Repro Carts - Good or Bad for Retro Gaming? | Ask RGT 85

Repro carts are a hot topic in the world of retro gaming, with many not liking reproduction cartridges. What do I think about the world of reproductions, for repro cases to unreleased games, to the world of high dollar games? Let's find out!

RGT 85
Po Box 5161
Pinehurst, NC, 28374

Twitter: @ShawnLong85

[GamerNRetro]

My issue is if someone buys a reproduction that is not labeled as such then they try to pass it off as real.

[PaleoSteno]

I think repros are good, especially for those of us that want a physical version of a game that we know that we can't afford. Also, I like them for games that never came out here in my country and fan translations.

[JohnRiggs]

You're not doing the original creators of the game (ie. Nintendo and Enix) if you buy a legit version for $200. 100% of those proceeds go to the reseller. Fine if you're only collecting originals, but if you just wanna play it on physical hardware, I'm cool with it.

[locutus]

As long as it works, I'm honestly more than fine with buying repros instead of authentic games.

[RW]

My grandfather had a joke about owning Tecumseh's tomahawk he'd say "of course, it's had 3 new blades and 2 new handles since then".

Retro gaming (Right now) reminds of that.

[NottJoeyOfficial]

I am the same, I'm perfectly fine with a reproduction as long as it's clearly labeled somewhere as such.

[retrosoul]

Reproductions are fantastic, I think they're a huge asset to retro gaming. I was able to play friggin Alien Soldier, Musha, Hagane, Wild Guns on OG hardware thanks to repros and they're some of the very best 16-bit games imo, had a kickass time with them.
AS wasn't released in the states and Musha/Hagane etc cost an arm and a leg, as long you're buying from a genuine seller, repros are a blessing to the hobby.

[LordMonkus]

I personally don't care about repro carts as long as the same people who complain that emulation being piracy say the same thing of repro carts.

[Kremkrem]

Love Repros! I’m finally able to play Hagane, Metal Warriors, Ninja Warriors, and Secret of Mana without spending over 100 dollars! But yeah, just remember not to pass them off as the real thing.

[shoot_the_glass]

One thing to consider if you buy repro. You get a brand new cartridge, with modern components. Some repro copies use flash chips instead of CMOS like the originals.

[Kokiri-Kid-]

I’m in a real big mood to play Final Fantasy 3/VI on my Snes and I see Repos not even $15, original cart for $20 or translated updates for $70 but I wasn’t sure how to feel about Repos, glad you had an opinion to share!

[SwankeyMonkey]

I'm concerned less with reproduction carts...
What I *REALLY* want is for someone to make some good reproduction SEGA cases-
Master System/Genesis(clear enveloped black plastic), SEGA CD/Saturn(legit clear hard plastic).
Right *there*- is some mad money to be made by someone.

[Pretz_Starwind]

I like the Reproduction idea as it's helpful in a few areas:

1: no permanent black sharpie on the case with someone's name
2: should be with a new battery or other way to save so not worried about a 20+ year old battery dying and erasing your save
3: Cover sticker SHOULD be nice and new but can be half assed and not really authentic image
4: better pricing for just the game as opposed to a collector's price for something you want to play and not just put on the shelf to look at and then sell at a later date for more than you spent
5: access to games we never got over here in the US and missed out on the original story and look.
6: getting the feel of playing the game off the cartridge and system like the original was designed for and not just emulated on the PC

Now I do love gaming and I'm very fond of retro games that I played growing up. There are hundreds I haven't played and would like the chance to play. However there is a bit of a difference in playing on PC via emulation and playing on the console. Much like there's a difference in holding the book or manga in your hand and reading it, or looking at the screen and reading a digital copy of it. Not to mention just the simple fact that retro gaming has been a growing trend and the current console gaming companies have yet to do anything besides put out the "Classic" mini versions of their old consoles with only a handful of games loaded on them, which is just someone making an emulator system with pre-loaded games on it's HDD and selling it under licensed trademark.

A reproduction cart can be a marketing switch that if the official companies picked up on and put out their own reproductions would mean a full revival of retro gaming instead of current fight between collectors and yard sales that the current market is represented by.

[jamm]

Great video, the thrut is that rich people can collect all they want, and casual regular people can have the same experience for a lot less.

[Shyghost]

As almost everyone in the comments are saying, I am 100% fine with repros,
as long as they are
A. Labeled as a repro and not passed off as legit
B. Function as intended
And C. aren't over priced or priced higher than a legit copy
They get an A in my book

[valdiviaa]

I love repro boxes! My whole N64 and genesis collections are housed in repros now. I like that I can buy plastic cases for games that came in cardboard. I wouldn't call myself a collector. I fit in the group you classified as people who just want to play the games, so i prefer an inexpensive repro, digital, or multicart over some out of print expensive original. Its cool to own something rare and valuable, but the people getting upset about repros are the ones who seem to be looking for self worth and confidence from their collection, which is a whole nother topic.

[DanniDolphin]

"It's video games baby, It's video games"

[TXFDA]

So, as long as a Repro has SOME minor change from a real cart, I'm fine with it. And when it comes to repros of prototype games, betas, and rom hacks, go ahead and do whatever.

But here's a thing to consider. Websites that sell reproductions of rom hacks. It's not really as big of a market compared to repros of real games that people don't wanna spend $50+ on. But it's a thing. There used to be a website/company called Timewalk games. They made super high quality products. Their major focal point was selling reproduction carts of rom hacks (usually complete with custom made boxes, manuals, and sometimes even a small mini poster and map).

Sounds great, right? Yeah. Except they didn't always get permission from a hack creator before selling it. I remember there was this big deal one time because they were selling a hack (I think it was of Punch Out on NES?), and they didn't get permission from the guy that made it. They did at least give the guy credit on the store page. Then, supposedly, when he asked them to take it down, they straight up erased his credit from the store page, and kept selling it anyway. Like, what kinda bullshit is that? And naturally, it's a hack of a Nintendo game, it's not like the hack-creator could take 'em to court over it or anything.

(There was another issue of Timewalk stealing art off of Deviantart for their manuals too. I was actually the one that informed an artist on DA about it. I asked him if he knew Timewalk was using his art, and his answer? "No, I'll have to look into it." Timewalk closed pretty soon after. Gotta wonder if that had anything to do with it...)

[jasoncrews]

I have most of the very expensive SNES cart repros and they were all like 9 bucks a piece. I understand why some people would hate but i hate spending hundreds of dollars on a single cart! ;)

[craigmiller]

Far superior channel to beat em ups. Baffling how there's way less subs.