Buyer Beware: First Bootleg DS Games Surface
June 14, 2006 5:30 PM |
According to a report by Chinese Nintendo DS fan site YYJoy, the first bootlegged Nintendo DS games have made their way into the black market. And if eBay's history with the Game Boy Advance is an indicator, these things are going to be duping potentially honest gamers very soon.
Unfortunately, eBay has no real safeguards in place for bootlegged games, so the only protection you have is to educate yourself on the tell-tale signs of counterfeit crap. As a public service announcement, and thanks to photos provided by YYJoy, we're here to help!
First, let's take a look at the front of one of these counterfeits. Now, despite what you may think, Nintendo's manufacturing partners do not use Epson inkjet printers set on "medium" quality to produce DS labels, and they don't apply the labels by hand. So if you see a DS cartridge label that looks like this at your local Gamestop, immediately grab the geek behind the counter by his shirt collar and slam his face into the counter. This will increase his tension meter. If this goes up far enough, you can extort him for money in the name of Don Vito Corleone.
Perhaps the finer points of image reproduction elude you, something typically caused by damage to either the eyes or the brain. In that case, another sure sign of a counterfeit DS game is the numbered code on the bottom of the label. SZGD-20011-A888 is not a Nintendo DS product number. Nintendo DS numbers begin with NTR (a leftover from when the DS was code-named 'Nitro') and end with a region specific acronym, either USA, JAP or EUR. If you come across a Nintendo DS cartridge with a code number like the one pictured, sneak behind the counter and press the O button gently to use CQC and grab the store clerk from behind. Don't press too hard, or you will slice his throat and make a mess.
Not enough? Let's look at the back:
On the left is a dirty horrible counterfeit videogame that may fund The Terrorists(tm), and on the right is a red-blooded apple pie lovin' American Nintendo DS game. Most noticeable is that the metallic pins on the fake are black. This is because counterfeiters use black magic, and have black hearts. Also take note that the Nintendo copyright text, though reproduced exactly, is perfectly centered vertically. In a true Nintendo DS game, the text is slightly above center. If you see a Nintendo DS game in a store with perfectly centered copyright text, open the command prompt and type /report. This will automatically report your find to Nintendo's anti-piracy ninjas, who will take care of the rest.
In addition to being dirty and awful and taking money away from the industry we love, counterfeit video games have a nasty habit of being defective. Remember, these things are cheaply manufactured and meant to be sold quickly, so if your battery decides to die on the day before you take your Nintendog to the state finals, well, it's your fault for buying a counterfeit. We don't seriously expect to see these things popping up at brick and mortar stores any time soon, but as my genuine "NINTONDO" version of Super Mario 2 will attest to, it could happen, and it probably will.
Categories: DS
19 Comments
Unfortunately for the ebay buyers, they usually use stock photos to sell these.
Looks like I will have to continue looking elsewhere for portable games.
Shapermc | June 14, 2006 6:16 PM
frank cifaldi you are wonderful and this post is wonderful
Spinner 8 | June 14, 2006 10:15 PM
I worked at Gamestop for like 3 days, and I noticed a counterfeit copy of one of the Gameboy Zelda games. I pointed this out to my manager, and all I received was a noncommittal shrug.
Shortly thereafter, I was relieved of my position. Perhaps it was because I knew too much. Or perhaps it was because I could only work weekends.
Also I agree with Spinner 8.
UndeadWes | June 15, 2006 12:35 AM
oh wow UndeadWes-- I kinda feel for you lol. That's actually kind of a sad story, but I couldn't help but lol the minute I read that. = But yeah good to know someone is posting articles like this. Good job man.
AnimeZero2007 | June 15, 2006 2:00 AM
A Chinese Nintendo DS fan who have a big buns~
just a joke~ :)
cc0128 | June 15, 2006 4:58 AM
though i wrote a strangely similar article on these bootleg carts, yours wins for the humor. really love the style you approached this with, and i noticed some stuff you mentioned that i definitely need to include in my own list of "things to beware."
eric | June 15, 2006 6:36 AM
Upstairs is very Orz...
chinese ds fans MKII | June 15, 2006 8:24 PM
Orz........
黑崎一護 | June 16, 2006 10:00 PM
I know how you feel. I bought a '32 games in one' gba cartridge
1. it didnt work in my ds
2. it had 6 games not 32
3. the games printed on the back werent included
still it had mario land
tha man | January 22, 2007 8:47 AM
Does anyone know what the rule of the thumb for the printing on the visible part of the circuit board on the back of the cartridge is? Is it "Nintendo 001-01" or a complicated product number? Or either? I've heard that originally Nintendo printed "Nintendo 001-01" but when the pirates cottoned on and did the same, Nintendo changed it to the complicated serial number. Can anyone clarify that? Cheers!
Adam | May 6, 2007 1:18 AM
Unfortunately, I just bought a fake with the Nintendo 001-01 product number on th eback. I also noticed other games bear different product numbers on the circuitboard. So I think you are right.
Oscar | May 19, 2007 12:25 PM
damn people go back to your shanties
this is stupid and dumb have you nothing better to do ?
dauyy3 | June 24, 2007 5:26 PM
I BOUGHT A COUNTERFEIT MARIO KART SHOWN ABOVE AND IT WORKS FINE
BBOO28444444444444BOOZER4LIFE, GOT A DAMN PROBLEM WITH DAT , NO, I NO THINK SO | June 24, 2007 5:28 PM
not everyone can afford the copyright text game
pandawill | July 7, 2009 1:23 AM
I just bought two DS games that are both fake. Avoid Hong Kong dealers on Ebay.
Potter | July 27, 2009 1:09 PM
I just got bowser's inside story, and like the guy above, the manual was a review. Infact the last page has the upcoming release date for the very game i apparently have in my hands. There was no warranty card in the box either. I dont think i will buy off ebay again. Im in Australia, and this purchase was from western Aus, so it doesn't mean anything getting it 'safely' from your own country.
linds | January 26, 2010 5:23 PM
i think chinese products also cheap.
wendy2020 | December 22, 2010 11:52 PM
www.cbedding.com
cbedding | July 11, 2011 10:13 PM
um, peyton/lucas returning isnt really up to mark or anyone at OTH. those actors do NOT want to come back, thats just the way it is. the only possible way for peyton/lucas to be back on the show would be with recasts.
Duane Hausen | August 22, 2011 12:50 PM