360 gaming blog.

Videogame piracy, not exactly a new issue but it’s something I’ve never really had to think about before today.

I usually notice the warning that is on every 360 game disc ‘do not make illegal copies of this disc’ and I thought piracy was a thing of the past. Maybe it’s just that the people I know don’t get involved with that sort of thing but I wasn’t aware that piracy was a big problem?

Well apparently piracy is a very big problem for Nintendo and for the DS in particular. DS piracy is an issue because it doesn’t require any modifications to the hardware and is very simple process compared to other formats.

The game that caused me trouble was Pokémon Leaf Green for the GBA. I bought it a few months ago on eBay. I got it for a great price, cartridge, instructions and box included. The problem is that it keeps deleting my save file after a couple of hours. I was thinking of re-selling the game, it was only when I looked up the same game from other sellers that I found out about the fake versions.

I should have seen the warning signs when I received the item. First off the game box was flat packed (hadn’t been put together) and this copy was supposed to be used hmmm. Also the instruction manual was of very poor quality, I didn’t really pay attention to that the first time but on second inspection it’s obvious that it is a photocopy.

Furthermore when I first received it I noticed that it was a US copy of the game, the seller was from the UK, and this is because these games are mass made in China and other Asian countries and are imported to the US then sent around the world. They get made for about 1USD and sold on for a big profit.

When I realized I decided not to sell the item, I could easily get away with selling it on but I’m not that worried about the money and I don’t want someone else to suffer as well. I will try to get my money back and because I always use PayPal it’s easier to get a refund.


How to spot a fake:

Tips on how to buy safely:

http://reviews.ebay.com/Fake-Pirated...00000012057910


So any time you buy a DS or GBA game used make sure you ask plenty of questions before you hand over any money.


Ryan
Gamertag: Arctic Hydra 87