How to Spot a Bootleg SNS-101

Since my post on the SNS-101 and my suspicion that it might be a bootleg, I've gotten several hits from people looking for information on how to tell if their SNES Mini might be a fake.  So, with all credit for methods and images to the original guide at gamesx.com, here's a guide to telling these systems apart.

First off, if you have the original box, there should be a red box where a hole is cut out - this allowed a retailer to see the serial number for each system.  This red box is present on the fake as well, but with no hole cut out.  If there's no hole, you've got a fake.  Sorry, but I have no images of the box for comparison.

Not there?  Not authentic.

The next thing to look out for are the screws at the bottom of the console.  They should be of the "gamebit" variety, as seen above.  Nintendo used these for just about everything.  If you need a reference on hand, grab any Nintendo game cartridge, from the NES to the N64, and you'll see these screws.  If you don't see these screws in your SNES Jr., and instead see standard Phillips screws, you've got a fake.

Wait, these aren't the same?  What gives?

The image above should prove to you just how good these bootlegs look - to the untrained eye, you'd have no idea.  For reference, the one on the left in this image is a fake.  For all images that follow, the fake is on the right.  Sorry about that, as mentioned above, credit goes to gamesx.com.

Clue #1 - the buttons.

As you can see, the buttons on the fake are a darker purple.  With no frame of reference, however, it's hard to use this indicator to your advatage unless you have a real one in front of you to check against.  But, they'll look cheap and they'll feel cheap, squeaking when moved.

Wow, Mario looks like a bit of a meth head on the fake.

As you can see, the labels on the fake are a poor photocopy of the original.  On the "repair service" sticker, Mario has lost so much definition that he looks like he has dark circles around his eyes... let's not mince words, the poor plumber looks like an addict.  All those shrooms may well have caught up with him.

The label at the bottom must not have copied well, because it's looks as if they had to recreate it from scratch.  The fonts are all wrong - the model information is not bolded, and a lot of it just seems off.  The Nintendo logo here is most damning, though, the font is all wrong.  If you're unsure, compare the logo against one of your cartridges.  They should look the same.

Thin plastic, soft edges = fake.

If you've ever owned any other Nintendo products, you know that Nintendo-manufactured consoles are very high quality.  The SNS-101 is no exception.  If the system feels like it was cheaply made, it probably wasn't made by Nintendo.  The next indicator is the quality of the plastic case.  The embossed logo, as shown above, should be raised above the surface of the plastic.  The (R) registered trademark symbol next to the logo should not only be distinguishable, you should be able to feel it.  The plastic on a knockoff may well be translucent in places as well, especially along the corners.

I hope this has been helpful in determining whether your SNES is a fake.  If you have any further questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.

Amazon Expeditions - The SNS-101

Isn't it cute?

The SNS-101, also known as the "SNES Mini", "SNES Jr" or "SNES 2" was Nintendo's second generation Super Nintendo console, redesigned to be smaller and lighter than the original release.  It was released in 1997, after the release of the Nintendo 64 and Playstation, as a low cost alternative to these higher-end systems.

The redesign dropped a few things most casual users wouldn't notice.  The RF port is gone, but by this time very few people were still using them.  The expansion port is also missing, but that was unused in the US.  It was used in Japan for the Satellaview add-on, and would have been used for the Super Nintendo CD add-on, if deals with Sony and Panasonic hadn't fallen through.  As a side note - this is how the Playstation was conceived, as well as Panasonic's absolutely terrible Nintendo-licensed CD-i titles.

Mine was purchased over Amazon for $40.  It included a third-party AC adapter which I'll be replacing with the real deal, an RF switch that this system can't use anyway, and a bootleg controller.

...something isn't right, here.

Originally packaged with the SNS-101 were newly redesigned controllers, designated SNS-102.  The Nintendo logo was now embossed rather than silkscreened and the buttons were darker to provide more contrast.  This is not that controller.

This controller has a model number SNS-005, which is the model number for the original SNES pads.  This is also not that controller.

So what is it?  A fake.  It feels cheap, like the plastic would snap if you applied too much pressure.  The color of the sticker around the buttons is completely wrong no matter which revision.  The buttons are also extremely clicky, and the D-Pad just feels weird.  The logo on the back, as well, looks like it was recreated with the wrong font.  A nice try, but it's not fooling anyone.

That got me thinking, though... is this console an original?  There are bootlegged SNS-101 consoles that appear to be exactly the same as the official version.

Some very helpful information can be found here to determine whether you've got an official Nintendo SNS-101 or a bootleg.

After going over and over the system, I'm convinced it's the real deal.  There are no build quality issues, the "Gamebit" screws are used, and all of the stickers and labels look exactly as they should.  My guess is that the original controller was lost along with the AC adapter, and the seller went to eBay for replacements.  eBay is apparently full of these pirate SNES controllers, so it's not a stretch.

I'm just happy the system is real - the rest can be replaced cheaply enough.