Topic: Tons of Pirated DS Games on Ebay

i'm thinking in terms of games that have seen no re-release since it originally came out and where the price of a real secondhand copy may be absolutely outrageous, like Earthbound and Suikoden II (the latter will likely be re-released eventually on the PSN, but who knows when). If I can't shell out the $100 that someone wants for an Earthbound cartridge when at release it was probably $60 or so, should I really be barred from downloading and playing it via emulator until NoJ gets their heads out of their butts and allows the changes necessary for its VC release? or how about $120 for Suikoden II when it was originally about $50-60 as well? It's such an awesome game that it kills me to think people might not be playing it just because it had a limited printing and other people want to cash in.

Personally, I think that everything has its value. Look at what happened when Ico was reissued with Shadow of the Colossus - although it meant lots more people got to play it, those who had managed to find a copy and bought it at a high price were then left with a bitter taste in their mouths because their rare game had devalued.

Re-releases don't always mean a decrease in the price of the original though, I'll warrant you. In Blackpool the other day they were selling Phantasy Star II and III for £30 each, and they've been made available on countless compilations, but it just shows you can't beat the real thing.

So, in summary, I'm confused.

@ Prosody

I think rereleases do always mean SOME decrease in the price of the original, though it isn't always as marked as people expect. FF2 and FF3 for SNES (english versions) still go for a pretty penny online, as do Chrono Trigger and the like, but they're a far cry from their high prices, prior to rerelease fever of the early 2000s. DQ4 for NES hasn't lowered much since DQ4DS, but it has lowered. Megaman X2 and Megaman X3 are still expensive by SNES terms, but these games debuted at 80 dollars new (all 3 of them actually), and 2 and 3's relatively-limited-releases had them at around 100 dollars apiece on average a few years back...now they're about half that since the MMX collection. Some games get bitten worse than others, but all values tend to decrease somewhat once the rerelease happens.

I happen to be one of the few people that enjoys "the real thing", but I must say that SNES games feel better on Wii, as do NES games. No cartridge blowing, no BS save issues...it's just more convenient, and doesn't leave that acidic aftertaste that emulation leaves in one's gaming mouth.

Plus, you can't say you don't get a smug satisfaction after reading a "I'm gaming Jesus, I just paid 500 dollars for this awesome old game!" post, only to have the value drop hundreds after it's rereleased...I remember someone tooting their own horn about tracking down a copy of Xenogears for whatever-high-price...then it came out, literally 5 days later, as Greatest Hits...I recall buying it for 19.99 and loling.

...and yeah I don't know how I'm so lucky. I got Dragon Quest 4 for NES way back in the day, when the Grocery Store (Alberton's....yeah, apparently they rented NES games towards the end of its lifespan) stopped renting, and sold their NES games....8.99.

I got Suikoden 2, in a bargain bin at EB, for 14.99 barely-used. The disc was pure and unscathed.

I got Earthbound from a friend...because "the game sucked! It's like a crappy NES game!" He's no longer an associate...honestly don't remember entirely who it was, but thanks for the game, thee of crappy opinion. It had been played, up until Frank, and the free guide that came with the game was unopened.

While I've had some pretty awful luck in real life, my gaming luck has always been excellent!

@Prosody: Game values are weird. For me, their true value is in the playing (i don't give a rat's behind about collecting), and I'm all about being able to play them at a reasonable price, which was why i brought up re-releases. Pirating games like Chrono Trigger and/or Final Fantasy IV would be something I would not advocate, for example, because they're currently in print and you can also find authentic secondhand copies on eBay for at or below what they went for at retail (I saw a couple copies of Final Fantasy Chronicles GH for $25ish buy-it-now with free shipping, so the extra $5 would cover tax and the gas it would take to get to the store and back IMO).

@Swerd_Murd: holy crap, do you ever have good gaming luck! may it never run out on you.

Great stuff guys, Ill do the same myself and maybe we can get a few of these guys out of the pirating and selling buisness permantely, well at least on ebay. Im glad to see Im not the only one disturbed by this and only by my games new at the retail stores now.
@theblackdragon....awesome links and we got the same pirated game. I resulted to the internet to get that game because its nowhere to be found anywhere else.

@slapshot82: i remember when i finally got my DS Lite that was one of the games I was looking to buy, and by that time it was no longer on shelves. i don't understand why Nintendo stopped printing it so quickly; it wasn't even out for a year before it was gone.

@theblackdragon I completely agree....same thing here. I did find it used at one time in Gamestop and didn't pick it up because they wanted over $40 for it Used. I don't get how you can pick up Mario Parties and all the Nintendo games still printed over and over but that incredible game is no longer printed. Especially with the sequel fixing to release. Doesn't make much sense to me.

I'm hoping that I didn't just fall victim to a DS pirate on eBay. I was looking for a copy of Freshly Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland and I found a seller out of the UK that was selling a copy brand new, factory-wrapped for $44.99. I got the game down to $39.99 with free shipping and handling included. It seems like a good deal and the pics seem legit too. I hope its not too good to be true but now that I saw this thread I'm kind of worried. I just wanted this game so bad and I was desperate to get it. I paid with paypal so I hope that I'm safe. This if my first eBay purchase; does anyone have any advice for me as I wait for my game to arrive?

I bought a Mario VS. Donkey Kong from them and it didn't have a save. I emailed the guy and told him to shouve it down his throut.

Tingle's... is really cheap over here as nobody bought it, so it's very likely it's a real copy. Don't forget that if it isn't, you can send it back.

Let us know when it arrives and we'll tackle it together

@Prosody
Thank you so much for responding to my post! I noticed that the seller had four copies on hand and I am the only person who has purchased the game so far. The seller has a excellent rating and she emailed me promptly saying the game has been packaged and shipped already. It should be arriving sometime this week; at least I hope so. I was curious; Does this game come in a clear plastic case in the UK? Here in the US all DS games come in a grey-colored plastic case. I just want to be sure its legit.

Slapshot, just file a Paypal dispute. The seller will be forced to give you a refund.
Also, I must add: the HK seller called Biz-Com is honest. But he's about the only one that is....

Also, I have bought 4 DS games on eBay and they have all been legit. Kim Jong Il's pro tip of the day is that if a seller is selling genuine DS/Game Boy games, the listing will state clearly that the item is genuine.

@Prosody: Hey, no fair! Ico didn't even GET that release in America, so it's still pretty rare! Gamestop only charges $20 if you can find a copy, though.

@WolfRamHeart: Yes, European DS game boxes are curiously large and clear. I got my copy of Tingle's yaddayadda months and months ago, and it came in a box like that. I've also seen several European DS games traded in at Gamestop (which is okay due to lack of region coding, of course).

I didn't know about the DSi compatability thing until I saw this thread. Plugged in my (unforunately) bootleg copy of Tetris DS and got that error message. I then tried my copy of Tingle just to make absolutely sure, mostly because it said Nintendo Seal Of Quality on it, but it's still legit! Did they never drop the "Of Quality" in Europe? The Seal hasn't said that in America since 2003!

Also, I'm pretty good at recognizing bootleg GBA games now. Whether I put it out to sell depends on the orders of the manager on duty when I find it, unfortunately.

This reminds me--totally off-topic, but awesome.

So I rented Super Metroid when I was micro-Murd. I loved that game, but given my age/monetary situation, buying wasn't an option. I was so jacked, and took the game home, ready to eat Reese's peanut butter cups with some nerdy neighborhood friends and enjoy a NEW METROID GAME!!! (These very kids introduced me to Metroid 2 on GB...had only played the first on NES and was blown away)

Well, we put in the game, and turned it on.

A spinning triforce.

Triumphant cheesey-pre-midi trumpets and sword entering trifroce. Link to the Past Logo.

Window-shattering WTF, before WTF had an acrhonym or could be uttered without me feeling dirty for cussing.

After removing/examining game, someone had rented Super Metroid, removed the label, pasted the label over their own copy of Link to the Past, and returned the game as Metroid, scoring a free copy and lightening their Zelda inventory. I was crestfallen...My brother found is hilarious, as I do now.

Dishonesty is funny in retrospect.

I don't find that hilarious at all. A-hole rental customer...

I have Tingle and the box is quite a bit bigger than the US releases come in. And it's likely okay if it's sealed and from the UK. I've found that most of the pirated stuff is loose, that or you can tell the case is a reproduction. Go by feedback when you can and try to stay away from Hong Kong when it comes to games unless you know the seller and have done business with them before.

And I don't buy GBA games from anyone on ebay that I don't know. I've gotten quite a few boots on the GBA loose carts. Be careful. And use Pay Pal if you can so you can file a dispute if a game turns out to be a bootleg.

@Stuffgamer1
Thanks for the info! I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of this game and I don't know what to expect. I'm sure I will like the game but I just want it to to a legit copy that works. The recent articles here on Nintendo Life are what renewed my interest in this game. This being my very first purchase on eBay has me worried but I guess I won't know for sure until the game arrives!

@Corbie
Thanks for your advice! I really appreciate it! I'll make sure to let you guys know what happens when my game does arrive! I did use Pay Pal so I hope that helps! I guess I won't be buying any of the Stafi GBA games on eBay then. It sounds too risky! As much as I want them I don't want to take the chance; I'm sure there are other options out there!

You should like Tingle, it's really oddball but fun. I'm really glad I got Daz to grab it for me back when it was released in the UK. I'm curious to see the new Tingle game. Be sure and let us know how it turns out. And if you ever decide to get the Stafi games, let me know. I'll help you find a legit one.

@Corbie
Really, you could help me find a legit Stafi game? Thanks! Right now I'm enjoying The Legendary Starfy but after I finish that one I may be interested in tracking down the older games! For now I'm just going to wait for Tingle to arrive. I can't wait to hear more about the sequel for this game too! Rosy Rupeeland just looked like such an interesting and quirky game that I couldn't pass it up! I'll keep you guys posted on what happens and thanks again!