How to spot a GBA fake

[losersclub]

Hi all, just been thinking after trawling through ebay and the like for GBA games, how can you spot if the game you've got is a fake? I assume that these dodgy copies still come with some sort of rip off of the instructions but how else can you tell its a fake? I read somewhere about the dodgy games not having a working save function or if they do the battery back up runs out pretty quick! Just need to know so i dont get conned!

Cheers

James

[matooine]

the box is usually shiny, the instructions read more like a review, the plastic is poor quality and may not fit properly, also check the circuit board it should say nintendo 2001 on it if it has no writing on it its a fake.

[cutmymilk]

The fakes Ive seen all have stretched or badly printed labels. Normally like this as they make sure the nintendo seal or any copyright stuff isnt on the sticker. On ebay, avoid anyone selling loads for cheap with only pack shots basically.

Oh, and 'BRAND NEW WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS' is the main giveaway on ebay!

[buster_broon]

1. very shiny box normally sent flatpacked (to save on shipping apparently)
2. has instructions, but normally about 4 pages big
3. some carts have problems wrt saving
4. stock photograph
5. sellers from Taiwan
6. game thats not actually released outside Japan, but the auction is for a US version (saw this with Pokemon emerald months and months before its release)

if you're buying a game, buy it from somebody who has an actual photo of the game on their auction

personally i would avoid eBay all together when purchasing GBA games

[andrewfee]

Main thing I've noticed is that fake games never seem to have a two-digit number stamped into the label. I always asked the seller what they were, and if they either couldn't find any, or didn't reply, I wouldn't buy it.

[Kubrick]

If you must use eBay, best stick to UK games that you can clearly tell are UK versions from the picture.

(Have UK games been pirated yet? I've only ever seen USA or Japanese ones..)

also check the circuit board it should say nintendo 2001 on it if it has no writing on it its a fake.

[buster_broon]

2 copies of Tetris worlds - 1 real and 1 eBay Yarr

my only Yarr game

you choose

[losersclub]

I cant see seem to see the "nintendo 2001" circuit board mark on my copy of Gunstar Future Heroes but it still saves and everything ok and has kept my saves for weeks, does that mean its a pirate copy then?

[Kubrick]

Does it have the 2-digit number stamped into the cart sticker that andrewfee mentioned?

[Roddie]

another giveaway is when it says something along the lines of "this does not include any accessories such as wireless adaptor".

i've found that buying gba games off ebay really isn't worth the bother, if you find one that clearly is the genuine article then it usually has loads of bids anyway.

[MattyD]

Some things I've noticed with YARHAR! GBA carts:

• The texture of the plastic is different
• They are usually black rather than dark grey
• The weight doesn't feel 'right' (prob. because the plastic is poor quality)
• The back of the cart has a Nintendo logo and part number but it doesn't say 'Patent pend. made in Japan'
• Moody carts are usually slightly thicker in profile, by barely a millimetre but it's enough to make them stiff when you insert them into the GBA.

I'd repeat other's advice and say never, ever buy new GBA carts from ebay.

[Mayhem]

I generally only buy Gameboy stuff from Amazon now, far better chance of getting the real thing.

[SuperDanX]

Not much in the way of good advice before you buy,but if you've already bought check the screw heads on rear of the cart. Nintendo only use the own special 3 slot screws never any other.

[davesol]

The only time i've ever bought a gba game off eBay. it was ridiculous how obvious it was. Off the top of my head:
The writing on the back of the box had spelling and gramatical errors
So did the manual. It also had layout errors. It was also extremely thin.
The printing on the label of the cart was poor quality.

And the best one...

On loading the game up, the first screen said something like "Brought to you by [the name of some hacking group - can't remember what]"

I got a refund, then sent an email to eBay. Don't know if they did anything about it though.

[matooine]

i bought a copy of warioware twisted off ebay a few months ago, when it arrived it was a normal cartridge no sign of a gyroscope anywhere!! The seller claimed that their supplier had obviously messed up and that they would refuse to deal with them again, yeah right, F*#king useless!!