E-Reader: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Ereader.jpg|thumb|right|A rendering of the e-Reader being used with an original Game Boy Advance.]]
[[File:Ereader.png|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'' and '''カードeリーダー+''' ''Card e Reader +'') is a [[Game Boy Advance]] peripheral that is used to scan special cards in order to unlock new features in existing games, and add new features to existing games that have e-Reader functionality, or to play various minigames on the e-Reader itself. It was developed by [[HAL Laboratory]] and Olympus. The North American and Australian e-Reader is based on the Japanese ''Card e Reader +'', which is a further development of the original ''Card e Reader'' with Link functionality, allowing it to connect to a second Game Boy Advance or even to a [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]]. The e-Reader was never released to Europe, even though the Pokémon e-cards were.
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 [[Creatures, Inc.]], [[HAL Laboratory, Inc.]], 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-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 (For using the Game-link cable and the GameCube Game Boy Advance cable)
* 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>
 
==English 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.
 
It's a common misconception that these cards were the same cards handed out at the E3 convention in 2002, which also featured a Kirby e-Card, but the Pokémon cards from that event are regular thickness cards without a glossy finish and have a Japanese back instead of regular English back.


==Pokémon e-Cards==
==Pokémon e-Cards==
* The [[Pokémon Battle e]] card series.
* The [[Pokémon Battle e]] card series
* The {{TCG|Expedition Base Set}} [[TCG]] set.
* The {{TCG|Sample Set}} demonstration series
* The {{TCG|Aquapolis}} [[TCG]] set.
* The {{TCG|Expedition Base Set}} {{Trading Card Game}} expansion
* The {{TCG|Skyridge}} [[TCG]] set.
* The {{TCG|Aquapolis}} TCG expansion
* The {{TCG|EX Ruby and Sapphire}} [[TCG]] set (Pokédex entries only)
* The {{TCG|Skyridge}} TCG expansion
* The {{TCG|EX Sandstorm}} [[TCG]] set (Pokédex entries only)
* The {{TCG|EX Ruby and Sapphire}} TCG expansion (Pokédex entries only)
* The {{TCG|EX Dragon}} [[TCG]] set (Pokédex entries only)
* The {{TCG|EX Sandstorm}} TCG expansion (Pokédex entries only)
* The {{TCG|EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua}} [[TCG]] set (Pokédex entries only, select cards only)
* The {{TCG|EX Dragon}} TCG expansion (Pokédex entries only)
* Select {{TCG|Wizards Black Star Promos}} and [[Nintendo Promotional Cards (TCG)|Nintendo]] promotional [[TCG]] cards.
* The {{TCG|EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua}} TCG expansion (Pokédex entries only, select cards only)
* Special cards containing extra features for the [[Smeargle Paint]] minigame in [[Pokémon Channel]]
* Select {{TCG|Wizards Black Star Promos}} and [[Nintendo Promotional Cards (TCG)|Nintendo]] promotional {{Trading Card Game}} cards.
* Special cards allowing a player to increase the likelihood of special events in the Japanese version of [[Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire]]
* 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}}.


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
* The minigame [[Machop At Work]] was included with the purchase of an e-Reader in the US and Canada.
* 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 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>


==Images==
==Images==
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Card_e_Reader.jpg|The original Japanese ''Card e Reader''.
Card e Reader.png|The original Japanese ''Card e Reader''
Image:Card_e_Reader_-.jpg|The Japanese ''Card e Reader +''.
Card e Reader_Plus.png|The Japanese ''Card e Reader +''
Image:E_Reader.jpg|The North American ''e-Reader'', based on the Japanese ''Card e Reader +''.
E Reader.png|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]]
[[es:Nintendo e-Reader]]
[[fr:E-Reader]]
[[it:E-Reader]]
[[ja:カードeリーダー]]
[[zh:E卡刷卡器]]

Latest revision as of 10:43, 11 March 2024

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.

Developed jointly by Creatures, Inc., HAL Laboratory, Inc., 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

[1]

English 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.

It's a common misconception that these cards were the same cards handed out at the E3 convention in 2002, which also featured a Kirby e-Card, but the Pokémon cards from that event are regular thickness cards without a glossy finish and have a Japanese back instead of regular English back.

Pokémon e-Cards

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 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.[2]

Images

References

Pokémon e-Reader applications
Expedition Base Set: Diving CorsolaFlower PowerFlying JourneyGO, Poliwrath!Gotcha!Here Comes GloomHold Down Hoppip
Kingler's DayLifesaverMachop At WorkMagby and MagmarMake A Dash!MetronomeSweet Scent
Aquapolis: Dream EaterHarvest TimeJumping DoduoMighty TyranitarPunching BagsRolling VoltorbSneak and Snatch
Skyridge: Berry TreeDitto LeapfrogFollow HoothootLeek GameNight FlightPika PopRide the TuftWatch Out!
Promotional: Exciting Hide and SeekTime TravelFire HoopsImakuni?'s BallWooper's Juggling GameBig Fruit Strategy!Tokotoko Truck
Construction: Construction: ActionConstruction: Melody Box
Pokémon Battle e series: Pokémon Battle e: Series 1Pokémon Battle e: Series 2Pokémon Colosseum Double Battle e
Pokémon Battle e FireRed & LeafGreenPokémon Battle e EmeraldPokémon Battle e Promotional cards
Berries: Pumkin BerryDrash BerryChilan BerryStrib BerryEggant BerryNutpea Berry
Ginema BerryKuo BerryYago BerryTouga BerryNiniku BerryTopo Berry
Others: Eon TicketPokémon Pinball: Ruby & SapphireSmeargle PaintList of TCG cards by e-Reader card ID
List of TCG cards with hidden attacksList of miscellaneous Pokémon e-Reader applications