Unmarked reproductions - good or bad

[DREW]

I see there are a few of these items now being listed on e-bay and was
curious what everyone thinks about this?

My opinion is this will be bad for the hobby in the long run because as they get
resold, the fact they are reproductions may or may not get mentioned
in later sales causing not only the buyer problems but confusion to the
authenticity of the ligitamit games as people can start disputing which
is the original and which is the copy.

I can only see bad things coming from this and would urge the seller's
to add a non removable type reproduction disclaimer to the main label.

FND

[punkoffgirl]

Bad, I completely agree.
You just know that someone who DOESN'T know these are repros is going to end up paying a small chunk of change at the least because they think they're getting something rare for a deal and will end up super pissed later when they find out that they spent all that money on a reproduction.
And it's dishonest for the seller not to tell people that they're reproductions.

[WiseSalesman]

Being that I am fairly uninformed on this issue, excepting what I have just read, can someone give me more info on these reproductions or point me to an example of one?

Knowing what I know so far, I agree.....bad.

[Achika]

Yes, I think the reproductions need to be labeled so. But I think most are, just not as conspicuous as others. Just looking at the date stamp on some things can tell you wether it's a repro or not. In auctions, sometimes when it's a seller who doesn't know videogames doesn't give to thoughts to checking the back. They just see it and assume it's the older version for prosperities sake.


I remember seeing a Mattel Football at a thrift store over the summer. I got somewhat excited about the price (it was low) and what could eventually be a good find. I asked the clerk to see it, but noticed the new date stamp was new (2001? or 2002?) so I put it back, disappointed it wasn't what I thought, but glad I didn't spend extra money that went towards better finds that day.

[DREW]

I am sorry I may have not been clear about this, these are being sold as reproductions and are fully described as such I also know the seller and he is not trying to mislead anyone, but I am concerned as what may happen in the future.



http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3528&item=1948756509

[nesman85]

i think that labeling them is a good idea.

[CX2K]

I see there are a few of these items now being listed on e-bay and was
curious what everyone thinks about this?


Well, I mentioned this practice in the Atari 8-bit forum on Atari Age and was promptly attacked by my good friend Curt Vendel.

I've had a problem with this for some time. The Atari 8-bit carts in question weren't even reproductions, they were disk games that were put on cartridge. But the bottom line is that someone who is new to collecting won't be as knowledgeable and could think they are real.

Even if they're noted as reproductions in the auction description, which I think the 8-bit carts were, you lose that integrity the first time the carts are resold.

I would ask all those who make reproductions to label them properly. Atari Age does it with their carts and CGE Services does it with their new releases as well.

John

[Nature Boy]

Non labelled reproductions will only hurt the hobby. You'd certainly make money doing it at first, but once everybody starts doing it (and why wouldn't others start if they can make a quick buck?) people stop buying the games, or at least stop paying big money for the games, and the hobby dies.

[Trixie]

The word "reproductions" sounds so....official. Why not just call them what they are? "Copies." If you get a "reproduction" of a work of art, it has more intrinsic value than if you got a "copy" of a work of art. I think it all boils down to aesthetics. And as for new collectors, "Buyer beware." How many of us made silly deals and trades in our early days before we learned "the hard way?" x_x x_x x_x

[CPUWIZ]

I want to make it clear that I am selling these to make some collectors who don't have such deep pockets as some of you or me, happy they got one and can play it.

Did you guys argue over Hozer Videogames ?

These carts can not be sold as originals because they look different, they have different cart housings as well as laminated labels. In fact the copy I made of Malagai almost looks better than the real deal because it's nice and shiny.

blah ... blah ... blah -_-

[DREW]

OK, I think maybe I should try and clarify my opinion on this subject as I don't
want to come across as some sort of jealous trouble maker, well
maybe jealous those labels are very very nice.

First I have no personal problem with anyone making copied carts
and as stated earlier this may be the only way some collectors
have of obtaining the games to play in a real system, were I see a
problem is in copying the original label without any disclaimer identifying
it as a copy. Granted they are in different style cases and glossy labels
but that was not unheard of in the day as many games come in different
style cases and with different quality labels making it possible down
the line for them to be passed of as the rare glossy version or case variation,
this would probably not fool the experienced collector but the new person
may not be so informed.

The second problem I see, and could be the reason the last Quadrun lab
loaner did not reach the expected value could be the flood of Best fake
lab loaner's causing some collectors with them in there collections to
either believe they have an original resulting in less people wanting one
or the fact that the lines are blurred by the fakes causing some to not
want to take a chance.

Anyway I want to say no matter what my opinion is on this subject I want
to go on record saying cpuwiz is a stand up guy and I am sure has all the
right intentions.

[TunnelRunner]

Of course all repro games should be so marked, and as far as I know they are. The folks who have the inclination and capability of making reproductions of rare carts are very conscious (and conscientious) about the hobby. The two or three parties I know treat rare games with great respect and ALWAYS take great pains to let everyone know that what they offer IS NOT a lab loaner unreleased prototype. CPUWIZ is one of these.
The point is to make these available to those who do not have the budget to drop hundreds of dollars on a video game, just to say they have it. These folks want to play them on a classic console, not a simulator. I am one of these folks, and have no problem with popping a 'repro' into the old 2600 or 5200. I like the feel of my CX52 controller (don't go there, it's not as horrible a stick as some like to say). If someone labels the cart as repro (and the EPROM as well), then they are being true to the spirit of the hobby. No one makes any real money off selling repro games (well, maybe one or two folks out there, no names need be mentioned). If they recuperate their costs and maybe a few extra sheckels to start the next project, ,ore power to them.
The above goes for the unreleased 5200 carts as well. I don't have the capability to burn my own EPROMs, and don't use a simulator. I like my 5200 console, period. I've been blessed to have met up with a couple folks who can burn a chip to go onto an Atari or J. Grand board andhave been swapping Atari toys and prototype game boxes (I did boxes for Castle Blast and Koffi, too). These people are very concerned about making sure everything they offer is easily identifiable as a repro. I do the same with my boxes and labels, although, to be honest anyone who knows anything about unreleased prototype games whould know there woudn't be a label or box for something unreleased, right?).
Okay, 'nuff said. Have fun, loosen up, play the games. ;)
P.S. Drew, I'm sure the reason Quadrun did not fetch more than it did was because interest in these toys wanes around Christmas time, and the folks who really will pay the money for a game like that already have one. The last Bounty Bob Strikes Back on Ebay went for $350, and it was sealed in shrinkwrap! I paid $141 just a month after someone paid over $300 for the same basic cart. I've picked up CIB games rated 5 and 6 for under $20 on Ebay, just because no one was watching. Repros won't hurt the value of real lab loaners, period.