Gaming Identifying Fake GBA games- A Useful FAQ

VinsCool

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Mattito

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I apologize for this thread being reborn again, but I felt I must post this:

1f972a2589.png


My original copy of Amazing Mirror (the one on the right) I literally just now discovered was a bootleg. I have owned this cartridge for around seven or eight years without even looking at another copy of the game or even thinking it could be a bootleg, despite my viewing (and recent owning) of Pokemon bootlegs in the past.
Cut to last year. I was going on a video game hunt; more specifically, I was looking for GBA games. I found this weird, completely blue Kirby and the Amazing Mirror cartridge with the game's title on the front. I bought it without really thinking about how whether or not it could be a bootleg, but instead I was happy to have a copy of the game that had a working battery (the bootleg's battery died around 2010 I think).

Cutting to twenty minutes ago, I decided to look at my own GBA collection, as my friend and I were talking about GBA games. Seeing how I own a bootleg copy of Fire Red (which I only have as a Christmas gift because my original copy is basically lost for eternity), I decided to look at my two copies of Kirby and the Amazing Mirror. I was astonished to find out the game I had owned and loved for so many years was not even a legitimate copy of the game.

It had all the key signs, yet I never bothered to look for them. Strange how something from my childhood ends up being not even real in the first place, which is insane because the game itself worked great without any problems at all. I would still like to know if anyone has seen a copy of the game that looks like the bootleg I have, because I would love to see it.
 
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protivakid

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Hey, I am interested in purchasing this sealed (damaged box) copy of Link's Awakening DX. I just want to make sure the seal looks legit and not like a re-seal. Can you guys help me verify? Thanks!

LA1.jpg


LA2.jpg


LA3.jpg
 
Last edited by protivakid,

Shadow#1

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Hey, I am interested in purchasing this sealed (damaged box) copy of Link's Awakening DX. I just want to make sure the seal looks legit and not like a re-seal. Can you guys help me verify? Thanks!

LA1.jpg


LA2.jpg


LA3.jpg
U will have to buy it and open it and look at the pcb of the cart
 

Pokepicker

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I know this thread is old, but should still be relevant. I'm currently buying both Gameboy and GBA games.

Is the OP still around, or maybe some higher power could take action and get some new pics in the OP? Or maybe there is a newer thread somewhere?
 

AyanamiRei0

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I know this thread is old, but should still be relevant. I'm currently buying both Gameboy and GBA games.

Is the OP still around, or maybe some higher power could take action and get some new pics in the OP? Or maybe there is a newer thread somewhere?

what are the questions about the games you are thinking of buying I can tell what a fake cart looks like pretty easily
 

VinsCool

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FAST6191

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I think at this point we are going to have to ask for PCB shots by default.
Colours, serials that make little sense, bad printed labels, PCB contact sizes and more can still demonstrate things but so many nowadays either borrow other cases, and do the breakout board thing we saw in earlier posts, that the cart shots alone are not a sure fire thing.
 

IzzyMiyake

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