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Difference between revisions of "E-Reader"

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:e-Reader}}
 
{{DISPLAYTITLE:e-Reader}}
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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.
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{{Product infobox
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|name=e-Reader
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|image=[[File:e-Reader.png|150px]]
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|caption=
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|released='''JP:''' 2001<br>'''NA:''' 2002
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|manufactured=[[Nintendo]]
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|usedfor=[[Game Boy Advance]]
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|model='''Original:''' AGB-010<br>'''Updated:''' AGB-014
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}}
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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 add/unlock new features in existing games which have e-Reader functionality, or to play minigames on the e-Reader itself. The peripheral was developed jointly by [[HAL Laboratory]] and {{wp|Olympus Corporation|Olympus}}, and was released in December 2001.
  
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Developed jointly by [[HAL Laboratory]] and {{wp|Olympus Corporation|Olympus}}, the original Japanese Card e Reader lacked the [[link cable]] functionality when it was released in December of 2001. A re-release, the Card e Reader+, added a link cable port, allowing it to connect to a second Game Boy Advance or a [[Nintendo GameCube]] using the same 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 of 2002.
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For the e-Reader's release in North America in 2002, it received a redesign, adding a Link Cable passthrough connector to the system to allow Link Cable functionality when using the e-Reader and adding internal memory. This version of the e-Reader was later released in Japan in June 2003 '''Card e-Reader+'''.
  
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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. Additionally, the [[Nintendo DS]], while compatible with Game Boy Advance games, was not designed to work with the e-Reader. It works on a Nintendo DS Lite and works on an original Nintendo DS if the player were to open up the e-Reader and remove the Game Boy Advance Link Cable extension wires. The device was never released in Europe and e-Reader functionality was absent in the European, and Australian versions of the respective games, though e-Cards were released in Europe as well.
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In North America, the e-Reader was discontinued in 2004 due to its lack of popularity and sales. Although the e-Reader had been announced for Europe, it was ultimately confirmed to have been canceled in July.<ref>[http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news080704ereader Nintendo will not release E-Reader in Europe]. Eurogamer (July 8, 2004). Retrieved June 3, 2017.</ref>
  
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==Technical specifications==
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==Functionality==
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*"Dot Code Technology" (Optical scanning technology)
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The e-Reader attaches to the Game Boy Advance through the system's cartridge slot. The Link Cable passthrough plugs into the Link Cable port, allowing the player to use Link Cables with the device. The [[Game Boy Advance SP]] and [[Game Boy micro]] are compatible with the e-Reader, but do not use the Link Cable passthrough as the e-Reader was designed primarily for use with original model Game Boy Advance systems; for Game Boy Advance SP systems, Nintendo would release the 6PIN Protection Cover (AGB-016), a plastic shell designed to permanently fit flush over the 6-pin Link Cable passthrough connector to prevent it from being damaged.<ref>[http://retrostuff.org/2013/04/23/nintendo-e-reader-6pin-protection-cover-and-urban-champion/ Nintendo e-Reader 6PIN Protection Cover and Urban Champion]. retrostuff.org (April 23, 2014). Retrieved June 3, 2017.</ref> The device is also fully compatible with the [[Game Boy Player]], allowing it to be used with [[Nintendo GameCube]] games.
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*8 Megabit flash memory.
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*64 Megabyte mask ROM.
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The e-Reader is designed to scan special e-Cards to add content into games. e-Cards use Olympus's patented "Dot Code Technology" for data storage; each card has a series of dots printed on them that is interpreted by the e-Reader when scanned. These dot codes can be either short strips on the bottom of the card (1.4 KB), or long strips on the side (2.2 KB), and can be printed on both sides of the card. The device itself features 8 MB of flash memory and 64 MB of mask ROM data, allowing certain games to be saved to the e-Reader.
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*The long strip on each e-Card holds 2.2 kilobytes of data.
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*The short strip holds 1.4 kilobytes of data.
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==Nintendo-produced e-Cards==
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*Passthrough game link port.
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*[[List of e-Reader applications]]
  
 
==Trivia==
 
==Trivia==
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*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.
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*According to ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' issue 169, it would take roughly 62,500 e-Reader cards to equal the storage capacity of one [[Nintendo GameCube]] [[Game Disc]].
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**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.
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*Several complete [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] games were also made available on special packs of cards. It took a total of ten dot codes (two per card) to store the data of an NES game.
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==See also==
  
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==External links==
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{{otherwikis|title=e-Reader|Bulbapedia=1|Super Mario Wiki=1}}
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* {{wp|Nintendo e-Reader|e-Reader on Wikipedia}}
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{{clear}}
  
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==References==
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{{ref}}
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{{-}}
 
{{Game Boy Advance}}
 
{{Game Boy Advance}}
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{{Accessories}}
 
 
[[Category:Game Boy Advance Accessories]]
 
[[Category:Game Boy Advance Accessories]]

Latest revision as of 16:14, 23 June 2020

e-Reader
E-Reader.png
Release year: JP: 2001
NA: 2002
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Compatible: Game Boy Advance
Model no.: Original: AGB-010
Updated: AGB-014

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 add/unlock new features in existing games which have e-Reader functionality, or to play minigames on the e-Reader itself. The peripheral was developed jointly by HAL Laboratory and Olympus, and was released in December 2001.

For the e-Reader's release in North America in 2002, it received a redesign, adding a Link Cable passthrough connector to the system to allow Link Cable functionality when using the e-Reader and adding internal memory. This version of the e-Reader was later released in Japan in June 2003 Card e-Reader+.

In North America, the e-Reader was discontinued in 2004 due to its lack of popularity and sales. Although the e-Reader had been announced for Europe, it was ultimately confirmed to have been canceled in July.[1]

Functionality

The e-Reader attaches to the Game Boy Advance through the system's cartridge slot. The Link Cable passthrough plugs into the Link Cable port, allowing the player to use Link Cables with the device. The Game Boy Advance SP and Game Boy micro are compatible with the e-Reader, but do not use the Link Cable passthrough as the e-Reader was designed primarily for use with original model Game Boy Advance systems; for Game Boy Advance SP systems, Nintendo would release the 6PIN Protection Cover (AGB-016), a plastic shell designed to permanently fit flush over the 6-pin Link Cable passthrough connector to prevent it from being damaged.[2] The device is also fully compatible with the Game Boy Player, allowing it to be used with Nintendo GameCube games.

The e-Reader is designed to scan special e-Cards to add content into games. e-Cards use Olympus's patented "Dot Code Technology" for data storage; each card has a series of dots printed on them that is interpreted by the e-Reader when scanned. These dot codes can be either short strips on the bottom of the card (1.4 KB), or long strips on the side (2.2 KB), and can be printed on both sides of the card. The device itself features 8 MB of flash memory and 64 MB of mask ROM data, allowing certain games to be saved to the e-Reader.

Nintendo-produced e-Cards

Trivia

See also

External links

Niwalogo.png
e-Reader on other NIWA Wikis:
Bulbapedia logo.png
 Bulbapedia
Super Mario Wiki logo.png
 Super Mario Wiki

References

  1. ↑ Nintendo will not release E-Reader in Europe. Eurogamer (July 8, 2004). Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  2. ↑ Nintendo e-Reader 6PIN Protection Cover and Urban Champion. retrostuff.org (April 23, 2014). Retrieved June 3, 2017.


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