The 'Power Joy III' Sold in USA Malls - AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

[Epicenter]

There is a Famicom Clone being sold in many USA malls, called the Power Joy II or Power Joy III. The box also reads POWER PLAYER. I found one today at my local mall and decided, what the hell. I'd been having a bad day and thought a famiclone purchase (if it was good) might cheer me up.

[ I'd had to listen to a loser's flagrant racial slurs at the bus stop and had to silently put up with them to avoid confronation .. misinterpreted directions and subsequently missed a movie, and been hit in the head by a bird today. Yeah, a fucking bird. ]

Here is what it looked like to the letter, basically.

The demo unit played well enough, so I thought I'd pick one up. One guy selling it at a Kiosk was middle-eastern, seemingly from an Arab nation, so I haggled him down from $45 to $35. Upon bringing mine home (I was pretty happy with the purchase), I opened it and found the following, as I was expecting.

- 1 'Power Joy III' unit, an N64 controller-Shaped Famicom with AV Composite Video and Mono AV Audio.
- Its Mono Audio and Composite Video cables.
- Its 120V -> 9v/500mAh adapter (USA voltage)
- Genesis/MegaDrive-style controller with 6 buttons (wtf?)
- Walther PPK-style light gun
- Bare tiny 76-in-1 Multicart PCB with a case to put it in (not done for me). 76 written on it in White-out.

I was pretty pleased with it at first.. but then the problems set in right away.

Video: The quality was poor, very wavy .. the picture from the demo unit was crisp.

Audio: Worse than at the kiosk, not only was the sound dull, but the Background music was so quiet it was near inaudible. If enough sounds played back to back the system fell silent for entire seconds.

Compatibility: Numerous games would crash or fail to run.

Stability: The cartridge slot proved unstable. The tiniest movement or air current in the room would reset the machine.

Comfort: After 5 minutes the back of the controller's sharp edges came close to cutting my palms. The buttons (A/B) were spaced too far apart.

I thought sound would improve if I stepped up the adapter to 800 mAh, per Nintendo's Famicom spec. Removed an annoying hum but the same sound issues remained.

Then .. the B button jammed and so did Left! Then, Down became near-unusable. You could tap it .. but if you held it, say, to make Mario duck .. you'd duck and jump right back up instantly. You could not keep a signal going from the button-- you had to just use it briefly.

These machines are TERRIBLE, but I feel these mistakes will not be enough for them to take it back despite the warranty they assured me of (if it breaks, bring it back and we'll refund you.) I opened it and cut a lead in a place you couldn't spot without examining it for hours, and reassembled it flawlessly. The machine is now inoperable, so I am quite confident they will take it back. I will NOT take no for an answer. If I have to I'll get the mall manager to deal with it, providing proof from Nintendo that this is a pirate (and thereby illegal) good, especially to sell in the USA.

NOTE: The internals are horrible. Glue holds on all connectors-- no solder. The Famicom on a Chip is poorly placed. Nothing is well attached .. no screws. Boards are TAPED in. With white tape, not duct tape or anything strong. :P

I know it's a pirate and to expect bad things from them-- but there ARE a lot of good pirate pieces of equipment. But stay away from this one, it is very bad news. Odds are it pops up in a mall near you -- avoid it, and I think you just might thank me later.

P.S. One of the kiosk-keepers wanted me to build a web site (after I mentioned I like to collect units like these for my site) about these things, and promote them. I don't think I can in good conscience do that. :P Maybe warn consumers is some discreet way they don't pick up on. (the guy was so un-computer saavy, pulling a fast one would not be tough. I am not the bad guy here.. )

But these guys don't seem to know what they are selling is even illegal. 1 man looked Mexican, the other perhaps Pakistani. I know he was Middle Eastern. Another friend of mine in another state on the Eastern Coast reported a turkish man selling them at his mall as well. The Mexican man did not know anything about it ("Shit man, I don't know what the fuck's up with this shit, I don't make it, I just sell it") whereas the (Pakistani?) man looked like he knew what was going on ..

.. BTW, the machines are clearly marked MADE IN CHINA.

Just a friendly consumer warning.

[Epicenter]

There we go .. found a pic of the real deal. Off the manufacturer's web site, which almost seems US/UK based by the perfect English (http://www.powerjoy3.com) .. but this awful manufacturing process is all HK. ;)

[Querjek]

That's why I only settle for my real Famicom :)

If you're intereted in getting rid of the multicart, LMK.

[Oobgarm]

I got one of those(exactly like the photo above) not too long ago. The only complaint I have is that the down button isn't always 'DOWN', more like 'DOWN-LEFT' or 'DOWN-RIGHT'. Kinda sucks when you're playing Contra. I mainly got it for kitsch value, and the light gun that came with it is pretty cool. I'm gonna attempt to replace the buttons with ones from N64 controllers, if possible.

I used a different set of video wires and saw an instant improvement in picture quality.

[Nez]

I've seen the pos at my local swapmarts. I hate to insult my race but it is all ways being sold by some poor mexican. I took one cold hard look at it and figured it would blow, even tough it has some games that never came to america avoidance is necesary.

[Sion]

HEY come on let the poor guy vent. Not only did his Famiclone suck and have major issues, he was hit in the head by a BIRD.

[SegaAges]

dude, I would request to have them test my unit right then and there. Every single place I shop at (I try not to shop at places like best buy and such), I always request that I see the actual unit that I am buying get tested. Sometimes when I buy 64 games or something from an eb games, they can't be tested because they don't have any 64 units around.

Most places won't care if you ask that (unless you are buying a new system or game). Well, the places in Omaha don't care.

[Flack]

Mmmm, I love the smell of hypocrisy in the morning...

Hah, you caught that too? The selling of the unit is unethical, but breaking it further to return it isn't? Same as the people who complain to eBay sellers after they got ripped off for trying to buy bootlegged goods, IMO.

The Power Player is a POS, but you get what you pay for. I also noticed a video quality improvement by switching out cables and using batteries instead of the included power supply. I keep mine in my minivan and my son and I often play games in the back while we make momma drive us around.

[john_soper]

Yeah, I got one of those at a flea for $20 and usually throw it in the suitcase on business trips in case the hotel room tv has an AV jack.
I consider the unit unethical for having NES roms without permission, but also think Nintendo was a very unethical company when those games were first sold and IMHO they deserve a small penalty. <now putting on flameproof suit>

[RetroYoungen]

At one point there were two sellers of these in my local mall at the same time. I went up to one of them once and asked him about it, and he had no idea how to answer some of my questions.

Me: "I just don't know how something like this would be entirely legal."
Him: "I don't... well, I'm sure it is, otherwise we shouldn't sell it."

He must have been new. I can't believe that they tried to mask the games in such a weak way... I mean, "Galaza?" Really! The LEAST they can do is TRY.

[Cmosfm]

One guy selling it at a Kiosk was middle-eastern, seemingly from an Arab nation, so I haggled him down from $45 to $35.

Hmmm, ever walked in Wal-Mart and try to haggle the prices down? How about Target? So since it's a kiosk owned by a middle-eastern it's alright. Gotta love that stereotype!


Video: The quality was poor, very wavy .. the picture from the demo unit was crisp.

Audio: Worse than at the kiosk, not only was the sound dull, but the Background music was so quiet it was near inaudible. If enough sounds played back to back the system fell silent for entire seconds.

Yep, those damn middle-easterners....putting the good quality units out there for display! How about this...did you ever think that maybe it was your television and your connection? I personally have a Power Joy and it works fine. I think it's your TV, you already said there not very smart (great race belittling there)....so how did they manufacture this far superior unit for display then?


Comfort: After 5 minutes the back of the controller's sharp edges came close to cutting my palms. The buttons (A/B) were spaced too far apart.

I thought you played this at the kiosk....what did you give it a 2 second trial run or something? I know I would feel it cutting into my hands while testing it. Must be those dumb, money desperate, middle-easterners again with there damn superior display models.


These machines are TERRIBLE, but I feel these mistakes will not be enough for them to take it back despite the warranty they assured me of (if it breaks, bring it back and we'll refund you.) I opened it and cut a lead in a place you couldn't spot without examining it for hours, and reassembled it flawlessly. The machine is now inoperable, so I am quite confident they will take it back. I will NOT take no for an answer. If I have to I'll get the mall manager to deal with it, providing proof from Nintendo that this is a pirate (and thereby illegal) good, especially to sell in the USA.

It's already been pointed out, but 2 wrongs don't make a right. Hypocrisy I tell you! You wouldn't want to report them if it worked right now would you? So pirates are A-OK with you unless they break on you. Damn, I wish I had shifty morals like that


I know it's a pirate and to expect bad things from them-- but there ARE a lot of good pirate pieces of equipment. But stay away from this one, it is very bad news. Odds are it pops up in a mall near you

Am I mistaken or didn't you just degrade pirates in your last statement and then mention there are "good pirates" in the very next statement. Would you report them to Nintendo also?


(the guy was so un-computer saavy, pulling a fast one would not be tough. I am not the bad guy here.. )

And how do you know he's "un-computer saavy"? I'm just assuming this is more of your middle-eastern stereotype BS.


.. BTW, the machines are clearly marked MADE IN CHINA.

Paid any attention to anything else you bought lately? Most stuff is made in china...just because it's not US made doesn't automatically make it garbage.

Did you know a lot of this "pirate"stuff is legal? Did you know that what you bought just may be legal? Theres lot's of technicalities with these things, and they can be easily overlooked by not including a word or changing a simple graphic. Also....lot's of time Nintendo just doesn't give a rats ass. I'm pretty sure the Big N is just ready on the call for any yokel from an unknown town selling pirated systems in a mall. That must be it, I'm pretty sure your call will make all the difference in the world....Shigeru Miyamato himself will come to your local mall and lay a beat down on that dirty rotten, money hungry, lying, dumb middle-easterner. Then he'll ship him back to his country where he belongs! Damn them Middle-Easterners! Good fer nuthin!

[Epicenter]

Does it work decently? :P I basically just want one that's really good enough to use as an everyday console. The Yarou seems the most professional .. I probably go with that one. But for $40 plus $15 to ship it stateside I'd want to be sure. Can anyone report if the Polystations are decent machines?

[TRM]

Atleast your mall sells those things. I would have bought one in a heart beat if my mall sold one...even if it was crappy.

[Epicenter]

I want to avoid keyboard models If I can though.

[Epicenter]

Atleast your mall sells those things. I would have bought one in a heart beat if my mall sold one...even if it was crappy.

Yeah, well, I may be a pirate collector but I'm kinda finicky. I only want to spend GOOD money on it if it works worth a damn. If not I'd only want to shell out a tiny bit for the novelty of it.

[Push Upstairs]

No problem here. Nintendo is a great company with great game, but their strong-arm business tactics (especially in the NES era) and their moronic handling of the SNES CD drive (later the PSX) lead them where they are today. Reap what you sow, Nintendo.

Amen to that.

Not really refering to anyone here on DP, but i was always amazed at how gamers..errr Fanboys would bitch about Microsoft or Sony trying to get a monopoly on the market when Nintendo HAD one.

[DigitalSpace]

Yarou:
http://www.nesplayer.com/pirates/hardware/HD_FamicomYarou_2.jpg



That kinda looks like a Genesis 3.

[Epicenter]

Yeah, but then again I liked how the Gen3 looked. Just not its guts. Majesco, you're not allowed to design hardware anymore, OK, thanks, bye. Get out. <g>

[DigitalSpace]

Yeah, but then again I liked how the Gen3 looked. Just not its guts. Majesco, you're not allowed to design hardware anymore, OK, thanks, bye. Get out. <g>

LOL

I liked the look of the Genesis 3 myself. I just bought a Genesis and I would have gone with a model 3... if it weren't for those damn guts.

(For those wondering, I bought a model 2, same model my brother owned back in the day.)

Model 3 could have had so much potiential. For example, Sega or Majesco could have made an attachable LCD screen and car adapter and would have been way ahead of the PSone. Such a shame...

ahem, sorry, I'm bringing the thread off topic.

Anyways, the Yarou looks a lot better than that N64 lookalike thing. Here's hope it's not another piece of crap. LOL

[Raedon]

I see them at flea's all the time for $10-20.. they are worth it. the III has Contra, galaga, galaxian, and like 60 actual games

The best part of these units you didn't mention. they can take AA's and last days on them.

Sorry you got one that was flawed.. just take it back.. mine has worked great a year..

[Epicenter]

Yeah, I'd gladly pay that kind of money for a good Famiclone, maybe you could pick one up and sell it to me? perhaps photograph some of them at the market; I'd love to check 'em out. :D

If I don't get a Yarou (too little info, I want to know the product's guts looked good. The Gen3 looked good and its guts were horrific, esp. the sound hardware and lack of Z80 sound microprocessor.) The Polystations appear decent in and out. I don't like the casing too much and would probably gut it and put it in another enclosure, but in the meantime I just want something to get my 'com on. ;)

[vintagegamecrazy]

These units are all junk, and illegal. Anything thats legal will say endorsed by nintendo!!!!!!!!!!! These companies can't even spell names of games right, their IDIOTS!!!!! They are sold at my mall too, and I will have nothing to do with it, I have also found these at Meijer and various other retailers. I have a friend who's a collector and he had many of these things and offered them to me and I turned him down for the cheepness of them, my brother bought one and the second or third time it was hooked up it completely died. I refuse to have any part of these. I have come across a few pirate carts for genny snes and nes in the wild, bought them and realized their pirates, only one of them still work properly the rest are flimsy crap. The sad thing is these things are sold in mass quantity and no one knows their illegal. At the rate their going, they might as well set up kiosks in the mall to illegally download music from the net, I agree with the first post, avoid these things at all costs. If you like this stuff RadioShack sells the Namco 5 in 1 joystick with 5 of their classics and it is legit. I work there.

[Daria]

Yeah, but then again I liked how the Gen3 looked. Just not its guts. Majesco, you're not allowed to design hardware anymore, OK, thanks, bye. Get out. <g>

I never really noticed anything amiss when playing games on my Genesis 3, but then my dad bought 2 of them for $20 each when they were brand new so, replacing a dead console for $20 isn't half bad regardless of the sound quaility.

I was able to switch out one of my Gen3s for a Genesis model 1 when I worked at GameStop though since to them a genesis is a genesis regardless of the model. That was sweet.

Now the Majesco gamegear is a fucking cheap piece of crap.
________
CUMSHOT EYE (http://www.fucktube.com/categories/488/eye/videos/1)

[Cantaloup]

The part that I find incomprehensible is that these were sold, on more than one occasion, on QVC! I had written a previous post (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=23881&highlight=) about this, and even e-mailed QVC asking about the legality of the product. I don't remember exactly what they said in their reply, but I think it was along the lines of "we check all our products and it's OK".

:duh:

[Push Upstairs]

Now the Majesco gamegear is a fucking cheap piece of crap.

How so?

[Epicenter]

Sound is fucked up and due to lack of a Z80 (the head honcho sound microprocessor that drives ALL the audio rendering chips) is missing and replaced with a bad work-alike .. A LOT OF GAMES HAVE NO SOUND or can't even run o.o

And the Majesco Game Gear is the same thing .. more expensive in a new box with TV Tuner compatibility removed (WHY?!)

[Epicenter]

Now I am FURIOUS. My machine's sound was horrifyingly bad (music near inaudible, Sound FX were static ..) the graphics were fucked up, a lot of games couldn't run, and the controller was heavily damaged after 5 mins of play. I ask to return it and they refuse. "NO MAN! NO REFUND MAN! NO! NO, MAN, I CAN GIVE YOU ANOTHER, DUDE, NO, I DON'T CARE IF IT MIGHT BREAK TOO YOU CAN'T GET REFUND, MAN! NO MAN!" I threw the damn thing out right in front of the bastards.

He also did some ODD things.
#1. The machine was DEAD when I gave it to him, he disappeared for a moment and POOF, it worked. And the missing screw was back. Apparently he swapped it to trick me. Not that I didn't try to trick him, but only because he was too ignorant to NOTICE the lack of sound or controller problems when they were flagrantly pointed out.

#2. He insisted *I* open the box. He seemed incapable of it .. that strikes me as VERY strange .. like he had never done it ..

#3. The same guys ran a kiosk with fake gold crosses and fake Power Rangers bootleg toys. If they weren't so obviously making the stuff I'd suspect they jacked it off the back of a stopped truck and sold it at the mall for profit.

I don't mind pirates with RESPECT and DIGNITY. I have PROOF they infringe copyrights of Nintendo on NUMEROUS counts, Konami, Capcom, Sega, and even LUCASARTS. Stolen internal design, stolen software (76 titles), stolen controller designs, stolen boxart from Star Wars, et cetera. I'm going to put together enough information that the case against them would be enough to get them DEPORTED (whatever company is running this scam is sending sellers overseas). Whether or not they do anything about it, I do not know. But Nintendo has a STRICT anti-piracy stance and they do NOT take shit like this lying down, and neither do I.

As the icing on the cake I think I'll give the case to the mall manager too .. see their little Kiosk vanish.

I know I may come across as a real dick to people who want these, but I won't stand being cheated. I simply won't tolerate being given inferior and damaged products, then rape me Customer Service style. It's going to stop. :P Anyone with me, please let me know, more than one voice is better than none. Tons of uninformed consumers are getting suckered into these things.

[DigitalSpace]

#3. The same guys ran a kiosk with fake gold crosses and fake Power Rangers bootleg toys.


Fake Power Ranger toys? I thought Power Rangers were out of style a long time ago. Sorry, I know it's off topic, but that got a laugh out of me. LOL

[Epicenter]

Chinese bootleggers have not figured out yet that the Famicom went out of style 10 years ago .. <g>

[Daria]

Now the Majesco gamegear is a fucking cheap piece of crap.

How so?

Compared to the Gen3 I mean. The Majesco Gamegear plays games alright but the sound is "metalic" and it really irks me that on mine the screen labels off a bit and blocks part of the power light. And of course the logo's white instead of in color. Just overall it has a cheaper look.

Course when my boyfriend bought it for me the seller advertised it as a normal GameGear so I was a little pissed when I discovered it wasn't. Couldn't make a fuss about it because it was a very sweet gesture on my boyfriend's part to replace my old one. But I may be slightly bias in my opinion.

I do however like the purple start button and the blacker plastic.

I think the Gen 3 (despite the absence of a power light) is an attractive little machine. And pretty study at that I've droped a bunk bed on one without any physical or cosmetic damage.
________
Iolite No Vapor (http://www.vaporshop.com)

[Flack]

Anyone with me, please let me know

No one here is with you.

[tritium]

I live in Miami, FL. Spanish people and arabic people have similar bloodlines because the moors invaded spain many many centuries. Hence the similarity in looks at times. However being hispanic, and having had worked with middle easter people before, I instantly recognize the difference. Its in the voice.

In at least 4 different malls in my area there are kiosks with middle-easter people selling those bootleg systems. The same exact ones originally depicted here. And yes, they're very very bad quality.

Also, apparently the first instict of these people is to haggle in price. I spoke to one of these guys and he tried to lower the price to convince me to buy one. This is common behavior amongst middle eastern sales people. I learned this when I worked at an electronics wholesaler with one. Very interesting tactics as well.

[Push Upstairs]

Compared to the Gen3 I mean. The Majesco Gamegear plays games alright but the sound is "metalic" and it really irks me that on mine the screen labels off a bit and blocks part of the power light. And of course the logo's white instead of in color. Just overall it has a cheaper look.

Had i known it was a Majesco GG when i bought it 4 years ago i probably wouldnt have bought it. But since i only have 2 games for the system and i rarely play it i guess i'm alright.



I think the Gen 3 (despite the absence of a power light) is an attractive little machine. And pretty study at that I've droped a bunk bed on one without any physical or cosmetic damage.

I dont care for the Genesis 3. I like its small size, but the fact that you cant use shit with it really hinders it.

I also dont like the fact that the game genie doesnt work with the thing. They opening is large enough to fit imports but if you wanna play region locked games (ala Bare Knuckle 3) you cannot use a Game Genie to play them on the system.

But my buddy in England is happy he got a Genesis 3.

[Cmosfm]

I ask to return it and they refuse. "NO MAN! NO REFUND MAN! NO! NO, MAN, I CAN GIVE YOU ANOTHER, DUDE, NO, I DON'T CARE IF IT MIGHT BREAK TOO YOU CAN'T GET REFUND, MAN! NO MAN!"

PWNED!

LOL

[Oobgarm]

Mine was performing less than satisfactorily when I first got it, and it didn't have Contra, the one game I wasnted to buy it for.

I took it back there the next day and asked to exchange it. The Middle-Eastern guy was more than polite about it and told me he'd give me a refund if I wasn't satisfied. I told him I appreciated his kindness, and took the system home that had Contra on it.

[GamecubeFreek]

My friend and I were at a mall a few weeks ago when we saw a kiosk where they had them. We had some time to kill so we spent some time looking at the box, and laughing at it's obvious pirated nature. The guy running the place (he was not a foreigner by the way) asked if I wanted to play it. I said sure, and I played it for a few minutes as I talked to him (by the way, the controller was crap). I asked if it cost a lot to get Nintendo and other companies to license their games to them (obviously a stupid question) and answered something about the games not needing to be licensed. I then said "how so?" and he said something about them being public domain. I told him that they werent and probably illegal. He just grunted, and then I said, ya know what? These ARE illegal. He kinda looked nervous and he quit talking to me. I dont even know how much of what I said even made sense, but I knew he wouldnt know anything about it, so I figured I would screw with him. Also as I was leaving, there was somebody looking at them, I convinced him not to buy it.-----some of you probably think I am a jerk, but I dont like anything that is pirated.

[Epicenter]

I only like Pirate hardware that works worth a damn .. and only when it's not for sale in a country where legitimate stuff is the norm. At least in countries like China and Brazil you EXPECT everything to be pirated, so you can keep your guard up-- but in the US people don't think about that. Moms and such are going out and getting this for their kids and then having them break, then Poof! the Kiosk vanishes, or the guy just screams and refuses to take it back. Seems a lot safer to buy from a retailer like Lik-Sang than to get them from the real manufacturer apparently, if you must have one of them (I collect pirate equipment for the novelty factor.)

[Achika]

I get questions on these damn units about once a day. I'm sorry, but if you're really expecting Xbox/PS2/Gamecube quality because the "box shows pictures of it" for $20, then you deserve to be taken.

"Why doesn't the cartridge have 9999 games? The box says it should"

You didn't really expect that many games for $20 right?

"Why do games repeat?"

So they can bump up the number.

"My Super Joy III is broken, how can I get it fixed?"

They are cheap pieces of crap, just go buy a new one.

"What are the numbers at the end of the title?"

I don't know, and frankly I don't really care

"I'm looking for Pac Man, why isn't it on here?"

Did anyone say it was? If so, they were probably just trying to make a sale. The games aren't exactly legal in the form found on the Super Joy carts, so if there's something like it on there, it probably doesn't just come out and say "PAC MAN"

"The unit you show and the unit I have look the same, why are the carts different?"

Because there's so many package variations, carts differ but units stay the same.
-------
Most of the emails are now being ignored, since people don't feel like reading through the little FAQ that I have on the same page that answer many of the questions.

Now onto the unit in question. You knew what you were getting into, you knew that the units are shoddy, games illegal, etc. before you bought it, so why are you bitching now? An informed customer makes a good customer.

The Polystations that I have are about as crappy as the Super Joys.

[Flack]

I only like Pirate hardware that works worth a damn .. and only when it's not for sale in a country where legitimate stuff is the norm. At least in countries like China and Brazil you EXPECT everything to be pirated, so you can keep your guard up-- but in the US people don't think about that. Moms and such are going out and getting this for their kids and then having them break, then Poof! the Kiosk vanishes, or the guy just screams and refuses to take it back. Seems a lot safer to buy from a retailer like Lik-Sang than to get them from the real manufacturer apparently, if you must have one of them (I collect pirate equipment for the novelty factor.)

I should just drop this but, are you saying you didn't realize it was a pirate machine?

You know what? Let's cut to the chase here. Your entire line of thought is irrational, from beginning to end. First, it's okay to buy a pirate console, because you wanted one. Then you got it home and were disappointed that it was a cheaply made pirate console. So now you are lobbying against the company because you're so rightous that you don't want anyone else to buy a pirate console. Unless it's one you approve of.

If you couldn't tell that that thing was a cheap-ass piece of plastic waiting to break just by looking at it, then you deserve what you got. The one I bought (from a legitimate store in the mall, not a kiosk) had a broken B button, which I ultimately had to fix. There are several threads on this board discussing the quality and people's opinions about those things. Instead of searching for them, you end up with like half a dozen threads talking about these things. If someone were to go bump all your threads about overclocking consoles I'm sure you could domainate the entire first page of the forums!

Dude, let me help you out here. Nobody cares. Everybody knows they suck. People that don't know they suck get what they paid for. If you have a bad taco at Taco Bell next week I don't need you lobbying to get them all shut down. You already bought the damn Powerjoy -- it's tough to pull off the whole chivilrous "I'm here to save all the poor mommies who might unsuspectingly buy mean nasty pirate hardware" when YOU ARE SUPPORTING THE PIRATE INDUSTRY. YOU ALREADY BOUGHT ONE!

If you want to go fight the pirate hardware industry from Hong Kong then you're gonna need a good lawyer and about eight hundred years or so because there's a lot of cheap shit coming from there. My guess is your lawyer's first piece of advice will be to quit buying pirate hardware.

I will save you some lawyer's fees here. If you don't want to be disappointed by cheap-ass chop-socky hardware, then QUIT BUYING IT.

[Cmosfm]

I only like Pirate hardware that works worth a damn .. and only when it's not for sale in a country where legitimate stuff is the norm. At least in countries like China and Brazil you EXPECT everything to be pirated, so you can keep your guard up-- but in the US people don't think about that. Moms and such are going out and getting this for their kids and then having them break, then Poof! the Kiosk vanishes, or the guy just screams and refuses to take it back. Seems a lot safer to buy from a retailer like Lik-Sang than to get them from the real manufacturer apparently, if you must have one of them (I collect pirate equipment for the novelty factor.)

I should just drop this but, are you saying you didn't realize it was a pirate machine?

You know what? Let's cut to the chase here. Your entire line of thought is irrational, from beginning to end. First, it's okay to buy a pirate console, because you wanted one. Then you got it home and were disappointed that it was a cheaply made pirate console. So now you are lobbying against the company because you're so rightous that you don't want anyone else to buy a pirate console. Unless it's one you approve of.

If you couldn't tell that that thing was a cheap-ass piece of plastic waiting to break just by looking at it, then you deserve what you got. The one I bought (from a legitimate store in the mall, not a kiosk) had a broken B button, which I ultimately had to fix. There are several threads on this board discussing the quality and people's opinions about those things. Instead of searching for them, you end up with like half a dozen threads talking about these things. If someone were to go bump all your threads about overclocking consoles I'm sure you could domainate the entire first page of the forums!

Dude, let me help you out here. Nobody cares. Everybody knows they suck. People that don't know they suck get what they paid for. If you have a bad taco at Taco Bell next week I don't need you lobbying to get them all shut down. You already bought the damn Powerjoy -- it's tough to pull off the whole chivilrous "I'm here to save all the poor mommies who might unsuspectingly buy mean nasty pirate hardware" when YOU ARE SUPPORTING THE PIRATE INDUSTRY. YOU ALREADY BOUGHT ONE!

If you want to go fight the pirate hardware industry from Hong Kong then you're gonna need a good lawyer and about eight hundred years or so because there's a lot of cheap shit coming from there. My guess is your lawyer's first piece of advice will be to quit buying pirate hardware.

I will save you some lawyer's fees here. If you don't want to be disappointed by cheap-ass chop-socky hardware, then QUIT BUYING IT.

Well said Flack! Well said. I couldn't agree more.

[Packerfan66]

One guy selling it at a Kiosk was middle-eastern, seemingly from an Arab nation, so I haggled him down from $45 to $35.

Hmmm, ever walked in Wal-Mart and try to haggle the prices down? How about Target? So since it's a kiosk owned by a middle-eastern it's alright. Gotta love that stereotype!


Video: The quality was poor, very wavy .. the picture from the demo unit was crisp.

Audio: Worse than at the kiosk, not only was the sound dull, but the Background music was so quiet it was near inaudible. If enough sounds played back to back the system fell silent for entire seconds.

Yep, those damn middle-easterners....putting the good quality units out there for display! How about this...did you ever think that maybe it was your television and your connection? I personally have a Power Joy and it works fine. I think it's your TV, you already said there not very smart (great race belittling there)....so how did they manufacture this far superior unit for display then?


Comfort: After 5 minutes the back of the controller's sharp edges came close to cutting my palms. The buttons (A/B) were spaced too far apart.

I thought you played this at the kiosk....what did you give it a 2 second trial run or something? I know I would feel it cutting into my hands while testing it. Must be those dumb, money desperate, middle-easterners again with there damn superior display models.


These machines are TERRIBLE, but I feel these mistakes will not be enough for them to take it back despite the warranty they assured me of (if it breaks, bring it back and we'll refund you.) I opened it and cut a lead in a place you couldn't spot without examining it for hours, and reassembled it flawlessly. The machine is now inoperable, so I am quite confident they will take it back. I will NOT take no for an answer. If I have to I'll get the mall manager to deal with it, providing proof from Nintendo that this is a pirate (and thereby illegal) good, especially to sell in the USA.

It's already been pointed out, but 2 wrongs don't make a right. Hypocrisy I tell you! You wouldn't want to report them if it worked right now would you? So pirates are A-OK with you unless they break on you. Damn, I wish I had shifty morals like that


I know it's a pirate and to expect bad things from them-- but there ARE a lot of good pirate pieces of equipment. But stay away from this one, it is very bad news. Odds are it pops up in a mall near you

Am I mistaken or didn't you just degrade pirates in your last statement and then mention there are "good pirates" in the very next statement. Would you report them to Nintendo also?


(the guy was so un-computer saavy, pulling a fast one would not be tough. I am not the bad guy here.. )

And how do you know he's "un-computer saavy"? I'm just assuming this is more of your middle-eastern stereotype BS.


.. BTW, the machines are clearly marked MADE IN CHINA.

Paid any attention to anything else you bought lately? Most stuff is made in china...just because it's not US made doesn't automatically make it garbage.

Did you know a lot of this "pirate"stuff is legal? Did you know that what you bought just may be legal? Theres lot's of technicalities with these things, and they can be easily overlooked by not including a word or changing a simple graphic. Also....lot's of time Nintendo just doesn't give a rats ass. I'm pretty sure the Big N is just ready on the call for any yokel from an unknown town selling pirated systems in a mall. That must be it, I'm pretty sure your call will make all the difference in the world....Shigeru Miyamato himself will come to your local mall and lay a beat down on that dirty rotten, money hungry, lying, dumb middle-easterner. Then he'll ship him back to his country where he belongs! Damn them Middle-Easterners! Good fer nuthin!

Don't listen to this guy. He probably sells this crap on the corner too. LOL

[Packerfan66]

There is a Famicom Clone being sold in many USA malls, called the Power Joy II or Power Joy III. The box also reads POWER PLAYER. I found one today at my local mall and decided, what the hell. I'd been having a bad day and thought a famiclone purchase (if it was good) might cheer me up.

[ I'd had to listen to a loser's flagrant racial slurs at the bus stop and had to silently put up with them to avoid confronation .. misinterpreted directions and subsequently missed a movie, and been hit in the head by a bird today. Yeah, a fucking bird. ]

Here is what it looked like to the letter, basically.
http://superjoy3.com/images/front.jpg

The demo unit played well enough, so I thought I'd pick one up. One guy selling it at a Kiosk was middle-eastern, seemingly from an Arab nation, so I haggled him down from $45 to $35. Upon bringing mine home (I was pretty happy with the purchase), I opened it and found the following, as I was expecting.

- 1 'Power Joy III' unit, an N64 controller-Shaped Famicom with AV Composite Video and Mono AV Audio.
- Its Mono Audio and Composite Video cables.
- Its 120V -> 9v/500mAh adapter (USA voltage)
- Genesis/MegaDrive-style controller with 6 buttons (wtf?)
- Walther PPK-style light gun
- Bare tiny 76-in-1 Multicart PCB with a case to put it in (not done for me). 76 written on it in White-out.

I was pretty pleased with it at first.. but then the problems set in right away.

Video: The quality was poor, very wavy .. the picture from the demo unit was crisp.

Audio: Worse than at the kiosk, not only was the sound dull, but the Background music was so quiet it was near inaudible. If enough sounds played back to back the system fell silent for entire seconds.

Compatibility: Numerous games would crash or fail to run.

Stability: The cartridge slot proved unstable. The tiniest movement or air current in the room would reset the machine.

Comfort: After 5 minutes the back of the controller's sharp edges came close to cutting my palms. The buttons (A/B) were spaced too far apart.

I thought sound would improve if I stepped up the adapter to 800 mAh, per Nintendo's Famicom spec. Removed an annoying hum but the same sound issues remained.

Then .. the B button jammed and so did Left! Then, Down became near-unusable. You could tap it .. but if you held it, say, to make Mario duck .. you'd duck and jump right back up instantly. You could not keep a signal going from the button-- you had to just use it briefly.

These machines are TERRIBLE, but I feel these mistakes will not be enough for them to take it back despite the warranty they assured me of (if it breaks, bring it back and we'll refund you.) I opened it and cut a lead in a place you couldn't spot without examining it for hours, and reassembled it flawlessly. The machine is now inoperable, so I am quite confident they will take it back. I will NOT take no for an answer. If I have to I'll get the mall manager to deal with it, providing proof from Nintendo that this is a pirate (and thereby illegal) good, especially to sell in the USA.

NOTE: The internals are horrible. Glue holds on all connectors-- no solder. The Famicom on a Chip is poorly placed. Nothing is well attached .. no screws. Boards are TAPED in. With white tape, not duct tape or anything strong. :P

I know it's a pirate and to expect bad things from them-- but there ARE a lot of good pirate pieces of equipment. But stay away from this one, it is very bad news. Odds are it pops up in a mall near you -- avoid it, and I think you just might thank me later.

P.S. One of the kiosk-keepers wanted me to build a web site (after I mentioned I like to collect units like these for my site) about these things, and promote them. I don't think I can in good conscience do that. :P Maybe warn consumers is some discreet way they don't pick up on. (the guy was so un-computer saavy, pulling a fast one would not be tough. I am not the bad guy here.. )

But these guys don't seem to know what they are selling is even illegal. 1 man looked Mexican, the other perhaps Pakistani. I know he was Middle Eastern. Another friend of mine in another state on the Eastern Coast reported a turkish man selling them at his mall as well. The Mexican man did not know anything about it ("Shit man, I don't know what the fuck's up with this shit, I don't make it, I just sell it") whereas the (Pakistani?) man looked like he knew what was going on ..

.. BTW, the machines are clearly marked MADE IN CHINA.

Just a friendly consumer warning.

If I were you I'd call the FBI and tell them that you think these guys are connected with AL Quaeda. That should teach those guys a lesson about selling pirated crap to Americans.

[jonjandran]

@Packerfan66 ---- Do you have to quote so much and waste everyones time scrolling through tons of text that they've already read ? :roll: