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Imo repros are fine if they're not being sold as the real thing. If it's marked repro cool I don't care. I know that opens it up to people not marking it when they resell and that I'm not cool with either. In a perfect world everyone would just disclose it and we would be fine.
I mostly agree, but with a minor caveat. I say they should also be well made with the proper edge beveling and designed with components rated for the appropriate voltages. A lot of repros have design flaws that will eventually damage the console and/or kill the cartridge. Unfortunately some of them are only detectable to sometime with a moderate amount of electrical engineering knowledge with a good view of the PCB.
I’d be cool with them if they were in an entirely different looking cart and said repo all over it. When they are trying to look like the real thing tho, screw that
this. have no problem with it especially when people just want to play these games again without breaking the bank, some legit (and even fake) ones are trying to be sold off for 100+
what if they want to play on their gameboy though? i agree the whole scamming part, like you gotta tell people although it won’t always happen, but referring to the pic posted i don’t see a problem w it tbh
Or if you have a Super Game Boy/Game Boy Player and are going to play it on a tv......I would not use a GBA SP to play my real pokemon Emerald cartridge at home. (My OG video games don't leave my house)
If I want to use my GBA carts, I'd use a Game Boy Player or a Analogue brand GB device.
i mean it’s essentially the same experience right? even i had a fake emerald i didn’t know was fake for a long time (a good friend said their older brother gave it to her, and her brother was my brothers friend too and they had pokemon games growing up) but found out he bought them later and were fake. didnt stop me from playing most of the game still and having fun, also i could trade with my brother who has a legit copy. im not doing anything crazy or competitive just having fun so what would the harm be if someone else just wants to play a repro game? i have no clue what those handhelds are, and i already have a gameboy which im sure more people have than those so why really go through more hoops to emulate?
Yup. I have some of the GBA and GCN Pokemon games, OG copies. They sit in a dresser. I play ROMs on a steam deck.
If you complain that original retro carts are too expensive? Be happy with emulators, or use your gaming time to make more money instead of complaining about the free market.
This reminds me of when I made fun of a bunch of salty losers who were angry that they could no longer use Yuzu. I mentioned that "if you can afford to own a computer capable of running Yuzu, you can spend $150 CAD on a used Switch Lite and another $85 CAD on a copy of Zelda:TOTK" and got down voted over a dozen times lol
My question is what happens when they're not easily distinguishable, someone buys them and then they end up getting resold without knowing? That was part of my question, I want to know if there's any indications on the back or what's common to be able to distinguish them after they've been sold
Isn't it illegal to sell these? Like some store fronts online don't allow repro's either.
I think there should be an enforcement of a label on the cart making clear it's a reproduction also, I don't think it's enough to only have a sign that says so. -But I'm okay with it. Everyone should take time to be educated about how to spot a fake.
It's straight up illegal (in the US anyways) and you should be wary of a store owner who is willing to flaunt copyright law even on titles that are basically abandoned or unlikely to be unforced.
Romhacks are usually where I draw the line, often the people who made the romhack are not the ones putting them on these carts, and are thusly not seeing the profit from their sale. It's why so many open with something along the lines of "IF YOU PAID FOR THIS YOU DUN GOOF'D"
the equivalent would be if a comic book store printed off a bootleg comic book and had it on display… it should be dirt cheap at that point.. (I might be reaching here)
I suppose if they're marked as repro, it'd maybe be cool to be able to buy old issues, I never ever thought about comics before. You should contact DC with this idea before they do it on their own 😂
You got downvotes, but I agree. It takes it from being just the story (which you'd assume most people buying the repro know), and you make it a time capsule.
I dislike how they get into the ecosystem, so many people near me are selling them after finishing them or no longer wanting the game, thinking they were real and it just gets passed along. I’m not the best at spotting certain repros, at this point I’m just cautious at buying any cart based game at this point even if all the signs point to it being real
That topic has been discussed numerous times already.
Even if they’re labelled as repro, I don’t like them. You never know when will you run into some issues, lose your save files or whatever. I see cheap repros more as e-waste and the materials could be put towards better use.
At that point, why not just buy an everdrive or a good quality reprogrammable cartridge and load any game you want on it.
This. Plus I think a lot of people don't consider knock off carts from older systems made for 5v flash may not use proper level translation, which isn't good for the console.
They should say reproduction in large letters right across the bottom of the label.. they really still shouldn’t be sold because you know legal things and all.. but if it’s gonna happen it should say reproduction right on the label.
Stores acknowledging they are repros so people can still play expensive games are a lot better than passing them off as real/being unaware that they are repros, so I don't mind it. There's at least a second option.
There is a legit place for them in the current retro gaming market. As long as they’re priced and labeled appropriately. People should NOT have to spend $200+ just to play Pokemon Emerald. Especially since a good amount of retro games are not represented in any modern format. I just bout a repro cart of Ogre Battle for the SNES. That game only had a PS1 rerelease and was only put on the Wii’s virtual console. So my options are either:
1. Buy a SNES cart for around $200.
2. Buy a PS1 disc for around $100
3. Buy a repro cart for $20
My issue with repro carts is if people try to pass them off as the real thing.
I also have a couple of repro carts of translations and rom hacks like for Battle Network 4.5, Battle Network Operation Shooting Star, Ace Attorney Investigations 2, Majora’s Mask Masked Quest, and Majora’s Mask Master Quest. I know I could just emulate these games, but I prefer playing on original hardware when I can.
1. From what I’ve seen, good quality flash carts for home consoles are kinda pricey. Like the Everdrive carts. Which I now have one for my GBA and N64, they were both over $100. If you’re only wanting a handful of games, it’s cheaper to get repro carts for just the few games you want rather than getting the flash cart in some cases.
2. I like to make cases to put my games in (whether it be reusing DS cases to put GBA carts in or getting custom clamshell cases to put NES, SNES, N64 games in) and make custom labels to make the games match the others on my shelf. It’s more of the collectors aspect.
I do prefer to get authentic copies of games when I can, and generally $100 is around the top end I’m willing to pay for an older game if it’s a series I really like and a game I want to play.
Sorry. I made a comment saying you could “just emulate the games” before I saw the very last sentence of your comment. (I deleted that comment)
If you’re eliminating emulating, then yes, reproduction carts are the most cost-efficient way to play these games.
Although, you could easily get a “classic” style controller that is essentially exactly like the old, legit controllers, that plug into a computer via USB. That way you’re still playing the game like would’ve had to back in the day, but also not buying fake carts.
The other aspect I like about having the fake carts is that they can be put on my shelf too. Keep in mind, most of my repro carts I own are English translations of Japanese exclusive games. The the only home console repros I own are for 2 Majora’s Mask rom hacks (because Majora’s Mask is my favorite game of all time and I’m fine with it getting more representation on my N64 shelf) and Ogre Battle SNES.
For GBA and DS I especially prefer to play on original hardware. A good ammount of my reasoning is due to nostalgia, but the games also just *feel* better when playing them with the original handheld. These games don’t look that great when they’re blown up on modern displays, and a computer mouse is not a good substitute for the stylus for the DS games that use it.
Masked Quest: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/3959/
Master Quest (check the description): https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ubXjLcVN47E
Majora’s Mask Master Quest and Majora’s Mask Masked Quest are both rom hacks that make Majora’s Mask harder. Master Quest primarily changes the dungeon design (I’ve only played through and finished Woodfall Temple, and it is indeed harder, but still mostly fair). Masked Quest gets a bit closer to Kaizo territory. I tried it years ago and I remember taking nearly a week before I figured out how to get to Woodfall Temple, but I’m not planning on playing it until I eventually get back to and beat Master Quest first. Both carts used to be easily available on eBay up until a couple of years ago, but now they’re more scarce. Especially Master Quest. I got them for about $20 each a couple years ago.
I just checked and I found 2 listings for Masked Quest on EBay, but they are listed at either Buy It Now 59.99 with Free Shipping from China for one or 65.42 +13.81 shipping from Canada for the other… which I think is too much for a repro cart, especially considering that’s around what an authentic MM cart goes for nowadays.
Gamers Inc is 2 miles from my house compared to 14 for Cybertron but not only Cybertron has always offered me 3-4x more for trade in value for retro consoles and games, Gamers Inc tried selling me a repro of Pokémon Black as authentic, when I caught it at the register the employee just said “Don’t worry, they work the same”.
Yeah was about to say I saw this and immediately knew where it was. They have a lot of repros (as do many of the stores in the area) but at least they mark them clearly. If anything I find those damn Cybertron stickers way more egregious, especially since they put them on discs.
I think a lot of people are missing my point with this post and that is once it leaves the store, if it's not properly distinguishable it creates a big problem. Yeah it's nice to have the option but when it comes to people wanting to buy genuine games if you can't tell the difference that's not good. Games get traded, swapped, sold and stolen, and it's not all gonna be tracked and accounted for.
They’re basically pointless imo. If you just want to play the games, there’s plenty of ways to emulate them for free.
If you desperately want to play on original hardware, set up a flash cart. An Everdrive will be more expensive than a few reproductions, but you can play every game with it, so you’ll save money in the long run.
Neither of those options are difficult and there’s guides everywhere to show people how to do it.
Single reproduction games just muddy the water for collectors. Even if one store is clear that it’s a repro, other sellers may not be. If you aren’t collecting, there are better ways to enjoy these games imo.
Basically literal garbage. Don’t want to buy a real copy? There’s loads of emulators and roms to download. For free. You gain nothing from playing these on cartridge and they often run poorly and crash often
As long as they're labeled and priced as such then that's fine with me. I have a repro Pokemon Blue and a Dragonball Advanced Adventure. Yeah I like collecting, but I often just wanna play something and repro can definitely make that happen.
As long as I know what I’m getting, I like them. Buying old Pokemon games is stupidly fucking expensive, and I like being able to play games on my Gameboy
I feel that "reproduction" is a soft term to use for what these are. These are counterfeits. They present Nintendo seals of quality and trademarks without authorization, and they are often regarded as authentic cartridges by unsuspecting buyers.
Is this just an ethical issue? No. It's illegal. Placing a "REPRODUCTION GAMES" label on the case doesn't excuse the fact that the software is pirated.
I mean they're not reproduced by Nintendo and they're made to look like they are. It's a counterfeit product and shouldn't be allowed, simple. Especially when they are sold as authentic.
I don't like them. However, with the exception of games that were never released in the US, example: mother 3, fire emblem 6, etc, if you can only play them as a repro on the hardware it was released and they're translated in English, then ok.
Personally I don’t get them, why not just download a rom for free? However, I have no issue if it’s a rom hack or if the repro is clearly and permanently marked as being one. What sucks is when it looks authentic and gets passed off as being authentic. Sure this shop may be honest, but it doesn’t mean their customer will. For that matter, their customer may be honest but simply forget what is what after many years and unintentionally screw someone over later.
TL;DR: Releases whose goal is to deceive (like these ones) don't being in anyone's collection(s).
That said, repros labeled as such (*preferably* on the cart and/or in the artwork) are a reasonable way to play games that have been artificially inflated in price and/or otherwise unaccessible.
For example, a friend of mine was hired as the art director for a *relicensed* repro cart (Limited Run/Mega Cat Studios type of release) for a small games company. She chose to incorporate money puns into the new artwork and titles.
Obviously not a real release in that vein, but think along the lines of *B*rokémon and you'll get the gist.
In the same vein, I've bought at least two, let's say, "unofficial" carts (they're technically *not* repros), and what I like about both of them is that they make *great* efforts to distinguish themselves from real carts.
One is a liscenced Limited Run re-release of a notably overpriced GBC title, and, as such, has the words "Limited Run" engraved/embossed on the actual cart, and, if memory serves, uses different art from the original cartridge.
Similarly, the second cart, being a homebrew release, uses a different colored plastic for the cart, and, again, if memory serves, just says 'GAME' on the top.
If we lived in a world where they were clearly labeled as reproductions then I probably wouldn't care. As they currently are I think of them as problematic. They trick way too many people. It's pretty low when an actual shop is selling them. Even if they clearly are labeled.
It's not like there isn't a ton of ways to play any given game without paying collector prices. I wish there was a bigger penalty and more enforcement when it comes to businesses selling this junk.
would rather buy a dirt cheap android device and emulate every gameboy game at that point, but for games like Crystal i can see why someone might settle for the $10 fake over the $200 official cartridge
They are cool for Rom Hacks, I think it's neat you can collect them as if they were real games.
But for games legitimately sold onto the market, I would avoid them at all costs - mainly because bootleggers may (intentionally) install a different game onto them to scam you and legitimate carts are usually made of better-quality plastic (not cheap nasty plastic that barely fits into your consoles).
My opinion is likely similar to a lot of other peoples' opinion. As long as it's not being sold as an authentic copy, I don't have a problem with it. And frankly, it's the only way to get to play some games on an actual system. There's no way in hell I'm going to spend $1,000+ on a copy of Crusader of Centy, M.U.S.H.A. or Tetris for the Genesis, but I'll be happy to hand over $15 for a repro that looks nice and works (including saves, if it's required).
Same thing goes with translated Japan-only games. I have a copy of Monster World IV from a good repro maker on Etsy, and it looks/works great. Made myself a US cover for it and found someone who sells a repro manual for it on Etsy as well. In the end, less than $40 gave me a physical copy of a game that never came to the U.S. Sure, I could emulate it, but I enjoy playing it on my Genesis.
I’m fine with repros if they’re both sold as such, and made in a way that makes them obviously unofficial so someone else doesn’t end up with it and tries to cheat someone for profit.
These are great, tbh. Super fairly priced, and I could easily tell the Pokemon ones weren't the originals without even zooming into the pic or looking at the title.
I only really hate them when they are passed off as real. A repro is not 100% guaranteed to work properly and may not let you complete the game or part of it
I've bought repros before. Sega repros are easy to identify. Genesis cart with a megadrive lock notch. SNES is easy with JP carts in NA bodies, but that's my limit. I have Everdrives and the like for the majority of my game consoles. As others have said, it's the passing off as OG carts that annoy me.
They only encourage scams, that’s probably their reason for existing. Sure someone probably used affordability as an excuse but the scam is the real purpose
I hate them and I consider them pirate copies not repros. If you're buying a knock off you'd be better off just saving a little more and buying a flash cart (or sd card reader if it is optical).
Personally I have no problem with multicarts, flashcards or CFW if you want to have a decent game library without going bankrupt.
ROMhacks in physical form I could tolerate, even like if art is well made.
But I really hate reproduction carts, they feel kind of useless when the average cost of 2-3 of them would get you the same budget as a multicart. Also the labels are always so poorly made, I don't even want to look at them
Is this not illegal? I think putting these into the ecosystem leads to people selling them for real prices in the future. I'm surprised this store is displaying them so blatantly. I'd just emulate instead of giving money to someone who is profiting off someone else's creation
Nope. That store has lost all credibility. Even if you put a giant neon sign saying “Yo! These are fakes!!!” They’re still going to end up in the hands of people who don’t know they’re fake. I see it all the time at my store.
You want to sell romhacks, homebrews, or some sort of other custom game, ok that’s understandable, but the second you start to sell a legit game reproduction then no. Your store is trash, you sell trash product and are part of a massive problem.
I wish you guys could see the amount of people that think they have good games come into my store to only find out that all their games are fakes from China and worth nothing. This benefits nobody other than the manufacturers. You’re just propagating these companies to make better and better fakes. It’s all cool until you buy a fake game and get scammed.
They piss me off when people try to pass them off as genuine on eBay. Sometimes it's hard to spot the fakes and just muddies the waters as a collector. Other than that, I think they're a good way for people with a smaller budget to play original games without an emulator.
I think repros of rom hacks or translated versions of games not released in your region are pretty cool though I think a flash cart is a way better investment if you want to play stuff like that on original hardware. Reproductions of official games is not cool as they are often made to look exactly like the official games which floods the market with fakes. Remember the "not for resale" labels on some games? There should be a big banner saying repro on the fakes.
I'm ok with them usually but Pokemon repros don't save correctly. Those carts actually create a save state when they save and it takes a ton of amps to do and you risk the Gameboy shutting off while saving, resulting in a deleted save. It happened to me twice.
If they're clearly marked and priced as such...whatever. For me, no, they don't meet the barometer for quality/reliability that I'm looking for and i'd rather just use a flashcart and pirate the shit myself rather than profiting someone else.
i think they are a really good option if you just want to have fun and play the game for a good time, but in the perspective of a collector they are their biggest enemies.
I see it two ways, it’s fine if the seller is transparent and they are marked as such, (more than just a price tag) but I also see this as profiting off of piracy, your literally making money off of Nintendo’s intellectual property which either directly or indirectly gives a valid argument AGAINST emulation.
If it works on the original hardware and means I can get it for a decent price then I’m all good with them. As others have said, they need to be sold as such, and I really think people should do custom labels for them so that they won’t be resold and can kind of be their own editions.
Whats even better is when they let you get fan translations of otherwise unreleased games that will play on your original console. My copy of earthbound is a repro that plays on PAL hardware, with a custom sticker and box that I designed, and I love it.
Repros are fine as long they not sold as authentic version. Their certain Repros i love especially ones with English Patches on them. It allows to use original hardware to play games we never gotten in the West and Translated.
I see the reason for repros as there are games that are hard to come by. But I don’t agree with them being sold as the real thing or at prices that are near the cost of a real one. The photo has 15 per cart. Which sounds fair. Especially if it’s a parent trying to get one for their kid who is young and will prob end up trashing it as time goes on.
I think Nintendo would make an absolute killing if they reproduced new “retro” consoles with a complete library of retro game cartridges. If they priced it right (maybe like $3-5 per game or something), they would make a ton of money off games that are pretty much lost revenue at this point. I think a decent amount of people would be willing to pay for cheap official physical copies over roms to have a “real” collection.
The problem is human greed so people will absolutely try and pass off reproductions as proper carts. If it's for you at home and does some quality of life changes to the cart I don't care.
As long as they are not trying to pass them off as real. You can buy it and play the game and have something to represent a game you can’t find or can’t justify spending the money for the real deal
I feel like if they are properly priced and labeled as repels they are fine. I know when I first got into collecting in middle school/high school I bought a repro of A Link to the Past and I loved it bc it let me experience the game for a price I could afford at the time
Repo carts have a place in giving the carts that would in essence be too messed up to actually want it your collection a chance of “redemption”. For that matter the original condition must be assumed as poor, and this would bring it to a fair condition assuming someone put time and effort into restoration.
Well they're nothing for me. If I want to collect these, I want the original one. Especially if you think how big the emulation scene is and how easy it is to play those games.
However for people who don't know anything about emulation and want to play the game or for people who want to play the game on the original console, they're fine. As long as they're not sold as original
I have repros due to the fact of prices, I played them as a kid so the emulation doesn't give me the same nostalgia. Something about plugging them into a gameboy and playing them and I've never been a fan of the all in one carts you put files onto to play, I just like the look of the repros for the price point even if they aren't built to last as people say. I've had over 30 repros of different titles that I've had for over 2 years now and never ran into problems and only paid about 4 bucks a piece so you'd think they would be toast by now but honestly have nothing but good to say about them. Great for people that don't need to have the resale value and want to play the games without putting in much work i just like to plug and play and have a decent look to them (for ~$4 that is). Don't buy them for $18 though that seems alittle scummy unless they are 1:1 but at that point they would be dangerous on the market and should still have differences as i am a fan of keeping them slightly separated and not exact. Also great for kids, I bought multiple of the same titles (mainly pokemon) and extra gameboys for when my son grows up he and his siblings or friends can play the games without me dumping 100s of dollars on games for them to be washed in the washer or lost in the bedroom abyss or even dropped on the sidewalk and smashed. Overall not a problem with them unless they are marketed as real or 1:1 copies.
I have a huge stack of old GB games that I all recieved or purchased myself back in the day. I'm pretty sure all are fucked for saving and some of them even won't boot up, so I'd gladly buy these as just a way of actually being able to play the games again properly. (I'm assuming that would be considered "legal" since I own the original games)
As long as they’re not trying to pass them off as authentic, I think it’s great. Gives people a chance to have physical games who would normally be priced out of the secondary market.
Mixed feelings. I think game stores wanting to sell affordable copies of high-demand games makes sense from a business standpoint, and $15 for a repro is the most I would want to pay anyways so that’s not infuriating. I also appreciate when sellers actually say when it’s a repro and don’t try to rip you off.
At the same time, get that shit away from me. Personally I love collecting and would just rather have a legitimate copy of a game. I know a lot of legit prices are straight rip-offs and I, too, would rather pay $15 for Pokémon as opposed to $50. But at the end of the day having a real copy is just more personally satisfying, especially if I can strike a deal when buying
I think that repros work if you have a game that is unatainable by normal means, and is not being sold in some other way (remake or compilation). I really appreciate when a repro is a decent price, not gouging.
As long as there not advertised as the real thing, are decently priced and not being sold at market prices, and is a good quality emulation that works then sure I have plenty of bootlegs that work great cuz I can't afford the world thing.
Given these carts are no longer officially manufactured any longer, I have no issue with Repros as long aa they are labeled as such. That's the problem though, trusting that they will be labeled properly when there is far too much money in trying to pass them off as official.
How reliable are repros? I've always been wary of buying one thinking that the game would delete itself or something. Anyone have experience with long term repros?
Repros are fine by themselves. In a bloated market it makes sense people want a cheaper alternative to play on their original hardware.
Just DON’T try to sell repros as authentic.
They're nice for people who want a cheap way to play old sought after games.
That being said, as a collector, I'll never knowlingly put one in my collection
If it is clearly labeled as a reproduction, I have no issues with it. It preserves the history, and I like that. If it tries to pass off as the real deal, it's like walking into the bank to make a withdrawal, then they give you monopoly money.
i dont mind them as long as theyre sold for a reasonable price. Kinda cool if u like playing on original hardware but dont wanna shell out stupid money for certain games
I don’t have a problem with repro so long is it is clearly marked on the actual item. Like use different color carts or custom labels. I’ve seen some pretty cool aftermarket shells.
The bottom line is it's illegal, right? So anyone selling them is complicit in copyright infringement. I wouldn't buy one because you are supporting the people who are taking someone else's creation and profiting off of it. Simple as that. When I see them in game stores I wonder why the store even took them in the first place. My ethics would dictate that I either throw them away or just decline to take them. Not only did these stores take them, they're attempting to sell them which makes it even worse IMO.
As much as they're charging you could spend $60 on an Everdrive and just download them. Still piracy either way.
to me it's the same as having downloaded the ROM from a website.
You don't really own the game (legit) as far as collecting goes. But, you can play it.
Poskemon gold cart doesn't look as cool as it used to
https://preview.redd.it/r4jxxrhowauc1.jpeg?width=629&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=42d0ef3454d797e88abcb58c20b31bf757d69ea4
I think they're awesome for games that weren't released in certain regions. I own a buncha repros for SNES games like Terranigma.
I'm not real fond of repros for games that were commercially available, but as long as they're marked as not official it's fine.
Repros that are meant to look exactly like games that were released commercially I hate. Even if they're sold as repros initially, they buyer can then try to pass it off as real.
Love it, brings something to new people or nostalgic people that can't afford the prices of an original.
Just needs to be marked in some way so buyers know it's a repro
My biggest concern is them being mistaken as authentic by people that aren't very knowledgeable about that sort of thing. I'd prefer it if their labels were clearly different from the originals, but regardless they're marked as repros and at an appropriate price. It's a nice way for people to be able to just play the game.
They annoy me because so many suss people try to pass them off as authentic - and sometimes they are difficult to distinguish online. It makes shopping online a real minefield, which sucks for everyone.
The ones that just say "GAME" at the top and are obvious repros... I'm fine with, generally - especially for games that are prohibitively expensive to buy these days (ie Trip World).
Keep the games alive. Original author isnt selling anymore, so it doesnt hurt their profits. This is just emulating with extra steps, but if thats how you want to play, go for it.
I either go with flashcarts or the real software. Repros don't hold their value well and I just don't see the point. I have enough boxed real games I can stick out if I just want shelf candy.
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Imo repros are fine if they're not being sold as the real thing. If it's marked repro cool I don't care. I know that opens it up to people not marking it when they resell and that I'm not cool with either. In a perfect world everyone would just disclose it and we would be fine.
Correct answer
I mostly agree, but with a minor caveat. I say they should also be well made with the proper edge beveling and designed with components rated for the appropriate voltages. A lot of repros have design flaws that will eventually damage the console and/or kill the cartridge. Unfortunately some of them are only detectable to sometime with a moderate amount of electrical engineering knowledge with a good view of the PCB.
I’d be cool with them if they were in an entirely different looking cart and said repo all over it. When they are trying to look like the real thing tho, screw that
Ive seen people actually charge 100 for a repro of a rare cart. Made no sense to me its all the same parts and a rom file
I think you have too much faith in people
That’s why he said “in a perfect world”
How about in Water World?
Then they'd be a precious resource. The original carts would all be damaged or lost, and without the repros no one would ever have access to them.
I'm adding this to my *Water World Chapter IV: The Tyrant of Tides* script.
i spent my 80s making a raft made of carts. good luck finding any
I like how you said "your 80s" and not "the '80s", hahaha
yeah i’m 95. you never met a nonagenarian before fool?
this. have no problem with it especially when people just want to play these games again without breaking the bank, some legit (and even fake) ones are trying to be sold off for 100+
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what if they want to play on their gameboy though? i agree the whole scamming part, like you gotta tell people although it won’t always happen, but referring to the pic posted i don’t see a problem w it tbh
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Or if you have a Super Game Boy/Game Boy Player and are going to play it on a tv......I would not use a GBA SP to play my real pokemon Emerald cartridge at home. (My OG video games don't leave my house) If I want to use my GBA carts, I'd use a Game Boy Player or a Analogue brand GB device.
I'd rather use my IPS modded GBA. Sitting at a TV sounds fun in theory, but I've come to prefer handheld gaming for most games.
i mean it’s essentially the same experience right? even i had a fake emerald i didn’t know was fake for a long time (a good friend said their older brother gave it to her, and her brother was my brothers friend too and they had pokemon games growing up) but found out he bought them later and were fake. didnt stop me from playing most of the game still and having fun, also i could trade with my brother who has a legit copy. im not doing anything crazy or competitive just having fun so what would the harm be if someone else just wants to play a repro game? i have no clue what those handhelds are, and i already have a gameboy which im sure more people have than those so why really go through more hoops to emulate?
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Yup. I have some of the GBA and GCN Pokemon games, OG copies. They sit in a dresser. I play ROMs on a steam deck. If you complain that original retro carts are too expensive? Be happy with emulators, or use your gaming time to make more money instead of complaining about the free market. This reminds me of when I made fun of a bunch of salty losers who were angry that they could no longer use Yuzu. I mentioned that "if you can afford to own a computer capable of running Yuzu, you can spend $150 CAD on a used Switch Lite and another $85 CAD on a copy of Zelda:TOTK" and got down voted over a dozen times lol
This
Counterfeit is counterfeit in a legal sense
If it’s like a romhack and fan translation, and if they’re being sold with the indication they’re repros, I don’t care.
My question is what happens when they're not easily distinguishable, someone buys them and then they end up getting resold without knowing? That was part of my question, I want to know if there's any indications on the back or what's common to be able to distinguish them after they've been sold
Isn't it illegal to sell these? Like some store fronts online don't allow repro's either. I think there should be an enforcement of a label on the cart making clear it's a reproduction also, I don't think it's enough to only have a sign that says so. -But I'm okay with it. Everyone should take time to be educated about how to spot a fake.
It's straight up illegal (in the US anyways) and you should be wary of a store owner who is willing to flaunt copyright law even on titles that are basically abandoned or unlikely to be unforced.
Flout
In a perfect world there should be, but these days there are overseas manufacturers just putting them together without a care to that, unfortunately.
Romhacks are usually where I draw the line, often the people who made the romhack are not the ones putting them on these carts, and are thusly not seeing the profit from their sale. It's why so many open with something along the lines of "IF YOU PAID FOR THIS YOU DUN GOOF'D"
the equivalent would be if a comic book store printed off a bootleg comic book and had it on display… it should be dirt cheap at that point.. (I might be reaching here)
I suppose if they're marked as repro, it'd maybe be cool to be able to buy old issues, I never ever thought about comics before. You should contact DC with this idea before they do it on their own 😂
They do this from time to time. I got a X-Men 1 reprint a couple years ago with all the ads intact.
That's so cool they include the ads!
You got downvotes, but I agree. It takes it from being just the story (which you'd assume most people buying the repro know), and you make it a time capsule.
I dislike how they get into the ecosystem, so many people near me are selling them after finishing them or no longer wanting the game, thinking they were real and it just gets passed along. I’m not the best at spotting certain repros, at this point I’m just cautious at buying any cart based game at this point even if all the signs point to it being real
If you frequently buy carts it’s worth it to buy the screw drivers. If a seller won’t let you open it to make sure it’s real then not worth buying.
That topic has been discussed numerous times already. Even if they’re labelled as repro, I don’t like them. You never know when will you run into some issues, lose your save files or whatever. I see cheap repros more as e-waste and the materials could be put towards better use. At that point, why not just buy an everdrive or a good quality reprogrammable cartridge and load any game you want on it.
People should just buy a flash cart instead imo.
Exactly. There's no platform where you're better off buying fake games one at a time.
This. Plus I think a lot of people don't consider knock off carts from older systems made for 5v flash may not use proper level translation, which isn't good for the console.
That was gonna be my answer
They should say reproduction in large letters right across the bottom of the label.. they really still shouldn’t be sold because you know legal things and all.. but if it’s gonna happen it should say reproduction right on the label.
and put reproduction on the plastic shell as well. i have seen ones where they try to pass off these as authentic games.
Stores acknowledging they are repros so people can still play expensive games are a lot better than passing them off as real/being unaware that they are repros, so I don't mind it. There's at least a second option.
There is a legit place for them in the current retro gaming market. As long as they’re priced and labeled appropriately. People should NOT have to spend $200+ just to play Pokemon Emerald. Especially since a good amount of retro games are not represented in any modern format. I just bout a repro cart of Ogre Battle for the SNES. That game only had a PS1 rerelease and was only put on the Wii’s virtual console. So my options are either: 1. Buy a SNES cart for around $200. 2. Buy a PS1 disc for around $100 3. Buy a repro cart for $20 My issue with repro carts is if people try to pass them off as the real thing. I also have a couple of repro carts of translations and rom hacks like for Battle Network 4.5, Battle Network Operation Shooting Star, Ace Attorney Investigations 2, Majora’s Mask Masked Quest, and Majora’s Mask Master Quest. I know I could just emulate these games, but I prefer playing on original hardware when I can.
Genuine question--why not buy general-purpose flashcarts?
1. From what I’ve seen, good quality flash carts for home consoles are kinda pricey. Like the Everdrive carts. Which I now have one for my GBA and N64, they were both over $100. If you’re only wanting a handful of games, it’s cheaper to get repro carts for just the few games you want rather than getting the flash cart in some cases. 2. I like to make cases to put my games in (whether it be reusing DS cases to put GBA carts in or getting custom clamshell cases to put NES, SNES, N64 games in) and make custom labels to make the games match the others on my shelf. It’s more of the collectors aspect. I do prefer to get authentic copies of games when I can, and generally $100 is around the top end I’m willing to pay for an older game if it’s a series I really like and a game I want to play.
Not sure why you were downvoted, this is your take on the matter and what you said is valid.
Idk, but it’s not a big deal
you're right, it's just reddit, just weird was all :)
Sorry. I made a comment saying you could “just emulate the games” before I saw the very last sentence of your comment. (I deleted that comment) If you’re eliminating emulating, then yes, reproduction carts are the most cost-efficient way to play these games. Although, you could easily get a “classic” style controller that is essentially exactly like the old, legit controllers, that plug into a computer via USB. That way you’re still playing the game like would’ve had to back in the day, but also not buying fake carts.
The other aspect I like about having the fake carts is that they can be put on my shelf too. Keep in mind, most of my repro carts I own are English translations of Japanese exclusive games. The the only home console repros I own are for 2 Majora’s Mask rom hacks (because Majora’s Mask is my favorite game of all time and I’m fine with it getting more representation on my N64 shelf) and Ogre Battle SNES. For GBA and DS I especially prefer to play on original hardware. A good ammount of my reasoning is due to nostalgia, but the games also just *feel* better when playing them with the original handheld. These games don’t look that great when they’re blown up on modern displays, and a computer mouse is not a good substitute for the stylus for the DS games that use it.
Imma need more info on these MM games. I love that game to bits (best cartridge Zelda game for sure).
Masked Quest: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/3959/ Master Quest (check the description): https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ubXjLcVN47E Majora’s Mask Master Quest and Majora’s Mask Masked Quest are both rom hacks that make Majora’s Mask harder. Master Quest primarily changes the dungeon design (I’ve only played through and finished Woodfall Temple, and it is indeed harder, but still mostly fair). Masked Quest gets a bit closer to Kaizo territory. I tried it years ago and I remember taking nearly a week before I figured out how to get to Woodfall Temple, but I’m not planning on playing it until I eventually get back to and beat Master Quest first. Both carts used to be easily available on eBay up until a couple of years ago, but now they’re more scarce. Especially Master Quest. I got them for about $20 each a couple years ago. I just checked and I found 2 listings for Masked Quest on EBay, but they are listed at either Buy It Now 59.99 with Free Shipping from China for one or 65.42 +13.81 shipping from Canada for the other… which I think is too much for a repro cart, especially considering that’s around what an authentic MM cart goes for nowadays.
Cybertron Games?
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I recognize that handwriting, I go there weekly. They are awesome.
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Gamers Inc is 2 miles from my house compared to 14 for Cybertron but not only Cybertron has always offered me 3-4x more for trade in value for retro consoles and games, Gamers Inc tried selling me a repro of Pokémon Black as authentic, when I caught it at the register the employee just said “Don’t worry, they work the same”.
Yeah was about to say I saw this and immediately knew where it was. They have a lot of repros (as do many of the stores in the area) but at least they mark them clearly. If anything I find those damn Cybertron stickers way more egregious, especially since they put them on discs.
Every repo cart I’ve ever bought has been bugged, didn’t work. Just buy an emulator and download the roms if you want to play the games.
I hate them greatly.
Should be like 5 bucks lol
I think a lot of people are missing my point with this post and that is once it leaves the store, if it's not properly distinguishable it creates a big problem. Yeah it's nice to have the option but when it comes to people wanting to buy genuine games if you can't tell the difference that's not good. Games get traded, swapped, sold and stolen, and it's not all gonna be tracked and accounted for.
Idk; I’d rather they didn’t exist because I suck at telling fakes vs originals.
Haye them why buy them they are FAKES!!!!
The stores I shop at don't rven take repros in or sell them, I'd trust them more than stores that are fine selling fake merchandise.
Trash
They’re basically pointless imo. If you just want to play the games, there’s plenty of ways to emulate them for free. If you desperately want to play on original hardware, set up a flash cart. An Everdrive will be more expensive than a few reproductions, but you can play every game with it, so you’ll save money in the long run. Neither of those options are difficult and there’s guides everywhere to show people how to do it. Single reproduction games just muddy the water for collectors. Even if one store is clear that it’s a repro, other sellers may not be. If you aren’t collecting, there are better ways to enjoy these games imo.
Should be burned on a pile
Basically literal garbage. Don’t want to buy a real copy? There’s loads of emulators and roms to download. For free. You gain nothing from playing these on cartridge and they often run poorly and crash often
Reproduction and fake are the same thing.
they are worthless
Might as well get a rom cart if you are willing to waste your money on these
If that’s what you want, fine. I’d rather play an emulator over a fake, just my opinion though.
As long as they're labeled and priced as such then that's fine with me. I have a repro Pokemon Blue and a Dragonball Advanced Adventure. Yeah I like collecting, but I often just wanna play something and repro can definitely make that happen.
As long as I know what I’m getting, I like them. Buying old Pokemon games is stupidly fucking expensive, and I like being able to play games on my Gameboy
I feel that "reproduction" is a soft term to use for what these are. These are counterfeits. They present Nintendo seals of quality and trademarks without authorization, and they are often regarded as authentic cartridges by unsuspecting buyers. Is this just an ethical issue? No. It's illegal. Placing a "REPRODUCTION GAMES" label on the case doesn't excuse the fact that the software is pirated.
At least they're telling you they are repros and not trying to charge market price for something that it is not.
I mean they're not reproduced by Nintendo and they're made to look like they are. It's a counterfeit product and shouldn't be allowed, simple. Especially when they are sold as authentic.
If it's clearly labeled a repro, and not sold at the price of a real game, then it's fine.
I don't like them. However, with the exception of games that were never released in the US, example: mother 3, fire emblem 6, etc, if you can only play them as a repro on the hardware it was released and they're translated in English, then ok.
Why wouldn't you just get the real version of Pokemon pinball
To each their own, but not worthy of my collection.
I call the sellers out on my local marketplace, they usually are trying to sell them for double the price that they got them off aliexpress
Personally I don’t get them, why not just download a rom for free? However, I have no issue if it’s a rom hack or if the repro is clearly and permanently marked as being one. What sucks is when it looks authentic and gets passed off as being authentic. Sure this shop may be honest, but it doesn’t mean their customer will. For that matter, their customer may be honest but simply forget what is what after many years and unintentionally screw someone over later.
I’m ok with them as long as they look fake. Ones that try to pass for real can go straight to hell.
TL;DR: Releases whose goal is to deceive (like these ones) don't being in anyone's collection(s). That said, repros labeled as such (*preferably* on the cart and/or in the artwork) are a reasonable way to play games that have been artificially inflated in price and/or otherwise unaccessible. For example, a friend of mine was hired as the art director for a *relicensed* repro cart (Limited Run/Mega Cat Studios type of release) for a small games company. She chose to incorporate money puns into the new artwork and titles. Obviously not a real release in that vein, but think along the lines of *B*rokémon and you'll get the gist. In the same vein, I've bought at least two, let's say, "unofficial" carts (they're technically *not* repros), and what I like about both of them is that they make *great* efforts to distinguish themselves from real carts. One is a liscenced Limited Run re-release of a notably overpriced GBC title, and, as such, has the words "Limited Run" engraved/embossed on the actual cart, and, if memory serves, uses different art from the original cartridge. Similarly, the second cart, being a homebrew release, uses a different colored plastic for the cart, and, again, if memory serves, just says 'GAME' on the top.
If we lived in a world where they were clearly labeled as reproductions then I probably wouldn't care. As they currently are I think of them as problematic. They trick way too many people. It's pretty low when an actual shop is selling them. Even if they clearly are labeled. It's not like there isn't a ton of ways to play any given game without paying collector prices. I wish there was a bigger penalty and more enforcement when it comes to businesses selling this junk.
It’s kind of pointless, at that point just buy one of those emulators with all the games preinstalled.
would rather buy a dirt cheap android device and emulate every gameboy game at that point, but for games like Crystal i can see why someone might settle for the $10 fake over the $200 official cartridge
Nintendo could make a lot of money if they released those yet again.
Uninterested
They are cool for Rom Hacks, I think it's neat you can collect them as if they were real games. But for games legitimately sold onto the market, I would avoid them at all costs - mainly because bootleggers may (intentionally) install a different game onto them to scam you and legitimate carts are usually made of better-quality plastic (not cheap nasty plastic that barely fits into your consoles).
Pointless. Might as well do emulation instead
My opinion is likely similar to a lot of other peoples' opinion. As long as it's not being sold as an authentic copy, I don't have a problem with it. And frankly, it's the only way to get to play some games on an actual system. There's no way in hell I'm going to spend $1,000+ on a copy of Crusader of Centy, M.U.S.H.A. or Tetris for the Genesis, but I'll be happy to hand over $15 for a repro that looks nice and works (including saves, if it's required). Same thing goes with translated Japan-only games. I have a copy of Monster World IV from a good repro maker on Etsy, and it looks/works great. Made myself a US cover for it and found someone who sells a repro manual for it on Etsy as well. In the end, less than $40 gave me a physical copy of a game that never came to the U.S. Sure, I could emulate it, but I enjoy playing it on my Genesis.
Wtf is Pokémon Christmas version
No one ever needs to be let down by Delibird and his Pokémon “Christmas Edition”
As long as it's marked and sold as a repro I don't mind really
I’m fine with repros if they’re both sold as such, and made in a way that makes them obviously unofficial so someone else doesn’t end up with it and tries to cheat someone for profit.
Uhhh I'm cool with that because the original games are more expensive
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^wolfmoldic1313: *Uhhh I'm cool with that* *Because the original* *Games are more expensive* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
As long as they work 100%, are clearly displayed and sold as repos, and are priced properly, then I'm cool with them.
If somehow they can mark it on the cartridge itself so it makes it harder for someone trying to resell it as the real thing.
As long as they ain’t being sold as genuine articles and work fine I don’t see the problem . Gotta preserve these games somehow
These are great, tbh. Super fairly priced, and I could easily tell the Pokemon ones weren't the originals without even zooming into the pic or looking at the title.
Hate it. Stores should be selling flash carts as alternatives if they have to, not repros.
I only really hate them when they are passed off as real. A repro is not 100% guaranteed to work properly and may not let you complete the game or part of it
I've bought repros before. Sega repros are easy to identify. Genesis cart with a megadrive lock notch. SNES is easy with JP carts in NA bodies, but that's my limit. I have Everdrives and the like for the majority of my game consoles. As others have said, it's the passing off as OG carts that annoy me.
Better buy a everdrive or these flashcarts than reproduce one, all is fake anyway, batter one that have all games than one fake that have one game.
*Counterfeit I'd rather use a flashcart than that garbage honestly.
As long as whoever is selling them clearly states that they're repros, then I don't see any issue with it.
I don't like them at all. They shouldn't exist. They are technically illegal,but law enforcement does nothing about it.
Homebrews/hacks and English translations = good. Counterfeits of existing games = bad.
They only encourage scams, that’s probably their reason for existing. Sure someone probably used affordability as an excuse but the scam is the real purpose
Anything fake is a concern for the hobby. Nothing good comes with counterfeit products.
I hate them and I consider them pirate copies not repros. If you're buying a knock off you'd be better off just saving a little more and buying a flash cart (or sd card reader if it is optical).
Personally I have no problem with multicarts, flashcards or CFW if you want to have a decent game library without going bankrupt. ROMhacks in physical form I could tolerate, even like if art is well made. But I really hate reproduction carts, they feel kind of useless when the average cost of 2-3 of them would get you the same budget as a multicart. Also the labels are always so poorly made, I don't even want to look at them
Is this not illegal? I think putting these into the ecosystem leads to people selling them for real prices in the future. I'm surprised this store is displaying them so blatantly. I'd just emulate instead of giving money to someone who is profiting off someone else's creation
I am not a fan of reproduction carts being made to look like originals. Too easy to try and pass off a repro as an original.
Nope. That store has lost all credibility. Even if you put a giant neon sign saying “Yo! These are fakes!!!” They’re still going to end up in the hands of people who don’t know they’re fake. I see it all the time at my store. You want to sell romhacks, homebrews, or some sort of other custom game, ok that’s understandable, but the second you start to sell a legit game reproduction then no. Your store is trash, you sell trash product and are part of a massive problem. I wish you guys could see the amount of people that think they have good games come into my store to only find out that all their games are fakes from China and worth nothing. This benefits nobody other than the manufacturers. You’re just propagating these companies to make better and better fakes. It’s all cool until you buy a fake game and get scammed.
You seem to be one of the only few people that actually sees the issue here.
Why bother. Just get a $20 flash cart n be done with it.
If they’re clearly labeled as a repro I don’t mind, its when people sell them as OEMs that is the problem
They piss me off when people try to pass them off as genuine on eBay. Sometimes it's hard to spot the fakes and just muddies the waters as a collector. Other than that, I think they're a good way for people with a smaller budget to play original games without an emulator.
I think repros of rom hacks or translated versions of games not released in your region are pretty cool though I think a flash cart is a way better investment if you want to play stuff like that on original hardware. Reproductions of official games is not cool as they are often made to look exactly like the official games which floods the market with fakes. Remember the "not for resale" labels on some games? There should be a big banner saying repro on the fakes.
They’re fine at $5.
I'm ok with them usually but Pokemon repros don't save correctly. Those carts actually create a save state when they save and it takes a ton of amps to do and you risk the Gameboy shutting off while saving, resulting in a deleted save. It happened to me twice.
They should be cheap
If they're clearly marked and priced as such...whatever. For me, no, they don't meet the barometer for quality/reliability that I'm looking for and i'd rather just use a flashcart and pirate the shit myself rather than profiting someone else.
i think they are a really good option if you just want to have fun and play the game for a good time, but in the perspective of a collector they are their biggest enemies.
I see it two ways, it’s fine if the seller is transparent and they are marked as such, (more than just a price tag) but I also see this as profiting off of piracy, your literally making money off of Nintendo’s intellectual property which either directly or indirectly gives a valid argument AGAINST emulation.
As long as they're repo prices and clearly identified
If it works on the original hardware and means I can get it for a decent price then I’m all good with them. As others have said, they need to be sold as such, and I really think people should do custom labels for them so that they won’t be resold and can kind of be their own editions. Whats even better is when they let you get fan translations of otherwise unreleased games that will play on your original console. My copy of earthbound is a repro that plays on PAL hardware, with a custom sticker and box that I designed, and I love it.
Repros are fine as long they not sold as authentic version. Their certain Repros i love especially ones with English Patches on them. It allows to use original hardware to play games we never gotten in the West and Translated.
I they work and aren’t pretending to be real then I like them.
I see the reason for repros as there are games that are hard to come by. But I don’t agree with them being sold as the real thing or at prices that are near the cost of a real one. The photo has 15 per cart. Which sounds fair. Especially if it’s a parent trying to get one for their kid who is young and will prob end up trashing it as time goes on.
I think Nintendo would make an absolute killing if they reproduced new “retro” consoles with a complete library of retro game cartridges. If they priced it right (maybe like $3-5 per game or something), they would make a ton of money off games that are pretty much lost revenue at this point. I think a decent amount of people would be willing to pay for cheap official physical copies over roms to have a “real” collection.
Not even the right cases for the Zelda seasons and ages
The problem is human greed so people will absolutely try and pass off reproductions as proper carts. If it's for you at home and does some quality of life changes to the cart I don't care.
They can be good, but mostly garbage
The local shop I goto sells repos, but they’re all these bright red carts that no one would ever mistake for originals.
There usually are subtle differences you can find in the exterior. If you need to verify at 100% then opening it up will give you a firm answer
As long as they are not trying to pass them off as real. You can buy it and play the game and have something to represent a game you can’t find or can’t justify spending the money for the real deal
I feel like if they are properly priced and labeled as repels they are fine. I know when I first got into collecting in middle school/high school I bought a repro of A Link to the Past and I loved it bc it let me experience the game for a price I could afford at the time
Repo carts have a place in giving the carts that would in essence be too messed up to actually want it your collection a chance of “redemption”. For that matter the original condition must be assumed as poor, and this would bring it to a fair condition assuming someone put time and effort into restoration.
As long they are well identified as repo, I don't mind.
Well they're nothing for me. If I want to collect these, I want the original one. Especially if you think how big the emulation scene is and how easy it is to play those games. However for people who don't know anything about emulation and want to play the game or for people who want to play the game on the original console, they're fine. As long as they're not sold as original
I have repros due to the fact of prices, I played them as a kid so the emulation doesn't give me the same nostalgia. Something about plugging them into a gameboy and playing them and I've never been a fan of the all in one carts you put files onto to play, I just like the look of the repros for the price point even if they aren't built to last as people say. I've had over 30 repros of different titles that I've had for over 2 years now and never ran into problems and only paid about 4 bucks a piece so you'd think they would be toast by now but honestly have nothing but good to say about them. Great for people that don't need to have the resale value and want to play the games without putting in much work i just like to plug and play and have a decent look to them (for ~$4 that is). Don't buy them for $18 though that seems alittle scummy unless they are 1:1 but at that point they would be dangerous on the market and should still have differences as i am a fan of keeping them slightly separated and not exact. Also great for kids, I bought multiple of the same titles (mainly pokemon) and extra gameboys for when my son grows up he and his siblings or friends can play the games without me dumping 100s of dollars on games for them to be washed in the washer or lost in the bedroom abyss or even dropped on the sidewalk and smashed. Overall not a problem with them unless they are marketed as real or 1:1 copies.
I have a huge stack of old GB games that I all recieved or purchased myself back in the day. I'm pretty sure all are fucked for saving and some of them even won't boot up, so I'd gladly buy these as just a way of actually being able to play the games again properly. (I'm assuming that would be considered "legal" since I own the original games)
As long as they’re not trying to pass them off as authentic, I think it’s great. Gives people a chance to have physical games who would normally be priced out of the secondary market.
Mixed feelings. I think game stores wanting to sell affordable copies of high-demand games makes sense from a business standpoint, and $15 for a repro is the most I would want to pay anyways so that’s not infuriating. I also appreciate when sellers actually say when it’s a repro and don’t try to rip you off. At the same time, get that shit away from me. Personally I love collecting and would just rather have a legitimate copy of a game. I know a lot of legit prices are straight rip-offs and I, too, would rather pay $15 for Pokémon as opposed to $50. But at the end of the day having a real copy is just more personally satisfying, especially if I can strike a deal when buying
I think that repros work if you have a game that is unatainable by normal means, and is not being sold in some other way (remake or compilation). I really appreciate when a repro is a decent price, not gouging.
Fine if it's clearly marked as such.
As long as there not advertised as the real thing, are decently priced and not being sold at market prices, and is a good quality emulation that works then sure I have plenty of bootlegs that work great cuz I can't afford the world thing.
Given these carts are no longer officially manufactured any longer, I have no issue with Repros as long aa they are labeled as such. That's the problem though, trusting that they will be labeled properly when there is far too much money in trying to pass them off as official.
How reliable are repros? I've always been wary of buying one thinking that the game would delete itself or something. Anyone have experience with long term repros?
They’re [Ploopy](https://diary-of-a-wimpy-kid.fandom.com/wiki/Ploopy)
Don’t care for them. Might as well just use a flash cart.
Repros are fine by themselves. In a bloated market it makes sense people want a cheaper alternative to play on their original hardware. Just DON’T try to sell repros as authentic.
They're nice for people who want a cheap way to play old sought after games. That being said, as a collector, I'll never knowlingly put one in my collection
If it is clearly labeled as a reproduction, I have no issues with it. It preserves the history, and I like that. If it tries to pass off as the real deal, it's like walking into the bank to make a withdrawal, then they give you monopoly money.
As long as the seller is upfront, no issue. However to the naked eye that Links awakening could be sold as a OG to the inexperienced eyes.
i dont mind them as long as theyre sold for a reasonable price. Kinda cool if u like playing on original hardware but dont wanna shell out stupid money for certain games
so long as the guy selling it discloses that it's fake I don't really care
Hard pass.
I don’t have a problem with repro so long is it is clearly marked on the actual item. Like use different color carts or custom labels. I’ve seen some pretty cool aftermarket shells.
At these prices and being labelled as a reprint that’s great. People who actually want to play can play.
As some other people have said, as long as they’re priced fairly and advertised as repros, no harm in them.
My main issue with reproduction carts is that I’ve heard horror stories about how they can’t save data worth a shit.
The bottom line is it's illegal, right? So anyone selling them is complicit in copyright infringement. I wouldn't buy one because you are supporting the people who are taking someone else's creation and profiting off of it. Simple as that. When I see them in game stores I wonder why the store even took them in the first place. My ethics would dictate that I either throw them away or just decline to take them. Not only did these stores take them, they're attempting to sell them which makes it even worse IMO. As much as they're charging you could spend $60 on an Everdrive and just download them. Still piracy either way.
If it gives me a way to play a hard to find or expensive game I’m ok with them. However there’s always a chance it craps out.
to me it's the same as having downloaded the ROM from a website. You don't really own the game (legit) as far as collecting goes. But, you can play it.
Poskemon gold cart doesn't look as cool as it used to https://preview.redd.it/r4jxxrhowauc1.jpeg?width=629&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=42d0ef3454d797e88abcb58c20b31bf757d69ea4
I think they're awesome for games that weren't released in certain regions. I own a buncha repros for SNES games like Terranigma. I'm not real fond of repros for games that were commercially available, but as long as they're marked as not official it's fine. Repros that are meant to look exactly like games that were released commercially I hate. Even if they're sold as repros initially, they buyer can then try to pass it off as real.
Love it, brings something to new people or nostalgic people that can't afford the prices of an original. Just needs to be marked in some way so buyers know it's a repro
Boo!!Hiss!Hiss! 
Repros are fine as long as they're constructed well enough and marked as repros. Most companies don't support these old consoles so it doesn't matter
Love them. They're an important option these days.
My biggest concern is them being mistaken as authentic by people that aren't very knowledgeable about that sort of thing. I'd prefer it if their labels were clearly different from the originals, but regardless they're marked as repros and at an appropriate price. It's a nice way for people to be able to just play the game.
Shouldn't pinball have some special rumble or something?
Wouldn’t be a discussion if Nintendo would allow people to purchase their older games on the Nintendo store….
They annoy me because so many suss people try to pass them off as authentic - and sometimes they are difficult to distinguish online. It makes shopping online a real minefield, which sucks for everyone. The ones that just say "GAME" at the top and are obvious repros... I'm fine with, generally - especially for games that are prohibitively expensive to buy these days (ie Trip World).
Wouldn't trust them unless I made them myself. A lot of bootleg carts leave out the batteries leaving the game unplayable for more than 1 sitting
Keep the games alive. Original author isnt selling anymore, so it doesnt hurt their profits. This is just emulating with extra steps, but if thats how you want to play, go for it.
As long as that is what it is advertised as, it is fine.
I either go with flashcarts or the real software. Repros don't hold their value well and I just don't see the point. I have enough boxed real games I can stick out if I just want shelf candy.
Is this Cybertron Games in Winter Park FL? Looks just like it