Gaming Forums => Nintendo Gaming => Topic started by: UncleBob on May 08, 2008, 08:39:05 PM
Title: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: UncleBob on May 08, 2008, 08:39:05 PM
So, I bought some GBA games... turns out they were bootleg. I've contacted the website selling them and asked for a refund, but I fully expect to not receive the refund.
Likewise, I used PayPal to pay for the transaction (it was not an eBay purchase). Should I attempt to dispute the transaction through PayPal or should I just call the card I used (Discover) and see about doing a chargeback? Anyone have any dealings with this?
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: Nick DiMola on May 08, 2008, 09:15:37 PM
Yes, I just recently had a similar situation. I just alerted paypal and had them give me a refund. Mine was an eBay transaction, coincidentally, the guy is no longer a member.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: UncleBob on May 08, 2008, 09:24:12 PM
I'm looking at the PayPal dispute page (I sent an e-mail to the site that sent the fake games and filed a mail fraud complaint) and I see the following:
Quote
If you live , you can file a general complaint if you are unsatisfied with the level of service you received from PayPal. Your complaint will be routed to a PayPal Customer Service representative who will respond to your complaint.
So... Zombies and Jesus can't file complaints with PayPal - That seems so unfair.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: Crimm on May 08, 2008, 09:38:16 PM
I think you should get your refund and then enjoy wonderful bootlegs.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: DAaaMan64 on May 08, 2008, 09:48:31 PM
Take it from a person who has watched Nintendo manufacture their games and actually worked for their Anti-Piracy Department, get your money back.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: Chozo Ghost on May 08, 2008, 09:50:05 PM
Maybe you should contact Nintendo so they can shut those pirates down. I'm sure they'd be happy for your tip. and who knows? Maybe they'd reward you with cool stuff.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: vudu on May 08, 2008, 09:51:21 PM
Just what Bob needs ... more cool Nintendo stuff.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: DAaaMan64 on May 08, 2008, 10:09:07 PM
Maybe you should contact Nintendo so they can shut those pirates down. I'm sure they'd be happy for your tip. and who knows? Maybe they'd reward you with cool stuff.
Take it from somebody who has worked for the FBI for over 7 years, Nintendo loves tips. The used to call us all the time.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: UncleBob on May 08, 2008, 11:57:52 PM
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: animecyberrat on May 10, 2008, 06:46:30 PM
I reported an ebay auction once for selling SNES roms to play on PSP. Nintendo gave me a $10 Gift card for my tip. I also got a similar gift card from Ubisoft when I reported torrent spy to them, three months latter torrent spy is GONE. Take that internet revenge.
Point of this post, don't expect much, the gift cards I got from both were ONLY good towards a purchase of $50 or more from THEIR online stores.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: UncleBob on May 10, 2008, 07:00:29 PM
I would *love* a $10 Gift Card to Nintendo's online store... lord knows I spend enough there. ;)
Seriously I've contacted Nintendo numerous times about such things. And, except for the one time I called in about a mall Kiosk selling "Power Players", I've never even gotten a "thank you" (and I assume I got the "thank you" on the Power Player thing because I was actually speaking with someone on the phone and anything else would have seemed rude ;)).
With that said, I have reported this to Nintendo and will continue to do so as such things are called to my attention. I don't expect free gifts or anything from them (although a "Thank you" would really, really be nice once in a while)...
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: animecyberrat on May 10, 2008, 07:10:19 PM
I was lucky to get the gift card, but I had a business relation with a Nintendo rep who was the guy I contacted about the matter and he saw to it I got something.
But Ubisoft they just sent me a gift card and a thank you.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: Chozo Ghost on May 10, 2008, 10:44:35 PM
Well, you are doing the right thing, and even if they don't reward you with gift cards or T-shirts or anything, at least you're building good karma and whatnot.
Seriously though, companies should reward people who report piracy because it helps encourage people to report that stuff, which is obviously in the company's best interests. Giving out a t-shirt here or a coffee mug there as a reward to loyal fans is a small price to pay for shutting down operations which cost them thousands or millions of dollars in lost sales.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: WuTangTurtle on May 11, 2008, 05:10:00 PM
Just curious but is that a picture of Mario Kart Circuit on GBA in a DS case? That would suck if you not only got a bootleg of a game but you got the wrong bootleg of a game (I'm assuming you thought you bought Mario Kart DS).
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: vudu on May 11, 2008, 06:31:41 PM
UncleBob puts all his GBA games in DS cases. (http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=21054.0)
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: UncleBob on May 11, 2008, 08:50:44 PM
Yeah, what vudu said. :)
GBA covers for DS cases are sexy. :)
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: animecyberrat on May 12, 2008, 02:14:23 PM
UB I would pay you money to make me one of those for Dr. Mario GBA. Classic NES version.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: UncleBob on May 12, 2008, 08:11:42 PM
Rat - you can order the DS cases from Nintendo for $1 each. Then, print the covers yourself (or Kinko's/Staples) for less than a buck.
The covers are free from thecoverproject.net - also, many GameStops will just give you DS cases.
I couldn't mail you one out for as cheap as you can do it yourself.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: Chozo Ghost on May 12, 2008, 11:14:19 PM
I couldn't mail you one out for as cheap as you can do it yourself.
But by doing it for him you are also providing a service. Your service might cost more, but it means he doesn't have to do it himself and for a lot of people that may be worth the extra cost. I mean, you can bake your own bread for cheap too, but most people just buy it pre-made, you know?
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: Nick DiMola on May 13, 2008, 04:40:36 PM
Maybe I'm just having trouble finding it, but does thecoverproject.net have Virtual Boy covers? I'd love to get my VB games out of their original boxes and into a more durable DS case that can handle the wear and tear.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: animecyberrat on May 13, 2008, 11:03:27 PM
Chozo Ghost got it right on, I'd rather pay YOU to do it for me than waist MY ink doing it myself. Plus I am like not very how do you call it, good with artwork. But if you don't want free money then ok.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: UncleBob on May 13, 2008, 11:15:01 PM
I don't even own a printer - I had to have mine done at Staples/Kinko's. Besides, I wouldn't feel right making money off the work of the people who have contributed to thecoverproject.net...
Mr. Jack: http://www.thecoverproject.net/forums/index.php?topic=1520.0 If you have boxes and the ability to scan them in, that'd be great.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: animecyberrat on May 13, 2008, 11:19:06 PM
I see, that makes sense. It's just as well, I can't seam to find my copy of Dr. Mario GBA anyways.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: Chozo Ghost on May 14, 2008, 04:11:19 PM
I don't even own a printer - I had to have mine done at Staples/Kinko's. Besides, I wouldn't feel right making money off the work of the people who have contributed to thecoverproject.net...
If you don't want to profit, then all you have to do is just charge Rat exactly what it costs to do the printing as well as the postage cost to ship it to him. That way you aren't making any money at all, so there's nothing to feel guilty about. Although, I see nothing wrong about you being compensated for your time and effort, but that's up to you I guess.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: Chozo Ghost on May 14, 2008, 04:13:15 PM
Maybe I'm just having trouble finding it, but does thecoverproject.net have Virtual Boy covers? I'd love to get my VB games out of their original boxes and into a more durable DS case that can handle the wear and tear.
Would a VB game fit into a DS case? Or would you have to make some modifications to it first? It's been awhile since I've seen a VB game, so I forgot what they look like, but somehow I doubt they're the same dimensions as a GBA or DS game...
EDIT: Come to think of it, it would also be nice to be able to have old original GB and GBC games in a DS case as well.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: Nick DiMola on May 14, 2008, 04:13:44 PM
I don't even own a printer - I had to have mine done at Staples/Kinko's. Besides, I wouldn't feel right making money off the work of the people who have contributed to thecoverproject.net...
Mr. Jack: http://www.thecoverproject.net/forums/index.php?topic=1520.0 If you have boxes and the ability to scan them in, that'd be great.
Oooo I do indeed have some of the boxes. I'll see what I can do to help the initiative a little later tonight.
Chozo Ghost, they would fit, you would just need to do some cutting up of the box. The part that holds the GBA game would get removed as would about half of the DS game holder part. Depth wise they are even skinnier than a GB game so that wouldn't be an issue.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: DAaaMan64 on May 14, 2008, 04:17:17 PM
Maybe I'm just having trouble finding it, but does thecoverproject.net have Virtual Boy covers? I'd love to get my VB games out of their original boxes and into a more durable DS case that can handle the wear and tear.
Would a VB game fit into a DS case? Or would you have to make some modifications to it first? It's been awhile since I've seen a VB game, so I forgot what they look like, but somehow I doubt they're the same dimensions as a GBA or DS game...
EDIT: Come to think of it, it would also be nice to be able to have old original GB and GBC games in a DS case as well.
VB games are much larger than DS games. you'd have to modify it. VB games are a little smaller than the average PostIt size.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: vudu on May 14, 2008, 05:04:24 PM
The link I gave before has pictures of Bob's GB and GBC games in DS cases.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: UncleBob on May 15, 2008, 12:21:34 AM
You can modify the DS cases to hold GB/GBC carts (as shown in the thread vudu linked to).
You can also modify a DS case to hold a Virtual Boy game - but it'd probably be easier and work about as well to "squish" the Virtual Boy Game into a DS case without modifying it at all.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: Nick DiMola on May 15, 2008, 06:09:54 PM
Alright took a look at my VB games, I have the following in boxes. Red Alarm, Galactic Pinball, Mario Clash, Wario Land, Virtual League Baseball and Panic Bomber (JAP). I'll take a look at the guidelines on the cover project and scan the boxes.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: UncleBob on May 19, 2008, 01:17:56 PM
Quote
Dear Richard,
Thank you very much for reporting piracy to Nintendo. We will investigate your lead and take appropriate actions if necessary.
Thank you for your assistance.
Nintendo of America Inc. Anti-Piracy Group PiracyScene@noa.nintendo.com
Finally... I bet they saw me whining here and decided to finally thank me. ;)
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: DAaaMan64 on May 19, 2008, 01:23:49 PM
Hey UncleBob, whats your last name?
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: Nick DiMola on May 19, 2008, 01:35:58 PM
Good news and bad news from this story. I'll post more later...
Okay, it's now officially later, so please tell us what happened. :P
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: animecyberrat on May 29, 2008, 11:30:11 AM
I was going to say the same thing.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: Invincible Donkey Kong on May 29, 2008, 01:59:10 PM
I came to personally congratulate Richard, but I couldn't find his front door so I just smashed right through the side of the house. I also cleaned out his fridge, much to the chagrin of Mrs. Cook. :reggie:
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: UncleBob on May 29, 2008, 02:37:06 PM
That was you? I thought Kool-Aid Man had dropped by.
I'll update in a bit... I'm working on something.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: animecyberrat on May 29, 2008, 10:25:18 PM
so UB, your middle name wouldn't happen to be Allen would it?
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: UncleBob on May 29, 2008, 10:35:42 PM
Umm... no.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: animecyberrat on May 29, 2008, 10:41:13 PM
whew that's a relief. All the other Richards I know share my same stupid middle name.
Title: Re: Bootleg GBA Games?
Post by: Chozo Ghost on June 01, 2008, 12:17:00 PM
Wow! Reggie personally crashed through the wall of your home to thank you for busting those pirates?
That's pretty cool, but it's going to cost a lot of money to fix that hole now. :P
