Import Reproduction Carts: Where to buy and recommendations!

[AaronC]

I am starting to look into import reproduction carts (and possibly some hacks). I was just wondering, for the ones that have bought them, where are some of the best sites as far as customer service and quality? I am mostly interested in SNES and Genesis carts. I already own Super Back to the Future 2 and Terranigma as I bought them from a shop in North Carolina a year or so ago.

I already know I want The Firemen which looks really fun, but any recommendations on some great import repro carts to look for will be much appreciated!

[Sarge]

Just so you know, you could also make your own if you're so inclined. There are some good parts at http://www.infiniteneslives.com/snessupplies.php.

[AaronC]

I'll have to look into that. Thanks!

I'm kind of new to the this, so pardon the dumb questions. Do I just find the Roms and download them?

[Sarge]

Yeah, pretty much. I haven't actually used their cart and programmer with the SNES, but I've used the NES side for dumping games. It looks like the SNES programming side should be relatively simple. I think several repro makers are using these boards these days, I know Bone got a repro that uses one of these boards.

If I didn't have an SD2SNES, and wanted to do repros, this is definitely the route I'd take, barring finding a bunch of $1 sports games and cannibalizing them. But that's a lot more work!

[BoneSnapDeez]

Personally speaking, I would only buy repros if
- the game is literally unavailable on any other format (Radical Dreamers, BS Zelda, various hacks).
- there is no cart cannibalism involved. I simply dislike this on principle.

Sarge's suggestion of making your own was a good one. And yeah, my copy of Radical Dreamers was made with those parts.

I would skip the whole "Japanese to English" repro scene. You're much better off getting a Retron 5, buying authentic Super Famicom (or whatever) carts, and then patching via an SD card. You'd be shocked by how cheap some of these games are (see Treasure Hunter G, Der Langrisser, FEDA, and Front Mission to name a few).

[AaronC]

Personally speaking, I would only buy repros if
- the game is literally unavailable on any other format (Radical Dreamers, BS Zelda, various hacks).
- there is no cart cannibalism involved. I simply dislike this on principle.

Sarge's suggestion of making your own was a good one. And yeah, my copy of Radical Dreamers was made with those parts.

I would skip the whole "Japanese to English" repro scene. You're much better off getting a Retron 5, buying authentic Super Famicom (or whatever) carts, and then patching via an SD card. You'd be shocked by how cheap some of these games are (see Treasure Hunter G, Der Langrisser, FEDA, and Front Mission to name a few).

I thought about just getting actual imports as I do have a Retron 5. May be a better way to do it. I just like how they look to be honest. I like that they match my other SNES carts. I like the idea of them all looking the same on the shelf. I know, I know. I may try my hand a making my own. Seems like a cool project to tackle.

[Betagam7]

Personally speaking, I would only buy repros if
- the game is literally unavailable on any other format (Radical Dreamers, BS Zelda, various hacks).
- there is no cart cannibalism involved. I simply dislike this on principle.

Sarge's suggestion of making your own was a good one. And yeah, my copy of Radical Dreamers was made with those parts.

I would skip the whole "Japanese to English" repro scene. You're much better off getting a Retron 5, buying authentic Super Famicom (or whatever) carts, and then patching via an SD card. You'd be shocked by how cheap some of these games are (see Treasure Hunter G, Der Langrisser, FEDA, and Front Mission to name a few).

I thought about just getting actual imports as I do have a Retron 5. May be a better way to do it. I just like how they look to be honest. I like that they match my other SNES carts. I like the idea of them all looking the same on the shelf. I know, I know. I may try my hand a making my own. Seems like a cool project to tackle.

It's getting so that you can now get not just a reproduction cart but a high quality box and manual for around $25 on Aliexpress at the moment.

The ridiculous price rises on ebay et al over the past few years have pushed people beyond breaking point and the bootleg/repro market has responded.

It might take another five years but a price crash is coming and then we might all actually be able to get on with enjoying what used to be a fun hobby again.

I got into collecting because it was fun to finally be able to afford to buy all the games that were out of my price range as a kid. Now its getting to the point where they are all out of my price range as an adult. What's the point? It's no wonder people are turning to repros.

[Ziggy]

- there is no cart cannibalism involved. I simply dislike this on principle.

Yeah, I use to cannibalize carts. I moved away from doing that though since there's so many great options these days.

1) Infinite NES Lives - Make your own NES/SNES repros, no soldering required: http://www.infiniteneslives.com/snessupplies.php

2) Make your own repros, with brand new parts, soldering required: http://www.retrostage.net/
https://mortoffgames.com/boards.html
https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/8hPhOcxf
Probably more out there, or make your own board design!

3) RetroN 5 - Play authentic SNES/SFC carts with hacks or translation patches:

4) Flash Carts - Several currently available for the SNES: http://racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=36353

[Tanooki]

I can go from experience here having setup a parts buy in a deal in the past with a member of pinside as a trade of services. He needed help learning about the entire practice of making these carts and I got him in his learning to make me an INL package copy of Earthbound NES.

Its actually really easy. You buy the writer and best deal being the 3in1 for NES SNES and FC. You then buy the board. SNES is easy as you have Lo and HiROM, NES you have added steps of which chipset (MMC, ETC) and CHR and PRG ROM sizes, battery options etc.

Once you have it they assemble the board, no soldering for YOU.

Then as noted best man online is starwander aka mortoff games for parts. He has unique suppliers of 1 to 1 quality stuff in most cases or damn near it in others. You get your clamshell and perfect back size cart stickers that match a legal cart of the era.

Use the kazoo writer, take a legit ROM off google or whatever, and using thesoftware click the right boxes and push the button to flash the chip and you are done. Screw that into your new game shell and it is essentially done.

For the front theres an easy answer you can do at home with a business level printer (ink not laser.) Get it set to best print quality, use standard printing style, yet print that to a semi-glossy matte sticker paper. The reason for this is it will keep the image as sharp as the original without bad mixing bleeding or streaking. Do it, let it dry, and apply. At that rate only a discerning eye could call bullshit on your new game.