Why are some Nintendo Vs. games even called "Vs." ?

YieArKade

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Why are some Nintendo Vs. games even called "Vs." ?

Only a few Vs. games, such as Tennis, Baseball, and Balloon Fight, offer simultaneous play.

So why did Nintendo put Vs. in front of so many single-player game titles like Vs. Castlevania, Excitebike, Goonies, etc.?

I know it doesn't make any difference now. But don't you think it was misleading for Nintendo to put Vs. in front of game titles that don't have head-to-head game play? Is 2-player alternating play really "versus" game play?
 
Only a few Vs. games, such as Tennis, Baseball, and Balloon Fight, offer simultaneous play.

So why did Nintendo put Vs. in front of so many single-player game titles like Vs. Castlevania, Excitebike, Goonies, etc.?

I know it doesn't make any difference now. But don't you think it was misleading for Nintendo to put Vs. in front of game titles that don't have head-to-head game play? Is 2-player alternating play really "versus" game play?

I always thought they were thinking more you VS. the game.
 
The hardware platform is referred to as the Vs. Unisystem. So all games for it are "Vs. Super Mario Bros. Vs. Excitebike, ect."
 
Probably because they are availible on multiple platforms, and the Vs. versions are different.

You can play Super Mario Bros. on an NES or Playchoice, but Vs. Super Mario is different. Same with Excitebike, Duck Hunt and more.
 
I think the reason they called it Vs. was because of the dual set of controls.

In a two player game, where players don't play at the same time (like SMB), each player gets their own set of controls and joystick.

That's what I think...
 
I think the reason they called it Vs. was because of the dual set of controls.

In a two player game, where players don't play at the same time (like SMB), each player gets their own set of controls and joystick.

That's what I think...

That IS true. Especially if you consider all the ninty uprights before Vs. had only 1 controller.
 
I think the dual controls is why the system was called "Vs.", but I think the games are just called that to avoid confusion of what platform the games are for. Kind of like how "Kirby 64" and "Super Mario 64" aren't actually the sixty-fourth game in their respective series, but when you mention them everyone knows which one you're talking about and which system it's for. When someone says "I bought a Vs. Super Mario Bros!" we all know what they're talking about. I agree it's kind of a dubious title but I don't think they meant for it to be.
 
I have to disagree. That theory doesn't fit in with the fact that the Nintendo arcade cocktail versions of DK, Popeye, etc., had 2 sets of controls, but were not considered "Vs.".

Even with Nintendo's Game & Watch Vs. Micro Systems, they were all 2-player simultaneous. And it seems the simultaneous play is why "Vs." was even used to describe the Vs. Micro System at all.

http://www.shopncsx.com/images1/products/detail/mario_vs_system_dk_hockey_21.jpg


Was Tennis the first Vs. title for their Vs. line of arcade games? Seems after that, they just got stuck using Vs. to describe any game that used that pcb.

I think the reason they called it Vs. was because of the dual set of controls.

In a two player game, where players don't play at the same time (like SMB), each player gets their own set of controls and joystick.

That's what I think...
 
I have to disagree. That theory doesn't fit in with the fact that the Nintendo arcade cocktail versions of DK, Popeye, etc., had 2 sets of controls, but were not considered "Vs.".

Even with Nintendo's Game & Watch Vs. Micro Systems, they were all 2-player simultaneous. And it seems the simultaneous play is why "Vs." was even used to describe the Vs. Micro System at all.

http://www.shopncsx.com/images1/products/detail/mario_vs_system_dk_hockey_21.jpg


Was Tennis the first Vs. title for their Vs. line of arcade games? Seems after that, they just got stuck using Vs. to describe any game that used that pcb.

I think all cocktails by all manufacturers have two sets of controls.

My theory, I believe, is solid. :) :D
 
Tell me you did not just say that!!! j/k Yeah, we'll never know.

Anyway, quick question. Is Vs. Gradius the same as the Playchoice version except for the title screen?
 
I think the original intention to calling it Vs. was to have head-to-head games. Hence, the dual-screened Vs. Dualsystem where each player would have his or her own point of view. But it ended up being a brand that included the Vs. Unisystem and they ended up releasing more 1P titles to increase the number of titles and add variety.

If you look at all of the arcade flyers for the Vs. system, most of them tout how there are so many games to choose from and you'll never run out of opportunities to keep your location fresh and new. Become the "quick change artist."

Here's an example excerpt of them touting the head-to-head play as a new concept:

"The Vs. System is out to change the face of video game play. And it's doing it head-on with interactive, dual screen monitors. Now players can simultaneously view the action from their own vantage on their own screen. So the look, the feel, and the challenge are as close to real competition as you can get. And only Nintendo has it!"
 
Wasn't there the original Vs. cabinets were you could actually play against someone. Like whoever got the most points or something in a 1 player game like say Castlevania. I thought the two sides somehow linked with each other.

http://www.gamingsanctuary.com/NinVSSYS.jpg
 

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