Fake Gen. III Pokemon Games And How To Spot Them

Fake Pokémon Games. We all scowl when we hear those words together, but yes, we know they exist, and people even occasionally fall for them. When my cousin came up to me telling me he had problems with his recently purchased Pokémon Emerald, I told him to show it to me, thinking that I could fix it. when he handed me his cartridge, I felt like I had just been slapped in the face. This is the game he had:

 

 

The poor kid, not knowing any better, had bought one of the fakest Pokémon games I have ever seen in my life. Anyone who has owned Pokémon Emerald knows how it looks, and this wasn't even close to an authentic cartridge(shown below):

 

 

Usually, just taking a look at the label is enough to know whether or not a cartridge is real. On the fake cartridge, the "E" ESRB rating is a completely different font/size, and the sticker isn't holographic, its glossy. The game code in the corners are different, and the Nintendo seal and logo are different sizes. Usually by now, you can tell if a cartridge is fake. However, some games are fake and look authentic on the outside anyways. So, let's take a look on the inside:

 

 

 

This board is just even harder evidence that this game is fake. See that sticker on the left? That's not supposed to be on a Pokémon cartridge, let alone any Nintendo game I've heard of. The black spot? Not supposed to be there either. And the BIGGEST giveaway: ALL authentic Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald have an internal battery that keeps the game clock running when the power is off. It's found in the upper right corner, and can even be seen without opening the cartridge.

 

All in all, here's the run-down on Fake Pokémon games:

 

1. Remember to always look at the label. The Generation III labels are all holographics, not glossy.

2. Look at the contents of the label. The ESRB rating will always be "E". Make sure the "E" is in the normal font you regularly see(compare it to your other GBA games.)

3. Obviously, Pokémon game cartridges don't have gray ones, the cartridges correspond to the name of the game:

 

 

An authentic Pokémon Ruby Version.

 

Pirated Pokémon Ruby: (Notice how the "E" is misaligned, and The Pokémon Company and game code are in the wrong places.)

 

4. The Nintendo logo should be visible right above the contacts:

 

 

It's not easy to see in the picture, but you can just make out the Nintendo logo.

 

5. Make sure the right games have internal batteries. Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are the only Gen. III games that should have internal batteries, and they should be in the upper right corner of the game.

 

 

Authentic Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. The circled zone is what keeps the game clock running.

 

 

On the other hand, authentic Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen don't have internal batteries, due to the lack of a game clock. The files are stored on flash memory. So if you have a FireRed or LeafGreen with an internal battery, you better start looking for a way to get your money back.

 

6. Finally, just STAY AWAY from fakes in the first place! If you're purchasing online, don't buy games from Asia! Asia games are almost always fake! And stay away from the too-good-to-be-true deals. The eBay 5 pack is a perfect example. The so-called great deal includes all 5 Gen. III games for a low price, usually around 10-20 dollars. These are usually ripoffs. Buy only from trusted websites that provide reviews. And if you're buying in person, use the things you have learned to determine yourself whether or not the game is fake. I hope I helped you in some way, thanks for reading!

 

P.S.- Just for fun, here's a pic showing how easy it was to get the pirated game open, no screwdriver necessary. All GBA games should be sturdy,and not easily pulled apart. Happy game hunting!