What Are Peeks & Pokes on CheatMSX and How Do You Use Them?

Updated

A peek reads a value from a specific memory address, and a poke writes a value to one. On CheatMSX, the Peeks & Pokes section is a small, separate collection (the site's statistics list 7 entries) of raw memory addresses and values for MSX games, distinct from the much larger Emulator Cheats collection (364 entries). You use them by entering the address and value into your MSX emulator's memory editor or debugger while the game is running, then verifying the effect in-game.

Peek vs. poke: the core distinction

Term Action Direction Typical use
Peek Read the byte at an address Memory → you Inspect a value (lives, score, timer) before changing it
Poke Write a byte to an address You → memory Force a value (e.g., set lives to 9)

A peek tells you what is currently stored; a poke changes it. In practice you peek first to confirm an address holds what you expect, then poke to alter it. Poking blind is the most common reason a listed value appears to do nothing.

How peeks and pokes differ from emulator cheats

Emulator cheats are usually applied through a cheat engine or a cheat file that the emulator loads and manages for you — you toggle a named cheat on or off. Peeks and pokes are lower-level: you supply the raw address and value yourself through the emulator's memory tools. That makes them more flexible (any address, any value, no pre-built cheat file needed) but also less forgiving, since nothing validates the address for you. CheatMSX keeps them in separate sections, which reflects that difference in workflow.

Finding the Peeks & Pokes section on CheatMSX

The site organizes content by type, and the statistics panel lists "Peeks & Pokes" alongside Emulator Cheats, Cheats, Maps, Manuals, Walkthroughs, IPS Patches, and Online Password Generators. Navigate to that section from the site's content categories to see the available entries. Because the collection is small, treat it as a supplement to the larger Emulator Cheats set rather than a primary source — if a game you want isn't covered there, check the Emulator Cheats section first.

Applying a peek or poke while playing

The general workflow, which works in most MSX emulators that expose a memory editor or debugger:

  1. Load the game and get to a state where the value you want to change is visible or known (e.g., you can see your life count).
  2. Open the emulator's memory editor / debugger. The exact menu name varies by emulator; look for "Memory," "Debugger," or "Cheat" tools.
  3. Peek the address from the CheatMSX entry. Confirm the byte matches what the entry or your in-game value suggests. If it doesn't match, the address may be for a different game version or a different memory state.
  4. Poke the new value into that address.
  5. Return to the game and verify. The change should appear immediately for values the game reads each frame; some values are only read at specific moments (level load, menu open), so you may need to trigger that moment.

Expected result: the in-game value reflects what you poked. If nothing changes, re-peek the address — many games overwrite a value on the next frame, which means the poke needs to be repeated or the address is a copy rather than the live one.

Common pitfalls

  • Wrong address for your version. Different regional or revision releases of the same MSX game can store values at different addresses. A poke that works on one dump may do nothing on another.
  • Address holds a copy, not the source. Games often mirror a value in several places. Poking a display copy changes what you see but not the game logic, or vice versa.
  • Value overwritten immediately. If the game recalculates the value every frame, a one-time poke is reverted. You need a repeating poke or a cheat engine that re-applies it.
  • Emulator compatibility. Not every MSX emulator exposes a memory editor, and the tools differ. If yours has no way to enter an address and value directly, peeks and pokes aren't usable there without a cheat-file format the emulator supports.
  • Decimal vs. hexadecimal. Addresses and values are often given in hex. Entering a hex value as decimal (or the reverse) produces a wrong result that looks like a failed poke.

Because the Peeks & Pokes collection on CheatMSX is small, the practical approach is: check it for your specific game, and if it isn't listed, use the Emulator Cheats section or peek the address yourself to find the value you want to change.