famiclones at the mall

[pango]

Earlier today, my friend and I were at the mall not really expecting to see anything cool. However, we walked by this one toy kiosk and both my friend at I, at the same time, noticed the familiar multicart selection screen displayed on a T.V. "Holy crap!" we said almost at the same time. They were selling famiclones at the mall! This could be the greatest thing that's ever happened to the small city of Little Rock. So naturally we played it for about 5 minutes. http://famiclone.emucamp.com/super-joy-5-cart-version/superjoy-cartvers.jpg
This was the famiclone that was there (image from famiclone.emucamp.com). Although these are common, it was still pretty cool. Damn, they are expensive! $45! Since I had my digital camera, I decided I would take a picture of the find. However, as I took it the guy who worked there (He appeared to be of some Middle-Eastern descent) freaked out and stopped us.
"Eh...You take picture?" he asked.
"Yeah" I said.
"You can't picture...you ask first. You delete picture can you?" he then tells us.
"You know, those games you are selling are illegal products" I say.
"Eh...Delete picture" he said.
LOL
So I deleted the picture anyway. It was so funny though.

[Achika]

Um, it's against the law to take a picture in a mall anyhow....

[jonjandran]

Um, it's against the law to take a picture in a mall anyhow....

HUH ?????

Elaborate please......... :eek 2:

[kai123]

I would like to know why too.

[Arqueologia_Digital]

Um, it's against the law to take a picture in a mall anyhow....
Why???

[jonjandran]

After doing some research this is what I found out.

It's not illegal to take pictures in Malls. It's just a lot of Malls have a no photography RULE. In case you're staking out the joint to rob it , etc.

But you won't get arrested for doing it. The worst they could do is ask you to leave.

And they Can't take your camera or film or make you delete the picture. They can only make you leave and maybe try to ban you from the mall.

[Pantechnicon]

I ran into a similar kiosk at a mall in Carlsbad, California whilst visiting by in-laws over Thanksgiving. My brother-in-law and I walked up to see the famiclones so I could explain to him how they were different from my own, which is a Power Joy II. I was immediately accosted by the salesman I will herewith refer to as "Achmed". Achmed was a walking Middle Eastern cliche: Five o'clock shadow, cheap cologne, wearing a red Adidas sweatsuit accessorized with gaudy bling-bling. Accent suggested he was perhaps Turkish.

So Achmed overheard me talking to my bro-in-law and says, "Ah, you have seen these before, yes? These are $49.95"

"Yes," I reply. "And I'm sort of surprised that you can get away with selling them here in the U.S. Doesn't Nintendo still hold a copyright on the Famicom chipset?"

"Well, a lot of these games are 'old school', you see."

"I understand that. But both the chipset and these ROMs are copyrighted."

"Well, some of these games are actually old Atari games."

The sheer audacity of that statement caused me to raise an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Like what?"

Achmed paused and said, "Um, Galaga! Is number 14 on menu."

So I turn on Galaga, which I immediately recognize as the Famicom version. I am equal parts amused and disgusted. "This is the Famicom version of Galaga. Atari only made one port of Galaga for the 7800 and this isn't it And in any case, I know for a fact that Galaga is still copyrighted by Namco, and that the Famicom chipset is still the intellectual property of Nintendo, which brings me back to my original question of how you're getting away with selling these in the U.S."

Achmed takes a step back tries to change the subject. "Have you seen them at a better price?"

"Yes I have. QVC sells the Power Joy II for $30.00. It doesn't have as many games (and incidentally, Achmed, there is no freaking way this thing has 76000 games on it), but it does have a cartridge port as well as an integrated light gun. Besides, I had a Super Joy III like this and the motherboard melted as soon as I plugged it in."

"Ah, but I give you warranty." (Sure, I think, and I'll bet you 76000 dollars that after Christmas your customers with warranty issues will never see you again because you'll be back in Istanbul by that point.)

"Well", I say," I'm just saying that the Power Joy is better built and cheaper. And you still haven't answered my question. Not like I personally care, mind you, but don't you worry that Nintendo will come sue your butt off for selling these?"

At this point Achmed lost all sense of slickness and said, "Okay smart boy. How many do you want, hm? You buy more than one and I give you deal, yes?"

"I'll think about it, Achmed." As soon as we got out of earshot I told my brother-in-law that no matter how bad he may want to play NES again do not buy a Famiclone from this guy. 8-)

[jaybird]

Was this in McCain or Park Plaza mall?

I'm going to have to go check it out tomorrow.

[Achika]

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0021Lr&unified_p=1

I know people I've went to school with have gotten in BIG trouble before for photographing in the local malls. Maybe it's just Detroit though. However, if they ask you to leave or stop taking images, and you refuse, they can nab you for "tresspassing"

I believe it's in southern France, if you take a person's picture without their permission they can ask for your film or take it to the police.

[SoulBlazer]

QVC sells these? :eek 2:

How does a large company get away with selling a blantaly aganist the law product without the Big N filing lawsuits aganist them like the old days? O_O

[MarioAllStar2600]

Famiclones are everywhere. They are taking over our households, minute by miniute. Im serious, those things are everywhere.

[slip81]

does anyone know where I can get one of these machines online? I'd love to have one for my collection, but living in a tiny R.I town makes it hard to find cool things like this.

[Kejoriv]

Ebay has a ton of them right now.

[evg2000]

QVC has them:
http://www.qvc.com/asp/frameset.asp?nest=%2Fasp%2FisItemNumberRedirect.as p&search=SQ&frames=y&referrer=QVC&txtDesc=video+game+tv

[pango]

Was this in McCain or Park Plaza mall?

I'm going to have to go check it out tomorrow.
park plaza. a kiosk on the bottom floor i think. its the one that sells remote control cars.