NintendoAge http://nintendoage.com/forum/ -Sqooner "Authentic http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=3&threadid=179004 2017-12-27T18:18:00 -05.00 98ViperGTS 23 Originally posted by: 98ViperGTS
 
Originally posted by: Sorn
 
Originally posted by: pegboy

Does the back label of a Zelda test cart actually differ from the normal retail cart? I can't remember.

No, it does not, and that's why it cannot be used to authenticate anything. 
 



It certainly does. The test cart is not embossed like the retail label

Shit, you are totally correct. I completely forgot about that little detail and now that you mention it I remember going through this before. Its been a few years though :/

For preservation, I have taken a snapshot of a regular zelda label vs my test cart. It does indeed lack the embossing.

https://imgur.com/a/ZGEGl ]]> "Authentic http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=3&threadid=179004 2017-12-27T15:00:10 -05.00 98ViperGTS 23 Originally posted by: Sorn

Originally posted by: pegboy

Does the back label of a Zelda test cart actually differ from the normal retail cart? I can't remember.

No, it does not, and that's why it cannot be used to authenticate anything. 
 


It certainly does. The test cart is not embossed like the retail label ]]> "Authentic http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=3&threadid=179004 2017-12-27T14:36:09 -05.00 98ViperGTS 23 "Authentic http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=3&threadid=179004 2017-12-27T14:33:42 -05.00 98ViperGTS 23 Originally posted by: pegboy

Does the back label of a Zelda test cart actually differ from the normal retail cart? I can't remember.
No, it does not, and that's why it cannot be used to authenticate anything. 
  ]]> "Authentic" Zelda test cart http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=3&threadid=179004 2017-12-26T23:22:10 -05.00 98ViperGTS 23 "Authentic http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=3&threadid=179004 2017-12-25T13:58:53 -05.00 98ViperGTS 23 Originally posted by: 98ViperGTS
 
Originally posted by: Sorn

So, in the interest of finding the truth I think we should do a little game theory here.

If this was "fake", meaning, if this was a different test cart that was gutted and replaced with a zelda sticker/pcb, then wouldn't it be just as easy to replace the back label as well? Why go to the effort to replace the front label but not the back label?

My zelda test cart has a REV-A (top right) NES-ZL871104 (bottom left) label that is gold.

I don't think that the shell is fake, it looks the right color. Im not saying it cannot be done, but I've not spotted a fake shell yet that had the right color...they are always noticeably off color.



NGD inspected my cart in person and compared it to his zelda cart and believed it to be real. The plastic is definitely a legit yellow test cart. But there is no back label. https://i.imgur.com/8ux9k2r.jpg...
Yea. Honestly I think thats just how these test carts go. There simply is no way to authenticate them since there was no standardized protocol for creating them. What was even the purpose of putting the sticker on the back shell anyways? Its not like it was going to be sold to the public and needed licensing/copyright info.

NGD = NationalGameDepot?

Im sure he's qualified to assess things, but since there is no real standardized protocol in the creation of these carts, how can he authenticate them? The only thing we can really do is use the hivemind of the community to assess the situation to determine the confidence of authenticity....and that's the best we are ever going to get. Its a retail zelda pcb with a zelda sticker and nothing else that could distinguish it from a retail cart other than the yellow shell. So at we can really do is look at the shell, its color, its attestment to age/wear, and speculate on it being an original.
  ]]> "Authentic http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=3&threadid=179004 2017-12-25T11:39:15 -05.00 98ViperGTS 23 Originally posted by: 98ViperGTS
 
Originally posted by: Buyatari

Have we really gotten to the point when people question if a damaged cart is real or fake?
It is a damaged cart.
In any other hobby a damaged item such as this is worth 5-10% or less than that of one in mint shape.



If the only thing that points to authenticity was removed, wouldn't you question it?

If it is worth say $200 in a damaged state and you would have to sacrifice another yellow test cart to make it, no I wouldn't question it very long.  ]]> "Authentic" Zelda test cart http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=3&threadid=179004 2017-12-25T10:12:43 -05.00 98ViperGTS 23 Most of these seem to have been thrown together in test centers with leftover shells and labels anyway ]]> "Authentic http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=3&threadid=179004 2017-12-25T08:11:54 -05.00 98ViperGTS 23 Originally posted by: Buyatari

Have we really gotten to the point when people question if a damaged cart is real or fake?
It is a damaged cart.
In any other hobby a damaged item such as this is worth 5-10% or less than that of one in mint shape.


If the only thing that points to authenticity was removed, wouldn't you question it? ]]> "Authentic http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=3&threadid=179004 2017-12-25T08:09:59 -05.00 98ViperGTS 23 Originally posted by: MadsenGaming

Yes, that seller is legit. Him and his brother (I'm assuming) run two different eBay stores, both with a little over 20k feedback. "twobrothergames" and "cjmarq" or something. They get some really nice stuff, and prices can be all over the place from pretty fair to outrageously high. My only problem with them is that their communication is awful. I've probably asked them 10 different questions over the last few years and have never once gotten a response.


Yes, again, I'm not questioning if the seller is legit. Regardless of how amazing the seller is, according to all of the information that I have run into on these zelda test carts, the only way to really show that they are "authentic", is the back label. It's missing the back label, as is mine, however, they both are legit yellow carts. Somebody would have to destroy a yellow test cart to make the zelda one. Seems highly unlikely to me. But my point about this post, is that the item was listed as authentic, but there really is no way to authenticate it. ]]>