e-Reader

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A rendering of the e-Reader being used with an original Game Boy Advance

Thee-Reader (Japanese:カードｅリーダーCard e Reader) is a peripheral for theGame 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 byCreatures, Inc.,HAL Laboratory, Inc., andOlympus.

The original JapaneseCard e Reader (カードｅリーダー) was released exclusively in Japan on December 1, 2001.[1] TheCard e Reader + (カードｅリーダー+), which added theGame Link Cable port, was released in Japan on June 23, 2003.[2] The e-Reader, which has the same functionality as the Card e Reader +, was released in North America on September 16, 2002[3] and in Australia on October 31, 2003.[4] The e-Reader was not released in Europe.[5] Using a Game Link Cable, the e-Reader can connect to aNintendo GameCube or a secondGame 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 ofPokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, andEmerald, 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

[6]

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 withPichu (Expedition 58) andHoppip (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 + was bundled withDoubutsu no Mori e+ — an enhanced version ofAnimal Crossing for GameCube that includes many of the features added in the Western release, as well as e-Reader support. The Card e Reader + was also sold separately. The Card e Reader +,Doubutsu no Mori e+,Pokémon Battle e: Series 1 e-Cards, andDoubutsu no Mori e+: Series 1 e-Cards all released on June 23, 2003 in Japan.[2]

In Australia, the e-Reader was released on October 31, 2003, the same day as thePokémon Battle e: Series 1 e-Cards, alongside theMario Bros.-e, Tennis-e, and Excitebike-e e-Card sets.[4]

Pokémon e-Cards

Gallery

  • The original Japanese Card e Reader
    The original JapaneseCard e Reader
  • The Japanese Card e Reader +
    The JapaneseCard e Reader +
  • English language e-Reader, based on the Japanese Card e Reader +
    English languagee-Reader, based on the JapaneseCard e Reader +

Trivia

  • The minigameMachop At Work was included with the purchase of an e-Reader in the United States.
  • According toNintendo Power v.169, it would take roughly 62,500 e-Reader cards to equal the data on oneGameCube 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.[7]
  • 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

Pokémone-Reader applications
Expedition Base Set:Diving Corsola •Flower Power •Flying Journey •GO, Poliwrath! •Gotcha! •Here Comes Gloom •Hold Down Hoppip
Kingler's Day •Lifesaver •Machop At Work •Magby and Magmar •Make A Dash! •Metronome •Sweet Scent
Aquapolis:Dream Eater •Harvest Time •Jumping Doduo •Mighty Tyranitar •Punching Bags •Rolling Voltorb •Sneak and Snatch
Skyridge:Berry Tree •Ditto Leapfrog •Follow Hoothoot •Leek Game •Night Flight •Pika Pop •Ride the Tuft •Watch Out!
Promotional:Exciting Hide and Seek •Time Travel •Fire Hoops •Imakuni?'s Ball •Wooper's Juggling Game •Big Fruit Strategy! •Tokotoko Truck
Construction:Construction: Action •Construction: Melody Box
Pokémon Battle e series:Pokémon Battle e: Series 1 •Pokémon Battle e: Series 2 •Pokémon Colosseum Double Battle e
Pokémon Battle e FireRed & LeafGreen •Pokémon Battle e Emerald •Pokémon Battle e Promotional cards
Berries:Pumkin Berry •Drash Berry •Chilan Berry •Strib Berry •Eggant Berry •Nutpea Berry
Ginema Berry •Kuo Berry •Yago Berry •Touga Berry •Niniku Berry •Topo Berry
Others:Eon Ticket •Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire •Smeargle Paint •List of TCG cards by e-Reader card ID
List of TCG cards with hidden attacks •List of miscellaneous Pokémon e-Reader applications