Nintendo e-Reader (GBA) Hardware Review
What is It?
The E-reader is a new device created by Nintendo as a link in Nintendo Connectivity Theory, The E-reader can be used as a NES Emulator, Game and Watch Emulator, Pokemon Cards can be swiped into it for Pokedex information and much more which these will be listed below. All you need is a GBA or GBA SP to get started.
Build Quality
You can tell when something is a Nintendo product because it is well built and will survive most random attacks at frustrated gamers (Just ask my N64 Controller) and the E-Reader is no different, the machine its self is pretty big and with the original Gameboy is plugged in on to top of the Gameboy and makes it top heavy but not by much. But the E-reader also works on the SP and I don’t know if this was a fluke but when you have it an a sp if the e-reader fits the contours of were you wrists when you are a holding it, this begs the question was the SP known and designed before the E-Reader? The Main Scanning part of the E-reader is also very strong so there is no way no one can break
Ease of Use
I’m serious when I say this a monkey could be playing Manhole in 5 seconds with this thing it is so easy to use you just plug it in and away you go. However the card scanning is a little slow and you have to be too if you swipe it too fast it wont read which makes loading a big game like Exictebike etc harder to play.
Value for Money
Most GBA Games now cost around $70 bucks the E-reader comes in close to that mark with a $80 buck ticket on it. This however is not a bad thing not only do you get 3 cards that come with the E-Reader but some Pokemon Cards so you can try before you by. The only complain I had was the box was a bit pissy and every box I saw was not sticking properly and that’s what most people are going to put there cards in.
Future
Now your probably wondering what it means by Future well what I mean by that is it going to be supported in the future by Nintendo and other people? Will the NES Game fad go away and Nintendo forget it when they make the next System? Only time will tell by it looks like the E-Reader is going to just one link in Nintendo’s big Connectivity Plan.