retrodotcards.com
@retrodotcards.com
he/him
Making new games for the Nintendo GBA E-Reader.
I post updates on the games I'm working on, and also little facts/findings on this unique peripheral.
https://retrodotcards.com
email matt@retrodotcards.com
Alt account @drawing.retrodotcards.com
Making new games for the Nintendo GBA E-Reader.
I post updates on the games I'm working on, and also little facts/findings on this unique peripheral.
https://retrodotcards.com
email matt@retrodotcards.com
Alt account @drawing.retrodotcards.com
Pinned
retrodotcards.com
@retrodotcards.com
· May 31
New games for the #Nintendo E-Reader! Available July 27th at retrodotcards.com
(reposts appreciated!)
(reposts appreciated!)
The NES emulator on the eReader has problems with many early games. Tim Schuerewegen did compatibility testing around the time the eReader came out. His work paved the way to the new games that are coming out today, thanks Tim!
I copied his list into the wiki:
ereader.miraheze.org/wiki/Standal...
I copied his list into the wiki:
ereader.miraheze.org/wiki/Standal...
Standalone: NES Games - E-Reader Development
The e-Reader also contains an NES emulator. This is how Nintendo released all of the NES games for the e-Reader The NES game, Excitebike, in e-Reader card format
ereader.miraheze.org
January 24, 2026 at 10:34 PM
The NES emulator on the eReader has problems with many early games. Tim Schuerewegen did compatibility testing around the time the eReader came out. His work paved the way to the new games that are coming out today, thanks Tim!
I copied his list into the wiki:
ereader.miraheze.org/wiki/Standal...
I copied his list into the wiki:
ereader.miraheze.org/wiki/Standal...
I've started a beast of a blog post on e-reader card types. I am going to tackle it in chunks.
For starters: z80, native, nes and SMA4 e-reader cards
www.mattgreer.dev/blog/ereader...
For starters: z80, native, nes and SMA4 e-reader cards
www.mattgreer.dev/blog/ereader...
E-Reader Card Types
A broad intro to many of the e-Reader's card types
www.mattgreer.dev
January 24, 2026 at 6:58 PM
I've started a beast of a blog post on e-reader card types. I am going to tackle it in chunks.
For starters: z80, native, nes and SMA4 e-reader cards
www.mattgreer.dev/blog/ereader...
For starters: z80, native, nes and SMA4 e-reader cards
www.mattgreer.dev/blog/ereader...
I made a tweak to Smaghetti, my Super Mario Advance 4 level editor. It is now much easier to convert Smaghetti levels into e-reader cards.
With a level loaded in the editor, click the beaker in the lower right. In the modal that pops up, click "Download level as .bin".
With a level loaded in the editor, click the beaker in the lower right. In the modal that pops up, click "Download level as .bin".
January 24, 2026 at 12:54 AM
I made a tweak to Smaghetti, my Super Mario Advance 4 level editor. It is now much easier to convert Smaghetti levels into e-reader cards.
With a level loaded in the editor, click the beaker in the lower right. In the modal that pops up, click "Download level as .bin".
With a level loaded in the editor, click the beaker in the lower right. In the modal that pops up, click "Download level as .bin".
The proof cards are interesting. They coated the entire card instead of just where the artwork is. This led to very glossy and very plastic cards. They've grown on me and I actually really like them. But only about half the cards scan due to the coating. So we're going to run another proof.
January 22, 2026 at 10:23 PM
The proof cards are interesting. They coated the entire card instead of just where the artwork is. This led to very glossy and very plastic cards. They've grown on me and I actually really like them. But only about half the cards scan due to the coating. So we're going to run another proof.
I randomly decided to try mgba's gdb integration on an e-reader game and ... it works? What sorcery is this?
This is for a native arm game, and apparently the debug symbols do just line up out of the box and mgba/gdb/vscode think I'm debugging a normal gba game.
So this is very cool :O
This is for a native arm game, and apparently the debug symbols do just line up out of the box and mgba/gdb/vscode think I'm debugging a normal gba game.
So this is very cool :O
January 22, 2026 at 5:58 PM
I randomly decided to try mgba's gdb integration on an e-reader game and ... it works? What sorcery is this?
This is for a native arm game, and apparently the debug symbols do just line up out of the box and mgba/gdb/vscode think I'm debugging a normal gba game.
So this is very cool :O
This is for a native arm game, and apparently the debug symbols do just line up out of the box and mgba/gdb/vscode think I'm debugging a normal gba game.
So this is very cool :O
I'll have the proofs for the Pixel Pup cards tomorrow. This is going to be a long 24 hours :)
January 21, 2026 at 4:52 PM
I'll have the proofs for the Pixel Pup cards tomorrow. This is going to be a long 24 hours :)
Good to see series one is still surprising people :)
Grinning like an idiot playing new games by @retrodotcards.com for a 20 year old semi-obscure GBA accessory
January 21, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Good to see series one is still surprising people :)
The first hurdle to making a top down racer for the GBA e-reader is large, scrolling backgrounds for the tracks.
The GBA can have backgrounds up to 128x128 tiles, each tile is 8x8 pixels, for a max of 1024x1024px.
The GBA can have backgrounds up to 128x128 tiles, each tile is 8x8 pixels, for a max of 1024x1024px.
January 20, 2026 at 6:27 PM
The first hurdle to making a top down racer for the GBA e-reader is large, scrolling backgrounds for the tracks.
The GBA can have backgrounds up to 128x128 tiles, each tile is 8x8 pixels, for a max of 1024x1024px.
The GBA can have backgrounds up to 128x128 tiles, each tile is 8x8 pixels, for a max of 1024x1024px.
Oh that's awesome. I didn't know that.
At least some of the Famicom Mini titles account for this by redrawing the graphics to better fit the screen.
January 20, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Oh that's awesome. I didn't know that.
The NES has a resolution of 256x240px, and the GBA's is 240x160. So when playing NES games via the e-Reader, they had to remove lines and truncate the sides a bit.
It's just murder on Pinball. Look at those flippers! Then look at everything else, virtually nothing was spared the wrath.
It's just murder on Pinball. Look at those flippers! Then look at everything else, virtually nothing was spared the wrath.
January 20, 2026 at 3:51 PM
The NES has a resolution of 256x240px, and the GBA's is 240x160. So when playing NES games via the e-Reader, they had to remove lines and truncate the sides a bit.
It's just murder on Pinball. Look at those flippers! Then look at everything else, virtually nothing was spared the wrath.
It's just murder on Pinball. Look at those flippers! Then look at everything else, virtually nothing was spared the wrath.
I'm dreaming of a top down racer for the e-reader. Scan in a track card to race it, and scan in upgrade cards to improve your ride 😍
January 18, 2026 at 4:19 PM
I'm dreaming of a top down racer for the e-reader. Scan in a track card to race it, and scan in upgrade cards to improve your ride 😍
Hi everybody. My name's Matt and I'm an addict.
(I then got it for my phone and I have put more hours onto that than I care to admit)
Wouldn't a Balatro e-reader game be awesome? Here's what that might look like:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhmx...
(I then got it for my phone and I have put more hours onto that than I care to admit)
Wouldn't a Balatro e-reader game be awesome? Here's what that might look like:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhmx...
January 13, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Hi everybody. My name's Matt and I'm an addict.
(I then got it for my phone and I have put more hours onto that than I care to admit)
Wouldn't a Balatro e-reader game be awesome? Here's what that might look like:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhmx...
(I then got it for my phone and I have put more hours onto that than I care to admit)
Wouldn't a Balatro e-reader game be awesome? Here's what that might look like:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhmx...
I'm currently in talks with the printer to get these bad boys made.
I even squeezed in a little Easter egg for my Series One homies.
#gamedev #indiedev #videogamesonpaper
I even squeezed in a little Easter egg for my Series One homies.
#gamedev #indiedev #videogamesonpaper
January 13, 2026 at 6:34 PM
I'm currently in talks with the printer to get these bad boys made.
I even squeezed in a little Easter egg for my Series One homies.
#gamedev #indiedev #videogamesonpaper
I even squeezed in a little Easter egg for my Series One homies.
#gamedev #indiedev #videogamesonpaper
Reposted by retrodotcards.com
Happy #PortfolioDay! I'm objet discret, the creator of Taiyaki Fabulous Museum of Fish (objetdiscret.itch.io/tai-fab-museum) and the forthcoming #TaiFab Test Kitchen.
I'm passionate about #PixelArt (especially #1bit), #emotes and #emoji, #nonogram design, #homebrew, and #IndieDev. I love to collab!
I'm passionate about #PixelArt (especially #1bit), #emotes and #emoji, #nonogram design, #homebrew, and #IndieDev. I love to collab!
January 13, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Happy #PortfolioDay! I'm objet discret, the creator of Taiyaki Fabulous Museum of Fish (objetdiscret.itch.io/tai-fab-museum) and the forthcoming #TaiFab Test Kitchen.
I'm passionate about #PixelArt (especially #1bit), #emotes and #emoji, #nonogram design, #homebrew, and #IndieDev. I love to collab!
I'm passionate about #PixelArt (especially #1bit), #emotes and #emoji, #nonogram design, #homebrew, and #IndieDev. I love to collab!
This e-reader song has an intro that only plays once. When the song loops it doesn't play the intro again.
So far this is the only song I've found that does this.
This suggests the audio capabilities of the e-reader are slightly more sophisticated than I thought.
So far this is the only song I've found that does this.
This suggests the audio capabilities of the e-reader are slightly more sophisticated than I thought.
January 12, 2026 at 4:50 PM
This e-reader song has an intro that only plays once. When the song loops it doesn't play the intro again.
So far this is the only song I've found that does this.
This suggests the audio capabilities of the e-reader are slightly more sophisticated than I thought.
So far this is the only song I've found that does this.
This suggests the audio capabilities of the e-reader are slightly more sophisticated than I thought.
So awesome to have a Taiyaki Fabulous puzzle pack as part of Pixel Pup. This pack was made by @objetdiscret.itch.io and features well designed puzzles with awesome pixel art!
This is a double puzzle pack totaling 36 puzzles across two cards.
This is a double puzzle pack totaling 36 puzzles across two cards.
January 11, 2026 at 4:38 PM
So awesome to have a Taiyaki Fabulous puzzle pack as part of Pixel Pup. This pack was made by @objetdiscret.itch.io and features well designed puzzles with awesome pixel art!
This is a double puzzle pack totaling 36 puzzles across two cards.
This is a double puzzle pack totaling 36 puzzles across two cards.
I'll be at Ann Arbor Gamefest on March 22nd, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
I'll be demoing e-reader stuff, giving away free cards, and selling cards. If you're in the area, stop on by!
I'll be demoing e-reader stuff, giving away free cards, and selling cards. If you're in the area, stop on by!
January 10, 2026 at 5:32 PM
I'll be at Ann Arbor Gamefest on March 22nd, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
I'll be demoing e-reader stuff, giving away free cards, and selling cards. If you're in the area, stop on by!
I'll be demoing e-reader stuff, giving away free cards, and selling cards. If you're in the area, stop on by!
Pixel Pup is done! Just one last pass to make sure all the t's are dotted and the i's are crossed, then it will head to the printer.
Unless something cataclysmic happens, the March release date seems all but certain.
Unless something cataclysmic happens, the March release date seems all but certain.
January 10, 2026 at 2:23 AM
Pixel Pup is done! Just one last pass to make sure all the t's are dotted and the i's are crossed, then it will head to the printer.
Unless something cataclysmic happens, the March release date seems all but certain.
Unless something cataclysmic happens, the March release date seems all but certain.
Reposted by retrodotcards.com
I know I usually post pixel art here, but I drew Chad from #TaiFab recently. 😄 This is part of a #nonogram project I'm collaborating on with the awesome @retrodotcards.com ✨
Folks often ask what software I use. I drew this (and my pixel art) with getpaint.net
#DigitalArt #illustration #squid
Folks often ask what software I use. I drew this (and my pixel art) with getpaint.net
#DigitalArt #illustration #squid
January 8, 2026 at 7:58 PM
I know I usually post pixel art here, but I drew Chad from #TaiFab recently. 😄 This is part of a #nonogram project I'm collaborating on with the awesome @retrodotcards.com ✨
Folks often ask what software I use. I drew this (and my pixel art) with getpaint.net
#DigitalArt #illustration #squid
Folks often ask what software I use. I drew this (and my pixel art) with getpaint.net
#DigitalArt #illustration #squid
Pixel Pup ended up with 102 puzzles across five themes. It will all be on four cards, front and back (data strips on both sides of every card).
January 7, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Pixel Pup ended up with 102 puzzles across five themes. It will all be on four cards, front and back (data strips on both sides of every card).
It's too bad I have to censor screenshots like this, because I'm super happy with how this game is finishing up and I want to share. It all ended up being so ... comfy.
This is @objetdiscret.itch.io's puzzle btw, and their fish.
This is @objetdiscret.itch.io's puzzle btw, and their fish.
January 5, 2026 at 5:42 PM
It's too bad I have to censor screenshots like this, because I'm super happy with how this game is finishing up and I want to share. It all ended up being so ... comfy.
This is @objetdiscret.itch.io's puzzle btw, and their fish.
This is @objetdiscret.itch.io's puzzle btw, and their fish.
Having a little fun with the new API
(better with sound)
(better with sound)
January 4, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Having a little fun with the new API
(better with sound)
(better with sound)
@fexcollects.standingintheodds.com found a new ERAPI function, SetTextSpacing. This allows increasing the spacing between characters, lines, or both, of a run of text.
Thanks Fex!
ereader.miraheze.org/wiki/ERAPI-Z...
Thanks Fex!
ereader.miraheze.org/wiki/ERAPI-Z...
January 4, 2026 at 5:06 PM
@fexcollects.standingintheodds.com found a new ERAPI function, SetTextSpacing. This allows increasing the spacing between characters, lines, or both, of a run of text.
Thanks Fex!
ereader.miraheze.org/wiki/ERAPI-Z...
Thanks Fex!
ereader.miraheze.org/wiki/ERAPI-Z...
Here's a stream of the Pixel Pup beta being played. Thanks for helping test the game, @djtatsujin.bsky.social
www.twitch.tv/videos/26365...
www.twitch.tv/videos/26365...
Testing out the Pixel Pup beta e-Reader cards! - djtatsujin on Twitch
djtatsujin went live on Twitch. Catch up on their Retro VOD now.
www.twitch.tv
January 1, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Here's a stream of the Pixel Pup beta being played. Thanks for helping test the game, @djtatsujin.bsky.social
www.twitch.tv/videos/26365...
www.twitch.tv/videos/26365...