View source for Nintendo VS. System

{{Short description|Arcade cabinet series}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2012}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox information appliance
| name         = VS. System
| image        = Vsdrmario.jpg
| caption      = A [[Dr. Mario (video game)|''VS. Dr. Mario'']] arcade machine
| developer    = [[Nintendo]]
| manufacturer = Nintendo
| family       = 
| type         = [[Arcade video game]]
| releasedate  = {{Start date and age|January 1984}}
| lifespan     = 1984-1992
| price        = 
| discontinued = {{vgrelease|JP|Late 1985 <small>(Nintendo)</small><ref name="gm86"/>|WW|{{end date|1992|07|31}}<ref name="Cashbox - Arcade discontinuation"/>}}
| unitssold    = 100,000
| unitsshipped = 
| media        = [[Read-only memory|ROM]] chips
| os           = 
| power        = 
| soc          = 
| cpu          = [[Ricoh 2A03]]
| memory       = 
| storage      = 
| memory card  = 
| display      = 
| graphics     = 
| sound        = 
| input        = 
| controllers  = 
| platform     = [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]]-based
| dimensions   = 
| weight       = 
| topgame      = ''[[VS. Super Mario Bros.]]''
| successor    = [[PlayChoice-10]]
| related      = 
| website      =
}}

The {{nihongo foot|'''Nintendo VS. System'''|任天堂VS.システム|Nintendō Buiesu Shisutemu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is an [[arcade system]] that was developed and produced by [[Nintendo]]. It is based on most of the same hardware as the [[Family Computer]] (Famicom), later released as the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] (NES). As Nintendo was planning to release the NES in North America, they were aware of the [[video game crash of 1983]] and its effects on the [[Home console|home console market]]. By March 1984 the [[Arcade video game|arcade industry]] recovered enough for a plan to introduce NES titles there, with the VS. System later being a presentation to players who did not yet own the console. It became the first version of the Famicom hardware to debut in North America.

Most of its games are conversions from the Famicom and NES, some heavily altered for the arcade format, and some debuted on the VS. System before being released on the Famicom or NES. The system focuses on two-player cooperative play. It was released in three different configurations: upright VS. UniSystem cabinets, upright VS. DualSystem cabinets, and sit-down VS. DualSystem cabinets. Games are on pluggable circuit boards, allowing for each side to have a different game.

The VS. System did not have lasting popularity in Japan, leading to Nintendo's departure from arcade game development. In contrast, it was a commercial success in the United States, with about 100,000 [[arcade cabinet]]s sold, becoming the highest-grossing [[1985 in video games|arcade machine of 1985]]. The system's success in arcades proved the market for the [[History of the Nintendo Entertainment System#North American launch (1985–1986)|test release of the NES]] in North America in 1985. The final VS. System game was released in 1990.

==Background==
In 1980, [[Data East]] had introduced the concept of a convertible [[arcade system board]], or [[arcade conversion]] system, with the [[DECO Cassette System]], but it was not a major success. The first successful arcade conversion system is [[Sega]]'s [[List of Sega arcade system boards|Convert-a-Game]] system in the early 1980s. Its success led to several other arcade manufacturers introducing their own arcade conversion systems by the mid-1980s, including the Nintendo VS. System in 1984.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Replay Years: Video Systems |magazine=RePlay |date=November 1985 |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=128, 130 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-11-issue-no.-2-november-1985-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2011%2C%20Issue%20No.%202%20-%20November%201985/page/128}}</ref>

The Nintendo VS. System is important in the [[history of the Nintendo Entertainment System]] (NES). The VS. System is the first version of the Family Computer (Famicom) hardware to debut in North America during 1984, the success of which proved the market for the official release of the [[NES]] console.<ref name="Horowitz">{{cite book |last1=Horowitz |first1=Ken |chapter=The Vs. System (1984) |title=Beyond Donkey Kong: A History of Nintendo Arcade Games |date=July 30, 2020 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |isbn=978-1-4766-4176-8 |pages=119–28 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y3D0DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA119}}</ref><ref name="mashable">{{cite news |last1=Stark |first1=Chelsea |title=30 years later, Nintendo looks back at when NES came to America |url=https://mashable.com/2015/10/19/nintendo-nes-launch-atari |access-date=April 13, 2021 |work=[[Mashable]] |date=October 19, 2015}}</ref> Following the [[video game crash of 1983]], the North American home video game market had collapsed. Nintendo's negotiations with [[Atari, Inc.|Atari]] to introduce the Famicom in North America failed due to Atari's collapse, and [[Nintendo of America]]'s market research garnered warnings from retailers and distributors to stay away from home consoles, with US retailers refusing to stock game consoles. Meanwhile, the [[arcade game]] industry also had a slump as the [[golden age of arcade video games]] ended, but the arcade industry recovered and stabilized with the help of software conversion kit systems, such as Sega's Convert-a-Game system, the [[Atari System 1]], and the Nintendo-Pak system. [[Hiroshi Yamauchi]] realized there was still a market for video games in North America, where players were gradually returning to arcades in significant numbers. Yamauchi still had faith there was a market for the Famicom, so he introduced it to North America through the arcade industry.<ref name="Horowitz" />

Nintendo based the VS. System hardware on the Famicom, and introduced it as the successor to its Nintendo-Pak arcade system, which had been used for games such as ''[[Mario Bros.]]'' and ''[[Donkey Kong 3]]''. Though technologically weaker than Nintendo's ''[[Punch-Out!! (arcade game)|Punch-Out!!]]'' arcade hardware, the VS. System was relatively inexpensive. The Nintendo-Pak and ''Punch-Out!!'' hardware also have a limited game library, whereas the VS. System accessed a wider variety of games, by easily converting Famicom games. [[Nintendo of America]] hired Jeff Walker from [[Bally Manufacturing|Bally]] to help market the VS. System in North America, where it debuted at the 1984 ASI show along with ''Punch-Out!!'' in February.<ref name="Horowitz" />

==Hardware==
The VS. System was designed primarily as a kit to retrofit ''[[Donkey Kong (arcade game)|Donkey Kong]]'', ''[[Donkey Kong Jr.]]'', ''[[Donkey Kong 3]]'', ''[[Popeye (video game)|Popeye]]'', and ''[[Mario Bros.]]'' cabinets, so they require the same special monitor. These monitors use inverse voltage levels for their video signals as compared to most arcade monitors.

Almost all VS. System cabinets have identical hardware powered by a [[Ricoh 2A03]] [[central processing unit]] (CPU), the same in the NES, except for special PPUs or video chips.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Vs. UniSystem/DualSystem Chipsets |url=http://www.pc-10.com/vschipsets.html |access-date=July 30, 2017 |website=pc-10.com}}</ref> Each chip contains a different palette that arrange the colors in different configurations chosen apparently at random. Most boards can be switched to a new game simply by swapping the program ROMs and the appropriate PPU or the game will have incorrect colors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Vs. Unisystem Nintendo Vs. Dualsystem Arcade Manuals, PPU, PCB info, daughter board info, Nintendo Vs. Instruction Cards, game info |url=http://www.johnsarcade.com/nintendo_vs_ppu_info.php |access-date=July 30, 2017 |website=www.johnsarcade.com}}</ref> Several of the later units employ further copy protection by using special PPUs which swap pairs of I/O registers or return special data from normally unimplemented regions of memory, and games are not interchangeable with these models.

Some dedicated double cabinets look like two games butted together at an angle, with a single motherboard. The Red Tent, a steel sit-down cabinet for the VS. DualSystem, allows play for up to four players simultaneously. It has the same motherboard as the double cabinet.

Because the ''VS. System'' has the same CPU as the NES, its games can be ported to the NES with modifications to the console including extra memory banks and additional DIP switches.<ref>{{cite web |last=Assenat |first=Raphael |title=Modding a NES to run Unisystem VS arcade games (1/14) |url=http://www.raphnet.net/electronique/nes_vs/nes_vs_en.php?section_id=0 |website=www.raphnet.net}}</ref> Some games differ from their home console versions. For example, ''[[VS. Super Mario Bros.]]'' is considerably more difficult than ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''; some of the levels were reused in ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]'' for the [[Famicom Disk System]].<ref>{{cite web |last=McLaughlin |first=Rus |date=September 13, 2010 |title=IGN Presents: The History of Super Mario Bros. |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/09/14/ign-presents-the-history-of-super-mario-bros?page=3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905204925/http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/09/14/ign-presents-the-history-of-super-mario-bros?page=3 |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |access-date=April 1, 2015 |work=[[IGN]] |page=3}}</ref> Some games' graphics differ, such as ''[[VS. Duck Hunt]]'' having more details and animation sequences.

== Reception ==
Upon release, the VS. System generated excitement in the arcade industry, receiving praise for its easy conversions, affordability, flexibility, and multiplayer capabilities.<ref name="Horowitz"/><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Cognevich |first1=Valerie |title=Nintendo presents new Paks at distributor showing |magazine=[[Play Meter]] |date=November 15, 1984 |volume=10 |issue=21 |pages=24–5 |url=https://archive.org/details/play-meter-volume-10-number-21-november-15th-1984-600DPI/Play%20Meter%20-%20Volume%2010%2C%20Number%2021%20-%20November%2015th%201984%20%28Compressed%29/page/24}}</ref> Eddie Adlum of ''RePlay'' magazine said Nintendo had suddenly become "the big guy on the block" in 1984 due to the VS. System, which "not only meant interchangeable games but interaction between players on dual-monitor games".<ref name="Adlum">{{cite magazine |last=Adlum |first=Eddie |title=The Replay Years: Reflections from Eddie Adlum |magazine=RePlay |date=November 1985 |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=134-175 (168-71) |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-11-issue-no.-2-november-1985-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2011%2C%20Issue%20No.%202%20-%20November%201985/page/170/mode/2up}}</ref> For ''[[Play Meter]]'' magazine, Roger C. Sharpe called it a "highly attractive and open-ended interchangeable game system featuring excellent graphics and realistic on-screen visuals" in 1984<ref name="Sharpe">{{cite magazine |last=Sharpe |first=Roger C. |title=1984—Every Which Way But Up |magazine=[[Play Meter]] |date=December 15, 1984 |volume=10 |issue=23 |pages=39, 49–51 |url=https://archive.org/details/play-meter-volume-10-number-23-december-15th-1984/Play%20Meter%20-%20Volume%2010%2C%20Number%2023%20-%20December%2015th%201984/page/39}}</ref> and Gene Lewin gave the system a rating of 10+ out of 10 in 1985.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Lewin |first1=Gene |title=Gene's Gudgements |magazine=[[Play Meter]] |date=June 15, 1985 |volume=11 |issue=11 |pages=38–9 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c0/PlayMeter_US_Volume_11_No._11.pdf#page=34}}</ref> Others{{who|date=January 2023}} criticized the system's graphics as technologically weaker than more recent rival arcade systems, and than Nintendo's own powerful ''[[Punch-Out!! (1984 video game)|Punch-Out!!]]'' arcade hardware.<ref name="Horowitz"/>

In Japan, ''[[Tennis (1984 video game)|VS. Tennis]]'' topped Japan's chart for [[table arcade cabinet]]s in April 1984<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Best Hit Games 25|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=233|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=April 1, 1984|page=27|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19840401p.pdf#page=14}}</ref> and May 1984,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Best Hit Games 25|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=235|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=May 1, 1984|page=29|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19840501p.pdf#page=15}}</ref> and ''[[Baseball (1983 video game)|VS. Baseball]]'' topped the chart in June<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Best Hit Games 25|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=237|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=June 1, 1984|page=29|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19840601p.pdf#page=15}}</ref> and July 1984.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Best Hit Games 25|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=239|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=July 1, 1984|page=25|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19840701p.pdf#page=13}}</ref> By 1985, however, the VS. System had declined in Japan, which led to Yamauchi deciding to withdraw Nintendo from the Japanese coin-op industry in late 1985<ref name="Horowitz"/><ref name="gm86">{{cite magazine|title=Coin-Op "Super Mario" Will Shop To Overseas|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=279|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=1 March 1986|page=24|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19860301p.pdf#page=13}}</ref> and Nintendo focusing more on the Famicom.<ref>{{cite magazine|title="Fami-Com" Exceeds 10M. Its Boom Is Continuing|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=307|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=1 May 1987|page=26|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19870501p.pdf#page=14}}</ref>

[[File:Vs. Super Mario Bros.jpg|thumb|''VS. Super Mario Bros.'' is the highest-selling unit in the series.]]
In North America, by contrast, the VS. System became a major success.<ref name="Horowitz"/> Following the arcade success of [[sports video games]] such as [[Konami]]'s ''[[Track & Field (video game)|Track & Field]]'' (1983), Nintendo capitalized on this trend with sports games ''Punch-Out!!'', ''VS. Tennis'', and ''VS. Baseball'' with great success in the US arcade market; Sharpe considered Nintendo "a force to reckon with" based on this strong performance.<ref name="Sharpe"/> The VS. System was declared an "overwhelming hit" by ''Play Meter'', attributing its success to "good games and low price".<ref>{{cite magazine |title=1984—Even Orwell Couldn't Predict How Bad It Was |magazine=[[Play Meter]] |date=December 15, 1984 |volume=10 |issue=23 |pages=23–8 |url=https://archive.org/details/play-meter-volume-10-number-23-december-15th-1984/Play%20Meter%20-%20Volume%2010%2C%20Number%2023%20-%20December%2015th%201984/page/23}}</ref> Between 10,000 and 20,000 [[arcade cabinet]]s were sold in 1984,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Horowitz |first1=Ken |title=Beyond Donkey Kong: A History of Nintendo Arcade Games |date=July 30, 2020 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |isbn=978-1-4766-4176-8 |page=125 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UXD0DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA125 |quote=More than 10,000 VS. System units were sold by the end of 1984 alone (some put the figure as high as 20,000).}}</ref> and individual ''VS.'' games were top earners on arcade charts.<ref name="mashable"/> ''VS. Tennis'' topped the arcade charts for software conversion kits in July 1984 (on the ''RePlay'' charts)<ref>{{cite magazine |title=RePlay: The Players' Choice |magazine=RePlay |date=July 1984}}</ref> and August 1984 (on the ''[[Play Meter]]'' charts),<ref name="August">{{cite magazine |title=National Play Meter |magazine=[[Play Meter]] |date=August 15, 1984}}</ref> and ''VS. Baseball'' topped the charts from September<ref>{{cite magazine |title=RePlay: The Players' Choice |magazine=RePlay |date=September 1984}}</ref> through November 1984.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=RePlay: The Players' Choice |magazine=RePlay |date=November 1984}}</ref><ref name="November">{{cite magazine |title=National Play Meter |magazine=[[Play Meter]] |date=November 15, 1984 |volume=10 |issue=21 |pages=28–9 |url=https://archive.org/details/play-meter-volume-10-number-21-november-15th-1984-600DPI/Play%20Meter%20-%20Volume%2010%2C%20Number%2021%20-%20November%2015th%201984%20%28Compressed%29/page/28}}</ref> ''[[Hogan's Alley (video game)|Hogan's Alley]]'' and ''[[Duck Hunt]]'' then became even more popular in American arcades, popularizing [[light gun shooter]] video games.<ref name="Adlum"/> By 1985, 50,000 cabinets had been sold, establishing Nintendo as an industry leader in the arcades.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Vs. Challenge |magazine=RePlay |date=December 1985 |volume=11 |issue=3 |page=5 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-11-issue-no.-3-december-1985-600dpi/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2011%2C%20Issue%20No.%203%20-%20December%201985%20%28Compressed%29/page/5}}</ref> In November 1985, five ''VS.'' games were on the US ''RePlay'' top 20 arcade charts, with ''Hogan's Alley'' holding the top spot.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=RePlay: The Players' Choice |magazine=RePlay |date=November 1985 |volume=11 |issue=2 |page=6 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-11-issue-no.-2-november-1985-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2011%2C%20Issue%20No.%202%20-%20November%201985%20%28Compressed%29/page/6}}</ref> ''Duck Hunt'' was also popular in arcades at the time.<ref name="Horowitz"/> The VS. System went on to become the highest-grossing [[1985 in video games|arcade platform of 1985]] in the United States,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=AMOA Expo '85: Award Winners |magazine=RePlay |date=December 1985 |volume=11 |issue=3 |page=44 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-11-issue-no.-3-december-1985-600dpi/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2011%2C%20Issue%20No.%203%20-%20December%201985/page/44}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Springsteen Sweeps JB Awards |magazine=[[Cash Box]] |date=November 23, 1985 |page=39 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1985/CB-1985-11-23.pdf#page=39}}</ref> and ''Hogan's Alley'' and ''[[Excitebike]]'' became the top two highest-grossing arcade system games that year.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=1985 Operator Survey: This Poll Says Go Gettum! |magazine=RePlay |date=November 1985 |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=91-102 (93-4) |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-11-issue-no.-2-november-1985-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2011%2C%20Issue%20No.%202%20-%20November%201985/page/93}}</ref>

The success of the VS. System gave Nintendo the confidence to [[History of the Nintendo Entertainment System#Redesign as the Nintendo Entertainment System (1985)|repackage the Famicom for North America]] as the NES. Nintendo's strong positive reputation in the arcades also generated significant interest in the NES. It also gave Nintendo the opportunity to test new games as VS. Paks in the arcades, to determine which games to release for the [[History of the Nintendo Entertainment System#North American launch (1985-1986)|NES launch]]. Nintendo's software strategy was to first release games for the Famicom, then the VS. System, and then for the NES. This allowed Nintendo to build a solid launch line-up for the NES. Many games' North American debut was on the VS. System before being released for the NES, which gave players the impression of being "amazed" at the accuracy of the arcade "ports" for the NES.<ref name="Horowitz" /> At the time, most arcade game hardware was significantly more powerful than home console hardware, and game developers would go through significant effort to try to replicate arcade games on the less powerful home consoles, often with little success.

Within a few months of its 1986 release, 20,000 ''[[VS. Super Mario Bros.]]'' arcade units were sold, becoming the best-selling ''VS.'' release, with each unit consistently earning more than {{US$|200|1986|long=no|round=-1}} per week. Its arcade success helped introduce ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' to many players who did not yet own an NES.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Horowitz |first1=Ken |title=Beyond Donkey Kong: A History of Nintendo Arcade Games |date=July 30, 2020 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |isbn=978-1-4766-4176-8 |page=156 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UXD0DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA156}}</ref> By the time the NES was launched in North America (from late 1985 to 1986), about 100,000 VS. Systems had been sold to American arcades.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Horowitz |first1=Ken |title=Beyond Donkey Kong: A History of Nintendo Arcade Games |date=July 30, 2020 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |isbn=978-1-4766-4176-8 |page=155 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UXD0DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA155}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Rx: Nintendo |magazine=RePlay |date=October 1990 |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=68, 70 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-16-issue-no.-1-october-1990-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2016%2C%20Issue%20No.%201%20-%20October%201990/page/68}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Positive attitude hit of AMOA show |magazine=[[Play Meter]] |date=November 15, 1985 |volume=11 |issue=21 |pages=24–43 (27) |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/f/fd/PlayMeter_US_Volume_11_No._21.pdf#page=27}}</ref> According to Ken Horowitz, the VS. System "was perhaps the most vital catalyst in the rise of the NES to the top of the home video game market".<ref name="Horowitz" />

In Europe, the VS. System was also a success in arcades by early 1986, before the launch of the NES there. At London's [[Amusement Trades Exhibition International]] (ATEI) show in January 1986, David Snook of ''[[Play Meter]]'' magazine listed ''VS. Super Mario Bros.'' as one of the top five hits of the show, along with ''[[Space Harrier]]'', ''[[Halley's Comet (video game)|Halley's Comet]]'', ''[[Gauntlet (1985 video game)|Gauntlet]]'' and ''[[Tehkan World Cup]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Snook |first=David |date=February 1986 |title=Corks pop at ATEI |url=https://archive.org/details/play-meter-volume-12-number-2-february-1986-600dpi/Play%20Meter%20-%20Volume%2012%2C%20Number%202%20-%20February%201986%20%28Compressed%29/page/32/mode/2up |magazine=[[Play Meter]] |pages=32–6 |volume=12 |issue=2}}</ref>

Nintendo of America announced in July 1992 that it would stop making arcade machines. The announcement included the last upcoming titles for the NES-based [[PlayChoice-10]] and the SNES-based [[Nintendo Super System]], but none for the VS. System.<ref name="Cashbox - Arcade discontinuation">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox56unse_1/page/29/mode/1up |title=Nintendo Stops Games Manufacturing; But Will Continue Supplying Software |magazine=Cashbox |date=September 12, 1992 |page=29 |via=the Internet Archive}}</ref>

==List of games==
Unknown prototypes of ''VS. System'' games may have been either unreleased or released briefly for market testing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unmamed.mameworld.info/non_other80.html#ComputerOthello|title=other unMAMEd Arcade Games up to 1990|website=unmamed.mameworld.info}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://niwanetwork.org/wiki/index.php?title=Urban_Champion&redirect=no|title=Urban Champion - NintendoWiki|website=niwanetwork.org}}</ref> The [[launch game]] is ''VS. Tennis'', released in January 1984.

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
!Title
!Distributor
!Released ({{abbr|JP|Japan}})
!Released ({{abbr|NA|North America}})
!class="unsortable"|{{abbr|Ref|Reference(s)}}
|-
| ''VS. [[Tennis (1984 video game)|Tennis]]''
|[[Nintendo]]
|{{dts|January 1984}}
|{{dts|March 1984}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flyerfever.com/vs-system-vs-tennis-jp/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619150542/https://www.flyerfever.com/vs-system-vs-tennis-jp/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 19, 2021|title=Vs. System – Flyer Fever|date=February 20, 2021}}</ref><ref name="vschallenge">{{Cite web|url=https://www.flyerfever.com/vs-challenge-screenshots/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622234255/https://www.flyerfever.com/vs-challenge-screenshots/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 22, 2021|title=Vs. System: The Vs. Challenge – Flyer Fever|date=February 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Vs. Tennis (Registration Number PA0000204665) |url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov |website=[[United States Copyright Office]] |access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| ''VS. [[Mahjong (video game)|Mahjong]]''
|Nintendo
|{{dts|February 1984}}
|Unreleased
|<ref name="lm">{{Cite web|url=https://www.flyerfever.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929225004/http://www.flyerfever.com/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 29, 2014|title=Flyer Fever – Video Game Flyers From Around The World}}</ref>
|-
| ''VS. [[Baseball (1983 video game)|Baseball]]''
|Nintendo
|{{dts|May 1, 1984}}
|{{dts|July 1984}}
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=任天堂から「VS.ベースボール」で 本格野球プレー 2人が攻守に分かれ同時対戦、タイマー制採用|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=236|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=15 May 1984|page=25|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19840515p.pdf#page=13}}</ref><ref name="vschallenge"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[Wrecking Crew (video game)|Wrecking Crew]]''
|Nintendo
|{{dts|July 26, 1984}}
|{{dts|September 1984}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flyerfever.com/vs-wrecking-crew/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622100346/https://www.flyerfever.com/vs-wrecking-crew/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 22, 2021|title=Vs. Wrecking Crew – Flyer Fever|date=February 20, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Akagi">{{cite book |last1=Akagi |first1=Masumi |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005) |trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971-2005) |date=October 13, 2006 |publisher=Amusement News Agency |language=ja |location=Japan |isbn=978-4990251215 |page=128 |url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n58/mode/1up}}</ref>
|-
| ''VS. [[Pinball (1984 video game)|Pinball]]''
|Nintendo
|{{dts|July 26, 1984}}
|{{dts|October 1984}}
|<ref name="bapin">{{cite web|url=http://www.flyerfever.com/post/94729401608/vs-balloon-fight|title=Flyer Fever - Vs. Balloon Fight / Pinball (Japan)|access-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720022650/https://www.flyerfever.com/post/94729401608/vs-balloon-fight|archive-date=July 20, 2018|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name="gopi">{{cite web|url=http://www.flyerfever.com/post/132703728293/golf-pinball|title=Flyer Fever - Golf / Pinball (Japan)|access-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720022709/https://www.flyerfever.com/post/132703728293/golf-pinball|archive-date=July 20, 2018|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name="vschallenge"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[Golf (1984 video game)|Stroke and Match Golf]]''
|Nintendo
|{{dts|July 26, 1984}}
|{{dts|October 1984}}
|<ref name="gopi"/><ref name="vschallenge"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[Golf (1984 video game)|Ladies Golf]]''
|Nintendo
|{{dts|July 26, 1984}}
|{{dts|December 1984}}
|<ref name="gopi"/><ref name="vschallenge"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[Balloon Fight]]''
|Nintendo
|{{dts|October 3, 1984}}
|{{dts|September 1984}}
|<ref name="bapin"/><ref name="Akagi"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[Clu Clu Land]]''
|Nintendo
|{{dts|December 7, 1984}}
|Unreleased
|<ref name="gmclubike">{{cite magazine|title=任天堂から1ハード2ゲームで 金塊を探し出す 「クルクルランド」とバイクレース|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=251|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=1 January 1985|page=25|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19850101p.pdf#page=13}}</ref>
|-
| ''VS. [[Excitebike]]''
|Nintendo
|{{dts|December 7, 1984}}
|{{dts|February 1985}}
|<ref name="gmclubike"/><ref name="vschallenge"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[Urban Champion]]''
|Nintendo
|{{dts|December 1984}}
|{{dts|January 1985}}
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=ジャブとKOパンチ駆使し素手による決闘任天堂から「アーバンチャンビオン」|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=254|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=15 February 1985|page=20|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19850215p.pdf#page=11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=VS Urban Champion |url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M733638 |website=Media Arts Database |publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]] |access-date=June 19, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| ''VS. [[Ice Climber]]''
|Nintendo
|{{dts|February 1, 1985}}
|{{dts|March 1985}}
|<ref name="iceg">{{cite web|url=http://www.flyerfever.com/post/104626407813/ice-climber-excite-bike|title=Flyer Fever - Ice Climber / Excite Bike (Japan)|access-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720022657/https://www.flyerfever.com/post/104626407813/ice-climber-excite-bike|archive-date=July 20, 2018|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name="vschallenge"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[Raid on Bungeling Bay]]''
|Nintendo
|{{dts|April 1985}}
|Cancelled
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Raid on Bungeling Bay|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=258|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=15 April 1985|page=21|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19850415p.pdf#page=11}}</ref><ref name="lm"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[Hogan's Alley (video game)|Hogan's Alley]]''
|Nintendo
|Unreleased
|{{dts|May 1985}}
|<ref name="vschallenge"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[Duck Hunt]]''
|Nintendo
|Unreleased
|{{dts|May 1985}}
|<ref name="vschallenge"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[Mach Rider]]''
|Nintendo
|{{dts|August 1985}}
|{{dts|November 1985}}
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Mach Rider|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=266|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=15 August 1985|page=7|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19850815p.pdf#page=4}}</ref><ref name="vschallenge"/><ref name="Akagi"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[Soccer (1985 video game)|Soccer]]''
|Nintendo
|{{dts|December 10, 1985}}
|{{dts|November 1985}}
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=2人同時プレイの試合展開 対戦サッカーで 任天堂からROMキット販売|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=275|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=1 January 1986|page=24|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19860101p.pdf#page=13}}</ref><ref name="vschallenge"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[Battle City (video game)|Battle City]]''
|[[Namco]]
|{{dts|1985}}
|Unreleased
|
|-
| ''VS. [[Star Luster]]''
|Namco
|{{dts|1985}}
|Unreleased
|
|-
| ''VS. [[Super Mario Bros.]]''
|Nintendo
|Unreleased
|{{dts|February 1986}}
|<ref name="lm"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[Ninja JaJaMaru-kun]]''
|[[Jaleco]]
|{{dts|April 1986}}
|Unreleased
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Jaleco Ships New Game For "VS. System"|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=283|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=1 May 1986|page=20|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19860501p.pdf#page=11}}</ref>
|-
| ''VS. [[Gumshoe (video game)|Gumshoe]]''
|Nintendo
|Unreleased
|{{dts|May 1986}}
|<ref name="lm"/><ref name="Akagi"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[Slalom (video game)|Slalom]]''
|Nintendo
|Unreleased
|{{dts|October 1986}}
|<ref name="lm"/><ref name="Akagi"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[Gradius (video game)|Gradius]]''
|Nintendo
|Unreleased
|{{dts|November 1986}}
|<ref name="lm"/><ref name="Akagi"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[The Goonies (Famicom video game)|The Goonies]]''
|Nintendo
|Unreleased
|{{dts|November 1986}}
|<ref name="lm"/><ref name="Akagi"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[Sky Kid]]''
|[[Sunsoft]]
|Unreleased
|{{dts|November 1986}}
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Cash Box Tours The AMOA Expo '86 Exhibits|magazine=[[Cashbox (magazine)|The Cash Box]]|volume=50|issue=24|publisher=The Cash Box Publishing|date=1986-11-29|page=28}}</ref>
|-
| ''VS. [[R.B.I. Baseball|Atari R.B.I. Baseball]]''
|Namco (JP)<br />[[Atari Games]] (US)
|{{dts|December 10, 1986}}
|{{dts|1987}}
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Namco's "Family Stadium" Has Enjoyed Popularity|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=310|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=15 June 1987|page=22|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19870615p.pdf#page=12}}</ref><ref name="lm"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[Super Chinese]]''
|Namco
|{{dts|1986}}
|Unreleased
|
|-
| ''VS. [[Super Xevious: GAMP no Nazo]]''
|Namco
|{{dts|1986}}
|Unreleased
|
|-
| ''VS. [[Tower of Babel (1986 video game)|Tower of Babel]]''
|Namco
|{{dts|1986}}
|Unreleased
|
|-
| ''VS. [[Valkyrie no Bōken: Toki no Kagi Densetsu]]''
|Namco
|{{dts|1986}}
|Unreleased
|
|-
| ''VS. [[Castlevania (1986 video game)|Castlevania]]''
|Nintendo
|Unreleased
|{{dts|April 1987}}
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=U.S. Video Team Picks The 'Top Games' Of ACME '87|magazine=[[Cashbox (magazine)|The Cash Box]]|volume=50|issue=43|publisher=The Cash Box Publishing|date=1987-04-25|page=34}}</ref>
|-
| ''VS. Family Tennis''
|Namco
|{{dts|December 1987}}
|Unreleased
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=「ファイナルラップ」スタンダード型2人用普及型にナムコ、自社ロケ用「ファミリーテニス」も|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=325|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=1 February 1988|page=19|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19880201p.pdf#page=10}}</ref>
|-
| ''VS. [[Ring King|T.K.O. Boxing]]''
|[[Data East]]
|Unreleased
|{{dts|1987}}
|<ref name="lm"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[The Quest of Ki]]''
|Namco
|{{dts|1988}}
|Unreleased
|
|-
| ''VS. [[Top Gun (1987 video game)|Top Gun]]''
|[[Konami]]
|Unreleased
|{{dts|March 1988}}
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Konami Intro's 'VS. Top Gun'|magazine=[[Cashbox (magazine)|The Cash Box]]|volume=51|issue=35|publisher=The Cash Box Publishing|date=1988-03-05|page=33}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/videogames/show/1504|title=VS. Top Gun - Konami (Video Game, 1987) - USA|website=Museum of the Game}}</ref>
|-
| ''VS. [[Freedom Force (1988 video game)|Freedom Force]]''
|Nintendo
|Unreleased
|{{dts|March 1988}}
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=意欲示す米国メーカー日本製は開発に余裕も|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=330|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=15 April 1988|page=7|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19880415p.pdf#page=4}}</ref>
|-
| ''VS. [[Platoon (1987 video game)|Platoon]]''
|Sunsoft
|Unreleased
|{{dts|November 1988}}
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=AMOA '88: Music & Mayhem, Or Songs & Sons of Double Dragon!|magazine=[[Cashbox (magazine)|The Cash Box]]|volume=52|issue=22|publisher=The Cash Box Publishing|date=1988-11-26|page=28}}</ref>
|-
| ''VS. [[Dr. Mario]]''
|Nintendo
|Unreleased
|{{dts|August 1990}}
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Nintendo Bows VS. Dr. Mario Pak At San Diego Distributor Meeting|magazine=RePlay|date=August 1990|volume=16|issue=1|pages=44–46}}</ref>
|-
| ''VS. Motocross''
|Nintendo
|Unreleased
|Cancelled
|<ref name="bestsellersvs">{{cite web|url=https://www.flyerfever.com/post/94728535378/vs-system|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207212402/https://www.flyerfever.com/post/94728535378/vs-system|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 7, 2019|title=Flyer Fever - VS.-Pak Library of Proven Best Sellers (U.S.)}}</ref>
|-
| ''VS. Nintendo 500''
|Nintendo
|Unreleased
|Cancelled
|<ref name="bestsellersvs"/>
|-
| ''VS. Football''
|Nintendo
|Unreleased
|Cancelled
|<ref name="bestsellersvs"/>
|-
| ''VS. Helifighter''
|Nintendo
|Unreleased
|Cancelled
|<ref name="bestsellersvs"/>
|-
| ''VS. Head to Head Baseball''
|Nintendo
|Unreleased
|Cancelled
|
|-
| ''VS. [[Mighty Bomb Jack]]''
|[[Tecmo]]
|Cancelled
|Cancelled
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=発想転換したTV機 テクモ|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=294|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=15 October 1986|page=16|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19861015p.pdf#page=9}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Counterfeiters Squeezed at JAMMA Show|magazine=[[Play Meter]]|volume=12|issue=18|publisher=Skybird Publishing|date=15 October 1986|page=73}}</ref>
|-
| ''VS. Great Tennis''
|Jaleco
|Cancelled
|Unreleased
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=26th Amusement Machine Show|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=343|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=1 November 1988|page=8|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19881101p.pdf#page=5}}</ref>
|-
| ''VS. Lionex'' (prototype)
|Sunsoft
|Cancelled
|Unreleased
|<ref name="lm"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[The Wing of Madoola]]'' (prototype)
|Sunsoft
|Cancelled
|Unreleased
|<ref name="lm"/>
|-
| ''VS. [[Tetris (Atari)|Tetris]]''
|Atari Games
|Unreleased
|Cancelled
|
|}

==See also==
* [[PlayChoice-10]], Nintendo's other NES-based arcade series
* [[Nintendo Super System]], the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]]-based arcade system
* ''[[Wild Gunman]]'' (1984), which had a fictional VS. arcade version featured in the film ''[[Back to the Future Part II]]'' (1989)
* [[R.O.B.]], a toy robot designed to help the NES's commercial performance

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://nintendovs.com NintendoVS.com] fan site
* {{KLOV game|id=8895}}
* [http://playchoice.riemen.net/vs_list.html Nintendo VS. System Games and Accessories: PAR Playchoice-10 Games and Resources]

{{Nintendo Entertainment System}}
{{nintendo hardware|}}
{{Dedicated consoles}}

[[Category:Nintendo arcade system boards]]
[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System]]
[[Category:Nintendo VS. System games|*]]
[[Category:Nintendo hardware]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 1984]]
[[Category:Products and services discontinued in 1992]]