NES Classic Edition Fakes On The Rise, But There Are Easy Ways To Spot The Knockoffs
It was bound to happen eventually – given the huge (unmet) demand for the NES Classic Edition, [...]
The Box
Most of the fake NES Classic consoles seem to come in some variation of the box on the left, which looks similar to the European packaging, although there's sure to be some minor printing errors and differences. And again, this style of box was only sold in Europe and Australia, so if you see them on American re-selling sites, something's wrong. The image on the right is what the NES Classic Edition packaging should look like if you're buying from an American site. Make sure to look for the red strip along the top of the box, and collection of logos on the right side. Fakers are sure to continue changing their packaging, so stay vigilant.
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The Little Details
If an NES Classic Edition listing shows actual pictures of the hardware, as they often do, look for little inconsistencies and flaws. These fakes are convincing, but they're not that well made. For instance, the fake NES Classic above has a slightly crooked logo, and its controller has small ridges around the A and B buttons that aren't present in an official NES controller. Don't buy if anything strikes you as "off" about the system.
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The Menus/Software
It seems the fakers have even managed to replicate the NES Classic Editions' menus and operating system, although, as with everything else, it's not exact. As you can see, the fake menus (left) and the real deal (right) look slightly different, featuring different colors, fonts, and less vibrant box art.
Of course, there's other common-sense ways to spot a fake. If you see a NES Classic Edition sitting on the shelf in mid-2017, it's fake. The machine has been discontinued and is completely sold out. Also, if you see a bunch of NES Classics pop up on eBay all at once at suspiciously low prices, they're fakes.
Hopefully this has helped you avoid paying too much for a cheap replica. Remain skeptical!
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