Bung Enterprises
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electronics, Video game hardware |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong , Hong Kong |
| Products | Backup and development tools for video game consoles (e.g., Doctor V64, V64 Jr., GB Xchanger, Neo Flash Linker) |
Bung Enterprises Ltd. was an electronics manufacturer based in Hong Kong, focusing on creating backup and development tools for video game consoles that allowed users to play games without needing the original cartridges. Their product lineup covered backup devices compatible with systems such as the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super NES, Neo-Geo, Neo Geo Pocket, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, and Nintendo 64.
The term "Bung" is a phonetic representation of the company’s Chinese name (邦谷, bānggǔ), both of which were utilized in their promotional materials. Founded in 1994, Bung achieved recognition in Western markets during the late 1990s following the release of the Doctor V64—the first commercially available copier for the Nintendo 64—which quickly gained traction across the US and European regions. In 1998, they launched a more affordable version called the V64 Jr., which omitted the CD-ROM drive, alongside rewritable flash memory cards for Game Boy and a development tool named the GB Xchanger.
Nintendo took a firm stance against Bung by initiating legal actions to stop the distribution of these products. Early lawsuits in the United States targeted retailers on grounds of contributory copyright infringement but encountered difficulties due to existing legal protections for copying devices serving legitimate purposes. Significantly, Bung’s equipment was also utilized by game developers dealing with shortages of official Nintendo hardware. Bung leveraged this by marketing their products as development aids and sponsoring amateur programming contests. The US legal disputes concluded with retailers agreeing to discontinue sales.
In Europe, Nintendo contested Bung’s CE mark compliance, prompting Bung to certify their power supplies and maintain product availability. A lawsuit filed in Hong Kong led to Bung’s dissolution in 2000; however, they reestablished themselves as First Union Technology and continued selling essentially identical products under the Mr. Flash brand—such as rebranding the V64 Jr. to E64 and the GB Xchanger to Flash Linker.
After Nintendo succeeded in having US Customs seize shipments of Mr. Flash devices, Bung stopped direct sales within the United States but persisted through third-party distributors. Subsequently, Nintendo targeted Hong Kong-based retailer Lik Sang—also pursued by Microsoft and Sony over modchip sales—resulting in legal measures that temporarily closed Lik Sang in 2002 before it resumed operations without carrying contested items.
Game Doctor/Professor SF
Referred to locally in Hong Kong as "超任博士" (Super Nintendo Doctor), this device was intended for backing up games from the Super Famicom/Super NES platform.
GB Xchanger
This unit was designed to back up Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles and could write backup data onto flash cartridges compatible with those consoles. It included a dedicated slot for Game Boy cartridges and connected to personal computers via a parallel port. Power options consisted of six AAA batteries or an external 9V adapter.
Neo Flash Linker
Comparable in appearance to the GB Xchanger but featuring a slot for Neo-Geo Pocket cartridges, this device supported backing up games from both Neo-Geo Pocket and Neo-Geo Pocket Color. Flash cartridges for NGP were also available.