Let's talk about Reproduction(s)

[BoneSnapDeez]

In the past, I've never had more than a passing interest in game reproductions. But lately I discovered this site:

http://www.gamereproductions.com/

...and I'm really digging some of the stuff on here. For example, I would love to get some sort of physical copy of Terranigma and this seems like the best way to do it (my Japanese isn't good enough to play the Super Famicom version and messing with PAL shit is a pain in the ass). I'm also liking the Earthbound Zero NES carts and the Zelda hacks.

Anyone have any experience with this site? And can anyone tell me how the guy justifies his prices? $60 seems a bit steep for one of these games; it's as much as a new current gen title. Maybe more labor goes into producing these than I realize.

[Erik_Twice]

And can anyone tell me how the guy justifies his prices?

I don't see why he should justify it

Anyways, to make one of those reproductions you need a suitable donator cart, some chips and a ROM burner, as well as the appropiate software. He has to do it by hand, which means desoldering the Roms and then soldering a new one.

[alienjesus]

Are reproduction carts still region locked? One day I'd like to acquire Earhtbound 0 and Starfox 2 (I'm not interested in repros of actual englsh releases I could buy), but I'd like them to run on my PAL console too, slowdown or no.

[fastbilly1]

$50-$60 is the standard price for repros. Our resident repro genius, Ziggy, charged in that ballpark for his. I am very interested in his NES repros, but have not bought from him. Friends that have bought from him vouch for him though. They say his work is top notch.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Good info guyz. I guess I didn't realize how much work went into the production of these things.

[MrPopo]

Good info guyz. I guess I didn't realize how much work went into the production of these things.

The biggest cost is the new EPROM chips. When you factor in the cost of those and the cost of a donor cart the actual labor cost of making the repro is actually quite reasonable.

[Hobie-wan]

Indeed. I have a Terranigma from Ziggy and a Recca from Nesreproductions. Both are good stuff and like everyone says, they involve replacing several chips inside and handiwork. The Recca was pretty cheap as there were less chips involved but Earthbound being an RPG will have more chips to replace.

[fastbilly1]

Thanks Hobie, thats the NES cart I want the most.

[Soldier Blue]

And can anyone tell me how the guy justifies his prices?

I don't see why he should justify it

Anyways, to make one of those reproductions you need a suitable donator cart, some chips and a ROM burner, as well as the appropiate software. He has to do it by hand, which means desoldering the Roms and then soldering a new one.

What do you mean by donor cart? Can people actually make a physical cart with a mold or something? Or are they actually just using existing carts like from a cheap sports game or Super Mario world and ripping the labels off?

[fastbilly1]

And can anyone tell me how the guy justifies his prices?

I don't see why he should justify it

Anyways, to make one of those reproductions you need a suitable donator cart, some chips and a ROM burner, as well as the appropiate software. He has to do it by hand, which means desoldering the Roms and then soldering a new one.

What do you mean by donor cart? Can people actually make a physical cart with a mold or something? Or are they actually just using existing carts like from a cheap sports game or Super Mario world and ripping the labels off?

Typically they are using a cart with a similar hardware to the title you want and adding new chips to it.