Filipino site GameOPS found that pirates are up to their old tricks again, copying GameCube games onto DVD discs and packaging them as Wii releases. Titles like Luigi's Mansion, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition are advertised with new covers that've been rebranded with Wii logos and boxart elements. Unlike official GameCube-to-Wii ports, these don't even feature tacked-on waggle controls!
When asked about the "Wii" copy of Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes on display at ShopesVille, a department store in Manila's Greenhills Shopping Center, one of the salesladies explained that it's the same Metal Gear Solid release as the upcoming PS3 game. We bet that all the people who argued about the Wii not being able to handle next-gen graphics feel a bit silly now! Check past the break for a couple more photos of the counterfeit case jackets.
See also: Pirates rule the Philippine seas
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-06-2007 @ 1:59PM
Nushio said...
I totally want that Boxart.
I'll redo my Gamecube collection with Wii-deo game covers.
That's basically the only thing I'd pirate. :P
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8-06-2007 @ 2:18PM
3cubed minus 3squared plus1 said...
Those boxarts are amazing. They really went all out with the details on these things.
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8-06-2007 @ 2:42PM
Jezreel said...
Marketing last-gen games as Wii titles? Isn't that what the real publishers are doing anyway?
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8-06-2007 @ 2:42PM
Jezreel said...
Marketing last-gen games as Wii titles? Isn't that what the real publishers are doing anyway?
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8-06-2007 @ 2:49PM
Ian Mailloux said...
That RE0 boxart is sweet.
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8-06-2007 @ 3:31PM
Cambot said...
They all have the same UPC code, and it's for Zelda: Twilight Princess.
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8-06-2007 @ 3:33PM
Valien said...
*sigh* and people wonder why the Philippines is still a 3rd rate country.
(I grew up there and am very aware of the pro level pirating going on).
sad.
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8-06-2007 @ 3:34PM
Mr Khan said...
They do a good job of their pirating...
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8-06-2007 @ 5:35PM
spooky said...
The box art is nice, but they are clearly using a template and the original GC box art. A very simple process with photoshop and/or indesign.
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8-06-2007 @ 5:43PM
J-Man said...
i just bought my plane ticket, im moving to the phillipines tomorrow.
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8-06-2007 @ 5:48PM
hvnlysoldr said...
Pirates wore eye patches for night vision.
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8-06-2007 @ 6:41PM
badgerb said...
hahaha Greenhills. Never buy anything from there, they will ALWAYS rip off a white man.
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8-06-2007 @ 7:12PM
01 said...
Dare I say: GC games are the PERFECT wii port...I mean, on average, my GC titles get more playtime on my Wii than actual Wii games, so why not? :-)
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8-06-2007 @ 8:20PM
Nikko Bengco said...
I am from the Philippines, I am a filipino(half japanese). I have a wii, and it is modified, and can play pirated games. It is really fun to play gamecube games on my wii with those gamecube games burned onto standard dvd. I actually have those games featured here, with those same box arts. hehe. It is only 3.50 dollars. Do you guys envy me or what? hehe. isn't it fun to live here in the philippines?lolz.
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8-06-2007 @ 10:39PM
rmg7344 said...
As a filipino this kind of stuff makes me sad...
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8-06-2007 @ 11:02PM
blendmaster said...
Those Nintendo "Seals of Quality" crack me up.
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8-07-2007 @ 12:19AM
Wiicked said...
I dont know why some of these Filipino posters think this is sad or think that this is the reason why the Philippines is still 3rd world??? I mean geez pirating happens in every country. Atleast be proud that we can produce some pretty nice rip-offs. People like the box art and would love to have it as a replacement for the original box art for the games.
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8-07-2007 @ 8:07AM
GAbriel said...
Only here in the pinas baby!! =D
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8-07-2007 @ 11:05AM
sioson_dj said...
yup ... that's greenhills for you ... be thankful they didn't have Bong Revilla and Sheryl Cruz on the RE Zero cover, then Vic Sotto for the Legend of Zelda boxart ... then Ronnie Rickets on the Tony Hawk ... that would be amazing!!! ... hahaha .... so, did you check out the 8 in one dvds? those are hilarious, it's like having a shelf full of movies stuffed in to one disc .... arrrr .....
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8-07-2007 @ 3:19PM
kpod said...
I dunno how people do this stuff, but if the fake games are really made so they can be played like a Wii game, tha'll be AWESOME! Wonder if there'll be a sequal to Luigi Mansion, I never played it but I always wanted to...
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8-07-2007 @ 11:09PM
Mikonawa said...
I'm glad pirates are bringing Nintendo games to the Philippines, because Nintendo isn't.
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8-08-2007 @ 2:36AM
Patius said...
how stupid.
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8-09-2007 @ 1:44AM
Greg May said...
Yes, only in the Philippines. And the entirety of China, Russia, and probably many other countries where such things are common. I've bought quite a few of these Gamecube games here in Beijing and though they load up great on my modded Wii, they *cannot* use the standard Wii controller, which sucks quite a bit. Further, paying $3.50 isn't that great- I pay around 70 *cents* US (5 RMB) per disk, and I don't really buy in bulk, and I'm not Chinese.
The comment about Nintendo not bringing it's games to the Philippines applies to many other countries- but it's a bit of a chicken and egg dilemna... given the choice between spending a dollar or $50, which would you choose.
Happy to supply more pictures- they even have compilation disks where you can get several Mario Parties on one disk, though no MAME yet, and no NES/SNES titles that I have seen. I have a two disk Metal Gear Solid, MarioKart DoubleDash, SuperSmashBros, Baten Kaitos , and quite a few more. Finally, the vendors are usually open (if they know their stock) and aren't usually trying to fool you- the games often have GC or Gamecube right one them.
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8-14-2007 @ 12:26AM
kid said...
think of it this way... if a game was sold at a $150 a piece would you buy it? I'm guessing.... NOT.
that's how much a game would cost if you were living in those countries. (adjusting to the local economic state)
If they could only price it at around $10-12 in the asian countries then it'll be competitive with the pirated stuff. (they can region lock it if they want.... that's what its for anyway)
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