New batch of fake Sapphires?

CrackTiger · 09/10/2011, 11:28 PM

Right now there are 2 sealed copies of Sapphire for sale on eBay from sellers outside of Japan and only one copy that isn't sealed. One of the sealed copy sellers happens to have a sealed copy of the bootleg for comparison.

The last time I checked eBay for copies of Sapphire, there was also a non-care4data looking sealed copy. It's unusual that sealed copies have started showing up from non-Japanese sellers at this point in time.

I hope that my worst fears that my counterfeit guide would be used to make closer to perfect bootlegs hasn't come true.

Mathius · 09/11/2011, 12:01 AM

...or that BlueBMW's kind givaways haven't fallen into the wrong hands directly or indirectly.

^^...I seem to type that line a lot concerning the Sapphire boot.

henrycsc · 09/11/2011, 12:57 AM

Quote from: Mathius on 09/11/2011, 12:01 AM...or that BlueBMW's kind givaways haven't fallen into the wrong hands directly or indirectly.

^^...I seem to type that line a lot concerning the Sapphire boot.

Doubt that... Beamer's copies were loose. Also, most were the discolored version (though you obviously can't see the disc on the sealed copies). Beamer could probably also verify if he sent copies to the cities that the sellers are in.

I agree with Black Tiger. The images of the sealed copies look closer to the real Sapphire than the Care4Data copies do. I've posted comparison pics in the past as well, but I try to just give portions of the image to keep would-be bootlegers from doing this very thing.

They could be legit copies (and sellers trying to get into the market while prices are high). 2 legit sealed copies at once is highly unlikely though.

Mathius · 09/11/2011, 01:03 AM

As long as you have a disc it wouldn't be too hard for someone to fashion a manual, case, and seal it in PC Engine like shrink wrap if they were so motivated. Of course, this is just Mathius' paranoid mind speculating.

SignOfZeta · 09/11/2011, 01:50 AM

Real or not, anyone who blows that much money on an auction with pictures that shitty is an idiot. Luckily there are no idiots on eBay.

Seriously, its 2011. Why are there still shitty eBay pics? I have cel phones laying around that I'm not even using anymore than take better pictures than some of this stuff. Hint: add light!

Tatsujin · 09/11/2011, 03:55 AM

this and this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/new-original-sapphire-pc-engine-turbo-grafx-turbo-duo-/280737519749?pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item415d429885

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PC-ENGINE-GINGA-FUKEI-DENSETSU-SAPPHIRE-FACTORY-SEALED-/150650997077?pt=UK_PC_Video_Games_Video_Games_JS&hash=item23137fc955

the 2nd one even put in a comparison to the counterfeit version:

CrackTiger · 09/11/2011, 09:45 AM

With such "shitty" pics, you can only make out all the ways that those sealed copies differ from the original Care4data copies. But all of the sealed copies I've seen lately and the one that Tatsujin posted all look much more vibrant than my original copy and every pic I've ever seen online of legit copies. So much so, that my initial reaction to the couple on eBay was that they were fake, until I saw that the other giveaway traits of the care4data weren't there. Some of the coloring looks off in unique ways and all of the recent sealed copies I've seen look similar in this respect.

Combined with the fact that not only are sealed copies popping up more frequently, but that an eBay seller would let a sealed copy go for as little as $300 is very suspicious. That listings is already gone btw.

If I had money to burn I would've bought that one just to check and am sure that I could tell in person if it's fake or not. No one will ever be able to make a bootleg look as good in print quality as the original.

Edmond Dantes · 09/11/2011, 05:33 PM

Call me blind but I didn't see any difference in the comparison pic.

Hey, is Sapphire here the only game that's ever bootlegged, or are there others I should beware of?

CrackTiger · 09/11/2011, 05:56 PM

Quote from: Edmond Dantes on 09/11/2011, 05:33 PMCall me blind but I didn't see any difference in the comparison pic.

Hey, is Sapphire here the only game that's ever bootlegged, or are there others I should beware of?

You have to know what to look for.

Edmond Dantes · 09/11/2011, 06:26 PM

I also probably need a better monitor (not to mention glasses). I still can't tell if this is real or fake.

Not that I'd buy a $400 game either way, but I still don't know whether or not Sapphire here is the only game to ever be bootlegged.

BlueBMW · 09/11/2011, 06:29 PM

Quote from: Edmond Dantes on 09/11/2011, 06:26 PMI also probably need a better monitor (not to mention glasses). I still can't tell if this is real or fake.

Not that I'd buy a $400 game either way, but I still don't know whether or not Sapphire here is the only game to ever be bootlegged.

If its not the only one that's been bootlegged, its certainly the most well known bootleg. You yourself have one

thesteve · 09/11/2011, 07:19 PM

i have a boot of SF2 turbo on 3DO

roflmao · 09/11/2011, 07:33 PM

I think I've got a couple GBA boots. They no longer save games and from what I've read, that usually means it's a boot. I didn't know that's what I was getting when I bought them off ebay ages ago, but they were probably dirt cheap, so I guess I got what I paid for.

Tatsujin · 09/11/2011, 08:11 PM

Quote from: BlueBMW on 09/11/2011, 06:29 PM
Quote from: Edmond Dantes on 09/11/2011, 06:26 PMI also probably need a better monitor (not to mention glasses). I still can't tell if this is real or fake.

Not that I'd buy a $400 game either way, but I still don't know whether or not Sapphire here is the only game to ever be bootlegged.
If its not the only one that's been bootlegged, its certainly the most well known bootleg. You yourself have one

As far as CD games going, sapphire is so far the only well known bootleg. But one fellow member in here recently had to make the bad experience with encountering an akiyamajin bootleg.

As for the hueys, there are several well known booties around like those from KING.

thesteve · 09/11/2011, 08:21 PM

wow, i hadnt heard of bootleg hueys

CrackTiger · 09/11/2011, 08:26 PM

Quote from: thesteve on 09/11/2011, 08:21 PMwow, i hadnt heard of bootleg hueys

They're from back in the day. Here's a great summary of them-

http://videogameden.com/vgden_pi.htm

Edmond Dantes · 09/12/2011, 02:24 AM

Quote from: BlueBMW on 09/11/2011, 06:29 PMIf its not the only one that's been bootlegged, its certainly the most well known bootleg. You yourself have one

Yep!

I wish I had a custom case and manual for it though (I don't want one that looks too much like the real thing). Happen to know anyone who makes such things?

ddd1234 · 09/12/2011, 02:32 AM

I got one of those complete fake copies.

BlueBMW · 09/12/2011, 10:37 AM

Quote from: Edmond Dantes on 09/12/2011, 02:24 AMI wish I had a custom case and manual for it though (I don't want one that looks too much like the real thing). Happen to know anyone who makes such things?

In the thread where I gave them away there is a download link buried for some case / manual inserts that have been appropriately doctored to represent the bootleg nature of the discs.

duo16 · 09/12/2011, 11:29 AM

I was thinking abou bidding on that sapphire that's on ebay do you guys really think it's a bootleg

Nazi NecroPhile · 09/12/2011, 12:34 PM

Quote from: Tatsujin on 09/11/2011, 08:11 PMAs far as CD games going, sapphire is so far the only well known bootleg.

Don't forget Space Fantasy Zone from the same dude. That one's pretty easy to pick out as a fake, though, considering that there's no such thing as a retail game.

Tatsujin · 09/12/2011, 12:56 PM

Yeah right there, I was only refering to actually released games

CrackTiger · 09/12/2011, 01:03 PM

Quote from: duo16 on 09/12/2011, 11:29 AMI was thinking abou bidding on that sapphire that's on ebay do you guys really think it's a bootleg

Personally, I'd use the "too good to be true" measure when deciding. Just be prepared in case that it is a fake and that the seller was unaware of it.

xcrement5x · 09/27/2011, 05:28 PM

I'd read somewhere that there were boots of Fausette Amour as well, but the person never elaborated on how to tell the difference. Has anyone else heard of something like this?

TheClash603 · 09/27/2011, 11:39 PM

If it were a different game, I could perhaps justify the high asking price... however, for a game which has been bootlegged to death, I'll never attempt to by the legit version. You almost have to assume you are buying the bootleg, and if it is real, you can be happy.

Not to mention, there are throngs of professionally pressed so close to legit it might as well be legit readily available to play copy of the game...

SignOfZeta · 09/28/2011, 12:05 AM

Quote from: guest on 09/27/2011, 05:28 PMI'd read somewhere that there were boots of Fausette Amour as well, but the person never elaborated on how to tell the difference. Has anyone else heard of something like this?

Almost certainly bullshit.

xcrement5x · 09/30/2011, 11:46 AM

Quote from: SignOfZeta on 09/28/2011, 12:05 AM
Quote from: guest on 09/27/2011, 05:28 PMI'd read somewhere that there were boots of Fausette Amour as well, but the person never elaborated on how to tell the difference. Has anyone else heard of something like this?
Almost certainly bullshit.

Good to hear, at least that means my copy is legit then!