Pirates selling GameCube titles as Wii games
by Eric Caoili 
{ Aug 6th 2007 at 1:30PM }
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)
kpod @ Aug 7th 2007 3:19PM
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...
Nushio @ Aug 6th 2007 1:59PM
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
3cubed minus 3squared plus1 @ Aug 6th 2007 2:18PM
Those boxarts are amazing. They really went all out with the details on these things.
Patius @ Aug 8th 2007 2:36AM
how stupid.
Jezreel @ Aug 6th 2007 2:42PM
Marketing last-gen games as Wii titles? Isn't that what the real publishers are doing anyway?
Jezreel @ Aug 6th 2007 2:42PM
Marketing last-gen games as Wii titles? Isn't that what the real publishers are doing anyway?
Ian Mailloux @ Aug 6th 2007 2:49PM
That RE0 boxart is sweet.
Cambot @ Aug 6th 2007 3:31PM
They all have the same UPC code, and it's for Zelda: Twilight Princess.
Valien @ Aug 6th 2007 3:33PM
*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.
Mr Khan @ Aug 6th 2007 3:34PM
They do a good job of their pirating...
Nikko Bengco @ Aug 6th 2007 8:20PM
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.
spooky @ Aug 6th 2007 5:35PM
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.
J-Man @ Aug 6th 2007 5:43PM
i just bought my plane ticket, im moving to the phillipines tomorrow.
hvnlysoldr @ Aug 6th 2007 5:48PM
Pirates wore eye patches for night vision.
badgerb @ Aug 6th 2007 6:41PM
hahaha Greenhills. Never buy anything from there, they will ALWAYS rip off a white man.
01 @ Aug 6th 2007 7:12PM
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? :-)
kid @ Aug 14th 2007 12:26AM
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)
rmg7344 @ Aug 6th 2007 10:39PM
As a filipino this kind of stuff makes me sad...
blendmaster @ Aug 6th 2007 11:02PM
Those Nintendo "Seals of Quality" crack me up.
Wiicked @ Aug 7th 2007 12:19AM
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.
GAbriel @ Aug 7th 2007 8:07AM
Only here in the pinas baby!! =D
sioson_dj @ Aug 7th 2007 11:05AM
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 .....
Mikonawa @ Aug 7th 2007 11:09PM
I'm glad pirates are bringing Nintendo games to the Philippines, because Nintendo isn't.
Greg May @ Aug 9th 2007 1:44AM
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.