Are there bootleg DS games already?

[Jorpho]

Given the advances in Slot-1 technology like the R4, I would not be surprised to learn of the existence of bootleg DS games. Do these exist already?

(If not, is there any reason not to trust some eBay seller in Hong Kong hawking cheap sealed DS games?)

[MrRoboto19XX]

I know for a fact that Bootleg DS games have been around for about a year now, but I'm not sure how prevalent they are on sites like ebay.

[roushimsx]

I trust second hand DS games about as much as I trust second hand GBA and GB games at this point. If I can't buy it new (either locally or online) in a store like TRU, Circuit City, or Best Buy, then I just won't bother buying it. There's the occasional exception when something like Mazes of Fate come out, but they're few and far between.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Pirate DS carts are out there and I belive they've been around longer than a year. Don't think they are as prevelant as GBA pirates though. I wouldn't trust a Hong Kong source unless you or someone you trust has done business in the past with them and know they sell legit stuff.

[smork]

Yep, they're ubiquitous. Caveat emptor.

[frap]

When I was in Dubai two weeks ago, I saw a few counterfeit DS games. The box art said "Nintendo DS," but the writing was mis-aligned and the font was wrong. On the cart (the box was not sealed), the label was poorly printed and crooked. The instruction manual was a terrible copy. Basically, everything you've seen in counterfeit GBA games all over again.

So, yes, they exist, but the ones I've seen were easy to spot.

-frap

[boatofcar]

Did they (the games in Dubai) come in plastic snap cases or in a different kind of box?

[smork]

Did they (the games in Dubai) come in plastic snap cases or in a different kind of box?

The ones i've seen are as close to the original as a GBA pirate -- some make no attempt at all at authenticity, others are nearly indistinguishable. I've seen alot sold in yellow clamshells.

Funny thing in SE Asia, even though GBA pirates are sold everywhere (even major retailers like Carrefour) the DS pirates aren' sold as much, since the high cost of the pirate versions isn't that much lower than the cost of an original (maybe $15-20 for a pirate vs. $30-35 for original).

[wallydawg]

I could swear I saw a Wiffleball DS pirate at Best Buy. The art on the cover looked all pixelated like they took a 400x300 image from Google Images and printed it full size on regular printer paper.

In retrospect I guess they could have gotten the games damaged in shipping and made new covers for them, hoping no one would notice.

[PapaStu]

I could swear I saw a Wiffleball DS pirate at Best Buy. The art on the cover looked all pixelated like they took a 400x300 image from Google Images and printed it full size on regular printer paper.

No, thats just how the cover looks. Not a bootleg, just one of the worst covers ever.

[Guru of Time and Space]

I could swear I saw a Wiffleball DS pirate at Best Buy. The art on the cover looked all pixelated like they took a 400x300 image from Google Images and printed it full size on regular printer paper.


These are the real covers, actually.
Pretty pathetic.

-GoTaS

[snes_collector]

No, thats just how the cover looks. Not a bootleg, just one of the worst covers ever.

Are you serious? I passed a used one at GS because I thought the cover was printed off some crappy printer. I can't believe thats what it's supposed to look like.

[frap]

Did they (the games in Dubai) come in plastic snap cases or in a different kind of box?


They came in the usual plastic snap cases. They were very very close to original Nintendo cases, but they didn't have the Nintendo logo on the inside.

-frap

[Jorpho]

Well, eBay might be a bad idea, but I find the notion of dealing with Play-Asia again and getting nailed with duty charges (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99889) still turns me off.

Are there tales of bootlegs turning up on Amazon regularly, or are they better at stomping out that kind of thing? Any ideas about whether these sellers (http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000KZ5JAG/) are trustworthy?

[meancode]

I have read a couple articles about bootleg DS carts on ebay. So it is likely too good to be true, sadly.

[norkusa]

What is even more crazy is that there are bootlegs of DS flash cards too (the R4 for instance). Whatever happened to honesty amongst thieves?

[Jorpho]

I have read a couple articles about bootleg DS carts on ebay. So it is likely too good to be true, sadly.

Well, yeah, that's why I'm wondering if Amazon is the same way. ;)