POLL: Bootlegs / Reproductions: What is allowed

[ninjainspandex]

I'm assume this whole topic was sparked by onyxthecat selling Chinese bootlegs here. He states openly that they are fakes, I have no issue with this. I guess my stance on this is the same as my stance on guns, I'm not in favor on banning something because someone might use it irresponsibly.

I actually bought his bootlegs and put the PCBs into US shells, Grindstormer was officially released in the US so I had a custom label made for it so there can be no confusion.

[mjmjr25]

Onyx isn't the only one - but certainly he is selling them the most often and afaik, the only one on here routinely selling games released in the US that in my opinion have no reason being made.

Clifton, seriously, why would you want a Grind Stormer bootleg? The original is widely available as a US release. As you said - you were able to put the PCB in a US case. You used a fake label - there are many who wouldn't do that. Regardless - that Grind Stormer is now available as a repro does the following:

-Skews the market on originals
-Creates doubt about the authenticity for others when they go to buy or sell
-Sacrificed an orginal GEN cart

I don't buy-in to the notion that we are not responsible for what happens away from here. What a sad state of affairs if we applied that as our criteria for taking up a cause.

[Onyxthecat]

The minor differences being:

*It generally doesn't sacrifice anything (some do use old shells, but most nowadays do not) and the PCB's are always new.
*It can't be passed off as an original at any point

Your point is taken, though - but those are why I personally have a distinction.

It took me weeks to find a MUSHA which is why i've been using it as a go-to example. Go look on Ebay for completed MUSHA listings - it's darn near impossible to tell what's real and what isn't. Yeah, some sellers make a point to say "repro", but others don't. Worse yet, some sellers now have to say "not a repro". One copy listed as "not a repro" sold for $63. One copy sold for $399. These repros make it a complete crapshoot to try and find originals of games. I finally found one on shmups forums from a reputable member who was the original owner - it was the only way I felt comfortable shelling out the money. Buying AES games...even more difficult. I'm honestly shocked that so many are ok selling "repros" of games released in this country's format.

Is that a nice enough story for you, Onyx? You have some nerve with your post being that you are the biggest proliferator of GEN/MD boots on this forum. Let's hear your real argument for selling "repros" of MUSHA, a game with no language barrier and available in both US and JP releases.

Hey look, I'm sorry if I offended anyone but I felt like I was being attacked. If I'm selling a game that I know and you all know is fake, then don't buy it. I offer them to people who want to have the experience of playing an expensive and/or unobtainable game on real hardware. Thats what I want myself as well. If it's getting to the point where people are taking this to a whole other level, I will no longer sell them here. I don't want to get banned/shunned for this.

[Aramonde]

This may be oversimplifying it, but it sounds like the arguments boil down to those who want to collect games for the sake of collecting (opposed to repros), and those who want to collect games for the sake of playing (OK with repros).

^ Pretty much

The thing with flash carts like the Everdrive is it would just be the same feeling of playing an emulator to me. I know repros are just the same thing just with one game instead of a flash with hundreds, but i want the game to have the artwork and box, it makes feel more legit even though its not a original cart.

[dedalusdedalus]

If it's getting to the point where people are taking this to a whole other level, I will no longer sell them here.

Awesome! Thanks for taking the initiative.

[Onyxthecat]

If it's getting to the point where people are taking this to a whole other level, I will no longer sell them here.

Awesome! Thanks for taking the initiative.

Sure thing!

[dedalusdedalus]

If it's getting to the point where people are taking this to a whole other level, I will no longer sell them here.

Awesome! Thanks for taking the initiative.

Sure thing!

Good man. So, can I get an estimated time on that?

[Luke]

With this further explanation from Mike, I am fine with #2. Obvious translated games in in US shells can be considered 'marked'. Repros of US released games should be marked as such otherwise they are just bootlegs. I distinguish bootlegs from repros in that bootlegs are counterfeits passed off as thr real thing.

What you said.

I still have no clue why selling a repro labeled as a repro is at all an issue.

[Onyxthecat]

Good man. So, can I get an estimated time on that? [/quote]

Not sure, I guess as soon as the heat gets turned down.

[dedalusdedalus]

Not sure, I guess as soon as the heat gets turned down.

Whatever it takes, man. Whatever it takes.