What is the Nintendo eReader?

[segagamer99]

Hey everyone,

 

Can you guys explain to me what the GBA eReader was, and if it is worth getting? I've heard there are exclusive levels in Mario 3. Thanks.

[nukeshed]

The e-Reader is a device made by Nintendo for its Game Boy Advance portable video game system. It was first released in Japan in December 2001, with a North American release following in September 2002. It has a LED scanner that reads "e-Reader cards", paper cards with specially encoded data printed on them.

Depending on the card and associated game, the e-cards are typically used in a key-like function to unlock secret items, levels, or play mini-games when swiped through the reader. See below for a comprehensive list of cards and their functions. The cards themselves contain data, as opposed to unlocking data already on the device itself.

The e-Reader is neither a console nor an accessory, but an add-on device, like the Famicom Disk System or the Sega CD. The e-Reader is one of only three official Nintendo add-ons to be released in North America. The other two are the Super Nintendo Entertainment System's Super Game Boy and the Nintendo GameCube's Game Boy Player.

Edited November 22, 2012 by nukeshed

[Pixelboy]

Also check this out:

 

http://erzone.caitsith2.net/

 

[segagamer99]

Thanks Pixelboy.

Edited November 22, 2012 by segagamer99

[godslabrat]

Was there ever any significant home brew effort for the e-reader? It would have been a dream to distribute new games cheaply, if there were. Seeing as so many NES homebrew games are simple, it's not unreasonable to think they'd fit on a few playing cards.

[gorfcadet]

I always thought it would've been a great device for homebrew as well. I at least thought someone would've figured out how to put other nes games or homebrews on cards. Neat footnote in gaming history at least. I love looking at my collection once in awhile.

[Classic Pac]

Hold on to your socks it's still available new from Nintendo HERE for just under $40 with Donkey Kong Jr.

[Torr]

I always wondered how he SMB3 cards worked...

How could you swipe a card while playing the game since the e-reader goes in the cart slot?

If you scanned a card with the e-reader plugged in, how could it affect the game play of the SMB3 cart that's not plugged in?

 

However to the point, The e-reader was a forgotten little add-on that should have flourished a little more than it did, but it's bulk did tend to lessen it's portability and attractiveness. A bigger memory for stored data would be good too, load bigger games or more smaller ones at a time. or even as a battery backup/high score system.

 

Heh, Right now I have an e-Reader plugged into my Game Boy Player, plugged into my GameCube. It's still been plugged in since I played Excite Bike some time ago. Considering I bought all these items new back in the day, I basically bought a really expensive Nintendo emulator in the end.

[Pixelboy]

I always wondered how the SMB3 cards worked...

How could you swipe a card while playing the game since the e-reader goes in the cart slot?

If you scanned a card with the e-reader plugged in, how could it affect the game play of the SMB3 cart that's not plugged in?

 

Two words: Link cable.

[dendawg]

I always wondered how he SMB3 cards worked...

How could you swipe a card while playing the game since the e-reader goes in the cart slot?

If you scanned a card with the e-reader plugged in, how could it affect the game play of the SMB3 cart that's not plugged in?

 

IIRC, you needed 2 GBA's to do this...one with the SMB3 cart, and the other with the E-Reader, and linked together.

[godslabrat]

... Because THAT'S convenient...

[Pixelboy]

... Because THAT'S convenient...

 

Yeah, you had to WORK for your DLC back in those days!

[high voltage]

Wow, that reminds me of this:

 

it even got a SMB 4 game:

Edited November 24, 2012 by high voltage

[Emehr]

I still have my eReader in the package along with all of the NES game cards (there were 13, IIRC) and a few random SMB3, Animal Crossing, a Game & Watch card, and some Kirby card. I had a loose eReader but it was lost in 2005. That was the last time I used the thing. It's a neat little add-on but very clunky and not very practical. I kinda hoped Nintendo would do more with it like make more Game & Watch-type games but it seems they put all of their resources into "DLC" type stuff.

 

I'm not sure if there was ever a homebrew scene for it. Those little dots it scanned were damn-near microscopic.

[godslabrat]

a neat little add-on but very clunky and not very practical. I kinda hoped Nintendo would do more with it like make more Game & Watch-type games but it seems they put all of their resources into "DLC" type stuff

 

Never understood that. Common sense would say that sub-$5 games usable to anyone with a e-reader would be better sellers than expansions for games that so many people wouldn't have.

 

I like Nintendo for a lot of things, but they have a knack for missing some really solid opportunities.