line.
A year ago, I would say 'nah', impossible. But given what VW did and what online casinos are doing, and the technology behind SHFL machines now, I would say 'anything is possible'.
I'm in the camp of probably not, but certainly not impossible. If the FBI can find a hack to break into an I-Phone, someone else can find a hack to create a SHFL 'beast mode'.
Note - I am not attacking SHFL. They probably make a very clean game but it doesn't mean that it's not hackable.

I'm in the it's very doubtful camp, but, I have always rejected the... why would they risk their reputation, and they already have an edge argument. That's never stopped anyone
I just can't imagine some dealer or pit boss standing back there pushing a button every time they see an advantage player come along. They couldn't possibly keep that quiet for long, there's too many people that would have to be involved. Eventually someone would blow the whistle.
If the machine could secretly track and identify an advantage player itself perhaps it could cheat.
However, it's possible, if a team figured this out they could use this information against the house somehow.

I am not impressed with the situation in North Carolina. In setting up its gaming regulation infrastructure, I think that North Carolina has done the absolute minimum a state can do to meet the requirements of federal law. Given that the NC/EBCI Certification Commission actually did not meet for over ten years prior to 2011 and is currently composed of 3 people making $9-12K/yr and does not even have a website, I am personally not comfortable that there is effective regulation.

I love that you still keep relying on the certification commission's infrequent meetings as your reasoning for the ability for the casino to have gaffed table games equipment. The compact is very clear as to who monitors and approves this type of equipment, but you for some reason keep ignoring that fact and looping back to this. That in and of itself reinforces wizardofnothing's statements that this entire thread is one big pile of defamatory poopoo. Not just attacking SHFL, but the tribe, managing company and the government agencies as well.
Why not just call the tribal gaming commission, instead of posting here... We all know the answer to that.I dunno.
VW risked it with their diesel engine, deciding to take the risk to put in software to change emission results. When I saw that level of tom-foolery in a major global corporation, nothing surprises me especially when dealing with cash transactions and a struggling company trying to make up for their stupid mistakes.
We know some online casinos cheat, even those that have been certified.
Corporations will mislead when they can and there is someone without ethics at the helm.
It would not surprise me completely if someone found a SHFL hack and found code that deals better cards to the dealer... somehow. Given that the machine can put cards in order, it would not surprise me.
I'm not saying that any casino is doing that, just that I wouldn't be completely surprised if they did.

I dunno.
VW risked it with their diesel engine, deciding to take the risk to put in software to change emission results. When I saw that level of tom-foolery in a major global corporation, nothing surprises me especially when dealing with cash transactions and a struggling company trying to make up for their stupid mistakes.
We know some online casinos cheat, even those that have been certified.
Corporations will mislead when they can and there is someone without ethics at the helm.
It would not surprise me completely if someone found a SHFL hack and found code that deals better cards to the dealer... somehow. Given that the machine can put cards in order, it would not surprise me.
I'm not saying that any casino is doing that, just that I wouldn't be completely surprised if they did.

In several games (of course procedure differs from facility to facility) the dealer gets their cards last... For example in FL while playing UTH, the dealer gets his/her two cards last. How would the machine know how many players were sitting at the table and wait to deal the best two cards to the unknown dealer position? Also in many places the dealing order for pai gow is still determined by dice, not an RNG... How would it be possible for the machine to know who is to be dealt first and reserve the great hand for the unknown dealer?
Also, as Axel said, if it was a 'hack' that could be imputted in the event of an AP situation, it would be disgustingly obvious to anyone that they were jerry rigging the device. I have personally watched a machine get reprogrammed (not a SHFL shuffler) to deal 6 4 card packets when we installed my game at a facility. That simple task itself was a process. Imagine inputting the game genie code and then taking it out when the AP left the table...
This is just unrealistic.
To comment of the VW reference. They were eventually caught... Another fact that reinforces the question of why not write the comission and force them to investigate instead of posting on an online forum.I have played Pai Gow Poker on SM shuffler. When I play, I play two hands. I refuse to play on the game at MD Live because I am not getting what I feel to be a representative amount of wins or pushed. Are they cheating? Probably not. Can the game be considered 'slots' which will allow for the shuffler to be programed to return 91.7%. I don't see why not and in that case it can explain my losing streak.
Either way, since they do not let players bank or use the dice to decided where the starting hand is placed, I refuse to play their game.
If the cards are random, why do they use RND and not dice?
I have not heard a reasonable explanation on this.
If the 'table games' with shufflers are considered 'slots', then the casino can set the payouts as they fits. Not technically cheating but not fair either.Casinos do and have used dice- it depends on the casino, in pai gow tiles dice are almost always used....
The rng for numbers makes ZERO difference , after all- it doesn't know who is banking - it could be dealer or player so that throws that entire argument out the window

I have played Pai Gow Poker on SM shuffler. When I play, I play two hands. I refuse to play on the game at MD Live because I am not getting what I feel to be a representative amount of wins or pushed. Are they cheating? Probably not. Can the game be considered 'slots' which will allow for the shuffler to be programed to return 91.7%. I don't see why not and in that case it can explain my losing streak.
Either way, since they do not let players bank or use the dice to decided where the starting hand is placed, I refuse to play their game.
If the cards are random, why do they use RND and not dice?
I have not heard a reasonable explanation on this.
If the 'table games' with shufflers are considered 'slots', then the casino can set the payouts as they fits. Not technically cheating but not fair either.

Cheating Is Illegal Game Genie Case Study

The Xaverian Brothers at Mt St Joe want your diploma returned immediately !

If the 'table games' with shufflers are considered 'slots', then the casino can set the payouts as they fits. Not technically cheating but not fair either.

There are a few misconceptions here. First, it's generally the case that table games using physical cards and shufflers are taxed as table games rather than slots. It's the e-tables with digital cards that fall under the slot treatment, and that's usually only important from a tax standpoint (e.g., in Pennsylvania, slots are taxed about 3x the rate of table games).
Moreover, the casino can always set the payouts as they see fit. Going from 3-2 to 6-5 on naturals, or paying 30-to-1 vs. 30-for-1 on the boxcars bet, is 'setting the payout'. What I think you mean is 'changing the probabilities,' that is, the odds of the cards themselves. To my knowledge there are no jurisdictions anywhere that permit a game to be dealt from a 52-card deck where the probabilities of each card are not 1/52, at least not without disclosing that rule to the players so the math can be verified. In fact, most jurisdictions require that every game combination possibility be equally likely.
And to the extent that a jurisdiction requires those rules, it would indeed be cheating there to operate the game to the contrary. Cheating in Nevada includes altering the 'method of selection' that determines the result or frequency of payout in the game. Secretly using the shuffler to bias the card selection would definitely qualify.

I'm in the it's very doubtful camp, but, I have always rejected the... why would they risk their reputation, and they already have an edge argument. That's never stopped anyone

Been cheated more than once in one particular run at a blackjack table. Culminated when the dealer refused to follow my hand gestures at all, just dealt past me. I sued, and won some money in civil court.
It's as easy to get away with (in the long-run) as mocking, banning, and later making up stuff about posters who posted up unfavorable facts about a forum and its creators/sponsors. The herd mentality, I suppose, in the sense that people actually do it. Mob mentality.
When I see threads like this, and the same old rut of 'why would they do that' responses, I have to shake my head and laugh. Some guys go on and on with all sorts of logic to back up casino innocence. Lol.
I guess that if I'm typing nonsense, then you guys really are right. (ME's m.o.)

To my knowledge there are no jurisdictions anywhere that permit a game to be dealt from a 52-card deck where the probabilities of each card are not 1/52, at least not without disclosing that rule to the players so the math can be verified.

Cheating Is Illegal Game Genie Cases

New York State's Class II slots include Video Poker where the payouts from the cards are well over 100% but the cards are not dealt at random, at all. It's deceptive if you don't know this, and there is nowhere on the VP machine itself where this is indicated.
Nonetheless, in games where the dealer gets dealt last it would be extremely difficult for a beast mode, and that includes PGP where the deal number is separated from the cards.