Why Your Cheat Codes Aren't Working: Troubleshooting Guide

To diagnose, I need:

1. Game Title & Platform (e.g., GTA San Andreas PS2).
2. Exact Code(s) entered.
3. Source (website, book, Action Replay disc, GameShark, trainer EXE).
4. Method (in-game menu, AR device, emulator cheat menu, trainer).
5. Result (nothing, "invalid," crash, freeze, wrong effect).

Top Failure Reasons

• Region Mismatch: NTSC-U / PAL / NTSC-J codes differ.
• Game Version: v1.0 vs v1.1 vs Greatest Hits / Platinum / Player's Choice.
• Missing Master Code: Many AR/GS codes require a "Master Code (M)" enabled first.
• Input Error: Case sensitivity, O vs 0, I vs 1, missing dashes/spaces.
• Patch / Update: Game patch disabled the code address.
• Emulator Settings: Cheats disabled in core options; wrong format (RAW vs AR vs GS vs CB).
• Hardware Fault: Dirty cartridge contacts, failing AR/GS dongle.

Reply with the 5 details above for a targeted fix.