 | Most Recent Posts Final Fantasy VI 6 GBA Gameboy Advance - GAME *COUNTERFEIT* *BOOTLEG* *FAKE* *FRAUD* *SCAM*Posted Feb-27-08 14:02:32 PST Updated Feb-28-08 05:44:34 PST As sold by xpress_gifts Item numbers:290204318443, 290204619392 Final Fantasy VI Compatible with all nintendo hand held game consoles FOR GAME BOY ADVANCE/SP.DS/DS LITE NO RESERVE Boxed with basic instructions & comes flat to prevent damage Payments Accepted :paypal What I received:  The whole thing: two identical sets containing one flat box, one small instruction booklet and a cartridge in a plastic bag   The flat box: totally flat, has never been bent before. Printing resolution is inconsistent and text layout is poor. Some logos are missing, others are inaccurate. Also, it features characters from another game (Rydia, Rosa and Gilbert from Final Fantasy IV)   The cartridge: same problem of low printing resolution in places, missing Square Enix and Nintendo logos, and out-of-place characters. The game seems to run fine, but with bootlegs you can never be sure when the save battery will fail or the game will crash (and since it's counterfeit, there is no warranty)         The minimalistic manual lacks proper logos and features out-of-place artwork, is poorly written and laid out, and contains screenshots from the japanese version of the game, even though it is supposed to have been "printed in the USA". The text looks like it is a mix of official information provided by the publisher, and an independent Gamespot preview. For comparison: not the same game! - but similar enough... especially for logos, etc. Legit copy of Final Fantasy V for the Game Boy Advance(when I finally receive an official FFVI copy, I will write a more indepth comparison guide) (respective trademarks and copyright owned by SQUARE ENIX CO and Nintendo)  The whole thing   The cartridge: note the Square Enix and Nintendo logos (and the better resolution). The rest of the cartridge looks relatively similar (slightly different numbers on the back). I haven't opened them to see how they look inside.     The box: more official logos and warnings on every sides, and a consistently better printing resolution. The shape of the box itself is slightly different toward the "lid" part (cf. last pic): the edges are cut in a more rectangular way (the corners are cut across on the bootleg version)    Differences on the back are striking: better printing resolution, better fonts and layout, up-to-date official logos everywhere... Even the quality of the cardboard is different: the official product feels slighty grainy to the touch, yet seems to reflect the flash of my camera more brightly.   Actually even the size of the box is different. Also, in comparison, instead of having straight angles and a flat surface, the fake box looks a bit curved in places, as if the cardboard had never been bent before (and resists the change).       The instruction manual has obviously many more pages (and official logos everywhere). The style, layout and printing quality immediately sets it apart from the bootleg version. Interestingly, the real booklet says "PRINTED IN JAPAN" where the fake one claims "PRINTED IN THE USA" For more comparison pictures, check this album [photographs provided for information purpose only - falls under the scope of fair dealing/fair use] *WOW* RARE DELUXE HOT SEXY NEW 1ST FARST POST!!1! MINT BOX SEALEDPosted Feb-26-08 04:54:26 PST Updated Feb-26-08 06:27:48 PST Ahem. Thank you for your attention. Beginnings and introductions are always a bit awkward, but let's not let that get in the way, now, shall we? As an Ebay veteran, I guess I could have started writing a blog about my oh-so-exciting Ebay experience much sooner, but to be honest, I never had had the motivation so far (when everything is all right, what to talk about, after all?) Well, this has changed. After years of smooth transactions and spotless communication, my immaculate Feedback profile has been tainted by not just ONE, but TWO negative ratings (not so surprisingly, by the same seller...) Oh my... Yet, I guess I should have seen it coming:
If anything, it only strenghtens my determination to publicize the matter as much as possible. Not that my own case is that exceptional (sadly...) nor that important, of course: it's only a question of 20 quids or so, + having to go through the hassle of ordering the product through a (hopefully) more honest seller. Big deal. So why bother? Because things must change. I've had enough with the sense of impunity fraudsters seem to enjoy on Ebay. And I know I'm not alone here. Of course my individual action will probably cause nothing but a ripple (if only!) in the current State of Things. But if it inspires even just a small percentage of fellow Ebayers to report, publicize and document their own experience with fraudsters, then maybe eventually things WILL change. Because there is such thing as bad publicity. And a market-place cannot exist with no customers. |
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