Hi all, I've recently got a Earthbound cart for my birthday back in November. I went to open the cartridge to clean it, like i do all my snes games but this cart just wont open, the screws seem to be extremely striped. Now i do use a security bit to open my games and this is the only one I have ever had problems with. Everything on the outside of the cart seem legit, and it has the serial numbers on the inside lips of the cart (B-50 and F(A)-50). I have also beaten the game and none of the anti priacy things were triggered. Anyway if anyone can help it would be great, I just wanna make sure this thing is real due to the cost of it.

Also i forgot to mention it was bought from a seller in town not off ebay.

If you take it apart, is it just a bunch of chips inside, or is it a bunch of chips with a bunch of wires? Pretty much all fakes/repros will have the wires in it. There might've also been several different production runs, but I'm not sure.

This might be of interest too: http://earthboundcentral.com/2009/12/naked-earthbound/

Thats the problem though I can't get it apart, I have a good sucurity bit and it works on every game execpt this one. The screws seemed to be stripped to the point where they are almost rounded. I can't get into the case with out breaking it. If i could open it I would be able to tell right away if it was fake. So i am wondering if there is any other ways to 100% confirm if its legit

Do you have a scale that weighs in ounces? I have a scale right here and I can weigh my legit EB cart and then we can compare the weights.

No Scale either. Sigh I mean the cart seems legit its just those screws that make me wonder

Hey Segaboy. I gave you a big long post on SM.net on this subject.

I really think you are just fine here. However, if you absolutely MUST pull this cart apart, there were a few minor suggestions I made on SM.net.

Probably the best suggestion I offer is to try a new/different security bit. I've gone through quite a few of them myself...they seem to wear out as easily as the security screws strip....which is very easy. A brand new security bit might be able to grab that potentially stripped screw head just enough to tip the scales in your favor. I've met a whole bunch of different security screws that thought they had what it took to defeat me. I spit on most of their graves.....well not really most of them are in safely replaced in their carts and are being stored securely and with care. I was still the victor!

Let me know if you need any pictures or anything. On SM.net I focus a little more on trying to appease your worry and potentially getting the screws out...here I'll focus on trying to affirm that the board itself is legit.

Once you get the thing apart it will be VERY EASY to tell if its legit or not because official Nintendo games literally say NINTENDO on the circuit board with a copyright year and, of course, the chips.

Here is an example of some official boards:
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthr ... ost1636822

As you can see, there are varying boards for different types of games (all EB boards will be identical but won't necessarily look like a Donkey Kong board) and the word NINTENDO is basically stamped everywhere it will fit.

If you are hard-pressed for peace of mind (and I certainly understand if you are!!!) than I'd be more than willing to take a few pictures of my EarthBound boards so you can compare. You'll have to get those screws out first, though.

I can also confirm that all three of my EB boards look identical to the first picture in the article linked by Mato. The bottom picture in that article probably is counterfeit, since I've never seen an EB board that looks like that and I've pulled apart more than 10 EarthBound carts.

well It seems like it will be easy to tell once i can get this cart apart. I have tried 2 different bits so far and still it can't seem to grab the screws. It would be nice if i could find away to break the head off the screws open the cart and then just replace the screws with ones from like a NHL 96 cart or something. I am determined to get this thing open lol

Have you tried using a drill at all? Sometimes the extra torque can help....although it sounds like you've put plenty of effort into this already. Sadly, I don't know of any secret tricks.

EDIT: You can try either of the two methods here (the pen version probably being more plausible), but for the record I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT SUGGEST THESE. I've not tried either and experimenting on an expensive EarthBound cart isn't a great idea. Desperate times though, right?

http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/18/mini ... ty-screws/

Lastly, I highly recommend following up on your idea of swapping out the screws once you get these out. On the SM.net post, I talked about doing this to one of my old Stunt Race FX carts.

tried the drill and still no luck, these screws are so badly stripped that they are almost round. I have to say though that from posts above i do feel a lot more comfortable that the cart is legit but i would like to get it open to be 100% and to swap with new screws, so that if i even need into the cart again, I can get in easily