DS Bootlegs

phear3d · Mar 16, 2010

theres been alot of these on ebay recently. before they were just reproducing first party titles but ever since GTA chinatown wars came out, they started to shift into the 3rd party titles that are going for some decent amount.

whats even worse is the fact that theres alot of buyers on ebay that can't tell the difference. theres more than 10 million DS & DS lites out there that will play these bootlegs so there is a huge market for these bootlegs. im actually afraid that these games might start to hit amazon pretty soon..

the reason im bringing this up here is that i'd like to know if any of you have bought a bootleg ds game either from ebay or amazon or at a gamestop. if you have a dsi and youve purchased one of these, chances are the game will not work. im pretty sure they'll try to do something about that as we speak. if you have these, please let me know and if you can provide pictures please post them.

4 years ago, GameSetWatch created this useful information on how to tell if a DS game is bootleg. its slightly outdated as some of these carts have changed. some games are even sealed just like a normal ds title. the only difference is that theres alot of discoloration on the cover since these are probably scanned covers.

http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2006/06/buyer_beware_first_bootleg_ds.php

RoadDogg · Mar 16, 2010

I am 99.999999999% sure there are flash cards that work on the DSi, so I don't see why bootlegs wouldn't work too. Sure, Nintendo might come out with an update that breaks them but by then it would be to late to get your money back.

darkslime · Mar 17, 2010

[quote name='RoadDogg']I am 99.999999999% sure there are flash cards that work on the DSi, so I don't see why bootlegs wouldn't work too. Sure, Nintendo might come out with an update that breaks them but by then it would be to late to get your money back.[/QUOTE]newer flash carts that specifically say they work on the dsi work on the dsi but older ones don't, and the carts they use to make bootlegs doesn't.

Access_Denied · Mar 17, 2010

[quote name='RoadDogg']I am 99.999999999% sure there are flash cards that work on the DSi, so I don't see why bootlegs wouldn't work too. Sure, Nintendo might come out with an update that breaks them but by then it would be to late to get your money back.[/QUOTE]

Newer flash cards work on the DSi, so I imagine that's what the bootlegs are put on now. Also, it's a hardware exploit, so Nintendo can't block it.

Also, your best protection is knowledge. Just make sure you know how to spot of a fake.

http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/DS/feature.asp?c=2191

Of course, some of you might want fakes, as they're cheaper and provide the same benefits, but that's beside the point. :roll:

darkslime · Mar 17, 2010

nope all bootlegs do not work on the dsi.

why would anyone want a fake when you can buy a flash cart for $10 and download all the games you want? that makes no sense broseph

Access_Denied · Mar 17, 2010

[quote name='darkslime']nope all bootlegs do not work on the dsi.

why would anyone want a fake when you can buy a flash cart for $10 and download all the games you want? that makes no sense broseph[/QUOTE]

I didn't say they all did, I said that's what they're putting them on now. They're weeding out the old ones. Even pirates don't want negative eBay feedback.

And people would buy bootlegs because it's a lot easier to tell the judge you didn't know you were pirating if it's actually plausible that you didn't know.

darkslime · Mar 17, 2010

[quote name='Access_Denied']

And people would buy bootlegs because it's a lot easier to tell the judge you didn't know you were pirating if it's actually plausible that you didn't know.[/QUOTE]ok whatever

phear3d · Mar 17, 2010

one of the comments from that site above:

Hi,

I just received the game Chrono trigger DS that I bought on ebay, and the game is clearly a fake : booklet is a copy/paste from Gamespot, and the cartridge is of low quality and slightly thicker than original cartridges. Also, all the visual clues you describe, barcode or Nintendo marks in the box plastic appear to have been fixed by the pirates. The low quality of the cartridge and box remains the same, though.

I'll have to open the cartridge to check if the card uses the standard mask ROM chips.

Strangely, almost all the reviews are positive. I suppose people just play the game and don't bother with the booklet or having to force the game into their gameport. I also was probably naive to think I could get such low price from China and receive a legit product, but with the outrageous prices we have in Europe it was too tempting.

Sailorneorune · Mar 17, 2010

[quote name='darkslime']nope all bootlegs do not work on the dsi.

why would anyone want a fake when you can buy a flash cart for $10 and download all the games you want? that makes no sense broseph[/QUOTE]

Or you could buy the original games. Of course, if you don't want to pay $50 for a used Tetris DS, you could just get another Tetris game, like Tetris Worlds. That one's pretty good.

I could see where flash carts would be convenient, but at the same time, I've already started a lot of my RPGs and I don't feel like starting over just for the sake of having them in one convenient location. I just buy those 16-card capacity DS cases from Target and be done with it.

The absence of the GBA slot is the reason why I don't have a DSi, and probably won't get one any time soon.

SaraAB · Mar 17, 2010

They tend to bootleg the most popular/kid friendly games. So you will see bootlegs of odd titles as well as first party and things like Final Fantasy which are very popular. They bootleg kid friendly games because they know parents won't know its a bootleg since they just hand the game to their kid and off they go playing.

The fakes are probably already on amazon and will possibly hit gamestop soon, just like with GBA bootlegs, so you just have to be careful when buying a used game.

I like the fact that the bootlegs have brought down the price of the original games in some cases, because if you can pick the right auction you end up getting an original game for cheap.

If the seller says it does not work on the DSi then you know its a bootleg, remember if you have a question you can always ask a seller which would help you determine if they are selling fakes or not. Personally I would just tell them I have seen a lot of games on ebay that don't work on a DSi and I only have a DSi, can you tell me if this game will work on a DSi or not. Since they eliminated the GBA slot in the DSi and I play Pokemon a lot, I will never buy one especially with the DS2 likely right around the corner.

UncleBob · Mar 17, 2010

We had a customer return a copy of Monster Jam DS at the store I work at. The clerk at the service desk actually did a no-receipt return on open software. To make matters worse, the barcode was for Mario 64 DS, so the person returning it got $30 cash.

So, yeah, they'll bootleg just about anything.

phear3d · Mar 17, 2010

i cant believe they even bootleg monster jam, lol. money is money i guess

Drclaw411 · Mar 17, 2010

I like stations at flea markets (and occasionally ebay) that sell bootleg games, not to buy bootlegged versions of real games, but to buy games that never existed. I have copies of Pokemon Green version (gbc, with box and intructions, i kid you not. game is badly translated), Pokemon Shiny Gold (gba), Dragonball Z Power Quest (gbc, this one really isnt half bad. Bought it before any GB hand held games were released in america. also came with box and instructions).

Now I very well knew that these were bootlegged (if you can call them that..i guess fake is a better word in this case), but I still thought they'd be cool to have. Shiny Gold and ecpecially DBZ were actually a lot of fun, and Pokemon Green's box looks great on my GBC shelf with the real Pokemon games.

I'd never buy an actual bootleg of something that exists (I may be a cheap ass, but...no. Just no.), however I do still semi-regularly check the local flea markets that I know sell stuff like this in hopes I'll find Super Smash Brothers DS somewhere.

karkyco · Mar 17, 2010

[quote name='Drclaw411']I like stations at flea markets (and occasionally ebay) that sell bootleg games, not to buy bootlegged versions of real games, but to buy games that never existed. I have copies of Pokemon Green version (gbc, with box and intructions, i kid you not. game is badly translated), Pokemon Shiny Gold (gba), Dragonball Z Power Quest (gbc, this one really isnt half bad. Bought it before any GB hand held games were released in america. also came with box and instructions).

Now I very well knew that these were bootlegged (if you can call them that..i guess fake is a better word in this case), but I still thought they'd be cool to have. Shiny Gold and ecpecially DBZ were actually a lot of fun, and Pokemon Green's box looks great on my GBC shelf with the real Pokemon games.

I'd never buy an actual bootleg of something that exists (I may be a cheap ass, but...no. Just no.), however I do still semi-regularly check the local flea markets that I know sell stuff like this in hopes I'll find Super Smash Brothers DS somewhere.[/QUOTE]

Pokemon Green was released in Japan only IIRC. It was the only one of the 4 original colors that we didn't get in the States. So it's not really a "fake" but rather a bootleg of the Japanese version?

Drclaw411 · Mar 17, 2010

[quote name='karkyco']Pokemon Green was released in Japan only IIRC. It was the only one of the 4 original colors that we didn't get in the States. So it's not really a "fake" but rather a bootleg of the Japanese version?[/QUOTE]

I guess, but the thing is, it's an english version. It's transleted really badly in English...and the back of the box text is entirely copied from Red version. So i'm not sure if they modded/bootlegged/coppied/potato the US Red version or the Japanese Green version.

karkyco · Mar 17, 2010

[quote name='Drclaw411']I guess, but the thing is, it's an english version. It's transleted really badly in English...and the back of the box text is entirely copied from Red version. So i'm not sure if they modded/bootlegged/coppied/potato the US Red version or the Japanese Green version.[/QUOTE]

FLOL, that's awesome. I'd love to have an "Engrish" copy for the collection, hahaha!!!

darkslime · Mar 17, 2010

[quote name='Sailorneorune']Or you could buy the original games. Of course, if you don't want to pay $50 for a used Tetris DS, you could just get another Tetris game, like Tetris Worlds. That one's pretty good.
[/QUOTE]yep. i was just saying if you are knowingly pirating games, and willing to buy them, it makes no sense to buy a bunch of $15 bootlegs when you can buy one flash cart and play them all.

....... · Mar 17, 2010

Phear, these bootlegs have already hit Amazon.com's Marketplace section months ago. Many used game descriptions there will say "Does not work for DSI", and yet the sellers still have excellent feedback.

phear3d · Mar 17, 2010

i dont think amazon is aware yet. this is like reporting someone on ebay when you know they're selling bootlegs. they'll either say you need to provide proof or their feedbacks needs to reflect that. unless nintendo lays the hammer on ebay, which i think they do whenever someone reports it to them - i did once, thats when they'll do it.

but these pirates multiply. they're like cockroaches.

SaraAB · Mar 18, 2010

Ebay isn't gonna take the games off, every time they sell on ebay, ebay nets more fees, and since these bootleg sellers sell a lot of games. Taking off the games would mean a major revenue loss for ebay. Unless there was a lot of bad feedback or something like the seller not shipping out stuff that was sold. But like I said most of these games are purchased by soccer moms looking to save a buck and they just hand the game to little johnny who will probably play it once and toss it aside, therefore they get good feedback because the customer has no clue what they are actually buying. In fact probably 90% of people in the US have no clue about video games, those that have a clue like us are in the minority.

I could even see this bringing down the sales of the DSi in the US, because if customers go on ebay and see that the games don't work on the DSi they will just go out and buy a lite instead. No one knows they are fake they just think that certain games won't work on the system because its new. I read a review somewhere for the DSi that said it didn't work with previously purchased games, so I figure the reviewer must have bought a load of bootlegs that wouldn't work on the DSi.

Josef · Mar 21, 2010

[quote name='phear3d']i dont think amazon is aware yet. this is like reporting someone on ebay when you know they're selling bootlegs. they'll either say you need to provide proof or their feedbacks needs to reflect that. unless nintendo lays the hammer on ebay, which i think they do whenever someone reports it to them - i did once, thats when they'll do it.

but these pirates multiply. they're like cockroaches.[/QUOTE]

What's the easiest way to report a fake on Amazon? It doesn't have a "report this auction" button like EBay does as far as I know.

spoonman · Jul 4, 2010

Well... I have always avoided buying GBA and DS games from eBay because of the high rate of Asian boots.. and eBay doesn't give a damn since they get their cut weather it's legit or not. The BAD news is that Amazon is now plagued with them!

I just received my 2 "new" DS games from Amazon today and they are both Asian bootlegs! This is really sad that Amazon doesn't screen their top marketplace sellers.

The cheap dollar store shrinkwrap job was a dead giveaway. Also, if you look close you can see dirt, dust, and "grime" underneath the plastic.

Also, on the back of the GTA game you can see it clearly says "For sale, rental, and use only in Asia".

Of course when you buy it from Amazon you get no warning of this and their feedback is also 100% positive. I assume most people won't even know they've been duped until they try to play one of these games in a DSi or better.

dragoon99 · Jul 4, 2010

This is really terrible. I'll have to watch out everywhere for these bootlegs now.

jab1235 · Jul 4, 2010

bought mario kart a while ago for like 10$ and i poped it into my dsi, didn't work. i thought it was just a region lock or something like that but i never thought it was a bootleg, now i know. but i gave it to my sister for her to play on her ds so at least it is used.

NipPicker · Jul 5, 2010

if you hold the two cart can you tell the what different??? because i am wonder what is stopping people from buying them and trading them in to gamestop for credit

flagg1216 · Jul 5, 2010

In the last year I have come across 3 bootlegged games from a major us retailer. Granted they were used games but still...

and yes you can tell the difference quite easily if you know what to look for. I didn't realize it was a problem until I had bought these games and then did some research when they didn't work in our dsi.

DS Bootlegs

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