Topic: New e-Reader game announcements

[PGC-Agent Cooper]

It's unbelievable.  Games that have been 5 bucks used for years are now new and exciting on paper!

Nintendo's e-Reader Turns Trading Cards Into Video Games

New Way to Play Games On Game Boy(R) Advance

REDMOND, Wash.--Sept. 16, 2002--Nintendo is turning paper trading cards into electronic games for the Game Boy(R) Advance using the new innovative e-Reader.    When slid through the e-Reader, high-tech paper trading cards allow players to experience games in a number of ways, depending on the card. The e-Reader cards hold complete video games playable on Game Boy Advance, enhance game play on Nintendo GameCube(TM), and expand the play of traditional trading card games, all from just sliding one or a few paper cards.    The e-Reader, with a suggested retail price of $39.95, includes a set of cards with one classic NES(R) game, either Donkey Kong Jr.(R)-e or Pinball-e, and a sample pack of five e-Reader cards. The sample pack includes the Manhole-e Game&Watch game, one Animal Crossing(TM)-e card, which connects to the Nintendo GameCube, and three cards from the Pokemon(R)-e: Expedition series. Additional e-Reader card packs will retail from $1.95 to $4.95.    "The e-Reader creates a completely new experience for game players. It's the fun of collecting trading cards and the challenge of playing video games," says Peter MacDougall, executive vice president, sales and marketing, Nintendo of America Inc. "Now anyone can carry their favorite games on just a few cards -- all they have to do is slide it and play it. It's technology on paper."    The e-Reader accessory connects to the Game Boy Advance via the cartridge slot and uses "dot code technology" to read optical data imprinted on the specially designed trading cards. The e-Reader hardware has a 64 Mbit Mask Rom to store up to one video game for continued play. The hardware also links to a second Game Boy Advance or a Nintendo GameCube. Animal Crossing for Nintendo GameCube uses the feature and upcoming products will take advantage of it in exciting and innovative ways.    Card sets for five classic games originally made for the Nintendo Entertainment System(R) (NES), Donkey Kong Jr.-e, Pinball-e, Balloon Fight(R)-e, Tennis-e, and Excitebike(R)-e cards, will be available at launch. Pokemon-e trading card game cards which also can be used as a stand-alone trading card game, will be distributed by Wizards of the Coast under license from Pokemon USA, Inc, will also be available on September 16th.    In Q4, a second series of NES cards will launch including Donkey Kong(R)-e, Mario Bros.(R)-e, Ice Climber-e, Baseball-e, and Urban Champion-e. Animal Crossing-e card packs will also be available to unlock features and enhance game play in Nintendo GameCube games.

   As the worldwide leader and innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home video game systems. The systems include Game Boy(R), Nintendo(R) 64, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo GameCube(TM). Since the release of its first home video game system in 1983, Nintendo has sold more than 1.4 billion video games worldwide, creating enduring industry icons such as Mario(TM) and Donkey Kong(R) and launching such franchises as Zelda(TM) and Pokemon(R). As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere.    For more information about any Nintendo product visit the company's Web site, www.nintendo.com.