Did I buy a GBA pirate?

[jajaja]

Today I recived Zelda - Four Swords for GBA. When I first opened the package I noticed that the box looked kinda blurry, same goes with the manual. It looks like its printed with weak colors.

On the ESRB notice on front the "E" have a red dot on it, like some ink have leaked or something.
The cartridge also have a security screw, not a "normal" screw.

I took some pictures, not sure if its easy to see all the details.
Any help would be appriciated

[Cmosfm]

Where'd you buy it from and what does the engraved print on the back of the cartridge say?

[sisko]

It looks authentic to me, but I can't make out the screw. GBA games use a Triwing tip.

[jajaja]

It do have a triwing screw, sorry, didnt explain that good enough.
The ingrave on the back says:

(NINTENDO)
MODEL NO AGB 002
PATPEND MADE IN JAPAN

I did buy it on Ebay, but not from Asia. It was shipped from UK and usual the Asian GBA pirates doesnt have a manual.
But compared to my other GBA games I never seen a such blurry box and manual.
The text on the back of the box are usually much clearer print.

[DDCecil]

I just checked mine and everything looks good so far,so check these tips:

- Mine has 47 Pages - Two staples holding the manual together.
- The cover of the manual should look kind of shiny.
- Does it have a small printed number above the seal of quality on the cartridge if you hold it under the light? (Mine says 13)
- Does it have "2001 Nintendo AGB-E03-20" above the cartridge pins?

[jajaja]

Thanks for the manual tip. Mine is only 10 pages. The box and manual says its the USA version (AGB-ALE-USA).

But it looks like its a pirate Checking the last page on the manual it says:

"Dungeon Items and Heart Containers: When you find Maps, Compasses or Heart containers........... (See page 25)"

I dont have a page 25 lol.


I cant see any "13" over the seal of quality on the cartridge. Same goes with that other number over the pins.
Do you have the USA version? Can you check if it says PAT. PEND. on the back or if it says PATPEND in one word.

[Cmosfm]

Thanks for the manual tip. Mine is only 10 pages. The box and manual says its the USA version (AGB-ALE-USA).

But it looks like its a pirate Checking the last page on the manual it says:

"Dungeon Items and Heart Containers: When you find Maps, Compasses or Heart containers........... (See page 25)"

I dont have a page 25 lol.

Yep, Pirate.

TIP: Never buy GBA Games from eBay

[jajaja]

I have bought many GBA games from Ebay before and all was legit. But your right, like 80% of the GBA games on Ebay are pirated I always checked closesly and ask the seller before i buy.
Do you know anywhere else I can buy GBA games? Not the stores because its so expencive here.

[Cmosfm]

I have bought many GBA games from Ebay before and all was legit. But your right, like 80% of the GBA games on Ebay are pirated I always checked closesly and ask the seller before i buy.
Do you know anywhere else I can buy GBA games? Not the stores because its so expencive here.

Your best bet is to stick with used games from US Sellers. Those are legit most of the time

[Kejoriv]

I cant believe how many pirated GBA games are on Ebay. Are they that easy to make?

[Jumpman Jr.]

I cant believe how many pirated GBA games are on Ebay. Are they that easy to make?

I was wondering the same thing. And another question... are they cheap to make? They must be, because they sell for fairly cheap on ebay, so they have to stay in business somehow.

[jajaja]

Ok, I mailed the seller about it. Thanks for the help all

I didnt know about the small printed number on the cartridges. I checked some of my other games and these also have it. This will be a good way to check for pirates. Thanks for that info DDCecil

[QBert]

I bought a pirate gameboy game from ebay too. Same thing thou, it looked real enough online and it wasn't from an overseas seller, they had good feedback, yada yada and when I got it I could tell right away it was a faker.
Minor thou I guess, it was Bookworm and only my GF plays it and it was under $10. BUT STILL! Fuckers!

The box and manual are blurry and the game still fits in the GBA cartridge slot but it's a little tighter than all my other games.

Last time I buy a GBA game from an ebayer I don't know.
Word.

[Slimedog]

I got screwed this way on a Mega Battle Network 4. It was pretty obivous, the cartridge label was different, the box art was blury and the manual was 6 pages a written in comically incoherent English.

[jajaja]

Ye, the game is alittle tighter and it sticks alittle more up from the cartridge slot. Was your games sealed or only complete? Mine was only complete, not sealed.

[suppafly]

looks like a pirate to me...

[QBert]

Good question, mine was complete but not sealed, and that reminds me. The first thing that made me go WTF was that I had to put the box together myself! It was flat and not made into a box yet, so right there I was skeptical.
Also there was no plastic around the game either. Bastards.

As far as I can tell(from the 1 time I played it) the game is the same as the original, but I only have the PC online ver to compare it to.


Q

[jajaja]

Arg, that flatpacking reminds me of another game i bought months ago. I just checked it, its a pirate too Never knew before now. Fuck, I guess its too late to do something about that one.

I got full refund from the seller who sold me Zelda tho.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

I bought a pirated Megaman & Bass on ebay. Says 'Nintondo on the back'. I also bought Sonic Advance 2 on eBay, but the game included was some disney basketball game.

[SoulBlazer]

Your best bet is to buy from Amazon instead. I've sold and bought several used GBA games there without any problems.