Pirate import GBA games!

**Querjek** · 02-15-2004, 07:44 AM

I recently traded someone for a copy of Mr. Driller A, a game that I've been wanting for a while, for Super Monkey Ball Jr. My game was complete; his was cart only. I didn't really care as I wanted the game to play. So, I got Mr. Driller the other day. The label looked a tiny bit printed off-center, and was a little bit fuzzy. And the cartridge was made out of a diiferent-colored, different-textured platic. I already had an import GBA game that I bought in-person in March of 2001 (Yes, it was before I even had a GBA). I didn't bother to compare to compare the two as I thought that the plastics had probably changed since the original launch GBA game production runs. When I put the game in my GBASP, it didn't completely fit in the cart slot. But the game plays fine.

So fast forward a few days. I was still suspecting this cart to be a pirate. I couldn't find ANYTHING proving that the cart was a pirate, though. So I flipped the cartridge over... to see not the word "Nintendo" in the normal oval logo, but the word "Nintondo." The moral of the story? Never get import GBA games without seeing a picture of the back of the cart. Lckily, I don't mind this being a pirate as I got it to play.

**Darth Sensei** · 02-15-2004, 08:21 AM

Nintondo?

D

**Querjek** · 02-15-2004, 12:17 PM

I tried to get some pics, but they all came out blurry. Anyone have any tips? It's a funny thing to see.

**Funk Buddy** · 02-15-2004, 02:22 PM

Does your camera have a "macro" setting?

I'll look for the link, but there is an easy way to tell a fake game or not. You will need to see the back though. Just look at the screw head. It should be a tri shaped screw heads, not a regular phillips type. Also, open it up, that'll really show you what's real and what's not.

**spoon** · 02-15-2004, 05:13 PM

I remember this topic being posted (with pics) either here or on Nesworld. If I remeber correctly, the label looks like it is a close up pic of the actual label. I can't remember if it was said to be a pirate or not. It probabably is if it doesn't fit into your GB correctly., and, it has a different plastic.

**DDCecil** · 02-15-2004, 05:49 PM

Here are two more tips to make sure the cart isn't a pirate:

- Always ask to see the bottom of the cart, if you hold it at the right angle, it should say (C) Nintendo 2001 (or some other year) on there.

- There should be a tiny stamped two-digit number on the label somewhere.

**davidleeroth** · 02-16-2004, 05:14 AM

Here's my "Ninfendo" Hajime cart:

http://www.students.tut.fi/~tiainen2/hajimo.gif

The box and manual look suprisingly good though (for a pirate).

**dreamcaster** · 02-16-2004, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by davidleeroth

Here's my "Ninfendo" Hajime cart:

http://www.students.tut.fi/~tiainen2/hajimo.gif

The box and manual look suprisingly good though (for a pirate).

That's what I've noticed! Today's pirate games have come a LONG way since I remember them in the 8 and 16-bit days.

I suspect I've got a pirate GBA game coming which I got off eBay (god I'm stupid), but if it's quality is as good as most pirates I've seen, then I won't be so pissed off.

**davidleeroth** · 02-16-2004, 03:14 PM

About 90% of import GBA games on eBay are pirates (that's why they're cheaper there than in Japan).

It's crap basically but I have to get the pirate ones too for my Treasure collection. Damn those pirates!