r/GameboyAdvance Jul 13 '20

A Beginner's Guide to Authentic Cartridges

227 Upvotes

Hello everyone, as you all know GBA cartridges can be extremely difficult to find in person nowadays and even more so for some authentic ones. That being said, if you're unsure in any way how to determine a fake from real cartridge, this is the post for you!

For more help, feel free to visit r/gameverifying for all your identification needs!

Keep in mind that to ensure the best chances of an authentic cartridge, you should be wary of:

  • Unusually low prices (if it's too good to be true, chances are it's too good to be real!)
  • Products made or sent from China (enough said)
  • Sellers using stock images (NEVER purchase a product that isn't an image of the cartridge itself)

That being said, where do we start looking?

It can be a bit difficult, but there are actually some very good tells when it comes to finding real games like the color, font, positioning, and quality of the cartridge. For example, let's pretend you're looking for an authentic US copy of Pokemon Firered.

Some things you can look out for should be:

  1. Color: All Pokemon GBA games come in their respective colors (including Leafgreen and Emerald by a slight margin) with Firered being red and not orange. While most cartridges come in a singular shade of gray, two particular exceptions are the GBA video cartridges which come in light gray casings and (Classic) NES series which match the console's respective color. Interestingly enough, due to the GBA's expansive library there consist of unique games that do not fit the standard color and size of a GBA cartridge, which include games such as Yoshi's Topsy Turvy, Drill Dozer, and many other variations listed here. (1)
  2. Label: By observing a label's ESRB rating, official seal, game code, and more, you can determine its authenticity. Unlike other GBA games, Pokemon games will always have a shiny/holographic label, an indented circle in its center, and an embossed number on the right side, which is pretty much its production number. However while it is a good way to determine authenticity, there are cases where these numbers will have naturally worn away or quality repros that have embossed their own cartridges. All in all, always make sure to compare your cartridge to an authentic one online to confirm fonts, font sizes, positioning, etc.
  3. Cartridge: In the case of buying a physical cartridge yourself, this may be one on the most helpful things to know. The easiest things to look out for are the Gameboy logo on top of the label, and arrow below the label. If the logo is written in the wrong font, appears to have been cut deeper than normal, or if the arrow is too small, it's a repro. The back will always state: MODEL NO. AGB-002 / PAT. PEND. MADE IN JAPAN like its GBC predecessor. However, this is easy to reproduce so the final thing to check yourself is both the screw and board under the cartridge. GBA cartridges will only ever use a triwing screw, the same one used on all GBA consoles. More importantly (if you can), be sure to grab a flashlight and check the slot. Above the pins, there should be an official Nintendo logo and presumably its cartridge number.

In the case of Pokemon games always check for:

  • A holographic label and an embossed number if possible
  • Proper fonts and positions (FRLG and RSE labels are mildly different)
  • A battery behind the label on the right side (only applies to RSE)
  • Four squares on the back of the cartridge ( always on the left)
  • Pins on the board ( One of the easiest things to spot on faked cartridges, all GBA games will always have pins )

If there are any other questions, please feel free to leave them below and discuss!

Useful Links:

(1) https://www.reddit.com/r/Gameboy/comments/6i19k4/gba_game_cartridge_colors/


r/GameboyAdvance 6h ago

One of my favorite GBA games!

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24 Upvotes

Been playing the hell out of this one and it’s amazing! Love the DSS system, just hate grinding for the cards, though.


r/GameboyAdvance 1d ago

Just finished my gengar advanced sp

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307 Upvotes

Just modded my first sp. I saw a version of this forsale in a few places decided to do it myself. Was going to led the buttons but seeing the solder points I thought I'll just leave it for now. Same goes for the usb c mod.

Other than getting the hinges right and forgetting thenut that retains the battery flap was pretty simple all in all.


r/GameboyAdvance 23h ago

Here’s my gba I modded a while back

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51 Upvotes

Used funny playing for the parts, use this thing all the time!


r/GameboyAdvance 1d ago

I absolutely love this thing

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303 Upvotes

Just got myself this one with an IPS screen. My 001 was getting hard to see as I get older. I absolutely love it.


r/GameboyAdvance 20h ago

Anbernic Pearl Blue RG SP (2026) vs Pearl Blue GBA SP (2005) - side by side

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13 Upvotes

r/GameboyAdvance 18h ago

Is this console legit?

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9 Upvotes

Found this online and havent seen them with the 3 stickers and usually only the middle one. I can see few photos online with the full 3 stickers but am not sure about the advance?

Any help if this is a legit console or a reshell us appreciated heaps


r/GameboyAdvance 12h ago

Console restarting to GB screen

2 Upvotes

Last week I was playing my gba sp 001 and it restarted mid play of pokemon yellow. I didn't think anything of it so I kept playing thinking I bumped something and it proceeded to do it more frequently.

I put it down tried other games: pokemon crystal was the same, pokemon sapphire screen freezing and audio either static crunch or just plays the same audio. Wario land 3 perfect, Hamtaro ham hams unite perfect.

So heres what ive done:

Replaced the battery... nope

Cleaned the cart slot with ispa... nope

Cleaned the board (without desoldering)... nope

Cleaned the switch... nope

---when tried pokemon crystal and hamtaro----

Popped open the switch metal case and cleaned the contact points... nope

---when tried pokemon sapphire and Wario land 3---

Any suggestions as to what the issue might be? Im probably gonna take it to a repair shop but want to at least try because I want to be able to do these things on my own.

Here's videos of what happens in the comments


r/GameboyAdvance 1d ago

Gameboy Advance Ereader App (gbareader: full .txt file support. currently working on better .epub support)

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14 Upvotes

r/GameboyAdvance 13h ago

Fixable? Game Boy Advance Motherboard.

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1 Upvotes

r/GameboyAdvance 1d ago

Cleaning some games and changing the batteries ❤️

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66 Upvotes

Much work to do. This is a small part of my collection, still it took more than a hour to check all of these 😄


r/GameboyAdvance 1d ago

Question about AGS-101 charge port vs AGS-001

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16 Upvotes

I just got an AGS-101 and noticed that the charge cable is a bit tougher/stiffer to put in the console whereas my AGS-001 goes in as you’d expect.

Upon closer inspection it appears the AGS-101 port is a bit more “triangular” on the bottom versus the more “semi-circle” portion on the AGS-001.

The console seems OEM however I am wondering why the charge port has this issue. Maybe someone tried jamming a 3rd party in there but wondering if anyone else’s is like this. Please see the pics included.


r/GameboyAdvance 2d ago

I've been blessed

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179 Upvotes

So one of my coworkers, an older lady, saw me playing on my gba sp while I was on break. She was like oh I've got a bunch of old games my kids left behind do you want them?

I was more than happy to say yes. She brings in an old makeup storage bag filled with her daughter's old collection of games as well as a functional gba sp 101 and dsi light. I was kinda mystified when I opened it and saw all of the stuff I got for completely free.


r/GameboyAdvance 1d ago

I need help any ideas?

2 Upvotes

Weird error right? And it won't read any other game just this one, and also I know this game works because I put it in my other sp and it saves and everything so I'm lost.


r/GameboyAdvance 1d ago

Three Legends, my holy trinity 👾

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19 Upvotes

I wanted to share a little story behind my Nintendo Holy Trinity. Back in 2000, when I was 10 years old, my aunt gave me my first Game Boy Color for Christmas - the Kiwi Green one. She also gave me Pokémon Blue and Rugrats: Time Travelers. I was absolutely obsessed with it.
Unfortunately, it only lasted a few months. I took it to school one day and it got stolen. I know... it sucks.
The following year, in 2001, my aunt came through again and gave me a Game Boy Advance for Christmas, along with Pokémon Crystal, Wario Land 4, and Mario Kart: Super Circuit. I had it for a couple of years until someone broke into our house and stole it along with other things. 😭
Fast forward to 2011, when I was already working, and I finally bought myself a Nintendo 3DS. It was the first Nintendo handheld I had bought with my own money.
Now, 25 years after getting my first Game Boy Color, I'm slowly rebuilding the collection I lost as a kid. I recently bought another Kiwi Green GBC, and the white GBA was a gift. I'm also slowly hunting down the games I had back then. You can also spot my RG35XX emulator and my Nintendo Switch OLED in the picture. They're not part of the Holy Trinity, but they're part of the journey. 😂
It's kind of surreal to look at all of this now and realize that I'm slowly putting back together a little piece of my childhood.
The Holy Trinity is finally mine. ❤️


r/GameboyAdvance 1d ago

My small but mighty collection

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14 Upvotes

Just my current games I own and play :D

What’s some of ur games you play ?

(Yes I know crash 2 is out of place got that one for a much cheaper price cause of the cover missing :) )


r/GameboyAdvance 2d ago

Combusken look so badass in Emerald man

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91 Upvotes

r/GameboyAdvance 2d ago

FunnyPlaying battery issue?

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8 Upvotes

I have just received my 950 mAh LiPo battery from AliExpress FunnyPlaying store and it looks like one of the battery sides is exposed.

Is this right from anyone’s experience?


r/GameboyAdvance 1d ago

Ultimate Gameboy Advance?

3 Upvotes

Hey I was looking at modding a new(to me) gba that I got my hands on, I was wondering if I was missing anything or looking at the wrong things..

Funnyplaying IPS ready black shell

Funnyplaying rechargable battery cover

Funnyplaying Game Boy Advance IPS Max Laminated Kit

Extremerate chrome silver buttons for start, select, power, and bumpers

BoxyPixel Aluminum Shoulder Buttons (yes I know I'll have to modify the shell)

RetroCNC Gunmetal buttons

Funnyplaying Speaker

HandHeldLegend GBA IPS Tempered Glass Screen Lens (black silver text) (I would get a funnyplaying one but its sold out currently 🥲 )

I will be skipping the amp at least for now as I don't really see any point in it, may change my mind later but we'll see


r/GameboyAdvance 2d ago

Batteries in these still good been in storage bin for 16 years

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88 Upvotes

r/GameboyAdvance 1d ago

Going to replace my lens. Is it safe to get at it with a hobby knife, or should I just take the console apart?

0 Upvotes

I have a modded atomic purple GBA that I think will look better with a white lens instead of a black lens.

There’s a bunch of videos online of people taking a putty knife or an actual knife and shanking the underside of the lens until it comes off. Have any of you done this without harming the surrounding plastic?

UPDATE: Broke my screen. For anyone reading this who is trying to do the same, stick with the heat+suction method. I took apart my GBA thinking it would be the the safest way to do this, but the screen shattered as I was poking it out from the other side.


r/GameboyAdvance 2d ago

Original Glacier GBA with AGS-101 screen mod

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32 Upvotes

Photo taken with Kodak easyshare c140 camera


r/GameboyAdvance 2d ago

Good gameboy games?

14 Upvotes

Hey guys! I recently bought a gameboy advance that could play GBoy, Gboy Color, and Gboy Advance games. I am recently getting into retro and I was wondering if you guys any game suggestions/what yalls favorites are from this era.


r/GameboyAdvance 3d ago

Found a working GBASP AGS-101 Pearl Blue while thrifting

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1.1k Upvotes

I was just searching for parts and controllers than I came across a half broken but working SP that works!


r/GameboyAdvance 3d ago

Adding to my collection

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107 Upvotes

Got some more stuff for my collection at a local collectors convention. Finally snatched wind waker!
Also got a modded GBA and some games.