e-Reader

The e-Reader is an add-on device for the Game Boy Advance released in 2002 that can read dot codes on special cards and interpret them into data. Depending on the card, the data may contain either information or some type of minigame. Several complete Nintendo Entertainment System games were also made available on special packs of cards. It took a total of nine or ten dot codes (two per card) to store the data of an NES game.

Four series of e-Reader cards were released for use with Animal Crossing. Some cards featured Mario-themed designs that could be uploaded into the game. One card even rewarded the player with a copy of Mario Bros. to place in their home.

Additionally, the Nintendo DS, while compatible with Game Boy Advance games, was not designed to work with the e-Reader, but it can be modified to fit in^[1]. It works on a Nintendo DS or DS Lite 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^{[citation needed]}, and e-Reader functionality was absent in the European versions of the respective games^{[citation needed]}. The device is compatible with the Game Boy Advance SP; however, it doesn't mount evenly.

In Japan, there were two versions of the e-Reader. The first, called the "Card e-Reader", had no linking capabilities, and thus was unable to be used for games such as Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3. Later, Nintendo added linking capabilities, releasing this new version as the "Card e-Reader +". By the time the e-Reader was released in North America, the updated version had already been released in Japan, therefore North America never got the original version, instead getting the "Card e-Reader +" under the name "e-Reader".

The e-Reader was packaged with a classic NES game (either Donkey Kong Jr. or Pinball) and a "sampler pack" containing an Animal Crossing card, three Pokémon cards (Machop, Machoke, and Machamp) that allowed a minigame to be played, and a Game & Watch card that contained Manhole. Australian copies also included an Air Hockey game.

In 2003, Nintendo released Mario Party-e, a portable board game which included numerous e-Reader cards, some of which contained minigames. However, the e-Reader wasn't mandatory in order to play the main game.

Later that year, Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 was released. By linking a Game Boy Advance with the game to a second Game Boy Advance with an e-Reader, a player could use three special types of cards.

Power-Up Cards: A player could scan in items to add to their inventory. There was no limit to this option. There were also special switches that triggered new options in the game.
Demo Cards: Upon scanning a Demo Card, the player was treated to recording of how to either uncover a secret in a level, or see a single-level speedrun.
Level Cards: Probably the most desired, scanning these would add brand new levels into the game.

In 2004, Nintendo discontinued the e-Reader outside of Japan due to low sales. However, it was supported in Japan until the end of the Game Boy Advance's lifespan. As a result, many cards (particularly the new Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 levels, a planned series of Game & Watch releases, and a set of bonus levels for Mario vs. Donkey Kong) were never seen elsewhere.

Compatible Games

Mario Party-e
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (cards)
Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Japan only) (cards)

Mario classic NES games

Gallery

Linkless Japanese-exclusive e-Reader title screen.
Revised Japanese e-Reader title screen to accommodate link cable support.
North American e-Reader title screen, based on the Japanese revision.
North American e-Reader packaging.
E-Reader not mounting flush.JPG

The e-Reader does not mount evenly with a Game Boy Advance SP.
Method to connect a Game Boy Advance game to scan cards for it.
Method to connect a Nintendo GameCube game to scan cards for it.