How do you tell if a GBC game is a bootleg or original from looking at the cart?

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dhowerter

CAG Veteran
Hi

I'm considering buying some GBC (Game Boy Color) games on ebay and I need to be able to ask the seller to check for certain signs that a GBC cart is a bootleg or a orginal.

So are there any signs that are ALWAYS there on a REAL GBC cart?


BTW, I know two definite signs that are always on **GBA** (Game Boy Advance) carts:

1. On the GBA cart label, on the right, there should be a two digit number IMPRINTED in the label (that is, like it was pressed into the label, but with NO INK ;) You might need to put the cart under a bright light and tilt it to see the number.


2. IN the bottom of the cart, where the contacts are, on the circuit board (what the contacts are attached to), you should see some WHITE lettering saying things like: "Nintendo" and a year and something like "AGB-###".
(Remember the lettering is in WHITE and is on the circuit board, NOT the black plastic of the cart itself ;)



I would greatly appreciate if some people here would check any GBC games they own (USA ones or Japanese imports if you have any) for these two tests (or something similar) and see if they apply to GBC games.

Regardless of that tho, any OTHER ways to determine if a GBC cart is real by looking at it that you do know of? (and do those hold up for Japanese GBC games?)


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Especially on bootleg GBC games:

The label is very fuzzy
The label has the wrong artwork on it
The label says something ridiculous on it like: "Spiderman 3: 120 games!!!"

I have found dozens of bootleg games at my local game stores just by looking at the labels. It's not hard to spot a fake. The bootleggers didn't put much effort into their games (and still don't from what I can tell) whatsoever.

The final test: If it is supposed to have a save feature and they test it and find that it actually saves - it's probably legit.
 
As far as I know, GBC games also have the numbers imprinted into the cart's label. It's also important to know differences between the cart styles: GB carts (Gray), GB/GBC hybrid carts (Black), GBC-only carts (Clear), and Special carts (Pokemon, Kirby Tilt & Tumble, etc.).
 
I have a set of the Japanese versions of the Pokemon games (R,B,G,Y,G,S,C) for Game Boy and Game Boy Color, and they all have numbers imprinted into the cart labels.

The bootleg carts I have seen have the label art, and often the cart color, wrong. I would educate myself on the games you intend to buy, maybe keep a folder of images of genuine carts, and compare the carts you find on eBay. Don't buy unless there is a photo of the actual item in the listing, or unless the seller is willing to send you one. Also check the location of the seller (Japan is fine, but China? Hong Kong? Maybe not so fine) and the seller's feedback to see if there is anything mentioned about bootlegs in any of the feedbacks. That is not always foolproof, as I have seen obvious bootleggers with fine feedback. I can only attribute that to the buyers not knowing, or caring, that they received bootlegs, or being afraid of retaliatory feedback.

Really, you could get legit or counterfeits from high feedback established sellers or low feedback newbies. I think educating yourself what to look for is the key, and getting sellers to provide photos of actual items.

Lol, I had to wade through a sea of fake Pokemon Green games to find the real deal. I only buy complete games, boxes, manuals, inserts and all. That also helps ensure the games are legit- provided you know what to look for though. Many of the fakes are cart only, but many others have incomplete, badly done documentation and/or badly done and/or wrong box art.
 
Shadowrun -


[quote name='Shadowrun']I have a set of the Japanese versions of the Pokemon games (R,B,G,Y,G,S,C) for Game Boy and Game Boy Color, and they all have numbers imprinted into the cart labels.[/QUOTE]

Good to know :)


[quote name='Shadowrun']
The bootleg carts I have seen have the label art, and often the cart color, wrong. I would educate myself on the games you intend to buy, maybe keep a folder of images of genuine carts, and compare the carts you find on eBay. Don't buy unless there is a photo of the actual item in the listing, or unless the seller is willing to send you one..[/QUOTE]

Hmm Ok but this brings me to an obvious question: How are you supposed to GET a pic of a genuine / real specific GBC game's cart? Is there a specific website or something with a bunch of GBC cart pics? (and while I'm at it: GBA and DS cart pics ? ;)


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You might try checking sites that review games, but that might mostly yield the box art. For some games, Amazon has photos (user submitted) of the box, cart, and inserts. Check eBay, for complete games- if they have actual photos and the box and all inserts are included, it's not so likely to be a counterfeit. Compare several- if one looks different than the others, it may be counterfeit. You could also try googling images.

For well known games (like Pokemon), there are likely to be sites that discuss counterfeits and show you what the genuine vs the counterfeits look like.
 
I bought a bootleg version of Astroboy (GBA) that was identical to my friend's legit cart in absolutely every way.
 
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