Nintendo e-Reader – Game console trading card reader (Game Boy Advance)

10 Review to this product

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  RandyAU93
  September 23rd, 2002 on 6:57 am

  Rating

  The Game Boy Advance is nothing if not, well, advanced. It’s more powerful than a Super Nintendo Entertainment System and yet runs for hours on a pair of AA batteries. It plays all the original Game Boy (classic, Color, Pocket) titles, and its games are priced right for kids on tight allowances. Now, it provides something for the old-school gamer in all of us, along with new features and boundless possibilities.

  The Nintendo e-Reader is the latest in an oddball line of scanning devices for kids. Earlier such devices generated virtual pets based on the UPC barcodes on various products; in fact, a particular brand of instant soup flew off store shelves in Japan after it was learned its barcode created an ultra-powerful character. However, the craze has never really caught on in the United States. That is, in my opinion, until the e-Reader.

  The e-Reader is about the size of an N64 Transfer or Rumble Pak, and plugs directly into the cartridge port of the GB Advance. As the e-Reader also plugs into the GBA’s Game Link port, a “replacement” port is provided on the e-Reader itself, so you can continue to use Link Cables and some (not all) GBA lighting products.

  The key to the e-Reader system is its data cards, which are basically another family of trading cards, a la Magic The Gathering and Pokemon (more on this in a moment). Cards designed for use with the e-Reader are distinguised by rows of dots along their length. These dots are the basis of Dot Codes, a proprietary format that the e-Reader sees as digital data. By swiping a compatible card through the e-Reader, you are loading data into the Reader.

  What kind of data, you ask? Depends on the cards. The e-Reader comes packaged with two 5-card booster packs. The first contains the complete Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) port of Donkey Kong Junior … you read that right, an NES cartridge stored on five trading cards! Other NES games, similarly translated, are available from retailers now, with many more to come.

  The second pack contains an assortment of other e-Reader cards, including three from the Pokemon Trading Card Game. These three cards are the first in a new line of Dot-Code-bearing Pokemon cards. Along with being used in the Pokemon card game, these cards hold (in their Dot Codes) extra data on the particular Pokemon (readable on the GBA screen), and even mini-games you can play. A fourth card includes a sample Nintendo Game-and-Watch game (old pre-GB handheld games).

  However, it is the fifth card that really can open up doors in how you play games. This card contains bonus items that can be used with the Nintendo GameCube title “Animal Crossing.” By connecting your e-Reader-equipped GBA to a GameCube via the appropriate Link Cable (with a compatible title, like “Animal Crossing”), you can upload new information to the GC game. Just imagine … you could update the stats of your favorite football or baseball player simply by swiping his compatible trading card through the e-Reader!

  How does the system work in practice? Actually pretty well. It takes about 60 seconds to completely load a game like DK Junior, for example. Unlike ATM or credit cards, an e-Reader card needs to be swiped slowly. Like credit cards, you need to treat them somewhat gently; any stray marks (such as writing something on the card) in the Dot Code area could mess up the data, rendering the card useless. Younger kids may need some assistance at first with swiping, but they’ll get the hang of it quickly. The e-Reader has a small amount of internal memory, so if you load a game/program you like, you can keep it, at least until you want to swipe something else into it.

  Also, some of the NES games aren’t 100% perfect … DK Junior’s sequence of boards is wrong, and it seems to have gotten slightly squashed in order to fit onto the GBA screen, but neither of these detract seriously from the gameplay. In other words, it’s as fun as I remember it.

  It’s too early to see how e-Reader will catch on. After all, Pokemon isn’t as popular as it once was, and so far only Nintendo and Wizards of the Coast have any card support. But, as early adopters go, the e-Reader is a cheap investment whose potential uses are as unlimited as the imagination.
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  Anonymous
  September 27th, 2002 on 6:52 pm

  Rating

  The e-reader is the bomb! With the “dot code” technology, you can take a whole NES game on your GBA! You get either Donkey Kong JR.-E or Pinball-E. Both rock! You also get 3 pokemon-e trading cards. Scan all 3 and play a minigame. Also a game and Watch game, Manhole-e. In addition, you also get a card that can expand your Animal Crossing world! So what are you waiting for? Get the e-reader and start scanning the endless possibilities of video gaming!
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  Anonymous
  October 5th, 2002 on 8:50 pm

  Rating

  I’m loving this game so much, I would recomend this to anyone. This game/accesory is vary helpful because you can cary your favorite games in a couple cards. One of the best things about this is you can swap cards with your friends.
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  Marco D Bruno
  May 7th, 2003 on 11:39 am

  Rating

  The e-reader works just fine with the Gameboy Advance SP. You plug it in and the passthrough port rests on the top side of the SP near where the controls are (but does not get in the way of anything). This device is a fun little toy that has shown some potential but is not quite a “must” for all GBA owners. If you are into classic NES games and/or Animal Crossing then you will get into this immediately. For others the appeal probably will not be there unless your favorite card-game company decides to start making their cards with e-reader strips, or if Nintendo starts supporting the unit more by adding more e-reader card unlockables and add-ons to Gamecube games as they’ve done with Animal Crossing. For me the appeal is that I can have Donkey Kong on a little deck of cards. And Mario Bros. It’s just too neat. Once you get started buying cards for this thing it’s going to be pretty hard to stop.

  Even if the e-reader doesnt catch on it will probably become a mutch sought-after collectors item that you’ll be kicking yourself for not getting while it was available.
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  Meg Lightbown
  December 9th, 2003 on 7:09 pm

  Rating

  I’m not sure why people keep writing that the e-reader isn’ t compatible with the GBA SP. It works fine. The reason why the unit attaches to the link output is because the way the e-reader is designed it blocks that port which is needed to link to another GBA or Game Cube. I work in Video Games, trust me.
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  Anonymous
  December 22nd, 2003 on 3:04 am

  Rating

  The Nintendo e-Reader is just about the coolest thing ever. There’s lots of e-Reader cards like, Pokemon, Donkey Kong, Mario Party, and lots more. I just can’t wait to get the e-Reader on Christmas Eve. But right now i’m just crazy about it.
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  sleepygogo
  April 23rd, 2004 on 10:49 am

  Rating

  Hi! I’m french and I would like to know if the e-reader works with a french gamecube, if someone knows it, just tell please!!!
  Because the e-reader will certainly not exist in France…
  Tell me please!
  Thanks!
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  Tyler
  August 20th, 2005 on 11:39 pm

  Rating

  The e-Reader is one of the best things that happened to Nintendos GBA. this is so SWEAT
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  DJ Gamer
  August 1st, 2006 on 1:46 am

  Rating

  For those who dont what it is the Nintendo E Reader is an add on that goes into the cartridge slot of GBA and SP (unsure about Game Boy Micro). There is a paper thin slot in the bulky add on in which you scan cards to play classic nes games, game and watch games, Animal Crossing Cards, Mario Bros 3 Cards, Pokemon TCG Cards or Promo cards given out through Nintendo Power such as Kirby Slide. The scanner is easy to use and has little trouble reading the cards.

  Whats Included: Included In one new E reader is the E Reader accesory,the Classic Nes game Donkey Kong Jr, and a sample pack which includes : 3 Pokemon TCG Cards (Machop,Machoke, and Machamp), One Game and Watch Card (Manhole), and Animal Crossing Present Card.

  Classic NES Games: E Reader Classic Nes Games are sold in Packs that now Retail for 1 or 2 dollars each. In the pack is 5 cards that have a code on the top and bottom, that when scanned create a perfect playable NES game. You might be thinking If the game has glitches or any other problems the answer is no. The only noticable Difference is in the Donkey Kong JR game screen appears to be a bit smushed to fit the screen.Classic Nes Games are the main reason to buy the E reader cause of there great quality and quantity.

  Mario Bros 3 Cards: E cards That when linked to a game boy advance/SP with Super Mario Advanced 4: Mario Bros 3 can create levels, show video demonstration of secrets, or Give You Power ups.

  Pokemon Trading Cards: Whenn Nintendo bought the pokemon trading card game they aded some special features. All cards from the Pokemon EX Series have codes on the bottom that when scanned give you information about that pokemon. Now heres where the E Reader’s True Poteneial Shows, some cards have codes on the side that when combined with that pokemons evolution’s(other form’s) side codes create a minigame. The 3 Pokemon Cards included have a Minigame when Combined giving you a perfect demonstration. Also included in pokemon Ruby and Saphire is a card that when combined with the e reader lets your team battle a series of trainers.

  Animal Crossing cards: While linking a Game Boy Advance with an e reader to a Game Cube with animal crossing you can give yourself items and letters using the special machine located in the animal crossing post office.

  Game and Watch cards: Using one card with 2 bar codes on it you can play a Game and Watch Game. The only one on card ever created was Man Hole. A Game and Watch series was planned but was later dropped.

  Mario party E: Thhe Only E reader game in its own category: Mario party e Includes 64 cards a Game Board and instructions. In this Mixture of board Game and Video Game you scan various cards and play minigames to get coins or items from your opponent.

  Overall: The E Reader is now abondoned by nintendo meaning most likely no new games will ever be released (As it has been this way for 2 years). It is cheap to buy and works wonderfully. But due to lack of any future support you should only buy it if you are in to Nes Games, Animal Crossing, or Pokemon EX Cards. If you are into any of those than you will love this product and i recomend it.
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  Deanna M. Raney
  January 18th, 2010 on 7:39 pm

  Rating

  The product works great and was what we ordered, thank you so much…..Nana Dee