How to identify a Bootleg GBA Game?

[ReddMcKnight]

OK, so I recently got my Game Boy Micro, and I'm having a blast playing it. The thing is though, I wanna buy more games for it. The problem is, I've heard that there are a LOT of GBA Bootlegs around. So, how do I identify a real game from a fake one?

[noiseredux]

by reading my blog

http://www.rfgeneration.com/news/game-b ... s-1390.php

[joehero]

If buying on ebay, dont buy from dealers in China!

[sevin0seven]

or sometimes you can tell from the label of the cart itself.

[noiseredux]

that blog post I linked covers pretty much all the red flags.

[Ziggy]

that blog post I linked covers pretty much all the red flags.

What about the stamp on the back of the cartridge? I've heard that it wont be present or look funky on pirate carts. I didn't read your blog, just looked at the pics. Some of the pics are broken.

If buying on ebay, dont buy from dealers in China!

Not just limited to China sellers though. I bought a fake GBA cart from a USA seller once. The seller probably didn't even know it was fake.

[Ack]

What about the stamp on the back of the cartridge? I've heard that it wont be present or look funky on pirate carts.

By that, do you mean the company logo on the back? I've got a couple of bootlegs that work just fine, but they both have Nintondo written on the back of the case.

[Ziggy]

It's been a while since I've looked at a GBA cart, but isn't there some stamped/embossed writing on the back of the cart? I believe 'Nintendo' and a patent number? Also, The Gameboy Advance logo on the front of the cart above the logo, doesn't it usually look a little funky on pirate carts?

I too had a pirate GBA cart that still said Nintendo on the beck. That's why I was unaware it was a bootleg copy for a while.

[noiseredux]

It's been a while since I've looked at a GBA cart, but isn't there some stamped/embossed writing on the back of the cart? I believe 'Nintendo' and a patent number? Also, The Gameboy Advance logo on the front of the cart above the logo, doesn't it usually look a little funky on pirate carts?

I too had a pirate GBA cart that still said Nintendo on the beck. That's why I was unaware it was a bootleg copy for a while.

there's stamped numbers on the front of the cart -- on the label.

[Hobie-wan]

The problem is, I've heard that there are a LOT of GBA Bootlegs around.

They can occasionally be found in the US at GS and other places, but unless import hubs like LA and NY are especially thick with them I believe it's more of a problem in Europe for some reason.