NA: Inappropriate usage of the Nintendo Seal and ESRB logo...

[Gameguy]

I don't think people should just have the right to make pirated or counterfit games or products in general just because they want to, just wanting something isn't enough of a valid reason. Especially when so many people are just making these to profit on. Someone was making copies of Stadium Events awhile back.

I've run into enough parents who bought pirated GBA games that they thought were legit because they were sold used at Gamestop. Not everyone who buys these things knows what to look for, plenty of people buy these as gifts for others. At the very least they shouldn't look near identical to legit versions.

[Tanooki]

I'm curious had no one pointed out to them they were pirates, would they have been happy with it like if the battery wasn't junk or some lame hack?

I think we're just going to disagree on this one and going in circles is just going to piss people off. I just know if I had the funding I'd be making such things (labels) for games as I have a few in not the best shape and I'd be happy to share them with others who would want to run their own. Earlier this year I did a test run using Ogre Battle and was able to make a spotless rendering it of it and would have taken it to another SNES game I have in not the best shape if I had the printer or a printer who would do it due to that test. The fact is for everyone who doesn't have the hardware like myself there are others who do and it's all over the place as it is anyway and ebay seems fit to leave all of it there as do other sources so it's a foregone conclusion really not worth getting furious and controlling over.

[stardust4ever]

On thing I kinda disagree with is people selling repros of Japanese/PAL titles. Why pay $40 for a Parodius reproduction when you can get the original from eBay or Japan Game Stock for like 1000-1500 yen? ($10-$15 USD). I busted out the tabs on my SNES a long time ago and can freely play Japanese Super Fami games on it. I also have adapters I can use on my NES, as well as an AV Famicom I can use as well. If you wanna play Japanes games, you can get them legitamately. I can see the point in translation repros, but most non-rpg games you can figure out how to play them without the need to learn Japanese.

Honestly, aside from a few creative Mario hacks, I'm getting away from repros and leaning towards homebrews and imports now.

@Piko: Why not just display the original boxart on your site instead of using a mockup? Place a "Piko Interactive" watermark text on the image and keep it low resolution so people can't steal it. Makes no sense you aren't using an image that represents what people are buying. Sorry to get you mixed up in this.

[Tanooki]

I agree with you on that entirely on the ripping off Japanese games, yet despite that I have a pair of them due to trade deals (Kid Dracula, Gradius 2 retrozone both) but I'd not buy that, it's just shameless warez when you can get a real cart. I could have saved some on a few other games but almost everything I have that is warezed costs less in famicom form and either R5 or honeybee they're doable (and with IPS R5 will put in the english too.)


How are you defining repros though stardust? The warezy repro, of the unique good newly licensed stuff Piko does that's totally legit? His stuff blurs the warezy lines made on 'repro' seeing that some of it is expired licensed he picked up, others are homebrews he picked up, yet both are licensed and as such are reproductions in the HONEST sense of the word.

[stardust4ever]

How are you defining repros though stardust? The warezy repro, of the unique good newly licensed stuff Piko does that's totally legit? His stuff blurs the warezy lines made on 'repro' seeing that some of it is expired licensed he picked up, others are homebrews he picked up, yet both are licensed and as such are reproductions in the HONEST sense of the word.

They are licensed by the content owners yes, but not by Nintendo. And even if the games got an ESRB rating back in the day prior to release, I'm not sure if they would still be eligible to use the logo. Even 16 and 64 bit vintage games that got released during the ESRB ratings era had to resubmit the games to the ESRB ratings board to be released on Virtual Console.

[Tanooki]

So you're sticking to the topic complaining about the ESRB box, I thought it was about repros existing. I was going off that one line of you getting away from it for homebrew and import.

Ultimately it never once mattered if it was licensed by Nintendo, it's a weird feeling to even consider that given you've had unlicensed games going back with them since the NES from Tengen notably, then there's Color Dreams/WT/Bunch, AVE, etc.

[stardust4ever]

People are delving into this way more than they should. I do not believe the official seals of Sega, Nintendo, ect or official ratings logos should be used without permission. Yes, I'm aware it's a huge contradiction to argue that the logos cannot or should not be used when the game code itself is in violation of IP laws. But by not utilizing the logos, it makes it easier to differentiate between unlicensed and official product. Homebrews are unlicensed by default and shouldn't use the logo. Repros/hacks/bootlegs shouldn't use the logos either as that can cause some confusion years down the road as to whether it is a legitamate release. Collectors may think this concept is stupid, but there are many uninformed buyers. Don't use official logos on your product so it won't cause confusion further down the line.

Lastly, Piko, I am sorry for getting you mixed up in all of this, but you really shouldn't be using mockups to sell your product if the production artwork does not match the thumbnail. Take the final boxart and water mark it. Upload it at low resolution so it won't look good printed.

[sfchakan]

I can just see it now. In 5-10 years, someone brings in an official-looking repro to Pawn Stars.

Seller: "This is the rarest SNES game ever, only 10 were made."
Chum Lee: "Dang, that's worth, like $5,000!"

[Tanooki]

I could see that, they somehow allowed Pat to show up on there to attention whore and sell nothing for a bit of 15min of cable fame. I can see it now, Retrozone Konami Collection of I'm Kid Dracula and Gradius II - very low print, maybe a hundred made and they're like brand new and I only want $5K for them.

[JSoup]

Tanooki, you're just pissed at NA because they refused to deal with your nonsense anymore and aren't welcome back. Like DP, NA has some valuable resources, and your unwarranted bashing is quite tiresome.

None of this makes him wrong, you realize, yes?
Back to your hole, NA troll.

I can just see it now. In 5-10 years, someone brings in an official-looking repro to Pawn Stars.

Seller: "This is the rarest SNES game ever, only 10 were made."
Chum Lee: "Dang, that's worth, like $5,000!"

The prices probably wouldn't be that high, but I can see this happening too. Hell, it already happens, there are already homebrew titles at that go for $200+ due to purposefully limited runs.

[stardust4ever]

The prices probably wouldn't be that high, but I can see this happening too. Hell, it already happens, there are already homebrew titles at that go for $200+ due to purposefully limited runs.

8-bit Xmas 2008 recently sold for $1000
So yeah, I could see this happening in a few years...

[ProjectCamaro]

8-bit Xmas 2008 recently sold for $1000
So yeah, I could see this happening in a few years...

Those go for crazy prices. They are cool but not that cool.

[Tanooki]

Hah wow soup, quoted the NA admin's boyfriend there? He's been on ignore since his trolling blowup months ago. I'm so over their control freak socialism in collecting games gestapo drama. And you're right, I'm not wrong and it angers the site trolls or there would be no comment.

You're also right about those homebrew and it seems primarily tied to NA too. I've seen enough discussions there when people saying they're going to make a game, and you seem to see the same faces pop up like that old Futurama meme of Fry 'shut up and take my money' image where they want a limited run of 5, 10, 25 and get right on the list in a matter of minutes and the stuff is gone. You give it 6-12 months or maybe sometimes longer and anyone who missed out or new people into it are getting into some Flintstones looking housewife cat fight over the damn things paying higher than the original price. That stuff should never be supported as it just adds to the problem.

Aside from the fact most of the homebrew I've touched has been disappointing, there have been a few but I just don't bother as it's a circus. What little I have of warez..err 'repros' have been basically trades (Gradius 2), a favor from a friend (Starfox2/Macross SNES), or a free surprise (JD, one of the few cool NA mods with Kid Dracula.)

[stardust4ever]

Hah wow soup, quoted the NA admin's boyfriend there? He's been on ignore since his trolling blowup months ago. I'm so over their control freak socialism in collecting games gestapo drama. And you're right, I'm not wrong and it angers the site trolls or there would be no comment.

You're also right about those homebrew and it seems primarily tied to NA too. I've seen enough discussions there when people saying they're going to make a game, and you seem to see the same faces pop up like that old Futurama meme of Fry 'shut up and take my money' image where they want a limited run of 5, 10, 25 and get right on the list in a matter of minutes and the stuff is gone. You give it 6-12 months or maybe sometimes longer and anyone who missed out or new people into it are getting into some Flintstones looking housewife cat fight over the damn things paying higher than the original price. That stuff should never be supported as it just adds to the problem.

Aside from the fact most of the homebrew I've touched has been disappointing, there have been a few but I just don't bother as it's a circus. What little I have of warez..err 'repros' have been basically trades (Gradius 2), a favor from a friend (Starfox2/Macross SNES), or a free surprise (JD, one of the few cool NA mods with Kid Dracula.)

To be completely fair, Tanooki, I'm not really in favor of Limited Edition homebrew either. Whenever an LE gets released, there's always that 50/50 shot of an RE version to follow. In all honesty, I'd prefer the RE side of things, but you never know if an RE will ever happen, so it's a catch-22 situation: jump on the LE or risk never getting it at all in the event the RE never comes. Hell sometimes even the RE edition gets added features or bugfixes the LE didn't. In such case I would actually be willing to swap my LE for an RE for a small fee.

Also there is much nitpicking, such as first in line gets first choice of number. So some people request an LE with random number say #37 or #23, lowest or highest available, then every release afterwards has to be the same number so they can match cousin pairs of unrelated LE homebrews on the shelf. IMO this is bullcrap. In nearly every other collectible hobby, serials are handed out on a first come first serve basis, ie whether you're #1 or #499, if you're the umteenth person to order the item, you get the umteenth serial. Typically once a run sells out, the collector value gets a slight advantage based on lower serial, typically very low serials get a larger price advantage, especially #1s or "artists proofs", what we would more commonly refer to in game collecting as homebrew "prototypes".

[JSoup]

8-bit Xmas 2008 recently sold for $1000
So yeah, I could see this happening in a few years...

I really thought/hoped you were exaggerating until I looked it up for myself.
This hobby has jumped the shark.

[Polygon]

It's simple. If it wasn't originally licensed by Nintendo it shouldn't have the seal on it.

[bb_hood]

You're also right about those homebrew and it seems primarily tied to NA too. I've seen enough discussions there when people saying they're going to make a game, and you seem to see the same faces pop up like that old Futurama meme of Fry 'shut up and take my money' image where they want a limited run of 5, 10, 25 and get right on the list in a matter of minutes and the stuff is gone. You give it 6-12 months or maybe sometimes longer and anyone who missed out or new people into it are getting into some Flintstones looking housewife cat fight over the damn things paying higher than the original price. That stuff should never be supported as it just adds to the problem.

Wait, whats the problem again? People blowing their money on homemade nintendo games?
If people want to do limited runs or numbered runs of games to hype up sales then so what? People who have common sense will see through the hype.

[dra600n]

I really thought/hoped you were exaggerating until I looked it up for myself.
This hobby has jumped the shark.

Don't forget Membler's Garage Cart is also up there in price as well. I think I just saw one listed for $1600 (unsure if it sold or not), but I recall one of the last ones selling at, or over, $800.

[stardust4ever]

I really thought/hoped you were exaggerating until I looked it up for myself.
This hobby has jumped the shark.

Not really sure if it's jumped the shark persay, but I think it speaks volumes to why limited releases are not a good idea. Either continue selling carts or release the ROM. One thing I love about the AtariAge homebrews is they rarely go out of stock or get discontinued. I wish I could say the same for NES and other popular consoles.

It's simple. If it wasn't originally licensed by Nintendo it shouldn't have the seal on it.

Thank you!

Don't forget Membler's Garage Cart is also up there in price as well. I think I just saw one listed for $1600 (unsure if it sold or not), but I recall one of the last ones selling at, or over, $800.

I remember readig about the garage cart. Not really sure what it actually was, but Memblers was a very well known NES hacker a few years back, so that adds some notoriety to it if they were made by him.

[Gameguy]

I can just see it now. In 5-10 years, someone brings in an official-looking repro to Pawn Stars.

Seller: "This is the rarest SNES game ever, only 10 were made."
Chum Lee: "Dang, that's worth, like $5,000!"

They'll probably call Pat back to be their expert. He was on 1000 Ways to Die as an expert so it's bound to happen.

Also there is much nitpicking, such as first in line gets first choice of number. So some people request an LE with random number say #37 or #23, lowest or highest available, then every release afterwards has to be the same number so they can match cousin pairs of unrelated LE homebrews on the shelf. IMO this is bullcrap. In nearly every other collectible hobby, serials are handed out on a first come first serve basis, ie whether you're #1 or #499, if you're the umteenth person to order the item, you get the umteenth serial. Typically once a run sells out, the collector value gets a slight advantage based on lower serial, typically very low serials get a larger price advantage, especially #1s or "artists proofs", what we would more commonly refer to in game collecting as homebrew "prototypes".

The trick is to make multiple copies of the game with the same serial number, like 10 copies of #001 or 5 copies of #555. Who would really know how many copies of the game are made when they're all hand made custom work?