Nintendo e-Reader

"Nintendo's New Accessory has a lot of Potential"

The E-Card reader is Nintendo’s latest piece of hardware, a peripheral device that fits into the GBA’s cartridge slot. Once inserted, cards can be scanned through the E-Card Reader, creating limitless possibilities. Thus far, Nintendo has brought back an old Game and Watch game called Manhole, a Pokemon mini-game, released NES hits such as Excitebike, DK Junior, Balloon Fight, Donkey Kong, and more, and later this month the first set in an inevitably long line of Animal Crossing E-Cards will be released.

What is the purpose of this device then? This is a question with many answers. Maybe the best feature is playing original NES games. These games come on five E-Cards, each card containing two bar codes. Once all ten barcodes are scanned, the game is saved to the E-Card reader’s temporary memory storage, and you can play that game until another game is scanned. Unfortunately you can only have one game saved on the E-Card Reader at a time. Fortunately, though, it only takes a minute or two to scan all of the cards. The button configuration on the GBA is just like that of the NES controller (with the exception of the L and R buttons, which do nothing), so every game’s controls are already well laid out.

Possibly the most innovative use for the E-Card Reader so far is its connection to Animal Crossing. Hook your GBA link cable into the GCN and the top of the E-Reader device (there’s an extension slot where you plug the link cable into), and you can scan cards into Animal Crossing. In late October Nintendo will be releasing the first series of Animal Crossing E-Cards, which can be scanned to unlock town songs, designs, K.K. Songs, NES Games, or any other number of many items. These E-Cards could keep us playing Animal Crossing for years.

Here’s a small breakdown of the good and bad for the E-Card Reader:

Good
-It is very inexpensive. For $40, you receive the device, D.K. Junior, and one Pokemon mini-game, Manhole, and an Animal Crossing E-Card.
-The device isn’t really all that large, and can still be portable even with the E-Reader plugged in.
-Nintendo will be releasing a number of its old NES games in the coming months, bringing back its classics from nearly twenty years ago. Maybe now a new generation can experience the great games that many of us grew up on.
-This is an extremely open-ended device. There are so many things that can be done with it.
-If you do not have a link cable and wish to use Animal Crossing cards, you still can via a password that is given to you once the card is scanned.

Bad
-Only Nintendo is releasing its NES games on here. Namco! Where are you? We want Galaga!
-If you’re carrying your GBA around in your pocket, think again. While this device isn’t overly huge, it will destroy the portability you once had with your GBA.
-If a card becomes damaged and the bar code cannot be read, that card is useless. Nintendo is yet to release any type of storage for the cards, so keep them in a safe place until then!
-The only available color is black, so if you’ve been trying to color coordinate your GBA; you’re out of luck here!

Overall
The E-Reader is not worth the $40 yet, but it will be in time. I see cards as being one of Nintendo’s bigger mediums in the future, and getting in on the fun early won’t hurt. If you own Animal Crossing and a GBA, this will most definitely want to be something you own. Cards are extremely cheap as well. A regular set of five cards only costs $3 USD, which is pocket change to many of us. Buying this device now may not be in your best interest if you are not an owner of Animal Crossing, but you’ll want to eventually get into it sooner or later. The E-Card Reader is Nintendo showing its innovation once again!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/10/02, Updated 11/10/02