Can someone please save this thread by posting another controversial picture of obscure Neo hardware? matching patterns on the AF3 insert? a car engine? anything??
I really liked this type of discussion:
"The printing quality of the AF3 art looks like it was digitized and reproduced. So the cart is fake."
"AF3 and PS2 are test copies, and SNK didn't use the same standards as on retail versions, so they can still be legit."
"AF3 can't be a test copy because it has a bar code."
"AF3 isn't an !Arcade! product because the paper thickness is different from PI2."
"AF3 and PS2 are supposed to be test copies but don't have the same issues/printing quality etc."
"SNK used inconsistent printing quality all the time in that era (even on retail games), so AF3 and PS2 can still be legit."
"If you are for real, answer these questions about your employment at SNK and the provenance of the games."
"You won't believe me anyways. But here's a pic of an 8 slot board instead."
I was almost convinced that AF3 was real based on the information provided when it came out.
With the argument that any deviation from a retail game of the same era can be explained by declaring AF3 and PS2 test copies, it remains a question of faith for the owners.
The games can probably still find new buyers (who at least believe they could be real) in a few years. There's been several contradictions in what DavidG and TonK have said during this drama, but most people will probably not go back to check once the dust has settled.