Nintendo VS. System
The Nintendo VS. System is an arcade system developed and produced by Nintendo from 1984 to 1990. It is based on most of the same hardware as the Family Computer (Famicom), later released as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). 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.
A VS. Dr. Mario arcade machine | |
| Developer | Nintendo |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Nintendo |
| Type | Arcade video game |
| Release date | January 1984 |
| Lifespan | 1984-1990 |
| Discontinued | 1990 |
| Units sold | 100,000 |
| Media | ROM chips |
| CPU | Ricoh 2A03 |
| Platform | NES-based |
| Best-selling game | VS. Super Mario Bros. |
| Successor | PlayChoice-10 |
The VS. System was a commercial success in the United States, with about 100,000 arcade cabinets sold, as the highest-grossing arcade machine of 1985. It was the first version of the Famicom hardware to debut in North America, in 1984. The system's success in the arcades proved the market for the official release of the NES console in North America in 1985.