Anyone with experience please give me some important hints on what to look for when checking a brand new Nintendo DS game cartridge. I'm from Ipoh, and there are no places that carry genuine DS carts, only R4 cards. I've been doing a week of homework through the net and learnt quite a bit about pirated carts, like GOLDEN 'nintendo' logo, serial number font, etc. But the case is, I've never touched the real thing, so in a real situation, I really can't differentiate them for sure. Because nowadays pirated DS carts are already quite good with the looks and the manual contents, no more like those in the 2006's.

So now, I ordered a cart from a shop in Ipoh Parade over here and paid RM 50 as deposit. The guy says he's ordering it from KL. I seriously told him that it MUST be original, he says yes. I just can't trust them all, the salesperson maybe doesn't even know what's really original. I'll go and collect the ordered cart this weekend. So, I need some practical tips on this. I must own this game!

Buying Nintendo games is not safe and easy. The price actually doesn't matter as long as it's original, just not pirated copy sold at original price as 'original'. Even those pirated 10_in_1 gba and gb games are being sold at RM100+!

This post has been edited by LKH9: May 17 2009, 10:35 PM

I've read something about that too, but, on the sticker?, isn't it the black code on the back?? I couldn't search for detailed pictures about those. I always believe this is the most practical way, can you provide some pictures about the code on the sticker and on the box?

I don't have credit card, so can't order like this.

This is what I'm worrying about too, because as I said, nowadays pirated carts tend to be quite 'official' looking. From my research in the net, some of those pirated carts do have a complete booklet! Very dangerous... I believe the serial number on the fake cart tends to be square looking. About the Nintendo leaflet, I think it's only for games made by Nintendo itself will have it, like Mario. The game I ordered is by Konami, so it won't have it I suppose.

Ok, ok, one more thing I forgot to ask. How does the plastic seal of a brand new game look like? I read that the official plastic shrink seal can no way be imitated, it's very special looking I suppose. While the fake one can be done even at home with a hair dryer, so it looks very cheap. When I go there, I'll open and check the whole thing thoroughly, if fake, then refund my deposit and yell at the salesperson.

Actually, I don't have a DS yet, when I successfully own this game, then I'll buy one. I played it in emulator, but my mind tells me that I must get the real thing coz I love it very much. Emulator and ROM is just not real, already stopped playing it.

One of the many pages of my research.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flavios/sets/72157617483070248/
http://72.14.235.132/search?q=cache:juvacb...n&ct=clnk&gl=my

This post has been edited by LKH9: May 18 2009, 07:05 PM

Castlevania, Order of Ecclesia. I want a DS just because of this.

I'll go check it first this weekend, IF I fail to get the real one, then I'll order from kyo.

But, I still need a picture of the plastic shrink seal of a brand new cart. I just couldn't find it. The seal will give me a quick impression whether it's fake or not.

Thanks for the inputs everybody.

It's a thin plastic bag that covers the new box completely, it's airtight. Originally, the plastic is a loose bag, when heated, it shrinks and wrap very tightly.

Yes, that's the thing. Thanks! (that's also your video. ) But, there is no comparison between a real one and a fake, so I'll have to rely on myself, at least I saw how it looks like. Looks like a quality seal too, as it looks a bit elastic when being pulled off, cheap ones are usually brittle. I'll take note of that.

Now not so 'susah hati'. Still got another hope if this attempt fails.

This post has been edited by LKH9: May 18 2009, 10:27 PM