Reproductions: What is our community ok with?

[Opa Opa]

I didn't read the whole thread yet. Sorry if I'm repeating anyone.
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What I feel should NOT be allowed:

Repros of Jp/PAL only games that do not require translation

• because if the game is in your native language (or text is not required) making a repro seems a bit wasteful of a donor cart if you can A) import, B) emulate, or C) use a flashcart

Repros of expensive games

• I speak from experience when I say this: getting a guaranteed legit Earthbound cart is a pain in the ass. I'm not sure if he remembers but I sent mjmjr25 pics of the board to have another source to verify its legitimacy.
  
  I spoke with ten or more sellers before I got to open a cart. Some people (nintendoage) even refused to open the cart. I don't wish this frustration on anyone. The fewer repros the better for expensive titles.

[Fragems]

I'm fine with them as long as they are clearly labeled as repros.

[ninjainspandex]

THINK OF ALL THE POOR MADDEN GAMES!

TBH I have flashcarts for all my systems but there is something very nice about popping in an SNES version of Star Ocean or King of Demons or any other import game that we should of gotten but never did. The flash cart doesn't give me that same feeling, it is however nice to have the flash cart for games I don't own due to price, like Mega Man X3.

[Jmustang1968]

I generally like repros. I have several repro carts both SNES carts and some SFC carts of the same game I had a translated chip installed.

I think if business is done legit here and items are marked and sold as repros, then all is good. Once someone else gets the game, what they do with iy we have no control of. It is too tough to police the potential bad intentions of others. I also dont like punishing those who use in good faith for a few bad apples.

[Hobie-wan]

As a side-note, what's the difference between a repro and a bootleg? People are using the terms here like they are meaningfully different, but it seems like a straight euphemism to me.

A bootleg is a game that is a reproduction but is being sold as the real deal. A reproduction is sold with the understanding as to what it is. Most people looking for Secret of Mana 2 or Star Fox 2 know what they are getting. However, if I go to buy Earthbound and someone has just reproduced it and sold it to me as an original, then that is shady and is considered a bootleg.

To me another difference is in scale. Repros are usually 1 or a handful of people assembling them in their garage and are burning EPROMS as they go, maybe some high scale ones like the websites get quality labels printed or even boxes. Bootlegs to me are more a factory making real ICs on custom boards stuffed into stacks of wholesale cases.

[BoneSnapDeez]

THINK OF ALL THE POOR MADDEN GAMES!

Not to go off on a tangent, but I don't agree with this line of thinking that it's somehow okay to destroy "lesser" games to create reproductions.

Besides, it's not always true anyway. Gemfire is used to create a Just Breed repro, for example.

[ninjainspandex]

THINK OF ALL THE POOR MADDEN GAMES!

Not to go off on a tangent, but I don't agree with this line of thinking that it's somehow okay to destroy "lesser" games to create reproductions.

Besides, it's not always true anyway. Gemfire is used to create a Just Breed repro, for example.

well pretty sure if it wasn't for repro carts these sports games would most likely a large majority would end up in landfills, unless you plan on starting a retro sports game orphanage. So what do you think should happen to the thousands of sports game carts?

[Ziggy]

THINK OF ALL THE POOR MADDEN GAMES!

Not to go off on a tangent, but I don't agree with this line of thinking that it's somehow okay to destroy "lesser" games to create reproductions.

Besides, it's not always true anyway. Gemfire is used to create a Just Breed repro, for example.

well pretty sure if it wasn't for repro carts these sports games would most likely a large majority would end up in landfills, unless you plan on starting a retro sports game orphanage. So what do you think should happen to the thousands of sports game carts?

But where do you draw the line?


I admit, there was thousands of copies of NHL 94, 95, 96, Madden 95, 96, etc, etc, in the world that no one really wanted. But I don't see that as an OK to just go ahead and destroy them. There isn't an infinite amount of these games, and every one and their mother is making repros these days. If you take the time to estimate how many repros are being made, surely we've already put a dent in the number of copies of those games. And more and more are being made each day.

What about NES repros where there isn't an abundance of "shitty sports titles" like there is on the SNES? In a lot of cases, some of the games suggested to use as donors for certain repros are quality games.

[marurun]

My concern is that I really don't want us to be a shady gaming site. I don't want folks in our BST thread selling US Magical Chase repros (effectively bootlegs) just because legit copies are expensive and rare. The harsh reality is that some stuff IS expensive and rare. If you need your MC fix, get a flash cart, emulate, or pick up a JPN copy. The only repros I am comfortable with are those that add something to the original release, ie: incorporate a hack or translation, or make an import game playable in a US system that wasn't otherwise available in the US (Wii VC included).

That's just my 2 cents.

[bryan_65]

Well shit, I just read the poll as ''What SHOULD we allow in the marketplace''. I accidentally picked the only 3 I thought SHOULD be allowed.

Haven't read the other post yet but wanted to let that be know. It was a long hot day at work.