Bootleg N64 Cartridge?

[rubbercarp]

I wasn't sure where else to post this, either on these forums, or on the internet in general. But as I see there is an active RetroGaming community here, I thought I would see if anyone had an info here.

I was going through a large collection of N64 games that I had purchased, and I came across an oddity.

It's a copy of Super Mario 64, but the body of the cartridge is a Japanese style cart (with the extra tabs on the bottom). As is the label on the back (identifying it as an NUS-006(JPN)). However the front label is from the US release: NUS-006 (USA)





My first instinct is that this is a bootleg of some kind. But I just thought I would start asking around if anyone had ever seen anything like this before.

Thanks

[lwcook]

My guess is that it's not a bootleg. I think someone probably swapped the back of the cart with a Japanese game for play on an Japanese N64. It is known that the only regional lockout on NTSC N64 systems are the physical tabs in the cart slot.

[wclem]

Looks like someone switched the backs out to play in a J system.

[rubbercarp]

That makes sense.
Thanks!

[rubbercarp]

Ha!
That would also probably explain the Japanese version of Mario Kart, that has a USA back and plays in US N64 models.

Mystery solved!

[rubbercarp]

One more question then...
If there is just a tab on the back of JP carts, is there nothing preventing USA Carts from playing on an Japanese N64?

Just trying to figure it all out.

[Hobie-wan]

Just like with the SNES, cart shape is the only lockout. The hardware in the system is exactly the same.

[rubbercarp]

Right,
But if it's a tab on the JP Cart that keeps it from playing in a USA machine, then all USA games should play on JP N64 console right?

So Japan could import USA games, but not the other way around?

[CRTGAMER]

No, different position of lockout.

A mod for the console.

[fastbilly1]

There are two different tabs sets at the bottom. So import, either way, is not possible without something like a gameshark, or some modifications.

Edit:
And CRT beat me to it