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counterfeit_snes [2007/11/28 15:03] – external edit 127.0.0.1counterfeit_snes [2019/08/27 20:45] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 ===== How to recognize a counterfeit SNES ===== ===== How to recognize a counterfeit SNES =====
-In the past counterfeits were easily recognized.  Famicoms were labeled //Happily Computer// instead of //Family Computer//, or the system would look [[http://nfg.2y.net/games/pceclones/|completely different]].  Sometimes a company will produce legitimate goods that look like shoddy knockoffs, like [[http://www.tectoy.com.br/|Tectoy's Sega hardware]] or [[http://nfg.2y.net/games/grafx/samsat.htm|Samsung's Saturn]].  Rarely though do you find a company producing pirated hardware that is intended to look like the original.+In the past counterfeits were easily recognized.  Famicoms were labeled //Happily Computer// instead of //Family Computer//, or the system would look [[http://nfggames.com/games/pceclones/|completely different]].  Sometimes a company will produce legitimate goods that look like shoddy knockoffs, like [[http://www.tectoy.com.br/|TecToy's Sega hardware]] or [[http://nfggames.com/games/grafx/samsat.htm|Samsung's Saturn]].  Rarely though do you find a company producing pirated hardware that is intended to look like the original.
  
 Recently a forum thread mentioned the existence of pirated Super NES units, and a kind forum member has sent me their system.  It's clever, it looks a lot like the real thing, and for someone who's not familiar with Nintendo's quality hardware, or hasn't a real SNES to compare it to, it might be hard to recognize it as a fake.   Recently a forum thread mentioned the existence of pirated Super NES units, and a kind forum member has sent me their system.  It's clever, it looks a lot like the real thing, and for someone who's not familiar with Nintendo's quality hardware, or hasn't a real SNES to compare it to, it might be hard to recognize it as a fake.  
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 ==== Visual Aids ==== ==== Visual Aids ====
-{{ http://nfg.2y.net/games/grafx/SNES2systems.jpg }}+{{ https://nfggames.com/games/grafx/snes2systems.jpg }}
 Consider these two systems.  They look very much alike, but the one on the left is a fake. Consider these two systems.  They look very much alike, but the one on the left is a fake.
  
-{{ http://phreak97.experienced.tk/phreak97/GameSX/FSNES2BUTTONS.jpg }}+(From now on the one on the right is fake, someone should probably fix that..) 
 + 
 +{{ http://nfggames.com/games/grafx/SNES2buttons.jpg }}
 Shiny buttons look cheap, they squeak when moved, and they're a darker colour than they should be. Shiny buttons look cheap, they squeak when moved, and they're a darker colour than they should be.
  
-{{ http://phreak97.experienced.tk/phreak97/GameSX/FSNES2LABELS.jpg }}+{{ http://nfggames.com/games/grafx/SNES2labels.jpg }}
 Never mind that the pirated label is coming off, have a look at Mario.  There's a distinct lack of detail compared to the original. Never mind that the pirated label is coming off, have a look at Mario.  There's a distinct lack of detail compared to the original.
  
-{{ http://phreak97.experienced.tk/phreak97/GameSX/FSNES2LABELS_2.jpg }}+{{ http://nfggames.com/games/grafx/SNES2labels2.jpg }}
 Notice in the pirated label how the Nintendo logo looks wrong: it uses a normal-looking font instead of the original Nintendo one.  Ditto for the text, and notice how the power specs aren't bold like they should be. Notice in the pirated label how the Nintendo logo looks wrong: it uses a normal-looking font instead of the original Nintendo one.  Ditto for the text, and notice how the power specs aren't bold like they should be.
  
-{{ http://phreak97.experienced.tk/phreak97/GameSX/FSNES2LABELS3.jpg }}+{{ http://nfggames.com/games/grafx/SNES2labels3.jpg }}
 The pirated SNES has softer edges, probably since the pirates made their mold from a real SNES.  It's like photocopying, the fake is never as clear as the original.  There are no shadows because there are no sharp corners, just rounded ones.   The pirated SNES has softer edges, probably since the pirates made their mold from a real SNES.  It's like photocopying, the fake is never as clear as the original.  There are no shadows because there are no sharp corners, just rounded ones.  
  
-{{ http://phreak97.experienced.tk/phreak97/GameSX/FSNES2PCBS.jpg }} +{{ http://nfggames.com/games/grafx/SNES2PCBs.jpg }} 
-The fake SNES has no RF shielding, the cart port is actually **broken** because the posts it's screwed into are too short (and they are both different sizes!), and there'no heatsink for the power regulator.  There's a lot more chipsthe fake probably uses a normal (though unlicensed) CPU, where the real SNES has a single-chip design for everything but the RAM, sound chip and video encoder. +The fake SNES has no RF shielding, the cart port is actually **broken** because the posts it's screwed into are too short (and they are both different sizes!), and there'a very small heat sink for the power regulator.  There's a lot more chipsthe fake probably uses a normal (though unlicensed) CPU, where the real SNES has a single-chip design for everything but the RAM, sound chip and video encoder.
  
 You can also tell a fake by the box.  A real SNES has a small red area with a hole, where you or the retailer can view the serial number without opening the box.  The pirate systems have the same red area, but no hole. You can also tell a fake by the box.  A real SNES has a small red area with a hole, where you or the retailer can view the serial number without opening the box.  The pirate systems have the same red area, but no hole.
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 ==== Q & A ==== ==== Q & A ====
-**Q:** Leaving one important question, are there clonese of the Super Famicom Jr. as well?+**Q:** Leaving one important question, are there clones of the Super Famicom Jr. as well?
  
-**A:** The SuperFamicom Jr is rare enough that most people will never see one.  If the clones were available, they were just as rare.  (Not much of an answer, anyone else?)+**A:** The Super Famicom Jris rare enough that most people will never see one.  If the clones were available, they were just as rare.  (Not much of an answer, anyone else?)
  
 **Q:** What's the compatibility like? **Q:** What's the compatibility like?
counterfeit_snes.1196226226.txt.gz · Last modified: 2019/08/27 20:44 (external edit)