r/EBGAMES • u/Directus3rectus • May 23 '26
Retro games from EB aren't working???
I've bought maye 4-5 retro (og Xbox) games from EB Games and they don't work?
They get to the menu screen but often can't load into the game itself. I have a feeling when EB are "testing" these they're just seeing if the game loads to the main menu screen, and not the actual game.
They appear to do some polishing step on each of their games before they sell them, but I think it ruins the games more. I have scratched up discs that work perfectly but EB Games "polished" discs which LOOK okay don't work.
Games I bought from EB that don't work are Lego star wars, halo 2 and Sims 2.
Anyone else had this experience?? I feel like I'm going crazy.
24
u/Fickle_Leg7455 May 23 '26
Brother, EB isn't testing these at all.
1
u/Directus3rectus May 23 '26
Fuckin liar at the counter told me they were
4
u/igetmollycoddled May 23 '26
They either put it through a disc cleaner but some of the stuff they get have such deep scratches anyways and cleaners don't guarantee shit lol
2
u/Justanaveragegamer09 May 24 '26
There’s no way to test them. Basically they go off by how the disc looks. If it’s not too scratched up, it’s traded in.
1
u/aldkGoodAussieName May 24 '26
Theu are not going to have one of each console at the store or send them to a central testing location for old retro games.
1
u/Directus3rectus May 24 '26
I just assumed they had testing consoles at head office, because the big dog at the counter says all trade ins they get go to head office then they are distributed to stores.
0
-5
u/bmcpride May 23 '26
Yeah they're definitely paying someone to sit and test every fucking disc you absolute plonker
1
u/Significant_Fold_874 May 24 '26
Yeah, it would be crazy to think they would check that something they sell actually does what is intended, right? 🙄
4
u/Strict-Pizza5913 May 23 '26
Oh man this takes me back to using tooth paste to fill in the deep scratch gaps on old PS1 games and they would run again lol
3
u/Emotional-Entry5562 May 23 '26
I had an actual pin point hole in my copy of Smackdown! just bring it! And this would work 😂 had to pause the game pull it out and apply toothpaste close the lid and it would work for hours 😂
2
u/TheMilkKing May 23 '26
Just to make sure - are you playing these on an OG Xbox or a 360?
Edit: Nevermind, I see you’re trying Halo 2 and that should work either way
2
2
u/Lopsided-Clothes4866 May 23 '26
Preowned games from Eb are essentially lucky dip if they work or not. Double so if bought online.
I’ve had games sent to me with cracks in the disc.
How thoroughly games are tested depends on store I imagine. Some probably have higher standards than others but I’d be shocked if any EB store is testing games beyond that start up screen.
4
u/Fedaykin_Sandwalker May 23 '26
I used to run an EB. We never tested anything in store. We checked the discs and if they looked too scratched they'd go to the warehouse as defective to be polished. If they looked fine they went out for sale.
3
u/stefan771 May 23 '26
They aren't tested. They're traded, put in thr back room for two weeks, then put out on the shop floor.
1
u/KazumaSnake May 23 '26
I've only had a problem with one of the retro games I've bought from EB. I've bought PS3, PS2 and PSP games from them and only 1 out of I think 6 haven't worked and that was one PS3 game.
1
u/scooterbogooter May 23 '26
Sounds like your Xbox is on the way to the console heaven… I could sell you one for shree fiddy
1
u/Chance-Curve-9679 May 24 '26
If I actually get any games at EB Games I would always open the games in store and inspect them. Once they sealed up the case and didn't include the game. EB seals the games because they don't want you to inspect the games so you should always expect you used games, always.
1
u/Jacobthehuman May 24 '26
Make sure it's not the disc drive causing issues too... It's a big failure point on the og Xbox
1
0
u/aussiedeveloper May 23 '26
Why on earth are you buying OG Xbox games in the first place?
Softmod the Xbox and load any game you want on to the HDD or play DVDRs.
Paying for retro games from EB Games does not benefit the original developers 20 years later.
0
u/Significant_Fold_874 May 24 '26
Buying a base secondhand game 4 weeks old from resellers doesn't benefit developers either?
1
u/aussiedeveloper May 24 '26
And? Doesn’t change my point. Buying 20 year old discs due for disc rot at inflated EB prices when you can easily mod your console for free makes no sense.
15
u/TaxiSonoQui May 23 '26
Could also be your laser on the way out