E-Reader: Difference between revisions
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[[ | [[File:Ereader.jpg|thumb|right|A rendering of the e-Reader being used with an original Game Boy Advance]] | ||
The '''e-Reader''' (Japanese: '''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. | The '''e-Reader''' (Japanese: '''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. | ||
Developed jointly by [[HAL Laboratory]] and {{wp|Olympus Corporation|Olympus}}, the original Japanese Card e Reader lacked the [[ | Developed jointly by [[HAL Laboratory]] and {{wp|Olympus Corporation|Olympus}}, the original Japanese Card e Reader lacked the [[Game Link Cable]] functionality when it was released in December 2001. A re-release, the Card e Reader+, added a Game Link Cable port, allowing it to connect to a second Game Boy Advance or a [[Nintendo GameCube]] using the same Game Link Cables that the Game Boy Advance system alone would use. This version of the e-Reader was the one that was later released in the West as the e-Reader in September 2002. | ||
Though it was popular in Japan, with e- | 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== | ==Technical specifications== | ||
* "Dot Code Technology" (Optical scanning technology) | * "Dot Code Technology" (Optical scanning technology) | ||
* 8 Megabit flash memory | * 8 Megabit flash memory | ||
* 64 Megabyte mask ROM | * 64 Megabyte mask ROM | ||
* The long strip on each e-Card holds 2.2 kilobytes of data. | * The long strip on each e-Card holds 2.2 kilobytes of data. | ||
* The short strip holds 1.4 kilobytes of data. | * The short strip holds 1.4 kilobytes of data. | ||
* Passthrough game link port | * Passthrough game link port | ||
==Pokémon e-Cards== | ==Pokémon e-Cards== | ||
* The [[Pokémon Battle e]] card series | * The [[Pokémon Battle e]] card series | ||
* The {{TCG|Expedition Base Set}} | * The {{TCG|Expedition Base Set}} {{Trading Card Game}} expansion | ||
* The {{TCG|Aquapolis}} | * The {{TCG|Aquapolis}} TCG expansion | ||
* The {{TCG|Skyridge}} | * The {{TCG|Skyridge}} TCG expansion | ||
* The {{TCG|EX Ruby and Sapphire}} | * The {{TCG|EX Ruby and Sapphire}} TCG expansion (Pokédex entries only) | ||
* The {{TCG|EX Sandstorm}} | * The {{TCG|EX Sandstorm}} TCG expansion (Pokédex entries only) | ||
* The {{TCG|EX Dragon}} | * The {{TCG|EX Dragon}} TCG expansion (Pokédex entries only) | ||
* The {{TCG|EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua}} | * 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 | * 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 [[Pokémon Channel]] | * Special cards containing extra features for the [[Smeargle Paint]] minigame in [[Pokémon Channel]] | ||
* Special cards allowing a player to increase the likelihood of special events in the Japanese version of [[Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire]] | * Special cards allowing a player to increase the likelihood of special events in the Japanese version of [[Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire]] | ||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
* The minigame [[Machop At Work]] was included with the purchase of an e-Reader in the | * 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. | * 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 figure listed in the tech specs of this article (2.2KB per strip) and the standard two-strips-per-card format, it would take approximately 350,320 e-Reader cards. | ** However, this is a gross understatement when checked mathematically. Assuming the figure listed in the tech specs of this article (2.2KB per strip) and the standard two-strips-per-card format, it would take approximately 350,320 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 -- POK�MON CARD-E-READER Fact Sheet]</ref> | |||
==Images== | ==Images== | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Card e Reader.jpg|The original Japanese ''Card e Reader'' | |||
Card e Reader_Plus.jpg|The Japanese ''Card e Reader +'' | |||
E Reader.jpg|English language ''e-Reader'', based on the Japanese ''Card e Reader +'' | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==References== | |||
<references/> | |||
{{EreaderApps}} | {{EreaderApps}} | ||
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[[Category:Nintendo]] | [[Category:Nintendo]] | ||
[[Category:Electronic devices]] | [[Category:Electronic devices]] | ||
[[Category:Peripherals]] | |||
[[de:Nintendo e-Reader]] | |||
[[fr:E-Reader]] | |||
[[it:E-Reader]] | |||
[[ja:カードeリーダー]] | |||
[[zh:E卡刷卡器]] |
Revision as of 21:18, 9 June 2017
The e-Reader (Japanese: 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.
Developed jointly by HAL Laboratory and Olympus, the original Japanese Card e Reader lacked the Game Link Cable functionality when it was released in December 2001. A re-release, the Card e Reader+, added a Game Link Cable port, allowing it to connect to a second Game Boy Advance or a Nintendo GameCube using the same Game Link Cables that the Game Boy Advance system alone would use. This version of the e-Reader was the one that was later released in the West as the e-Reader in September 2002.
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 Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, and 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
Pokémon e-Cards
- The Pokémon Battle e card series
- The Expedition Base Set TCG expansion
- The Aquapolis TCG expansion
- The Skyridge TCG expansion
- The EX Ruby and Sapphire TCG expansion (Pokédex entries only)
- The EX Sandstorm TCG expansion (Pokédex entries only)
- The EX Dragon TCG expansion (Pokédex entries only)
- The EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua TCG expansion (Pokédex entries only, select cards only)
- Select Wizards Black Star Promos and Nintendo promotional TCG cards.
- The P Promotional cards (Japan)
- The McDonald's Pokémon-e Minimum Pack (Japan)
- The Theater Limited VS Pack (Japan, select cards only)
- Special cards containing extra features for the Smeargle Paint minigame in Pokémon Channel
- Special cards allowing a player to increase the likelihood of special events in the Japanese version of Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire
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 GameCube disc.
- However, this is a gross understatement when checked mathematically. Assuming the figure listed in the tech specs of this article (2.2KB per strip) and the standard two-strips-per-card format, it would take approximately 350,320 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.[1]
Images
- Card e Reader.jpg
The original Japanese Card e Reader
- Card e Reader Plus.jpg
The Japanese Card e Reader +
- E Reader.jpg
English language e-Reader, based on the Japanese Card e Reader +
References
- ↑ [http://web.archive.org/web/20010611141753/http://www.nintendo.com/news/news_articles.jsp?articleID=3938 2001 e3 -- POK�MON CARD-E-READER Fact Sheet]