BOOTLEG CART BATTERYFirst another look at a few of
Hobie's GBA carts:
Hobie-wan wrote:CV CotM plus 3 semi random.
Proving that some GBA carts do have batteries.
This was posted on
Video Game Finds. I thought more appropriate to do a followup on this thread.
Hobie-wan wrote:CRTGAMER wrote:*pile of pretty good stuff with a few boots*
That orange PotD is a bootleg. The logo aspect ratio is all wrong for it to just be an import that made its way here. That Castlevania double pack is too and a real one doesn't use a battery, but flash ram. The 98 in 1 is of course a bootlegs as well. I'm sure if you look up the codes on the PoTD and CV they're completely wrong.
Mod_Man_Extreme wrote:The purple label version is legitimate and the Orange labeled one is a fake.
Look at the GBA logo on the cart and compare the feel of the plastic. also the cart should be labeled NINTENDO (in the logotype) on the inside visible from the connectors on the bottom. The cartridge part code is also printed on the back of the case itself as Model No. AGB-002 on official cartridges. Anything else (except for on carts with solar sensors, motion and rumble feedback) is a fake.
I've developed a keen eye for it over time after working at GameStop for so long.
So now I am in a dilemma.
Orange Pinball of the Dead and the
98 in 1 are absolutely bootlegs due to the font above the label, the words are all the same size font. On authentic GBA carts, the word "GAMEBOY" is slightly larger then the word "ADVANCE". This is confusing, based on the font size,
Castlevania does look legit.
- GBA Bootleg Cart 01.jpg (230.8 KiB) Viewed 5672 times
Okay the back of the carts. Only the bootleg
orange PotD has only two lines of text. Both
purple PotD and
Castlevania have the correct three lines of text, again a close match. All do state
AGB 002 and have a tri-screw holding the cart together.
- GBA Bootleg cart 02.jpg (210.82 KiB) Viewed 5672 times
Busting the carts open do show yellow ringed batteries on the fakes. The authentic PotD has Flash memory and the official white text on the PCB. Castlevania has a sticker stuck on the chip in Chinese?
- GBA Bootleg cart 03.jpg (244.14 KiB) Viewed 5674 times
I agree with
Hobie and
Modman that
orange label Pinball and
Castlevania are fake. The internal batteries with yellow instead of orange insulation rings. However looking at the font both front and back, it does look authentic.
The sure identification is that white logo on the PCB itself. It is not on the fake PotD or Castlevania. But this is hard to spot above the connectors with the covers on.I may either drive VERY far and get a authentic cart or just do the battery change out. I'm not worried if the cart is a bootleg as long as the game saves work and hold data for a LONG time.
How do I spot a real GBA Castlevania Double Pack?
The white font on the PCB is hidden under the cover.
Is there a different label sticker?
Will the battery change last say ten years from now or will it give out in a year?
Anyone have the official GBA Castlevania Double Pack, a pic please?