So on a whim I bought...

[noiseredux]

as far as the NES games go on e-Reader, I'm pretty sure Urban Champ is the only one that wasn't later ported to GBA. And Urban Champ sucks.

But the extra SMB3 levels aren't on the GBA release, right?

correct.

There are other non-NES e-Cards. I was just speaking on the NES games. As far as the SMB3 levels go, I had one and it wasn't anything that really impressed me. The e-Reader was a nice idea, but nothing I'd call totally necessary.

[alienjesus]

I have one. They never actually came out over here, so I got an American one. Our Animal Crossing and Mario 3 don't have e-reader functionality.

I have the NES DK Jr., Game & Watch Manhole and a selection of Pokémon card mini games. There's quite a variety of these, you can see them all (and which cards you need for them) here: http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/E-Reader

I'd love to pick up the rest of the pokemon mini games, as well as Mario Party -e

[BoneSnapDeez]

I've always thought of getting one... How much did yours cost?

Mine was $10, used.

The games were like $3, new.

Haven't had a chance to play it yet because it's being shipped as we speak.

Looks like you can still get a new sealed e-Reader for around $30.

[Cronozilla]

I picked one up on a whim a few years ago. It wasn't at a game oriented store for about $4. I also picked up some e-reader packs at Hollywood Video before they shut down for about $1.

The only wonkyness about the device is the same wonkyness about all Gameboy Advance things ... they never updated the standard after axing the original model and releasing the SP, even though the orientation of everything changed and so did the form factor. This device was really made for the launch GBA, not the iterations that came later. (I don't think you can actually use it with an SP unless you have some sort of extension cable ... but I also have a GBA Player, so the ports are where they should be there)

[Marspants]

I remember I bought one at launch, worst decision. The Animal Crossing cards were neat though. Rock some Balloon Fight

[Duane Dibbley]

Does the e-Reader have memory to store the games you scan in, or does it lose everything when you power off the GBA?

The only wonkyness about the device is the same wonkyness about all Gameboy Advance things ... they never updated the standard after axing the original model and releasing the SP, even though the orientation of everything changed and so did the form factor. This device was really made for the launch GBA, not the iterations that came later. (I don't think you can actually use it with an SP unless you have some sort of extension cable ... but I also have a GBA Player, so the ports are where they should be there)

Wikipedia says you can use it with the SP, since the link cable port is just a pass-through.

[noiseredux]

Duane, the game stays in memory (even if you power off) until you scan a new game. So if you buy a used e-Reader, you're bound to have a game already on it.

[Duane Dibbley]

Duane, the game stays in memory (even if you power off) until you scan a new game. So if you buy a used e-Reader, you're bound to have a game already on it.

Nice! I still probably won't rush out to buy one, but that would make it slightly more useful than just being a glorified barcode reader.

[BoneSnapDeez]

I'll prob use it with my original GBA. Despite the lack of light I like the control scheme better.

[Anapan]

Someone figured out how the cards data is encoded and made programs to encode and print homebrew games and completely new mario advance cards. You can also download and print the entire official collection.