Nintendo e-Reader

The Nintendo e-Reader, commonly abbreviated as e-Reader, is an add-on manufactured by Nintendo for its Game Boy Advance handheld video game console. It has an LED scanner that reads "e-Reader cards" — paper cards with specially encoded data printed on them as dot codes. It was released in Japan in December 2001 and in North America in September 2002.
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. The cards themselves contain data, as opposed to unlocking data already on the device itself.

Usage and versions

Two versions were released in Japan: the original Card-e-Reader without a link cable port, which could read cards to display the data stored on those cards; and the Card-e-Reader+ which came with a link cable port to connect with GameCube and Game Boy Advance games. Outside of Japan, only a single version was released, the e-Reader, which has the same functionality as the Card-e-Reader+ and was released in North America on September 16, 2002. In Japan, the Card-e-Reader+ was bundled with Animal Forest e+, the enhanced re-release of the GameCube version of Animal Crossing.
The e-Reader can connect via Game Link cable to GameCube games such as Animal Crossing, and Game Boy Advance games such as Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3. In order to scan data and send it to a Game Boy Advance game, two Game Boy Advance systems and a Game Link cable are required. The Game Boy Advance system that the e-Reader is connected to uses the Player 1 end, while the other system uses the Player 2 end. After opening the necessary menu in the game, cards can be swiped in the e-Reader to transfer data to the other system. This is not possible with the Nintendo DS due to the system's lack of support for the Game Link cable.
The e-Reader was only considered successful in Japan. In 2004, Nintendo's head European PR confirmed that the e-Reader would not be releasing in Europe, following a year of confusion surrounding the subject. It was discontinued in North America in early 2004, due to a lack of popularity. In Japan, it sold much better and was produced until the discontinuation of the Game Boy hardware line.

e-Reader cards

In the U.S., e-Reader Card packs have been released that contain:

NES games
New levels and power-ups for Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
Items and designs for Animal Crossing
New trainers to battle in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
Mini-games, including an exclusive version of Mario Party.
Game & Watch Cards; originally there were plans to release more Game and Watch games as a series of E-reader cards. Only Manhole-e was officially released.

There have been numerous other games released with e-Reader support in Japan.

Dot code

Data is encoded on the cards using "dot code", a specialized barcode technology licensed from Olympus Corporation. e-Reader Cards may have one or two sets of dot code on them, either a wide strip on the left side of the card, a wide strip on both the left and right sides of the card, a narrow strip on the bottom of the card or a short strip on the bottom of the card with a long strip on the left side of the card. Smaller games may require scanning only one card, while the greater NES games can require as many as five cards in order to start the application.
The shorter sets of dot code were only used with the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Cards released in regular sets published by both Nintendo and Wizards of the Coast had a dot code on the bottom side of the card. When scanned, the e-Reader displayed a Pokédex data entry for the Pokémon shown on the card. Many of the cards published by Wizards of the Coast included a left side dot code that would allow users to play mini-games, animations, and use secret attacks in the Trading Card Game or play with various songs and graphics.

Compatibility

The e-Reader plugs into the cartridge slot of the Game Boy Advance like a regular game would. The end of the e-Reader sticks out from the Game Boy Advance unit to provide a slot to scan the e-Reader Cards. Electronically, the e-Reader is compatible with any console that supports Game Boy Advance games, but it may be mechanically incompatible with some systems, and the ability to link consoles may not be available.
Once installed, the link cable connector on the Game Boy Advance is obstructed, but a pass-through connection on the e-Reader allows link-up features to be used. The Game Boy Advance SP is also fully compatible, although the e-Reader does not mount flush with the SP. As the link cable connector on the SP is unobstructed, the pass-through on the e-Reader is not used. An additional cover can be added to the e-reader in order to avoid damaging the 6 pin connector when linked to a GBA SP.
The Game Boy Player is also fully compatible, and the e-Reader connects as it would to a Game Boy Advance. The GameCube hosting this system acts as a Game Boy Advance - in order to link to a GameCube game, a second GameCube running the game in question, must be used.
The e-Reader can fit into the DS Lite, but not the original DS. The e-Reader can, however, be modified to fit into the original DS. In either case, there is no support for linking features, as neither system has a link cable port.
The e-Reader fits into the Game Boy Micro and has a link cable port, but not a standard connector. A special Game Boy Micro Game Link Cable must be used for linking features. The Game Boy Micro's non-standard link cable port can not accept the GameCube Game Boy Advance Cable, meaning it cannot link with GameCube games without modification to the cable.
Because the first version of the Japanese e-Reader did not have a link cable pass-through connector, it can fit into consoles which the later e-Readers are incompatible with. Even though the Game Boy Advance and the DS are region-free, Japanese e-Reader cards work only on Japanese e-Readers and North American e-Reader cards will only work on North American e-Readers. The system will display 'region error' on both systems if a user attempts to use another region's cards on their own device.

Game list

''Classic NES Series''

Each game in this series comes in a pack of five cards, each of which must be scanned twice, on both sides. There are thirteen games in this series; each is a direct port of the one-player mode of the classic NES game of the same title, with multiplayer functions removed. Several games released as e-Reader cards were later released in cartridge form as part of the Classic NES Series on Game Boy Advance, while all games except Urban Champion were included as unlockables in the GameCube game Animal Crossing, which could also be played on Game Boy Advance through the "Advance Play" feature.
All NES titles released include:

''Animal Crossing-e''

A series of Animal Crossing cards were released for the e-Reader. When used with the post office in the game, the cards could provide items to players, unlock "town tunes", or unlock new designs to be used around the village. Some were "sibling" cards with two related characters on the front. In addition to being sold in card packs, some regular series cards were distributed on a promotional basis through GameStop, EB Games, and Energizer batteries.

''Pokémon Battle-e''

The Pokémon Battle-e Cards, when scanned into Pokémon Ruby or Sapphire, allowed the player to load up special trainers to battle or to get special berries. In Japan, the series was sold as six sets, each with a different theme, with 10 cards in each set, while in the US, the series was packaged together to have two themes per pack. In addition, 2 promo cards, 1 for each version, were packed in with the games. The cards are loaded into Ruby or Sapphire through the Mystery Events function once it is unlocked.
There were additional Battle-e card sets for Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen and Emerald in Japan, but due to the e-Reader being discontinued in the US they were never released in other regions. The e-Reader functionality was eventually removed from all non-Japanese versions of the games.

''Pokémon Colosseum''

In Pokémon Colosseum, there is a Colosseum at the back of Phenac City. There are two large doors, which in the English version lead to the same arena. In the Japanese version the right door goes to the arena, while the left door leads to a special e-Reader area where players can scan in extra cards to battle additional trainers and capture three more Shadow Pokémon.

''Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire''

There were five cards that were released that were compatible with the Japanese version. These cards make minor tweaks to the gameplay, but do not add any new features.

Card ID	Card title	Card effect	Promotion
09‑A001	Bonus Stage Card	Allows players to play the bonus stage of their choice.	Pokémon Scoop ; Pokémon Festa 2003
09-A002	GET Special Guests Card	Unlocks one of the following Pokémon for capture: Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile or Aerodactyl.	Demo cards placed in selected stores in Japan throughout September 2003.
09‑A003	Ruin Area Card	Allows players to start their games from the Ruins.	Distributed to customers who purchase the game at Pokémon Centers.
09‑A004	DX Mode Card	Allows players to start with 9 balls, Master Ball and 99 coins; in addition, Pichu rescuer will always be enabled throughout the game.	Distributed to customers who purchase the game at Pokémon Centers.
09‑A005	Encounter Rate UP Card	The likelihood of encountering Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile and Aerodactyl increases.	Distributed to customers who purchase the game at Pokémon Centers.