How the Gameshark Works

back to main

What the Codes Mean: The Gameshark works by taking a memory location in the Gameboy game that stores a number, and changing that number. In a Gameshark code, the first two digits represent the memory bank (don't worry, you don't need to know what that is ). The second two digits represent the number value that should be given to the memory location, which are represented by the last four digits. The memory location is actually the last two digits, then the two digits before it. For example: if the Gameshark code is 015F2F5F then it would assign the value of 5F, to the location 5F2F in the memory bank 01.

What This Information Means: If you are wishing to play around with your Gameshark to develop new and interesting codes, an easy way to go about this is to modify existing codes that can be found on this site. This is however, dangerous and you should not do so with Pokemon if you are afraid of losing your game. Now that you know what the codes mean, it would be easier to make up your own codes. The safest method is to change the value digits (the second pair, remember?) to something different, that way you know you'll be effecting something in the game. If you change the third pair of digits to something close then you may also effect a game aspect. The first and last pair will probably not result in anything if you change them, and the first pair should not be changed. Also, if you want to understand what the numbers mean, then read the next section on hexadecimal.

Hexadecimal: In the previous sections I have told you that things like F2 or 3D2C are numbers, but if you're like most people then you probably don't think that F or C are numbers. This is true if you are using normal, decimal numbers. The Gameboy is different than normal people in that it is a computer, and really only has two numbers, 0 and 1 (this is called binary number system). The numbers used in Gameshark aren't decimal or binary, but they are called hexadecimal. Hexadecimal because each hexadecimal digit can be easily translated into four binary digits. You don't need to know this to play with your Gameshark, but you do have to know how you can take advantage of hexadecimal numbers. If you are running Windows then you should be able to run the calculator program located in your start menu. If not then use another calculator program (or an actual calculator) to do the conversions. Make sure that your Windows calculator is set in scientific mode. Now type in a number, Then click on the button for Hex. Your number has changed from a decimal number to a hexadecimal number. You can also use this to take a hexadecimal number, then set the calculator in decimal mode to find the decimal value of that hex number.
For example: enter 63 while in decimal mode, then switch to hex. If you did it right, then you will now know that the hexadecimal number is 3F.
What this means: if you wish to, for example, catch a Magikarp to level 19 so that you can evolve it into Gyarados on level 20, then you have to find out what the hex of 19 is. You can use this method and find that it is 13. Now replace the ?? with the digits 13 in the level change code and you will find a level 19 Magikarp.
click here for online hex converter!