As many people know there're a lot of bootleg/unauthorized game consoles spread the world. Among them so called "famiclones" are the most popular one. But how about others? Here you can see the five most popular architectures in the bootleg/unauthorized market!
5. Gameboy (70 records)
Gameboy clones were relatively popular in China. Going back in history, the first generation Game Boy clones were released in Taiwan in the early 1990s. Since then most of the models were sold in Taiwan or mainland China, but small numbers of them also landed some other areas like Poland, ex-USSR countries and Latin American countries.
Nowadays, except Analogue Pocket, Gameboy clones based on the compatible chips are apparently not manufactured anymore.
The GB BOY is one of the most common Game Boy clones in mainland China, was distributed since the end of the 1990s. Later models supported color screen by their own way.
4. Super Famicom / Super Nintendo (107 records)
The fourth place may be impressive enough? But the third place is almost four times higher than the fourth... SFC/SNES clones have put up with much lower popularity comparing to the rival, Mega Drive / Genesis clones.
Nowadays SFC/SNES clones are not rare, however, many of them only became available after the expiration of the related patent in 2012. Historically the first generation SFC/SNES clones were already available in 1994, however, only a few models appeared in the world market at that time, and most of them are rare today. Why was them so unpopular? I don't really know, but guess it missed out on a business opportunity because it couldn't be so cheap. Maybe a fortunate thing for Nintendo who has been bothered with famiclones for a long time.
One of the Chinese SNES clones in the 90's, released under ARGO brand. It shows one of only two form factors available at that time.
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