Cheating has existed in every medium of gameplay since the dawn of time, and video games are no exception. It’s human nature to want to achieve more by doing less, so why not take a shortcut or two? I’ve walked through walls, enjoyed limitless ammunition, been privileged to invincibility, and even skipped a few levels from time to time in my video game history, all of which were outside the standard practices of whichever game I was playing at the time. It seemed harmless enough back in the early days of gaming, but in this generation, people are investing more time and money than ever in their games. Being a gamer isn’t just a hobby anymore; it’s a way of life, and many tend to take it very seriously. Just like with any competitive or challenging activity, there are always going to be some people who will break the rules to come out on top. Defining cheating in the video game industry isn’t precise. Some people say that even using strategy guides, which don’t play the game for you but merely point you in the right direction, make you a cheater. After all, you’re supposed to figure it out for yourself, aren’t you? How about looking at the other person’s screen when you’re playing a first person shooter (like Halo, for example) on split-screen to find his location, or the Madden “paddle-peekers” who sneak a look at your controller to see what plays you’re going to call next? If those actions are considered questionable, than using in-game cheats (like certain button combinations in the Grand Theft Auto games) to get extra weapons or health are surely outside the boundaries of fair gameplay. But if that’s the case, then why did the developers include them in the first place? And let’s not forget that breaking the rules is not always limited to the software you’re given. External devices, like the Game Shark or the Action Replay, have been in existence for years to give gamers that extra edge. Most recently, the Action Replay for the Nintendo DS has been flying off the shelves as gamers try to catch ’em all in Pokemon Diamond or Pearl. However, as these devices are unlicensed, using them can cause damage (sometimes irreversible) to the game, memory storage unit, or even the system itself. Why would gamers put themselves at such a risk? Why not just play the game the way it’s meant to be played? Perhaps this issue would not be as serious if it was confined to your own enjoyment of the video game, but an era of monthly fees and MMORPGs, there could be a lot more at stake if you decide to bend the rules. Cheaters on Xbox Live can ruin the experience for a large group of people, and they pay a dear price: Microsoft bans cheaters from Xbox Live, and if they want to go back on, they’ll have to buy another system. Those who take the easy road in online life-simulators like World of Warcraft also violate the game’s terms of service, but the monetary benefits may be worth it; people have been known to sell their in-game homes, characters, or even currency for actual money, so if one were to, say, figure out a way to play WoW in God Mode, he or she could make a nice little profit out of it. No matter what degree of cheating occurs in video games (or any game, for that matter), it’s safe to say that it can cheapen the experience for everyone involved. Winning usually isn’t as sweet when you know you didn’t do it on your own. Video games were made to be challenging, so perhaps it’s better to just leave them as they are and beat them the hard way.