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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.