Plus you could always use the cheat engine and hack your way through life...
... i never did, but that was because i had all the benefits from my friends who did
The only time i used cheat codes was in age of empires..
Playing with my sisters shouting through the house:
-DID YOU JUST PUT IN A CHEAT CODE?!?!?
-- NOOOOO
*two seconds later*
*a bright blue monster truck shows up in the stone age barracks and runs over all the soldiers and camps*
-HEY!!!
-- giggle giggle