Hacking Danger: Fake Nintendo DS Lites are on the horizon

Link5084 · Dec 5, 2008

http://kotaku.com/5102182/hm-customs-warns...gerous-ds-fakes

HM Customs (as in Her Majesty's - the Queen hates smuggling) has issued a warning against fake Nintendo DS Lites that can (possibly) cause you physical harm as well as financial.

A big batch of the fake handhelds (the UK is awash with them this Xmas, apparently) were seized in a freight depot raid and were found to have potentially dangerous power supplies. By 'potentially dangerous' they actually mean 'not electrically tested', so its not like they crawl across the room and strangle you in the night but there is a danger of fire or electrocution.

The bigger question for me is - just how fake are they? Do they play DS games? Are they just rebadged Game & Watch? The article says the were bought on 'Asian websites' for around £40, so goodness only knows what you are buying. Are there even any electronics in them?

Be careful

Pizzaroo · Dec 5, 2008

I want one now to see how horribly wrong it is!

Destructobot · Dec 5, 2008

I want to see the instructions that come with it. The potential for hilarity is immense.

ENDscape · Dec 5, 2008

Awww i wished they strangle people at night.

But its worst if it explodes out of nowhere when your speaking into the microphone :S

Canonbeat234 · Dec 5, 2008

Oh please, what a pathetic attempt to mimic the flashcard business!

But its worst if it explodes out of nowhere when your speaking into the microphone :S

OBJECTION!! *The fake DS explodes* O_O;;; *coughs* Over rule?

doyama · Dec 5, 2008

I think this is less about 'dangerous fakes' as it is more about the 'grey market'. Potentially dangerous power supplies is cop speak for "they come with the US/Japan 110-120V AC adapter instead of the 220V UK". Note the genuine NDS AC adapter is NOT 220V compatible (I was actually a bit shocked to notice this on my trip to Hong Kong)! So yes, you could take the NDS plug it in with a UK power adapter and basically fry your NDS since the voltage conversion isn't being done.

I'm also sure that buying an NDS especially in the UK is expensive. It's 120 pounds or $180USD (which is cheap considering the exchange used to be in the 2.1 range not the 1.5 it is now). So there's an incentive to import US or Japanese ones cheaper then sell them in the UK. Since the NDS games are not region locked, it makes such grey market selling possible.

So I would not worry about some flurry of 'fake' NDS units, unless you exclude obvious ones such as the infamous NEO DOUBLE GAMES!

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/881634/neo_d...review_fake_ds/

swf3 · Dec 6, 2008

any link to the site selling them?
gamstastion sold one to my brother 6 mounths for £100 (nintendogogs)without a charger, he had a charger already and the ds wooks 100%
there not fake but nintendo trying to scar pepole to get there uk ones !

id buy 1 foe £ 40 and buy a real charger from game

Psyfira · Dec 6, 2008

Hm I wonder... are these really fake units? The article implies it was the power adapters that were the problem.

I can't help but think of that truckload of Lites that went missing in Northern Europe a month or so ago. Take them to another country, sling a 3rd party power adapter in the box.... see where I'm going with this?

noONE · Dec 6, 2008

^
yeah.. that's what i thought about too.. ( My user news post regarding that theft )

swf3 · Dec 6, 2008

if anyone knows where to buy from pls pm me
thanks

Ferrariman · Dec 6, 2008

swf3 said:
if anyone knows where to buy from pls pm me
thanks

...Why.

swf3 · Dec 6, 2008

why?
mmmmmmmmmmmmm becouse i belive there real not fake at all and want to order one!

my english is not the best sory

Vulpes Abnocto · Dec 6, 2008

Canonbeat234 said:
Oh please, what a pathetic attempt to mimic the flashcard business!

But its worst if it explodes out of nowhere when your speaking into the microphone :S

OBJECTION!! *The fake DS explodes* O_O;;; *coughs* Over rule?

While we're on the subject of pathetic....

Did you get your NDS battery out, or are you still taking suggestions on which size of screwdriver to use?

Quit trying so hard, dood. Seriously.

Hop2089 · Dec 6, 2008

I want a free one to conduct research on to see if it is real or fake because I'm not buying it at all.

PyroJames · Dec 6, 2008

I wonder if HM Customs is mistaking the iQue DS from China as counterfeit DS Lites?

swf3 · Dec 6, 2008

Hop2089 said:
I want a free one to conduct research on to see if it is real or fake because I'm not buying it at all.

IF THERE JUST £40 I WILL GET 2 AND SEND U 1, IF I CAN FIND THEM

jalaneme · Dec 6, 2008

video showing the fake DS lites here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7...100/7767188.stm

Vulpes Abnocto · Dec 6, 2008

swf3 said:
Hop2089 said:

I want a free one to conduct research on to see if it is real or fake because I'm not buying it at all.

Click to expand...

IF THERE JUST £40 I WILL GET 2 AND SEND U 1, IF I CAN FIND THEM

Tall Alien · Dec 6, 2008

swf3 · Dec 7, 2008

Vulpes Abnocto said:
swf3 said:

Hop2089 said:

I want a free one to conduct research on to see if it is real or fake because I'm not buying it at all.

Click to expand...

IF THERE JUST £40 I WILL GET 2 AND SEND U 1, IF I CAN FIND THEM

Click to expand...

whats a trap?

Hacking Danger: Fake Nintendo DS Lites are on the horizon

Sword & Shield at your service

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