So as I was browsing my local thrift store today I came across something really odd. I'm still pretty convinced it's a bootleg of the PS2 title True Crime Streets of LA but it seems to be a very well put together bootleg. It's got the PS2 hologram on it and everything. Also the image seemed to be professionally pressed on the disk, not just a label of some kind. So I just wanted to post some pictures here to see if anyone actually had any more information on what it is or could be. I haven't bought it but if any info pops up I may go back tomorrow and pick it up depending what it actually is, but it seemed interesting. Is it worth anything? Is it the standard (release) build of the game? Thank you very much for any assistance. Images are here -Mike
Obviously a bootleg, I mean besides the crappy-looking box art it says PAL on it, yet has a US rating that's even "Rating Pending" instead of a real rating...
But what's the hologram and well pressed disk is my issue. I know the box art is junk and mixed ESRB with PAL is an issue but is pressed disks and holograms something that is common on bootlegs? I've yet to come across a bootleg that has a real looking hologram and decently pressed disk before.
What's the color of the bottom of the disc? It's a DVD game, so it should be silver. It should have the playstation mark and ps logo in the inner ring in the bottom as well. It's probably nothing. I don't even think it is a review copy because those have "not for resale" plastered on there somewhere. Who knows if it is the same build as retail until you pop it in and see for yourself? This is the official art for the disc/box: http://www.mobygames.com/game/true-crime-streets-of-la/cover-art
Alrighty. I'll assume it's just a standard bootleg then. Didn't realize there were many PS2 bootlegs and didn't think the existing ones would be....so well put together? At least from the disk. As I stated the artwork has total flaws but the hologram seemed neat to me. Thanks Borman! The bottom of the disk is indeed silver but doesn't have the PS mark or logo anywhere on the disk...just further proving it's a bootleg I suppose. The front artwork is the same but the back is far off. Not even remotely close. I guess in the bootleg world though they have to make their own? I don't have a retail copy of the game to compare it with, but since it's only $3 I may go back and pick it up, just on the extremely off chance it may be different build then retail. I guess I can get a retail copy and rip them and compare iso's....or I can play them I guess edit: Are bootlegs generally the standard retail build? I've never really encountered a bootleg vidya game before
Bootlegs are almost always just yanked off torrent sites or whatever and burned to a disk. I can only think of one time a bootleg had a proto: http://sost.emulationzone.org/oldsosth/oldsosth/sonic_2/s2p3.html which was from a bootleg of this: http://bootleggames.wikia.com/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_2_Beta
If you're really interested I can post pictures of them tomorrow. The store is about 5 minutes away from my house so I may go back and pick this up anyway. Seems neat. Never owned a bootleg game before so why not buy one now. This news is saddening to me. Though that proto you posted looks cool and I'll now be checking out . I'll probably pick this up anyway and compare the iso to a stock retail one. I won't be able to play it for a couple weeks til I get back to my apartment and can play my PS2 again
the "DVD GAME" and "RATING PENDING" should be complete giveaways. I saw one for the Xbox that was similar.
Not going to lie, it fooled me. I realize something is off with "DVD Game", but it's not dead obvious to an untrained eye. Had I been at a store and looking for that game, I probably would of have been fooled. Most bootlegs I run into are have blank faced disks with permanent marker that says the game on it. Someone really spent the time on that one.
Does your store sell any other Bootleg games? I'm curious to if they own any PS1 &/or more PS2 Bootlegs as well
I saw this one bootleg in the shmups group on facebook. Said Do Don Pachi on the cover, had unrelated anime cover...the actual game was Espgaluda.
The case could be from a legit PS2 game, which is where the hologram came from. Didn't it throw you off that it's a PAL game with an ESRB logo on it?
If it's a burned PS2 game, shouldn't the end user have to have FMCB installed on their PS2 or chipped? Because most likely this game is just straight burned or patched with ESR Patcher and then burned. Or am I crazy? Like why would they sell games that they know people couldn't run on their system. UNLESS a person sold them the game, since they're a used game store, and they couldn't tell it was bootlegged. In which case that's hilarious.
It's at a local thrift store, so chances are they know nothing at all about it. I'm sure they don't know its bootlegged nor that most folks can't use it. Not that I think they'd really care too much anyways.
How could it be silver on the bottom if it's a burned DVD? I don't think I've ever seen a blank DVD that isn't purple.
It's not burned. It was pressed in a factory. Atleast that is what he said. You also tested it on a non-modchipped system and it wouldn't start I assume? Given the age of the game, I highly doubt it had the image patched for use with ESR. I would guess you have to have a modchipped system to play this bootleg. But there are cases of unlicensed cheat discs having duplicated the protection, so it would be possible that pirates could have done the same. Though it seems unlikely as that would require effort.
