ROM Codes and Meanings
Ever wondered what the (U)
or the (!)
meant in ROM files? Or what "SLES" means on PSX games? Here’s a complete list of codes, some sourced from GoodTools!
Standard Codes
- [a]: Alternate
- [b]: Bad Dump
- [f]: Fixed
- [h]: Hack
- [o]: Overdump
- [p]: Pirate
- [t]: Trained
- [T]: Translation
- (-): Unknown Year
- [!]: Verified Good Dump
- (M#): Multilanguage (# of Languages)
- (###): Checksum
- ZZZ_: Unclassified
- (??k): ROM Size
- (Unl): Unlicensed
Country Codes
- (1): Japan & Korea
- (A): Australia
- (B): non-USA (Genesis)
- (C): China
- (E): Europe
- (F): France
- (F): World (Genesis)
- (FC): French Canadian
- (FN): Finland
- (G): Germany
- (GR): Greece
- (HK): Hong Kong
- (H): Holland
- (4): USA & Brazil NTSC
- (J): Japan
- (K): Korea
- (NL): Netherlands
- (PD): Public Domain
- (S): Spain
- (SW): Sweden
- (U): USA
- (UE): USA/Europe
- (UK): England
- (Unk): Unknown Country
- (I): Italy
- (Unl): Unlicensed
Special Codes
Game Boy / Color
- [C]: Color
- [BF]: Bung Fix
- [S]: Super
- SGB Enhanced: Super Game Boy SNES Cartridge
Super Nintendo
- (BS): BS ROMs
- (ST): Sufami Turbo
- (NP): Nintendo Power
Genesis
- (1): Japan
- (4): USA
- (5): NTSC Only
- (8): PAL Only
- (B): Non-USA
- [c]: Checksum
- [x]: Bad Checksum
- [R-]: Countries
Atari
- (PAL): Euro Version
GBA
- [hI??]: Intro Hacks
Coleco
- (Adam): ADAM Version
NeoGeo Pocket
- [M]: Mono Only
NES/FC
- (PC10): PlayChoice 10
- (VS): Versus
- [hFFE]: FFE Copier Format
Playstation
- SCES: Published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (with some exceptions)
- SCED: SCEE-published demos
- SLES: Third/second-party published games
- SLED: Third/second-party published demos
- PBPX: Some pack-in demos
Standard Code Notes
- [a]: Alternate version of a ROM, often re-released to fix bugs or remove Game Genie codes.
- [b]: A bad dump often caused by older games, faulty dumpers, or corrupted uploads.
- [f]: Fixed to run better on copiers or emulators.
- [h]: A hack, which may involve region changes, added intros, or other alterations.
- [o]: Overdumped ROMs contain extra, irrelevant data.
- [t]: Trainers allow cheat menus before the game starts.
- [!]: Verified good dump.
Special Code Notes
SNES
- (BS): Distributed via Broadcast Satellaview in Japan, timed to work only with TV shows.
- (ST): Sufami Turbo allowed two GameBoy-sized carts to be combined for new games.
- (NP): Nintendo Power exclusive releases, mainly in Japan.
Genesis
- (1): Works on both Japanese and Korean machines.
- (4): USA and Brazil NTSC format.
- (B): Non-US machines.
- [c]: Cart with faulty checksum routines.
Game Boy / Color
- [BF]: Bung's programmable cartridge required fixing for many games to work.
- SGB Enhanced: Super Game Boy adapter for SNES to play Game Boy games.
Nintendo
- PC10: PlayChoice 10 arcade units allowed players to select from 10 NES games.
- VS: Versus system allowed head-to-head matches.