This review is not limited just to Microsoft XBOX accessories, affected items also included Sony Playstation and the Nintendo Wii.

Well, over the last half of 2007, the eBay marketplace was horribly effected by cheap Chinese copies of gaming accessories. Please keep in mind that this guide is not in regards to licensed third party accessories such React, Gameshark, MadCatz. Sales of genuine merchandise dramatically dropped after a storm of sellers began selling cheap copies. The Chinese copies and replica merchandise do work, however to only such extent.

Just recently, I made a personal purchase using my account, instead of my employer's account. The item was a "Microsoft XBOX 360 Blue Wireless Controller", the seller never stated it was a third party product. However, the company used a stock photo of a genuine Microsoft controller. The company very carefully worded the auction to not mention if was a genuine controller or not. I am not going to start pointing fingers, however 6 out 10 search results for a gaming accessories leads to imported replicas. As a hobby, I work on home brew software for the XBOX 360. I soon began to get curious of the quality of the controller I recently purchase. I used a simple software to measure how fast the input values of the controllers were. And I was right, the replica controller was three times slower than any genuine controller. It's not quite noticeable when playing some games, but an advance gamer would feel the difference.

The majority of our questions regarding our gaming accessories was to verify that our product were Genuine or licensed third party accessories. It seems that the sellers carefully word their auctions to fool the buyer into thinking the products are indeed genuine.

It is very easy to spot the fakes vs. the Genuine accessories.

How to spot the fakes

Microsoft

All Microsoft accessories ranging the controller to the power cord will have the word "Microsoft" engraved onto it. For example, Microsoft XBOX 360's Component cable will have "Microsoft" engraved onto the connector part of the cable which connects to the unit. Many of the times it will be an oval shaped sticker with Microsoft in holographic lettering.

All packaging will the Microsoft sealed printed on the front of the packaging towards the bottom. Although the seal in printed on, the green texture of the sticker is very hard to replicate. The sealed will say "created by XBOX Microsoft", and "Authentic Product" in 5 languages forming a ring around the seal.

Nintendo

It is very easy to spot a replica of Nintendo's product. All merchandise will have the manufacture sticker including a serial and "Nintendo" on the back of every accessories. All packaging should have the "official Nintendo seal" on the front towards the corner.

In conclusion, you might be getting a deal with your purchase. However when buying the unlicensed replicas, quality and satisfaction is never guaranteed.