That time North Korea RIPPED-OFF the Wii

In 2019, North Korea announced that they had just created a games console. The only problem: the console was an almost exact copy of the Nintendo Wii. Here's what happened.
PATREON - / thomasgamedocs
MERCH - teespring.com/stores/thomas-g...
TWITTER - / thomasgdocs
Taizou's Twitter - / taizou_hori
Taizou's Website - 12bit.club/
SOURCES
- www.nintendolife.com/news/201... - English news source A
- techraptor.net/gaming/news/no... - English news source B
- / 1189097327715409920 - Taizou’s discovery
- www.aliexpress.com/item/32657... - Shop page for Cdragon Cassidy G80
- www.qoo10.sg/item/SUBOR-G80-S... - Shop page for Subor G80
- product.suning.com/0070698719... - Another shop page for Subor G80
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyongya... - Overview of Pyongyang Racer
- • Pyongyang Racer - Firs... - Footage of Pyongyang Racer
- web.archive.org/web/201910312... - Airirang Meari article
- web.archive.org/web/202212081... - DPRK Today article
- en.wikibooks.org/wiki/History... - Overview of Moranbong
- web.archive.org/web/201710042... - Images of NK game

[@ThomasGameDocs]

*HELP WANTED!* If you have Pokémon opinions, and want to influence a future video of mine, then click this link to fill out a survey to find the MOST and LEAST popular Pokemon generations! forms.gle/xZczodfDLfdrjxeF8

[@prestontheruler9332]

Oh cool! Sorry that I cant do it. wish I could :(

[@ErraticEthan]

Already done mine! Can't wait for the video! Once I saw the whole "sum up in 5 words" questions I knew exactly what kind of video it's going to be.

[@prestontheruler9332]

@@ErraticEthan good for you :) Im just kinda sad that I cant do it. Cuz I love this channel so much!!

[@rionmiller35]

My favorite region is either kalos or hoenn

[@jayskydab4866]

I just did mine hope it helps!

[@rafaelcosta7427]

It looks like an uncanny fusion between the wii, the Kinect and a surveilance camera.

[@GamepadStudios]

If it's from North Korea its probably a surveillance camera

[@IllusoryCrescent]

it probably is that last one

[@thecosplaycrafter8017]

So not only did they rip off Nintendo's Wii, but also Microsoft's Kinect.

[@prayagsuthar9856]

This is EXACTLY what I was thinking! More accurately, they ripped off a rip-off of a Wii + Kinect...

[@yeetyeet5079]

@@prayagsuthar9856 you think they could fit ps move in there?

[@amongusisdeadstopjokingabo1484]

@@prayagsuthar9856 They may as well fit a RTX 4090 in there, or their own version, the Rososang 4090, from Nosotek!

[@cyberbasty8028]

Wiinect

[@DJAyt69]

Gotta rip 'em all!

[@TheRiz151]

Its really sad that Nintendo stole North Korea’s design for the Wii! North Korea is leading the world in video game console design and hardware! Kim himself builds every single Wii by hand! (Please help)

[@yellohammer8571]

I'm sorry to say... but... it's the... other way round.

[@nuwberger]

@@yellohammer8571 r/woooooooshhh

[@mrpixelcactus6810]

Guys i think @Gee Kuis is being held captive

[@Jhud69]

This is actually what some Poles used to think about the Pegasus vs NES lol

[@dukeoffrance2063]

I am sad to hear about Nintendo copying the North Koreans

[@djdegracia02]

An electronic device with a camera (and possibly a microphone) installed in your North Korean home made by a company that has full approval by the North Korean dictatorship government? Made for family "fun" indeed!

[@cantin8697]

I am not a fan of NK myself, but why are you acting like it's weird for consoles to have cameras and microphones in them? Heck, your PC and phone even have them built in!

[@EmilyS-gk3st]

I hate to break it to you, but ever since the war on terrorism began in 2001, surveillance elsewhere globally hasn't been much better. Especially in the US. The difference seems to be what exactly will get you in trouble

[@AracnotronObliterator]

Comedy is truly king.

[@nightfall4434]

@@cantin8697it’s not weird, he’s just saying that it all fits together for the North Korean government to spy on you

[@iMernerner]

Mandatory fun !

[@jonahdunch4056]

Subor's Chinese name (小霸王) means "little hegemon-king" or perhaps less literally "bully," so it's unintentionally fitting for the North Korean government to choose 😂

[@araigumakiruno]

See they literally bullying Nintendo by making those Famicom and design based system. Since they're Chinese and copyright laws in China is non existent, Nintendo couldn't cease and desist them. Oh for be cying out loud....

[@nillypc42]

A Thomas video when I'm sick will always be the best thing in the world.

[@bucketmonkeys]

Yooooo! Same here dude.

[@RZRREDD]

Same

[@aBetterMove]

Aw get well soon! (:

[@helmeren3828]

Same!

[@smert_ditto]

same

[@stebopign]

This is one cease and desist letter that Nintendo can never send out!

[@Goldfire345]

Yep no copyright laws in China

[@yellohammer8571]

Remember when Thomas made a video of how China made a ripoff video using a lot of copyrighted stuff from Nintendo's Mario series? This was to celebrate (emphasis on that) all the successful judgments (red flag here) they did the previous year...

[@Jhud69]

Same thing happened in Poland and Russia, we copied the Famicom (not even the NES, the fakes used famicom cartridges - though the russian company later actually started officially distributing Nintwndo iirc) because it was just cheaper. Most people remember these fake consoles very fondly. Nintendo hasn’t had much of a presence here until very recently, Scarlet and Violet is pretty much the first time I’ve seen a Pokemon game be widely advertised here. Just a fun fact if you’d want to make a video about the fake Polish famicom (and the Russian one), the Polish one was called Pegasus.

[@ExtremeWreck]

Same with South America & Taiwan.

[@Seallbay]

Lots of Splatoon 3 adverts have been advertised in Poland recently!

[@Jhud69]

@@Seallbay Yep, you see them in Cinemas too. Already started around Fire Emblem 3 Houses but it’s amazing if you remember just how niche Nintendo used to be here relatively aside from classics like Mario and Pokemon (and even then you had to be kind of a nerd to know Pokemon games, I think most people here just remember the anime)

[@CheBatookee]

The russian one is called "Dendy". We have one at home.

[@catriamflockentanz]

The Russian Company you cannot recall by name was known as Dendy. You maybe remember the blueish-grey bipedal Elephant that was their mascot. They didn't just made Famiclones though. They also had some Not-Sega offerings in their wheelhouse. As you correctly remembered Big N did actually officially partner with them to distribute the SNES in Russia under two conditions. First: Stop producing Sega-likes, nobody in Russia is supposed to like these, so stop. Second: Stop promoting Bootlegs that infringe on Nintendo's properties in their TV show.

[@a_midland_engine]

7:39 Well not only will you get in trouble with North Korea, you’ll be in trouble with Mattel for naming your country that.

[@BigOlSmellyFlashlight]

maybe if there was a huge train market there wait i forgot its literally called thomas land in the franchise

[@ErraticEthan]

The second I see one of Thomas' videos I drop whatever I'm doing and watch.

[@AJRandom]

took them 16 years to create a wii clone 💀

[@Malyt538]

💀☠️☠️☠️☠️

[@GamepadStudios]

💀

[@pmchad]

Took them 16 years for the knowledge of the Wii to enter their minds

[@GanWael]

North Korea’s stuck in the 1950s 💀

[@gwfun22]

Nintendo should add Pyongyang Racer to Mario Kart Tour and the Booster Course Pass

[@GlodelaniaChannel]

Pyongyang Course in Mario Kart Tour lmao

[@nintendofan69]

@@GlodelaniaChannel wait is that true?

[@dominicyeomans8107]

Thomas being on camera makes this feel like dateline. And honestly this matters more lol

[@kierenbuckley370]

the one place Nintendo can't send cease and desist letters to

[@DawsonsMemes]

Mom can I have a Wii? We have a Wii at home. Wii at Home:

[@seomeenu]

as a south korean, the video was interesting to watch! thank you for making this

[@dukeoffrance2063]

I no joke actually want one of those North Korean consoles

[@dukeoffrance2063]

@Core Walker oh no I actually want to just to see how they are

[@ketchup7867]

Ah yes - mind control even in gaming. Those poor souls...

[@tetraxis3011]

They are quite close to 1984 levels of dystopian government.

[@I.____.....__...__]

You can't call that Thomas Land, it's already Souljaland and the Moranbong is the SouljaConsole 2.

[@fattiger6957]

Remember those Wii games (like Skyward Sword) that kept on reminding you to take a break. Well, this console has that same feature, but it reminds you to do your hourly oath of loyalty to the glorious leader and his friendly communist regime for keeping you so free, safe and fed. Oh and that camera does two things, it lets you play games and it also make sure no one in your house is saying problematic things like anything bad about the government. All for you own good of course.

[@bareq99]

I know nothing about polotics but.. Communist regime?? North Korea??

[@cantin8697]

@@bareq99 True. It seems people think that authoritarian = communist, and libertarian = capitalist. When usually that doesn't seem to be the case. NK seems pretty capitalist from what I know. It has companies and people earn money by doing work. Authoritarian capitalist countries are a thing. Asia hasn't been communist in years. Edit: To explain on NK itself, apparently capitalist markets aren't _supposed_ to be a thing in NK - but they do exist nevertheless. There are also arguments that there was never a "true" communist country so NK fails to be one. Therefore, I'd say socialist with "rebels" trying to be capitalist. If western sources are to be trusted.

[@bareq99]

@@cantin8697 weird how people are trying to turn the tables like that lol NK is pretty capitalist just like any other country in the world unfortunately

[@yellohammer8571]

@@bareq99 I never liked communism one bit. What we need is democracy. Go and watch Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's The Interview, where...

[@bareq99]

@@yellohammer8571 lmao Good one

[@zakuraiyadesu]

Love the videos, Thomas. Keep it up!!!

[@CaptainCat101]

Ah North Korea, they love to be made fun of almost as much as China

[@HarryPorpise]

As a north korean, I can confirm that this console allows me to have a pleasant time with my family 👍

[@animalcrossingnerd8142]

Lol

[@yellohammer8571]

Uhhh, do you think your government is putting the right idea in the minds of kids?

[@HARDcorp]

BUT YOU ARE FROM THE USA

[@HarryPorpise]

@@yellohammer8571 yes, i love North Korea and supreme leader Kim Jong Un

[@yellohammer8571]

@@HarryPorpise Yes...🤔

[@cupcakebakery8820]

Ok you look way different than I thought you would but in an amazingly good way. I do not regret watching this. You are genuinely satisfying to look at.

[@UnknownArab_64]

Hello love your videos keep up the great work

[@Flegz1]

Amazing video! Been watching you for quite some time and I enjoyed all videos you made! Keep up the great work!

[@TheSpiritwockie]

Sir you have a very audibly pleasing voice. Appreciate you.

[@besihodja393]

Can’t wait to visit Thomas Land🎉

[@notspacedarlings]

Great video! Interesting topic ☺️

[@BellHillMayor]

I'm still getting sick of Wii Bootlegs to this day.

[@nothingnessYT]

Love your videos Thomas

[@raine6813]

i kinda thought this video was going to be an actual review of the console itself and i kept waiting for the part where he actually got the console and started playing it

[@rionmiller35]

I’ve never seen his face before he’s a handsome man 👍🏽

[@lacryingbaby3005]

Facts

[@OscarScheepstra_Artemis_]

He is VERY handsome.

[@prestontheruler9332]

@@OscarScheepstra_Artemis_ facts

[@notspacedarlings]

Indeed 😂

[@CejaStudios]

HIS HAIR IS SO GORGEOUS (and I am so jealous)

[@megamix5403]

TAIZOU?! OF HANDHELD UNDERGROUND FAME?! DAMN, YOU GOING PLACES THOMAS

[@Hightlyze]

Finally! The video idea from a poll 8 months ago is finally here!

[@Mastergetawayy]

the fact that 1:47 is nintendo music makes this even better

[@brute_lin2023]

Love these videos Thomas! Also would you like to play on that North Korea copy?

[@CaptainJZH]

Unrelated to the video but I like your hair style! I haven't been able to watch in a while so seeing you on screen was a pleasant surprise

[@ArthurTRead]

the camera and design of the unit reminds me so much of the kinect as well

[@WaaIgi]

THE CLIP OF KIM SPEAKING THAT APEARS THROUGHOUT THE VIDEO LIP SYNC SWITH ANYTHING (7:20) just not the end 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[@Mels_backfromthedead]

Loving the jumper.

[@ItzDaCookiez]

I unironically thought of North Korean people playing on the Wii before your video. Coincidence? I think not.

[@Tomiculous_Budd]

Even the consoles have the same haircut

[@smert_ditto]

I had only seen your face in older videos, the longer hair looks good

[@Bluestoneklutz357]

That nervouse laugh at the end after calling North Korea Thomas land

[@bomber001]

Hey Thomas, just stopped by to say I love your hair!

[@JanxZ]

4:49 Time to make a blog on CEOs and i'll be an expert and senior CEO right away! TGD, your reasoning is so marvelous!

[@frostboi77]

the thomas land joke could hv totally incorporated the thomas theme park in japan lmao vry interesting vid, i wonder if i can use this in my essay somehow haha

[@gohtwm4184]

Apparently, the Subor Z+ FuZe was quite a powerful system running a fork of android that was heavily server-bound. It can easily run Half Life 2, but there's a decent amount of input lag because it uses a server in China.

[@GlodelaniaChannel]

Buyer: Why does it have a camera facing the player when you can't take pictures with it? 🤔🤔🤔 North Korea: Nothing, that's fake and not a real camera. It's a decorative design. 😉😉😉

[@Moon_Knight1]

Man long haired Thomas looks awesome!

[@12DAMDO]

i wonder if there are any Subor G80/Muranbong exclusive games that aren't available in the west, and where to emulate them (i think they'd be easy to emulate since they run on Android) it seems like an interesting thing to record for my gaming channel

[@Shift_Salt]

North Korea stole a bootleg Chinese console that was a knock off of a Japanese system with aspects from an American console accessory. Good lord.

[@krocodag]

Chains of knock off

[@MrGregory777]

Looks like a Wii and a Kinect got freaky with each other

[@BodiesandBricks]

Rad cut Dude!

[@Tommydoesthings]

Thomas Deserves Way Moor Subs Than He Has

[@KimJong-Un-sm9lf]

Thank you for featuring our invention!

[@MadMikeSportsYT]

It's not yours. You ripped it off from China, who ripped it off from Nintendo. Yet another reason why you and your entire hateful dynasty need to be stopped.

[@notSoAverageGuineaPigEnjoyer]

You look absolutely dapper today, kind sir!

[@raspberry1440kb]

Is is bad that I was expecting a review of the hardware.

[@theshockerpit7274]

0:11 why does that sound like a tropical drink?

[@NoviDooms]

I looks like they took an Xbox Kinect and paired Wii remotes to it...

[@draculastraphouse7863]

Man I remember when the wii was super popular, there were so many fake knockoffs desperately trying to get a small piece of the pie from wii mania

[@oneandonlymemologist]

As a Chinese, I noticed the similarity between the Subor G80 and the Moranbong long ago.

[@woofexe4050]

Imagine being in North Korea and them only just now catching up with video games in 2006

[@DanielAndFred]

nintendo can't really sue them as it's the north korean government we're talking about

[@TheBester7]

ah yes, all those people suffering in "Thomas Land" 💀

[@jpedro1800]

That is actually super interesting, as someone that is learning a a bit of the story of Korea recently, the media they craft is super interesting, do you have a good source for that kind of thing where I can see more? Even in Korean I would be fine, (Google translator save me) Also, being Chinese make a lot of sense, since the popular Korea and chine have good relationship, even open border actually, lol

[@dougheclipse1717]

"If you squint your eyes, you can't tell it's not real" I see what you did there...

[@luigiymario2xd]

>When North Korea dropships a console to its own people. Lmaooo

[@Farukerdem-jh4bo]

Miyamoto seeing this video: hey Hirohito you want to conquer Korea again

[@agamaz5650]

Japan made Daytona USA, most revolutionary racing game in 1993, meanwhile North Korea made Pyongyang Racer. The world is strange, isn't it.

[@sledgen.]

I wouldn’t be brave enough to make a video like this 😅

[@forensic66666]

7:12 The person writing that review probally got a response from the devs which was a nice trip to the mines with 3 generations of their family

[@Taintlessdisc]

The hidden camera an mic 😂

[@joerivanlier1180]

Pyongyang racer looks like a game called A2 racer here and I think they had a version in the UK as well, you could buy the CD at gas stations, in 99 or something..

[@Zetaphor]

A brit making jokes about slapping their name on a country and calling it their own definitely doesn't land as well as you'd think

[@octoturt]

booking a flight to thomas land right now

[@beuwm]

TAIZOU HORI? AS IN TAIZOU HORI FROM DIG DUG FAME

[@Chubby_Bub]

1:47 WHAT is that music? It sounds so familiar and somehow I know how it goes, but I cannot remember where it's from.

[@strawberryjogurt6134]

it's the minigame soundtrack from tomodachi life!

[@Chubby_Bub]

@@strawberryjogurt6134 Thank you!! I haven’t played Tomodachi Life in a long time, but I was getting the vibes it was either from a quirky Nintendo game or, like, royalty-free stock music. I almost thought Animal Crossing but I'm too familiar with AC's music to know it’s not from there. Close, though!

[@strawberryjogurt6134]

@@Chubby_Bub you're welcome! i haven't played tomodachi life in a long time either, but similarly to what you pointed out, a lot of nintendo soundtracks have a very distinct style to them. it's interesting how they stick around in the head like that.

[@Xerknight_she-her]

As someone who studied North Korea for a year a can confirm that this is something that they would do

[@zenbmonk1016]

I've been gaming for almost 25+ years now. The Moranbong is one of the oddest sounding names I've ever heard for a gaming console.

[@jaedenpeters6561]

I like your vids

[@Latestmustace]

This reminds me of the iconic Chinese rip-off “Chintendo Vii”

[@TomWDW1]

There are so many mean comments on this video. Make the videos you wanna make, Thomas. Most of us love your content. - From one Thomas to another :-)

[@animalcrossingnerd8142]

Omg i luv your hair

[@stilljamming]

Subor's Chinese name literally means Little Tyrant. That's fitting.

[@kairinase]

Thomasland? You could mass produce a gun, and call it "Tommy Gun"!

[@AracnotronObliterator]

That Austin powers remix gets me

[@ThatFrutigerAeroGuy]

What's next? A kPhone with a voice assistant that only ever talks about the government?

[@madysen9394]

I see those maze runner books behind ya 😎

[@Username-vb9if]

It looks like the wii merged with the microsoft kinect

[@boi8214]

Well knowing norfh korea they should have called it the “me”

[@fruit3193]

Xbox Kinect + Wiimote + Wii Fit Balance Board = North Korean game console

[@Flegz1]

Yes

[@stargamer777]

Yes

[@zed54]

Someone check on Thomas I fear for his safety after that joke 7:33

[@egoistamamono]

Ah yeah, Taizou. The god of "bootleg" gaming stuff. I love what they're doing and really waiting for new article.

[@goclunker]

Morans, Pyongyang racer is the best racing game in all of the dprk

[@tburrrg2502]

I can’t believe North Korea made a bong

[@reezuleanu1676]

Imagine your country's peak technology in entertainment being a fucking Wii knock off.

[@mouradzitoun963]

WHAT THE NORTH KOREAN GAME CONSOLE