Topic: Need some eBay advice.

[UncleBob]

Heya.

As some of you know, I'm an insane Nintendo collector.

Recently, I purchased, from eBay, a Super Game Boy 2.  This is something I've wanted for quite some time.  For those who don't know, the Super Game Boy 2 is an improved version of the original Super Game Boy attachment.  It has all the functionality of the original SGB (i.e.: playing original Game Boy games on your SNES/TV somewhat in color, etc) - but there are some major differences.  It comes in an "Ice Blue" (i.e.: see-thru) case, has a red LED light to tell you when it's on (whoopie), but most importantly, it has a Link Port to connect to other Game Boy Systems.

The Super Game Boy 2, supposedly, was only released in Japan.  While it is confirmed that there was absolutly no mass-market release of the item here in the US, I've heard that QVC (the home shopping channel) sold a small amount of US Compatible units... but I've never actually seen one nor have I seen one for sale.

Until last week on eBay.  Someone had the Super Game Boy 2 listed, said it was Hard to Find/Rare and that it played on a US system.  Even though there are so many other things I need to spend money on (and save for the Wii and all it stuff), I bit because I wanted one.  There's been quite a few times I've almost got a Japanese one just because I see them on occasion and the only thing that's stopped me is that I don't want to have to track down a Japanese-to-US adapter.

Well, I get the unit in the mail today and, what do ya know, it's the Japanese version.  Now the seller has been really nice all along, and while I haven't right-out asked for a refund, I don't think that'd be an issue.  The seller apologized and said that his SNES was "modded" some time ago for other Japanese games and that he'd forgotten about it until I just now mentioned it.

He pointed me to a GameFAQs page that had the "modification" instructions - which, if you don't know, is merely cutting some of the plastic out of your SNES.  However, doing such a modification to my precious SNES is absolutely *out* of the question.

So, I'm stuck and need some advice.
Should I just return it and get the money back?  Even a Japanese SGB2 is kinda hard to find and I only paid about $25 for it, so it's not a bad price.  Should I try to find an adapter?  Any clues on what they usually run for?  Should I just curl up into a ball and cry?

I'm so disapointed that this isn't the US version... I thought I was going to finally have it.

[King of Twitch]

Put your money to better use, like sponsoring my Wii fund

[wandering]

The fact that you're considering not keeping it puts into question your "insane Nintendo collector" title...

I have no idea about how best to put the thing to use with your snes. Why not just buy a Japanese Snes? Gameboy games are region free, right?

[vudu]

Why don't you just buy another SNES?  You can get them for $20 - $40 on eBay.

[UncleBob]

Game Boy games are, for all intents and purposes, region free.  The only thing stopping me from being able to play with this Super Game Boy 2 is that it physically will not fit into the US SNES.  Buying a second (Actaully, it'd be a third - as I have a locking SNES and a mini) SNES (or a Japanese Super Famicom) is not something I think I could talk my wife into.  Keep in mind, I'm going to have to be spending $300-$400 on a brand new Nintendo system by the end of the year.

Now, what might work for me is that someone said I could use an SNES Game Genie... and those are pretty cheap...

[S-U-P-E-R]

Yeah, I was gonna say, stack it on top of a Game Genie. And an XBAND too. Make your SNES into the tower of doom. Or just clip the plastic tabs, wuss.

[UncleBob]

That would be like cutting off my puppy's legs!