VS. System: Difference between revisions

The '''VS. System''' is a collection of coin-operated VS. UniSystem or VS. DualSystem arcade systems that first appeared in [[1984]]. As their name implies, the video games are designed for two-player competitive play. The VS. UniSystem is like a conventional upright arcade cabinet with two sets of controls and a single screen. The VS. UniSystem can either come as a dedicated gray cabinet or be a conversion from ''[[Donkey Kong (game)|Donkey Kong]]'', ''[[Donkey Kong Jr.]]'', or ''[[Popeye]]'' cabinets. It is not possible to convert the dedicated wide-body ''[[Mario Bros. (game)|Mario Bros.]]'' cabinets or the ''[[Punch-Out!! (arcade game)|Punch-Out!!]]'' cabinets. The VS. DualSystem comes with two screens and four sets of controls. The upright type looks like two machines conjoined at an angle while the sit-down type is red and lets players face each other. The latter was renamed VS. Table.<ref>''VS. Dr. Mario'' installation manual</ref> The games are mostly ports of [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] home console games, although many have notable changes in their graphics, gameplay, and difficulty.

The VS. System was designed in response to the [[video game crash of 1983]], which saw arcade machine operators facing declining revenue while taking big risks in each new purchase. [[Nintendo]] responded by creating the Nintendo-Pak conversion kits for ''Mario Bros.'' in addition to selling the dedicated wide-body cabinets.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/mariobrospak/mode/1up ''Mario Bros.'' Nintendo-Pak'' manual]</ref> ''[[Donkey Kong 3]]'' was available only as a Nintendo-Pak, which spared operators from having to buy the cabinet.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/donkeykong3/mode/1up ''Donkey Kong 3'' Nintendo-Pak manual]</ref> The VS. System goes further by having a cabinet and PCB that allowed operators to easily swap the PPUs and ROMs for each new release with a VS.-Pak. The cost savings led to the purchase of around a hundred thousand machines and conversion kits in the US alone by 1986.<ref>''Play Meter''. April 1, 1986 issue, page 9.</ref> Its success spurred the development of the [[Nintendo PlayChoice-10]].

Nintendo's last first party VS. System titles were each released in Japan in [[1985]]<ref>[https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19860501p.pdf#page=11 "Jaleco Ships New Game For "VS. System"" (Paragraph 1)]. Game Machine. Amusement Press. Published May 1, 1986.</ref> and in North America in [[1990]]. The Micro VS. System line of [[Game & Watch]] games released in 1984 was named after its arcade counterpart.

VS Dr Mario cabinet.jpg|''[[VS. Dr. Mario]]'' cabinet

VS System flyer.jpg|VS. System flyer showing [[Mario (character)|Mario]] take on various roles for each game advertised, including those not within the [[Mario (franchise)|''Mario'' franchise]]