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Gameboy E-Reader - Game And Watch Cards

Posted by simoniker on from the mario's-card-swipe-factory dept.

Courtesy of IGN, who extracted the pictures from Nintendo's official E3 press booklet, comes pictures and more details of the Game And Watch E-Cards, the collectible data cards which you can swipe through your E-Reader add-on in order to load in classic G+W games. Although there's already Game And Watch 4 for GBA and several prequels for Gameboy, these e-cards look to include classic, if basic titles never converted to Nintendo's new-school portable gaming platform. Neat stuff.

12 comments

  1. better watch it by Hubert_Shrump · · Score: 4, Funny

    if the scans are too good, you'll infringe copyright...

    wouldn't it be nice to have a shirt with tetris on it? i mean the whole thing, in a 2D barcode. hmm...

    --
    Keep your packets off my GNU/Girlfriend!
    1. Re:better watch it by Thedalek · · Score: 1

      > wouldn't it be nice to have a shirt with tetris on it? i mean the whole thing, in a 2D barcode. hmm...

      I've been thinking about this, coupled with an article I saw earlier today about using paper instead of modern data storage (Seemed like illogical luddite rambling to me), and did some quick calculations:

      We have laser printers which can print upwards of 800dpi. Let's say you've got a semi-sturdy blank playing card. It's going to be about 2.5"x3.5" or thereabouts. Allow .25 for margins: 6sq inches per side, two sides.

      800dpi allows for 640000 bits per square inch. 12 square inches, and you've got 7680000 bits, or 960000 bytes. And that's if you're printing in black and white. Go 16 color greyscale, and you've got 3840000 bytes. Converting it back could be difficult, though.

      At any rate, this is more than enough space in which to fit Tetris. I just wish someone would -do- this. Granted, it's not the most efficient means of data storage, or even the sturdiest, but in terms of disposable data storage, I'd feel better about printing a small file on a paper card than wasting a CD for a single file.

      --
      Happiness is relative, Based upon the way we live.
  2. More importantly by Kris_J · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Are Nintendo going to do anything about the fact that you can't close a GBAsp with a US e-reader plugged in? It seems as if the designers of the GBAsp only had the Japanese e-reader to play with, as it has no comm port passthrough that sticks out. Of course, the Japanese e-reader doesn't play US cards...

  3. e-Reader in Australia by n_jed · · Score: 1

    Has anyone seen / know of the existance of an e-reader in Australia. I don't recall ever seeing one for sale.

    I have most of the gallery cartridges though so this is not really a big deal.

  4. UK release date? by Goose+In+Orbit · · Score: 1

    It was supposed to be here back in February as I recall, but no show...

    Anyone any clue as to when it will finally arrive, so I can placate my 7-yr-old?

  5. Rip-Off by Dr.+Trevorkian · · Score: 1

    Am I the only one who sees this as unnecessary? Why should I have to buy an add-on device for my GBA to play all these goofy cards instead of plonking down the money for one anthology cart with 5 or 10 retro titles on it?

    Namco Museum, the Pac-Man collection, Atari Classics... that's how it should be done. This card silliness just ticks me off.

    1. Re:Rip-Off by zonker · · Score: 0

      you get awefully upset over having choice in the marketplace...

      --

      Large print giveth, and the small print taketh away

    2. Re:Rip-Off by Dr.+Trevorkian · · Score: 1

      Perhaps you'd like to point out where there is a choice?

      I'd like to play (for example) Donkey Kong Jr. on my portable game device, but to do so I have to buy another gadget, and have another set of media to carry and store. Why?

      So what is the choice? Either get this new stuff, or collect an emulator and the ROMs, or... what? Hit up eBay for 20 year old hardware?

      Or of course there's always the option of not playing the games at all. ;^)

      It doesn't exactly piss me off, it's just annoying.

  6. Unless they are priced less then $2.00.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or pack more then 1 game, why are they bothering?

    If the cards pictured are what they are releasing, all they are doing is reselling what you can already get in the Game and Watch 4 game!

  7. Re:Choice by arb · · Score: 1

    Perhaps you'd like to point out where there is a choice?

    You have several choices:

    1) Pony up the $$$ and buy the e-Reader, cards, game, etc...

    2) Jump on ebay and find an original Donkey Kong Jr

    3) Don't play it.

    Three choices, each one comes with associated costs. Pick one and be happy that you have the option of playing these games on the GBA.

  8. Re:Choice by Dr.+Trevorkian · · Score: 1

    You did a fabulous job of restating almost everything I listed above. I'm sure all the other third graders will appreciate having my post translated (though incompletely) to your reading level. Maybe if you show it to your teacher you'll get some extra credit!

    You did misunderstand the issue of buying the e-Reader however, as it's not money but having to acquire and carry about additional hardware and media that is annoying. So you only a B- on the Reading Comprehension for this post. Better luck next time.

  9. Re:Choice by arb · · Score: 1

    If you wanna play the game on the GBA, then carry the freaking attachment. You don't want to carry the attachment, then don't play the game. Very simple choice - perfect for simple people like you.