How common is it to come across a bootleg GBA cartridge?

[Aldo]

In the last few weeks I've been getting back into the Final Fantasy games. I've got thirteen on the 360, and I recently completed Final Fantasy 6 on the Wii. So for Christmas I asked for FFV on the GBA, and my parents picked it up for me.

Well, twenty five minutes into the game, I went to save it, and discover all the save files are corrupted. Further research online that the battery backup in bootleg cartridges doesn't last that long. Just to make sure, I read up on tell-tale signs of bootleg cartridges, and sure enough, the one I had was a bootleg.

That made me curious though, seeing as this is the first time I've come across a bootleg game cartridge since those black NES cartridges back in the day. I had no idea this was still going on, is this still a common thing to come across?

I mean it kind of sucks for me. On the bright side though my folks kept the receipt and we might be able to exchange it for a legit copy (assuming there is one in the shop).

 

[Relayer1]

I had a bunch of em. They were quite common mail order or on the internet...

 

[Aldo]

The bright side to this is that when I return exchange it tomorrow, I know how to discern the legit carts from the bootlegs now. I just hope they're not all bootlegs.

 

[Brendan Moody]

There were an awful lot of bootlegs on eBay when I was buying GBA games between 2005 and 2011. Sellers in Hong Kong, Thailand, and similar locations were the biggest sources, though sometimes they were being passed on unknowing by American collectors; I assume their bootlegs end up circulating through game stores sometimes.

 

[Aldo]

I ended up returning the game for a full refund. They were just going to replace the battery and I felt that was a temporary solution to the problem.

So I went on ebay, found a seller who was selling a legitimate copy, and got it. The best part was it was only a few bucks more than what my folks had paid for it.

 

[Sephiroth]

While you are in the FF mood, if you have a 3DS, pick up Theatrythm Final Fantasy, its really addictive.

 

[Saturn0660]

Why not just change the battery?

 

[Aldo]

Why not just change the battery?

I ended up returning it. But the place we got it at did attempt to do that.

It just feels like a temporary solution to the problem, plus I hate the idea of not owning the real thing. Just an odd tick of mine I guess

 

[Itisnotlogical]

If you haven't played it already, Final Fantasy Tactics: Advance is one of the best games outside of the main series IMO. There's tons of variety, both in the main campaign and tons of optional missions. The story's pretty good, and some missions are linked by a continuing story as well. I rarely beat a game to 100% completion, but I had to see every bit of this one. The sequel on the DS added a lot in gameplay and graphics, but the story and characters are lame in comparison.

 

[CorporalClegg]

FFTA had a story?

 

[Aldo]

This story does have a happy ending. After getting my money back for the bootleg cartridge, I did get a "real" cartridge off of ebay for around the same price. Plays beautifully, although it's a lot easier than I remember.

 

[Kelthaz]

If you haven't played it already, Final Fantasy Tactics: Advance is one of the best games outside of the main series IMO.

Final Fantasy Tactics is one of my favourite games of all time, but I strongly disliked the GBA sequel. The brilliant Game of Thrones tale of political intrigue is replaced by a bunch of silly crap for kids. The job system is butchered and I'm not even going to get into the judge system. Oh, you so don't want me to get into that.

I'd say Tactics Ogre: Knights of Lodis is a much better SRPG on the GBA.

 

[CorporalClegg]

^
What he said. Though I would replace "Game of Thrones" with "Elizabethan." It had all the archetypes.