Authenticating valuable home system games

Vectorman0

SouthTown StreetSweeper
20 Year Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2004
Posts
1,080
I don't have any first hand experience with the valuable Home System games that are more regularly bootlegged, but I would like to be able to tell if something real or not in case I come across it.

For something like a US or Japanese Metal Slug, without having a known legitimate copy to compare it to, does anyone have suggestions on how I could be confident in whether it is a fake or not?

I have a pretty keen eye when it comes to details and quality with gaming stuff. For most any other game system, you could show me a game and I can quickly say if it's real. I'd like to be able to say the same for Neo-Geo, but I do not have a starting point for comparison. I've never seen a real (or fake) four figure Neo game, and from what I have heard, a lot of the fakes are very well done.

If anyone has some insight, please share!
 

hyper

fresh out of fucks
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post some high res closeups of the label edges and corners, watermarked if possible.
 

Vectorman0

SouthTown StreetSweeper
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The thing is, I don't have any at the moment. I would like to be able to learn how to tell without having to post here with pictures. Is this a reasonable request?
 

Pope Sazae

Known Scammer, DO NOT DEAL WITH!, The Management.,
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The boots have gotten to good, almost impossible to tell by just looking. wolf had a good thread on this a few years back
 

SNKorSWM

So Many Posts
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Nowadays you'd not only have to post pics on the outside, but also need to open up the cart and post the pics of the boards as well.
 

Xian Xi

JammaNationX,
15 Year Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Posts
27,748
Who is the most knowledgeable as far as authentication goes for high end AES games? Would people be willing to pay this person or group for authentication kinds like VGA style or something different? I'm not talking about ridiculous VGA amounts but fair prices for a valued authentication from a respected member.
 

Joneo

Belnar Institute Student
Joined
Dec 17, 2011
Posts
1,242
As bad as it seems, you'd probably want another party to authenticate the authentication... regardless of how respected the member was.
 

totoro

X>2, (He is so wrong -Ed),
Joined
Dec 4, 2011
Posts
448
An authentication service would make the hobby fun again and not a nightmare...
 

WoodyXP

Setsuna's Owl Keeper,
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Joined
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3,705
An authentication service would make the hobby fun again and not a nightmare...

mqdefault.jpg


Dis cart be real. Apply sticker.
 

OMFG

The Portuguese Chop
15 Year Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2007
Posts
4,704
I don't have any first hand experience with the valuable Home System games that are more regularly bootlegged, but I would like to be able to tell if something real or not in case I come across it.

For something like a US or Japanese Metal Slug, without having a known legitimate copy to compare it to, does anyone have suggestions on how I could be confident in whether it is a fake or not?

I have a pretty keen eye when it comes to details and quality with gaming stuff. For most any other game system, you could show me a game and I can quickly say if it's real. I'd like to be able to say the same for Neo-Geo, but I do not have a starting point for comparison. I've never seen a real (or fake) four figure Neo game, and from what I have heard, a lot of the fakes are very well done.

If anyone has some insight, please share!

Great to see you back on here. As the others mentioned, it's quite hard to do so without a visual inspection of the games (external and internal), manual, insert, box, etc. The bootlegs have been getting pretty close to replicating the resolution and color of the legitimate games. Also, the inside PCBs would need to be checked out as well.


For the forum: Should we try to gather owners of legitimate home carts in order to photo and catalog the findings here on this site? We could try to keep a record of each game for future use. The only issue I could see is taking photos of the boards inside, which may cause possible damage to the cart label itself.

It will also be a difficult task in finding verifiable members with a pristine reputation.
 

8man

Administrator
Joined
Aug 13, 2005
Posts
321
I don't have any first hand experience with the valuable Home System games that are more regularly bootlegged, but I would like to be able to tell if something real or not in case I come across it.

For something like a US or Japanese Metal Slug, without having a known legitimate copy to compare it to, does anyone have suggestions on how I could be confident in whether it is a fake or not?

I have a pretty keen eye when it comes to details and quality with gaming stuff. For most any other game system, you could show me a game and I can quickly say if it's real. I'd like to be able to say the same for Neo-Geo, but I do not have a starting point for comparison. I've never seen a real (or fake) four figure Neo game, and from what I have heard, a lot of the fakes are very well done.

If anyone has some insight, please share!



Hey Vectorman0,

Send me a pm with the game you're concerned about.

It will be very difficult to tell, if you don't have the real game to compare it to.

Counterfeits are getting really good to the naked eye.
But, there is another level that you're eye can't see.


An Authentication Program for high-end AES games sounds really good.
______________

You need someone that has a passion for the Neo Geo.
You need someone that has a pristine reputation (including 100% feedback).
You need someone with professional high-resolution graphics experience:
(Film, plates, offset printing)
You need someone with all the AES games.

hmmm.... 8man


Believe it or not, I can verify if a game is real based on high-res photos.

I'm concerned as much as you.
Over the past year, members have been pm'ing me, and asking me to verify if their recently purchased high-end AES games are real. They have sent me high-res photos of their games, and guess what? 1/2 of the games that I've inspected are counterfeits.

You have to understand, I was contacted because the buyer was concerned about something they saw. I'm not saying every other game is fake, but if you have doubts about something you're seeing, 1/2 the time you're probably right.

These counterfeits are coming from Europe (France and Germany). In other words, I would be very concerned when buying a rare AES game from France or Germany.

If the cart sticker is fake, then there's no need to open the cart.


Create a Catalog of high-resolution insert, sticker, and manual scans?

I wouldn't create a catalog or website that has high-resolution images.
This is the first place a counterfeiter is going to go.


Will I start a full-fledged Authentication Program for high-end AES games?

Possibly in the future.

For now, if you are concerned with your recent rare AES purchase,
send me a pm, and I will help.
 

Xian Xi

JammaNationX,
15 Year Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Posts
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I think 8man would be good for it. A full fledged program would be damn cool.
 

StevenK

ng.com SFII tournament winner 2002-2023
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I think 8man would be good for it. A full fledged program would be damn cool.

I agree. If it was to happen I also think a small charge would be in order - not because I think 8man needs or would even want the money, but just to discourage people with no genuine doubts or fears sending in everything they bought as a matter of course and overwhelming any system that was put in place with sheer numbers.

Having said all this, over the last week I've been doing quite a bit of practicing opening up AES carts and looking inside - it's really pretty easy once you know how, and at no risk to the label or cart as long as you're haven't got hands like sledgehammers.

Until something is set up my advice to anyone would be to get a couple of the cheapest carts you can find and get used to opening them up with your fingernails only, working on the tabs at the front and moving backwards, not with any tools which is where the real risk lies.

If you're serious about buying high end carts it'll be the best £20 you'll ever spend.
 

Xian Xi

JammaNationX,
15 Year Member
Joined
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Posts
27,748
The only thing that needs to be figured out in the program is how carts will be labeled/known as authenticated. There will be the collectors that want a game just authenticated and then it goes back in storage and then you got the gamer who loves to play them but wants them to be legit as well. You can always do the VGA style plexi case for the collectors and probably a sticker on something for the gamers.
 

StevenK

ng.com SFII tournament winner 2002-2023
10 Year Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2012
Posts
10,084
The only thing that needs to be figured out in the program is how carts will be labeled/known as authenticated. There will be the collectors that want a game just authenticated and then it goes back in storage and then you got the gamer who loves to play them but wants them to be legit as well. You can always do the VGA style plexi case for the collectors and probably a sticker on something for the gamers.

I don't think something like this will work - either the manuals and inserts get trashed like Dion's authentication program or if the authentication is not physically attached to it, like VGA, then it becomes open to being forged. Fake game with forged authentication, back to the same problem.

The only way I can see it working is for it to be authenticated for your own peace of mind, so you know your own games are real. Any buyer of the game will have to have it authenticated themselves.
 

Colorado Rockie

Terry Bogard's Taylor
Joined
Jan 5, 2012
Posts
1,680
The only way I can see it working is for it to be authenticated for your own peace of mind, so you know your own games are real. Any buyer of the game will have to have it authenticated themselves.

Exactly. I would also be willing to pay a fee to have some of my homecarts authenticated by 8man
 

SNKorSWM

So Many Posts
No Time
For Games.
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I can see 8man being inundated with hundreds of thousands of requests, you'd see people trying to authenticate Magician Lord. XD
 

Xian Xi

JammaNationX,
15 Year Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Posts
27,748
I don't think something like this will work - either the manuals and inserts get trashed like Dion's authentication program or if the authentication is not physically attached to it, like VGA, then it becomes open to being forged. Fake game with forged authentication, back to the same problem.

The only way I can see it working is for it to be authenticated for your own peace of mind, so you know your own games are real. Any buyer of the game will have to have it authenticated themselves.

I agree, it should only be for your piece of mind. For the people that just want to sell legit high end games maybe there should be a program that will help people sell high end legit games from a trusted source, win-win for both seller and buyer. This way nothing needs to be gay'd up with stickers and stamps all over it.
 

8man

Administrator
Joined
Aug 13, 2005
Posts
321
I was considering stamping, marking, or numbering all parts of the game.

But, as with KOF 2000 English AES, counterfeiters are already making fake stamps and numbered stickers.

If I offer a service, it would be for the collector's peace of mind.
Knowing that his/her Rare AES game is the real deal.

I would create a database that would hold the owners information.
A serial number would be given to track the game throughout history.

The database would be accessed through a QR code scan.
No need to remember websites or username and passwords.

All you need to do is apply the QR code sticker. Put the sticker in a place that can't damage anything. Apply it to the inside cover of the soft or snap case. Looks classy!

insidedz.jpg



Try it out. Scan the QR code below with your smart phone or iPad.

qrcodeg.jpg


It's a mock-up, and the buttons don't work.*
But, you'll get the idea.

The database can be called up instantly from anywhere using your smart phone.

And each QR Code will be unique, no two will be the same.

A counterfeiter will never be able to duplicate one of my QR Codes.
The web link will always point to my site.



* "Game History" button.
See who owned this game in the past.

"Update Registration" button.
For security reasons, the user will not be able to update the database. When the user clicks this button, we will be contacted, and we will update the database accordingly. Changing location, new owners names, etc.
 

stormy

B. Jenet's Firstmate
10 Year Member
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Apr 19, 2009
Posts
414
Sounds like a good idea. I would be interested in something like this as well.
 

MCF 76

Vice's Love Slave
10 Year Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Posts
2,172
I was considering stamping, marking, or numbering all parts of the game.

But, as with KOF 2000 English AES, counterfeiters are already making fake stamps and numbered stickers.

If I offer a service, it would be for the collector's peace of mind.
Knowing that his/her Rare AES game is the real deal.

I would create a database that would hold the owners information.
A serial number would be given to track the game throughout history.

The database would be accessed through a QR code scan.
No need to remember websites or username and passwords.

All you need to do is apply the QR code sticker. Put the sticker in a place that can't damage anything. Apply it to the inside cover of the soft or snap case. Looks classy!

insidedz.jpg



Try it out. Scan the QR code below with your smart phone or iPad.

qrcodeg.jpg


It's a mock-up, and the buttons don't work.*
But, you'll get the idea.

The database can be called up instantly from anywhere using your smart phone.

And each QR Code will be unique, no two will be the same.

A counterfeiter will never be able to duplicate one of my QR Codes.
The web link will always point to my site.



* "Game History" button.
See who owned this game in the past.

"Update Registration" button.
For security reasons, the user will not be able to update the database. When the user clicks this button, we will be contacted, and we will update the database accordingly. Changing location, new owners names, etc.

This is awesome! I was hoping someone would do something like this. I have 3 games that I would love to have authenticated to give me some piece of mind.
 

totoro

X>2, (He is so wrong -Ed),
Joined
Dec 4, 2011
Posts
448
The majority of my carts have been "unofficially" authenticated by Mark...
He is the only one i would trust for this service .
 

Pope Sazae

Known Scammer, DO NOT DEAL WITH!, The Management.,
Joined
Dec 9, 2007
Posts
3,480
I just scanned that QR code and I really like what you have done here, even as a mock-up it comes across as first class.
 
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