View source for E-Reader

{{lowercase}}
[[File:Ereader.png|thumb|right|A rendering of the e-Reader being used with an original Game Boy Advance]]
The '''e-Reader''' (Japanese: '''{{j|カードｅリーダー}}''' ''Card e Reader'') is a peripheral for the [[Game Boy Advance]] that is used to scan special cards in order to unlock new features in existing games, add new features to games that have e-Reader functionality, or to play minigames on the e-Reader itself. It was developed jointly by [[Creatures, Inc.]], [[HAL Laboratory, Inc.]], and {{wp|Olympus Corporation|Olympus}}.

The original Japanese '''Card e Reader''' ('''{{j|カードｅリーダー}}''') was released exclusively in Japan on December 1, 2001.<ref>[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/hardware/card_e/index.html カードｅリーダー] Nintendo.co.jp</ref> The '''Card e Reader&nbsp;+''' ('''{{j|カードｅリーダー+}}'''), which added the [[Game Link Cable]] port, was released in Japan on June 23, 2003.<ref name="Card-e-Reader+">[https://web.archive.org/web/20061109062659/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n10/news/030430a.html 『カードｅリーダー＋』の発売に関して] Nintendo.co.jp</ref> The e-Reader, which has the same functionality as the Card e Reader&nbsp;+, was released in North America on September 16, 2002<ref>[https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/7629/e-reader-release-date-and-details E-Reader release date and details!] Nintendo World Report</ref> and in Australia on October 31, 2003.<ref name="Nintendo Australia">[https://web.archive.org/web/20031202222005/http://www.nintendo.com.au/nintendo/news/index.php DASH INTO STORES NOW!!] Nintendo Australia</ref> The e-Reader was not released in Europe.<ref>[https://www.eurogamer.net/news080704ereader Nintendo will not release E-Reader in Europe] Eurogamer</ref> Using a Game Link Cable, the e-Reader can connect to a [[Nintendo GameCube]] or a second [[Game Boy Advance]] system to send data to a game on that system.

Though it was popular in Japan, with e-Cards released until the end of the Game Boy Advance's lifespan, the e-Reader proved to be unpopular in North America, leading to its discontinuation in 2004. e-Reader functionality, included in the Japanese versions of {{game2|FireRed|LeafGreen|Emerald}}, was removed from the English and other translations, as the compatible cards were never planned to be released. Due to this early discontinuation, the e-Reader was only released in North America and Australia, though e-Cards were released in Europe as well.

==Technical specifications==
* "Dot Code Technology" (Optical scanning technology)
* 8 Megabit flash memory
* 64 Megabyte mask ROM
* The long strip on each e-Card holds 2.2 kilobytes of data.
* The short strip holds 1.4 kilobytes of data.
* Passthrough game link port
<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080917112617/http://www.vidgame.net/NINTENDO/e_reader.htm Vidgame.net: Nintendo E-Reader]</ref>

==Release==
To promote the e-Reader prior to its English release, kiosks with built-in Game Boy Advance consoles and e-Reader devices used three placeholder e-Cards to demonstrate its functionality: a "Manhole" card along with [[Pichu (Expedition 58)]] and [[Hoppip (Expedition 112)]]. These three cards, which are slightly thicker than usual Pokémon cards and have a glossy finish, were all hole-punched so they could be attached to the device via a cable to prevent loss or theft whilst allowing enough flexibility for the cards to still be swiped. The same cards were handed out at E3 2002 (which also included a Kirby e-Card); however, the Pokémon cards at E3 are regular thickness cards without a glossy finish and have a Japanese back instead of a regular English back.

In Japan, the Card e Reader&nbsp;+ was bundled with ''{{np|Doubutsu no Mori e+}}'' — an enhanced version of ''{{wp|Animal Crossing}}'' for GameCube that includes many of the features added in the Western release, as well as e-Reader support. The Card e Reader&nbsp;+ was also sold separately. The Card e Reader&nbsp;+, ''Doubutsu no Mori e+'', [[Pokémon Battle e: Series 1]] e-Cards, and {{np|e-Reader card/Series 1 (Doubutsu no Mori e+)|''Doubutsu no Mori e+'': Series 1}} e-Cards all released on June 23, 2003 in Japan.<ref name="Card-e-Reader+"/>

In Australia, the e-Reader was released on October 31, 2003, the same day as the [[Pokémon Battle e: Series 1]] e-Cards, alongside the {{smw|Mario Bros.-e}}, Tennis-e, and Excitebike-e e-Card sets.<ref name="Nintendo Australia"/>

==Pokémon e-Cards==
* The [[Pokémon Battle e]] card series
* The {{TCG|Sample Set}} demonstration series
* The {{TCG|Expedition Base Set}} {{Trading Card Game}} expansion
* The {{TCG|Aquapolis}} TCG expansion
* The {{TCG|Skyridge}} TCG expansion
* The {{TCG|EX Ruby and Sapphire}} TCG expansion (Pokédex entries only)
* The {{TCG|EX Sandstorm}} TCG expansion (Pokédex entries only)
* The {{TCG|EX Dragon}} TCG expansion (Pokédex entries only)
* The {{TCG|EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua}} TCG expansion (Pokédex entries only, select cards only)
* Select {{TCG|Wizards Black Star Promos}} and [[Nintendo Promotional Cards (TCG)|Nintendo]] promotional {{Trading Card Game}} cards.
* The {{TCG|P Promotional cards}} (Japan)
* The {{TCG|McDonald's Pokémon-e Minimum Pack}} (Japan)
* The {{TCG|Theater Limited VS Pack}} (Japan, select cards only)
* Special cards containing extra features for the [[Smeargle Paint]] minigame in {{g|Channel}}
* Special cards allowing a player to increase the likelihood of special events in {{g|Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire}}
* Two cards distributed with Pokémon Scoop's Winter 2004 magazine containing the Berry Program Update, fixing the [[Berry glitch]] in {{game|Ruby and Sapphire|s}}.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Card e Reader.png|The original Japanese ''Card e Reader''
Card e Reader_Plus.png|The Japanese ''Card e Reader&nbsp;+''
E Reader.png|English language ''e-Reader'', based on the Japanese ''Card e Reader&nbsp;+''
</gallery>

==Trivia==
* The minigame [[Machop At Work]] was included with the purchase of an e-Reader in the United States.
* According to [[Nintendo Power]] v.169, it would take roughly 62,500 e-Reader cards to equal the data on one [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]] disc.
** However, this is a gross understatement when checked mathematically. Assuming the cards used have two long strips of 2.2KB each (for 4.4KB per card) it would take 331,819 e-Reader cards.
* The device was originally going to be called the "Pokémon Card-e-Reader", and the only mentioned functionality for it was reading Pokémon TCG cards.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20010611141753/http://www.nintendo.com/news/news_articles.jsp?articleID=3938 2001 e3 -- POKéMON CARD-E-READER Fact Sheet]</ref>
* e-Reader cards can be reliably scanned through a thin plastic sleeve, such as a penny sleeve or a perfect fit sleeve, so long as the sleeve is not significantly scratched or damaged.

==References==
<references/>

{{EreaderApps}}
{{Communication}}

[[Category:Nintendo]]
[[Category:Electronic devices]]
[[Category:Peripherals]]

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