i always knew these things were illegal

[guyver2077]

http://cube.ign.com/articles/562/562547p1.html


i see them in my mall all the time. i always wondered how th hell they managed to get nintendo games on it

[spyhunterk19]

I have one of those at my mall! Sucessfully own a Powerjoy

But in other news...

Estimated losses in the millions? How?

[moiety]

I'm glad they cracked down on those dudes. I was wondering how the malls even let them be sold there. They are so obviously illegal. Good job Nintendo!

[Trakan]

It's about time.

[dcfox]

I have one of those at my mall! Sucessfully own a Powerjoy

But in other news...

Estimated losses in the millions? How?

I was wondering the same thing. Its not like Nintendo is marketing a similar product. Even with the NES classic series out on the GBA, I don't that it would pose much of a threat. But good to see N crack down on the pirates.

[Prowl]

I am so glad. I see them in my mall too. I so wanted to just kick their stand and their immigrant workers.

[DesertEagleXIX]

The theives want $50 in the malls for one of these, when you can go downtown (LA) and get them for about $20....

There are some legit ones, I think. I bought one from Big-5 for $20, that doesn't have any recognizable games on it.

[Scorch]

Those asshats just came to my local mall. I hate them.

[kristianator]

aw crap. my mall doesn't have an arcade, but it DOES have one of these kiosks, so it's the closest thing to it...

[basketkase543]

I have one of those at my mall! Sucessfully own a Powerjoy

But in other news...

Estimated losses in the millions? How?

I was wondering the same thing. Its not like Nintendo is marketing a similar product. Even with the NES classic series out on the GBA, I don't that it would pose much of a threat. But good to see N crack down on the pirates.

You guys just don't understand. The huge damage to their REPUTATION is obviously worth the millions they esitmate they lost. Yep, Nintendo has been soiled in my mind because of these crimes and I may never go back to them.

[FunkSoulBrother]

Yeah, I saw these in Kings Plaza in Brooklyn, NY. The games look a lot worse than they would on an actual NES, the controller is a cheap ripoff of the N64 controller, and the people trying out the games seemed like they haven't owned an NES in their lives. Nothing's worse than seeing someone die in the first level of Super Mario 1 while playing on a bootleg system.

[zionoverfire]

Its funny that one of the pirated games is Donkey Kong, which Nintendo bought to avoid a law suit brought by the company for the use of Mario who was very similar to thier DK guy if I remember correctly.

[kristianator]

i always cracked up at how the zapper looked like a handgun. imagine playing duck hunt and holding the gun sideways, yelling "BREAK YOSELF FOO"

[cag1000]

i could always get like a million of these things at the local flea market
i would never buy one cause i always like owning the original games
thats the only reason
that and i wouldnt ever pay over 10 and it would have to include over 20 games

[greendj27]

I have one of those at my mall! Sucessfully own a Powerjoy

But in other news...

Estimated losses in the millions? How?

I was wondering the same thing. Its not like Nintendo is marketing a similar product. Even with the NES classic series out on the GBA, I don't that it would pose much of a threat. But good to see N crack down on the pirates.

You guys just don't understand. The huge damage to their REPUTATION is obviously worth the millions they esitmate they lost. Yep, Nintendo has been soiled in my mind because of these crimes and I may never go back to them.

I think they might be talking about all counterfitting when they estimate their losses. They probably include the GB games from Asia, etc.

Edit: Now that I re-read it I think they are just talking about these things. Wow, unbelievable.

[davidmt]

I'm amazed these things are so available. They are sold in kiosks at every big mall in my area. I'm sure they would have sold great for this Xmas. They have been around for a couple of years, but to see them in the mall kind of surprised me. I would have thought Nintendo would have done something about this months ago.

Nintedo should put out something like this themselves - those SuperJoy bootlegs are crap.

[GuilewasNK]

I never even heard of them before.

[CapAmerica]

I feel happy knowing I am one of the 400 "loyal fans" that alerted Nintendo about it. ^_^

When I first saw it, I nicely went up to the lady working there and asked if it was an official licensed Nintendo product. She didn't understand why I asked. But did tell me it was not. I then asked for a business card and contacted Nintendo of America when I got home that night. The next time I was down at the mall and saw that there was a guy running it. He was trying to sell the item to a small group. I interrupted the guys sales pitch by saying "Isn't this product Illegal?" The guy said it wasn't. I then asked if it was licensed by Nintendo the guy again said it wasn't and then I pointed out that if its not licensed by Nintendo then it is Illegal and that he can be sued or arrested for selling them. All the people there then left. and the next week the stand wasn't there anymore.

I'm Happy I did what I did. ^_^

[Kirin Lemon]

Its funny that one of the pirated games is Donkey Kong, which Nintendo bought to avoid a law suit brought by the company for the use of Mario who was very similar to thier DK guy if I remember correctly.

Untrue. The lawsuit over Donkey Kong was in regard to the similarities between Donkey Kong and King Kong. Mario and Donkey Kong have always been properties of Nintendo.

[zionoverfire]

Its funny that one of the pirated games is Donkey Kong, which Nintendo bought to avoid a law suit brought by the company for the use of Mario who was very similar to thier DK guy if I remember correctly.

Untrue. The lawsuit over Donkey Kong was in regard to the similarities between Donkey Kong and King Kong. Mario and Donkey Kong have always been properties of Nintendo.

oh was that it? this is what happens when you try and remember stuff from when you where 3.

[mtxbass1]

The stand was still up in my mall as of tonite. Hopefully they will be shutting it down soon.

[bmulligan]

Its funny that one of the pirated games is Donkey Kong, which Nintendo bought to avoid a law suit brought by the company for the use of Mario who was very similar to thier DK guy if I remember correctly.

Untrue. The lawsuit over Donkey Kong was in regard to the similarities between Donkey Kong and King Kong. Mario and Donkey Kong have always been properties of Nintendo.

oh was that it? this is what happens when you try and remember stuff from when you where 3.

From what I remember, Nintendo was sued by Universal Pictures for copyright infringement because of the similarities between KK and DK. It turned out, however, that Universal never actually owned the copyright so Nintendo ended up skating. I believe Universal had to pay for N's legal fees in the matter.

[zionoverfire]

Its funny that one of the pirated games is Donkey Kong, which Nintendo bought to avoid a law suit brought by the company for the use of Mario who was very similar to thier DK guy if I remember correctly.

Untrue. The lawsuit over Donkey Kong was in regard to the similarities between Donkey Kong and King Kong. Mario and Donkey Kong have always been properties of Nintendo.

oh was that it? this is what happens when you try and remember stuff from when you where 3.

From what I remember, Nintendo was sued by Universal Pictures for copyright infringement because of the similarities between KK and DK. It turned out, however, that Universal never actually owned the copyright so Nintendo ended up skating. I believe Universal had to pay for N's legal fees in the matter.

Well apparently Universal sued nintendo and colicovision, collicobision gave in put nintendo said the movie was to old to count under copyright and the judge threwout the case and awarded nintendo 1million or so for legal fees.

[Rig]

I recently saw this at my local mall. I also told them that what they were selling was illegal, and that Nintendo was tracking these places down. I sent Nintendo an email, and hopefully, they get the people at my mall.

[moiety]

I feel happy knowing I am one of the 400 "loyal fans" that alerted Nintendo about it. ^_^

When I first saw it, I nicely went up to the lady working there and asked if it was an official licensed Nintendo product. She didn't understand why I asked. But did tell me it was not. I then asked for a business card and contacted Nintendo of America when I got home that night. The next time I was down at the mall and saw that there was a guy running it. He was trying to sell the item to a small group. I interrupted the guys sales pitch by saying "Isn't this product Illegal?" The guy said it wasn't. I then asked if it was licensed by Nintendo the guy again said it wasn't and then I pointed out that if its not licensed by Nintendo then it is Illegal and that he can be sued or arrested for selling them. All the people there then left. and the next week the stand wasn't there anymore.

I've Happy I did what I did. ^_^

Nice job!

[chosen1s]

Something about those things always rubbed me the wrong way as well.

[FriskyTanuki]

Its funny that one of the pirated games is Donkey Kong, which Nintendo bought to avoid a law suit brought by the company for the use of Mario who was very similar to thier DK guy if I remember correctly.

Untrue. The lawsuit over Donkey Kong was in regard to the similarities between Donkey Kong and King Kong. Mario and Donkey Kong have always been properties of Nintendo.

oh was that it? this is what happens when you try and remember stuff from when you where 3.

From what I remember, Nintendo was sued by Universal Pictures for copyright infringement because of the similarities between KK and DK. It turned out, however, that Universal never actually owned the copyright so Nintendo ended up skating. I believe Universal had to pay for N's legal fees in the matter.

Well apparently Universal sued nintendo and colicovision, collicobision gave in put nintendo said the movie was to old to count under copyright and the judge threwout the case and awarded nintendo 1million or so for legal fees.

Yep, Kirin Lemon is correct, it was over the likeness of Donkey Kong and King Kong. We talked about this in my history class. Because the movie was so old, Universal had no case. One of the funny moments in gaming history.

[Trillian]

It didn't help that Universal Studios had gone to lengths to prove that they didn't own King Kong in an eariler lawsuit against them, either.


Universal Vs. Nintendo (http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/june03/dumbestmoments/index5.shtml)

[biggestinuyashafan]

i have them at my mall too. i saw some guy playing it and i just felt like saying something to the vendor because it was so obviously illegal.

[willardhaven]

I hate those stupid mall stands, go Nintendo...

It's like those companies were taking the Mona Lisa and putting it on poor-quality t-shirts, but then again, I think that's being done too.

[suko_32]

You know, I have a book about Nintendo's history and this subject was covered.....I'm just too lazy to go back to check it.

[Alpha2]

Well for one they;ll never beable to stop the mom&pop and 99cent shops in midtown manhattan that sell these things along side bootleg salad shooters unless they nip them off at the source.

As for damages, a lot of companies (and especially the RIAA) concider damages as being the sale of each individual instance of property as a loss because it's not money THEY are getting regardless of the fact no source of the product exists, their argument is usually that it may in the future and that sale hurt the market later on.

[KingDox]

this is when piracy is really bad. These people at the malls are really making money off stuff they have no right to sell. It's way worse then some kid getting some roms off the net or playing some nes games on their DC.

[zionoverfire]

this is when piracy is really bad. These people at the malls are really making money off stuff they have no right to sell. It's way worse then some kid getting some roms off the net or playing some nes games on their DC.

not really, nintendo's not loosing much money infact I think nintendo would have made a decent profit had they chosen to do this. But yest this piracy is sickening because its so out in the open, they didn't even try to hid what they were doing.

[guyver2077]

i think i might pass by the mall and take a picture of the stand if its stillup...

[R1V3R5]

this is when piracy is really bad. These people at the malls are really making money off stuff they have no right to sell. It's way worse then some kid getting some roms off the net or playing some nes games on their DC.

not really, nintendo's not loosing much money infact I think nintendo would have made a decent profit had they chosen to do this. But yest this piracy is sickening because its so out in the open, they didn't even try to hid what they were doing.


If they chose to do this? They can't sell a 10 in one style game system like that because then they would not be able to sell the "classic NES" games on the GBA for $20 a pop. Also, I have seen the same thing in my mall and I called Nintendo. I would have ignored it but the guy selling the stuff was a total dick.

[zionoverfire]

this is when piracy is really bad. These people at the malls are really making money off stuff they have no right to sell. It's way worse then some kid getting some roms off the net or playing some nes games on their DC.

not really, nintendo's not loosing much money infact I think nintendo would have made a decent profit had they chosen to do this. But yest this piracy is sickening because its so out in the open, they didn't even try to hid what they were doing.


If they chose to do this? They can't sell a 10 in one style game system like that because then they would not be able to sell the "classic NES" games on the GBA for $20 a pop. Also, I have seen the same thing in my mall and I called Nintendo. I would have ignored it but the guy selling the stuff was a total dick.

Exactly, when you have a captive market you can create the classic series and resell old stuff at $20 a pop, so I don't really have much sympathy for Nintendo, but the fact that its so open a piracy sickens and alarms me.

[R1V3R5]

Exactly, when you have a captive market you can create the classic series and resell old stuff at $20 a pop, so I don't really have much sympathy for Nintendo, but the fact that its so open a piracy sickens and alarms me.


It sickens me as well. I can understand online and auctions but I really can't believe that the people at the mall can just turn a blind eye to such a thing.

[zionoverfire]

Exactly, when you have a captive market you can create the classic series and resell old stuff at $20 a pop, so I don't really have much sympathy for Nintendo, but the fact that its so open a piracy sickens and alarms me.


It sickens me as well. I can understand online and auctions but I really can't believe that the people at the mall can just turn a blind eye to such a thing.

Well I think what happened is a lot of people like me assumed that they bought the rights. Because people have been making the old atari game sticks for years and those are all legit.

[minos1067]

also, it's not like they're out in the streets pushing this stuff. they are in the freakin MALL! aint that a riot? you'd figure the mall management would be more cautious and hessitant to let them sell such toys. also, also, this has been going on for more than a year now. i think they started hitting the malls last year this time.

[KingDox]

this is when piracy is really bad. These people at the malls are really making money off stuff they have no right to sell. It's way worse then some kid getting some roms off the net or playing some nes games on their DC.

not really, nintendo's not loosing much money infact I think nintendo would have made a decent profit had they chosen to do this. But yest this piracy is sickening because its so out in the open, they didn't even try to hid what they were doing.

The point is they are selling something they have no right to sell. Remember the controllers have like 40+ games, not all of them are made by nintendo. I know for a fact the one at my mall has contra in the controller. So these people are not only stealing from nintendo.

If you don't have a problem with them selling these controllers then I guess you wouldn't have a problem with them selling those 40 games in one cart for the GBA. Just as long as they 40 games are older GBC games you can't buy at most stores any more right ?

And I guess it would ok if someone put all the PS2 Jampacks into one mega Jampack and sold that too and never gave a dime to Sony. I mean they are just demos right ? Sony isn't losing any money right ?

[zionoverfire]

also, it's not like they're out in the streets pushing this stuff. they are in the freakin MALL! aint that a riot? you'd figure the mall management would be more cautious and hessitant to let them sell such toys. also, also, this has been going on for more than a year now. i think they started hitting the malls last year this time.

Yes, but then again they let those cell phone people in so they are probably just concerned with the cash.

[zionoverfire]

this is when piracy is really bad. These people at the malls are really making money off stuff they have no right to sell. It's way worse then some kid getting some roms off the net or playing some nes games on their DC.

not really, nintendo's not loosing much money infact I think nintendo would have made a decent profit had they chosen to do this. But yest this piracy is sickening because its so out in the open, they didn't even try to hid what they were doing.

The point is they are selling something they have no right to sell. Remember the controllers have like 40+ games, not all of them are made by nintendo. I know for a fact the one at my mall has contra in the controller. So these people are not only stealing from nintendo.

If you don't have a problem with them selling these controllers then I guess you wouldn't have a problem with them selling those 40 games in one cart for the GBA. Just as long as they 40 games are older GBC games you can't buy at most stores any more right ?

And I guess it would ok if someone put all the PS2 Jampacks into one mega Jampack and sold that too and never gave a dime to Sony. I mean they are just demos right ? Sony isn't losing any money right ?

My point is that A. Nintendo's not loosing money so I don't care to much aand B. Nintendo is trying to charge $20 or more for rehashed nes games for the GBA so I don't really feel much pitty for them. I still think this is disgusting but I have no sympathy for Nintendo in this case.

[Pylis]

I haven't ever seen these guys in my mall. I guess that's a good thing.

[KingDox]

this is when piracy is really bad. These people at the malls are really making money off stuff they have no right to sell. It's way worse then some kid getting some roms off the net or playing some nes games on their DC.

not really, nintendo's not loosing much money infact I think nintendo would have made a decent profit had they chosen to do this. But yest this piracy is sickening because its so out in the open, they didn't even try to hid what they were doing.

The point is they are selling something they have no right to sell. Remember the controllers have like 40+ games, not all of them are made by nintendo. I know for a fact the one at my mall has contra in the controller. So these people are not only stealing from nintendo.

If you don't have a problem with them selling these controllers then I guess you wouldn't have a problem with them selling those 40 games in one cart for the GBA. Just as long as they 40 games are older GBC games you can't buy at most stores any more right ?

And I guess it would ok if someone put all the PS2 Jampacks into one mega Jampack and sold that too and never gave a dime to Sony. I mean they are just demos right ? Sony isn't losing any money right ?

My point is that A. Nintendo's not loosing money so I don't care to much aand B. Nintendo is trying to charge $20 or more for rehashed nes games for the GBA so I don't really feel much pitty for them. I still think this is disgusting but I have no sympathy for Nintendo in this case.

I don't want this to seem like the start of a flame war because it isn't.

But just because your mad at nintendo for selling the NES classic games for 20 bucks a pop doesn't mean that they deserve to be ripped off or that you should care less about them being ripped off. I also thought that the $20 price point for the classic NES games was nuts and I wouldn't get them even using a GGC.

What pisses me off about these mall guys is they don't care about ripping off Nintendo. The KB toys/EB in the same mall would never dream of selling an illegal item like the controller. But some moron in a tiny table gets to sell as many as he wants making a nice profit off something he has no right to sell.

[Alpha2]

Most of the time these are just people buying into what they think is a franchaise deal, they people selling it themselves have no idea their suppliers are probably Triads making money off of this stuff. it's just a toy to them that they probably figure is legit which is why they sell them so blatantly.

If anything the only reason nintendo sells the classics at all is to try and make a better case to inforce their copyrights the same way Sega releases Sega-ages titles and that 6 genesis game box just like the arcade game joysticks with pacman, centipede and frogger.

[DantheApe]

saw this kinda place in the mall..kinda laughed

I picked up a powerjoy at a yardsale sealed the family wanted $10 for it, i wound up talking them down to $5...claimed to have 120+ games...

the controller was a funky combo of an n64 controller and a pistol...plugging into the bottom was a controller that looked like a ps1 classic controller...

now being a collector, i had been looking for one of these (because "every true collector has at least one pirate cart" /sarcasm) I can't see how these kiosks can charge $50 for these things =/

then again, nintendo has the brass to sell 8 bit games for $20 when the originals can be had at less than half that...mabey they deserve it *shrugs*

[Strider Turbulence]

I saw this at the mall as many other people. I was actually gonna buy one until the guy told me the price: $50 smackers!!!

I'm not even sure if the games were complete, never mind emulated properly.

[XboxMaster]

Yeah, I've seen these things before. They look crappy as hell.

[GameDude]

I feel happy knowing I am one of the 400 "loyal fans" that alerted Nintendo about it. ^_^

When I first saw it, I nicely went up to the lady working there and asked if it was an official licensed Nintendo product. She didn't understand why I asked. But did tell me it was not. I then asked for a business card and contacted Nintendo of America when I got home that night. The next time I was down at the mall and saw that there was a guy running it. He was trying to sell the item to a small group. I interrupted the guys sales pitch by saying "Isn't this product Illegal?" The guy said it wasn't. I then asked if it was licensed by Nintendo the guy again said it wasn't and then I pointed out that if its not licensed by Nintendo then it is Illegal and that he can be sued or arrested for selling them. All the people there then left. and the next week the stand wasn't there anymore.

I'm Happy I did what I did. ^_^

^_^

[hiccupleftovers]

Yaeh I see these all the times at the malls. They are poorly emulated and look like they aren't even compplete. I think you can get these type of things in HOng Kong China for like 40 in 1 carts for the GB.

[epobirs]

It's about time. I've been sending them locations to bust via the address at this page for months.
http://www.nintendo.com/corp/legal.jsp

There is a thing called property that is a critical factor in our way of life. Owning a thing includes the right to charge too much for the sale of that thing. If you fail to make good sales at that price you can only blame yourself bu that does not give someone else the right to decide they can simply steal the item if the price is too high. Especially in the case of luxury goods like video games.

Nintendo believes that the NES Classics at $20 each is a good business and so far the market has agreed. Nintendo is not obligated to make you happy. They have the right to control their property even unto the death of the company.

[zewone]

Theres like 2 of these kiosks (sp) in my local mall, but their Dreamcasts not N64s. I hope Sega cracks down on them too.

[YoshiFan1]

I also reported them to Nintendo a while ago in the Spring. They have shown up in every local mall in my area and a new one just opened up a few weeks ago. I'm glad Nintendo is cracking down on this problem.

[zionoverfire]

this is when piracy is really bad. These people at the malls are really making money off stuff they have no right to sell. It's way worse then some kid getting some roms off the net or playing some nes games on their DC.

not really, nintendo's not loosing much money infact I think nintendo would have made a decent profit had they chosen to do this. But yest this piracy is sickening because its so out in the open, they didn't even try to hid what they were doing.

The point is they are selling something they have no right to sell. Remember the controllers have like 40+ games, not all of them are made by nintendo. I know for a fact the one at my mall has contra in the controller. So these people are not only stealing from nintendo.

If you don't have a problem with them selling these controllers then I guess you wouldn't have a problem with them selling those 40 games in one cart for the GBA. Just as long as they 40 games are older GBC games you can't buy at most stores any more right ?

And I guess it would ok if someone put all the PS2 Jampacks into one mega Jampack and sold that too and never gave a dime to Sony. I mean they are just demos right ? Sony isn't losing any money right ?

My point is that A. Nintendo's not loosing money so I don't care to much aand B. Nintendo is trying to charge $20 or more for rehashed nes games for the GBA so I don't really feel much pitty for them. I still think this is disgusting but I have no sympathy for Nintendo in this case.

I don't want this to seem like the start of a flame war because it isn't.

But just because your mad at nintendo for selling the NES classic games for 20 bucks a pop doesn't mean that they deserve to be ripped off or that you should care less about them being ripped off. I also thought that the $20 price point for the classic NES games was nuts and I wouldn't get them even using a GGC.

What pisses me off about these mall guys is they don't care about ripping off Nintendo. The KB toys/EB in the same mall would never dream of selling an illegal item like the controller. But some moron in a tiny table gets to sell as many as he wants making a nice profit off something he has no right to sell.

Well KB and EB wouldn't deal in that stuff because they'd get sued. The little table owning guy will fold up shop, hide the cash and declare bankrupcy so nintendo probably won't see much out of this. And I still feel no pity for Nintendo in all of this.

[Kaijufan]

I think Ive seen those at a local mall. Do they have around 26,000 games on them?