Topic: How do you tell if a GBC game is a bootleg or original from looking at the cart?

[dhowerter]

Hi

I'm considering buying some GBC (Game Boy Color) games on ebay and I need to be able to ask the seller to check for certain signs that a GBC cart is a bootleg or a orginal.

So are there any signs that are ALWAYS there on a REAL GBC cart?


BTW, I know two definite signs that are always on **GBA** (Game Boy Advance) carts:

1. On the GBA cart label, on the right, there should be a two digit number IMPRINTED in the label (that is, like it was pressed into the label, but with NO INK You might need to put the cart under a bright light and tilt it to see the number.


2. IN the bottom of the cart, where the contacts are, on the circuit board (what the contacts are attached to), you should see some WHITE lettering saying things like: "Nintendo" and a year and something like "AGB-###".
(Remember the lettering is in WHITE and is on the circuit board, NOT the black plastic of the cart itself



I would greatly appreciate if some people here would check any GBC games they own (USA ones or Japanese imports if you have any) for these two tests (or something similar) and see if they apply to GBC games.

Regardless of that tho, any OTHER ways to determine if a GBC cart is real by looking at it that you do know of? (and do those hold up for Japanese GBC games?)


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[Khushrenada]

Well, according to IGN, they would give the following tip:

Quote
most of the time counterfeit games look, sound, and play just as the original games do, but if the game features some sort of cartridge save feature, counterfeit games tend to flake out.

How can you tell if you have a counterfeit cartridge? Check the back of the cart. Official Nintendo cartridges will have a tri-wing screw holding the unit together. Also note the Nintendo logo branded in the cart's plastic. Pay close attention to the printing on the logo: counterfeit carts are usually altered into something like "NIntondo" or "Ninfendo."

Source: GBA Gems It's at the bottom of the article.


This is the first thing that popped into my mind about counterfeit GBA games. There is probably more advice out there but I'll let someone else handle the question for now.  

[dhowerter]

PLease keep in mind that tho I sited examples from GBA games, I'm mainly trying to find out the signs on the cart of a real Game Boy COLOR game

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[Shecky]

Nintendo itself once had a visual aid to help tell the difference.

[Rhoq]

Quote
Originally posted by: Shecky
Nintendo itself once had a visual aid to help tell the difference.

Nintendo's Anti-Piracy Website