FAQ
When will the cards release?
Series One will go on sale July 27th, 2025, here at retrodotcards.com.
Will these cards be sold or free?
Starting with Series One, this will be a paid, commercial, product. We are unsure what the price will be just yet, but hoping to keep it reasonable. These are just paper cards after all.
How will they be sold?
Each series will be sold as a single pack, packaged up like a "booster pack". Quotes because each pack will contain the entire series, so they won't be like regular booster packs. No need to buy a whole bunch of packs in hopes of getting them all.
We are hoping to also have a single foil card in each pack. The idea is each pack contains the entire set as regular cards, plus one card from the series as a foil. This is because it is unlikely we can create foil cards that can scan in an E-Reader. The foil card is just for collecting. We think this is a nice compromise between those who like to collect and those who just want to play the games.
Series one will not have foil cards. We are looking into other ways to make series one more fun to collect for, stay tuned.
We are hoping to also have a single foil card in each pack. The idea is each pack contains the entire set as regular cards, plus one card from the series as a foil. This is because it is unlikely we can create foil cards that can scan in an E-Reader. The foil card is just for collecting. We think this is a nice compromise between those who like to collect and those who just want to play the games.
Series one will not have foil cards. We are looking into other ways to make series one more fun to collect for, stay tuned.
Where can I get an E-Reader?
The best place I know is Ebay. The US E-Reader and the Japan E-Reader+ will both work with RetroDotCards. The Japan E-Reader+ is often much cheaper. But do be aware that the E-Reader region determines whether the card has English or Japanese text. There were three E-Readers released:
I strongly recommend avoiding the first Japan E-Reader. It is a very limited device. An easy way to spot this version is it lacks the link cable port (see the little silver thing sticking out on the other ones).
A US E-Reader
- + Standard English RetroDotCards will work
- + Nintendo's English E-Reader cards will work
- - Japanese RetroDotCards will not work
- - "English on Japanese" RetroDotCards will not work (more info below)
- - Nintendo's Japanese E-Reader cards will not work
A JPN E-Reader+
- + Japanese RetroDotCards will work
- + "English on Japanese" RetroDotCards will work (more info below)
- + Nintendo's Japanese E-Reader cards will work
- - Standard English RetroDotCards will not work (more info below)
- - Nintendo's English E-Reader cards will not work
An early JPN E-Reader
- - No RetroDotCards will work
- - Only a small subset of Nintendo's Japanese cards work
Will Japanese and English RetroDotCards be the same?
RetroDotCards will be released in three versions:
The third option is because the Japanese E-Reader+ is much more common than the US E-Reader. Many people who do not speak Japanese buy the Japanese E-Reader since it is easier to get. This version of the game has more spread out, chunkier, text. For more detailed info, check out the E-on-J page.
- English text for US E-Reader
- Japanese text for Japan E-Reader+
- English text for Japan E-Reader+
The third option is because the Japanese E-Reader+ is much more common than the US E-Reader. Many people who do not speak Japanese buy the Japanese E-Reader since it is easier to get. This version of the game has more spread out, chunkier, text. For more detailed info, check out the E-on-J page.
Will all games be released for both Japanese and English?
For Series One, Franny Answers will not be in the Japanese version. This game has a lof of text in it and I am not confident I can get it translated very well. It will be available in the English and "English on Japanese" versions.
For Series Two and beyond, I am not sure. Hopefully I will have a better way of doing text heavy Japanese games in the future.
For Series Two and beyond, I am not sure. Hopefully I will have a better way of doing text heavy Japanese games in the future.
The Solitaire card is larger than standard trading cards. Will all RetroDotCards be that big?
No, going forward all RetroDotCards will be the standard trading card size. So they will be the same size as Pokemon cards, official E-Reader cards, Magic The Gathering cards, etc.
One reason for the Solitaire card was to learn these mistakes :)
One reason for the Solitaire card was to learn these mistakes :)
Will these games be playable any other way?
No, I will only be releasing these as physical E-Reader cards, like it is 2003 again. Releasing them any other way kind of goes against the point of this whole venture.
Who is making this?
Check out the credits page.
Can you send me a Solitaire card?
I used to have free Solitaire cards I was giving away. I have given all of them away and will not be making more. So no, sorry, I can't.
Solitaire will be in Series One, and it has a few little improvements compared to the original card.
Solitaire will be in Series One, and it has a few little improvements compared to the original card.
I have another question
You can email me your question and I will get back to you.