data/claims/stack-up-history.yamlStack-Up (history and reception)
Game: Stack-Up.
Stack-Up came out for the NES in North America in October 1985. stack-up-history/release-na
PDF p. 12 — one row of the list's Title, Licensee, and Released columns; it gives a month, not a dayStack-Up Nintendo October 1985Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Computer Entertainer's Availability Update of February 1986 puts Stack-Up among the Nintendo games of the first quarter of 1986, adding that some had been on sale in New York City only for two or three months (stack-up/launch-games).
Cited by: Stack-Up
A retrospective catalog of Famicom software lists a Nintendo title, Block Set (ブロックセット), released on 26 July 1985. stack-up-history/release-japan
PDF p. 123, ファミコンソフト完全目録, 1985 column, no. 055 — the text layer keeps only the row's end and loses its number and date; the lead read the row on the page image (the PDF's 600 dpi text mask) as "055 1985/07/26 『ブロックセット』 任天堂". The catalog lists ROM cartridges in order of releaseックセットj任天堂Our translation055. 26 July 1985. Block Set. Nintendo.Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: New T1 claim, the catalog's Block Set row 055 (26 July 1985) read by the lead on the page image, not tied to Stack-Up.The catalog is an unattributed retrospective mook with no publisher or year in the scan, and it names no source for its dates. It doesn't say that Block Set is the Japanese Stack-Up, and no source read here does. Scullion's sidebar says the western game's title screen reads Robot Block (stack-up-history/title-screen).
Cited by: Stack-Up
Computer Entertainer's C.E.S. wrap-up of July 1985 describes Nintendo's game-playing robot shown with two games, one of them a re-ordering of stacks of colored discs held by the robot. stack-up-history/ces-1985
p. 10, C.E.S. wrap-up, Game-Playing RobotNintendo's interactive, game-playing Video Robot (sneakComputer Entertainer, Vol. 4, No. 4 (July 1985) · p. 10, C.E.S. wrap-up, Game-Playing Robot — the OCR reads "livas" for "It was" before it, and the next line "Scks of colored discs held by the robot, and the other requiring", with "Scks" for "stacks"shown with two games, one involving a re-ordering ofComputer Entertainer, Vol. 4, No. 4 (July 1985) · p. 10, C.E.S. wrap-up, Game-Playing Robotof colored discs held by the robot, and the other requiringComputer Entertainer, Vol. 4, No. 4 (July 1985) · p. 1, C.E.S. Wrap-Up — the report's heading; its robot item is on p. 10C.E.S. Wrap-UpRevised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: The July 1985 C.E.S. wrap-up, no longer called the earliest description of Stack-Up; the notes say its disc game matches the premise.The issue is dated July 1985. The report names neither game; its disc game matches Stack-Up's premise (stack-up-history/premise).
Cited by: Stack-Up
In February 1986 Computer Entertainer listed Stack-Up, in Nintendo's Robot Series at $40, among the 15 games that came out with the NES in the markets where it was on sale, and its Availability Update put "Stack-Up for Robot" among Nintendo's games of the first quarter of 1986. stack-up-history/launch-games
p. 13, Nintendo Updateis accompanied by 15 games in the markets where it isComputer Entertainer, Vol. 4, No. 11 (February 1986) · p. 13, Nintendo UpdateThe games are STACK-UP (Robot Series at $40);Computer Entertainer, Vol. 4, No. 11 (February 1986) · p. 14, Availability Update, Nintendo — under the heading "FIRST QUARTER", which the list says is based on New York and Los Angeles and notes "(some have been eveilable in NYC anly for 2-3 months)", the OCR's reading of "available" and "only"Stack-Up for RobotChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Stack-Up
The NES Encyclopedia credits Stack-Up's development to Nintendo R&D1. stack-up-history/developer
Stack-Up — the entry's header block, with "Year 1985" and "Publisher Nintendo"Developer Nintendo R&D1Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.The manual names no staff, and no Nintendo source naming the developers has been read.
Cited by: Stack-Up
Stack-Up needs R.O.B., the Robotic Operating Buddy: the player gets R.O.B. to stack colored discs to match a pattern on the screen. It can be played four ways: Direct mode, a Memory mode that programs up to 100 robot moves, and Bingo for one or two players. stack-up-history/premise
pp. 1-2 (PDF p. 2), IntroductionThis game requires R.O.B., your Robotic Operating Buddy.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 1-2 (PDF p. 2), Object of the Game/Game Description — the sentence ends "colored pattern on the screen"; the text layer puts a line of the next sentence between themYour challenge is to get R.O.B.TM to stack the colored discs to match theStack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 1-2 (PDF p. 2), Object of the Game/Game Descriptionplayed four ways: In the Direct mode, try to match the pattern by directing R.O.B. through the shortest number of moves. The Memory mode allows you to program up to 100 robot moves as you try to match the on-screen pattern. Or, try one or two player BingoThe Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 157, Stack-UpChoose to accept the challenge in one of four different ways.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Stack-Up
R.O.B.'s attachments for Stack-Up are two hands, five blocks (one each of red, white, blue, yellow, and green), and five trays that fit into the five slots on R.O.B.'s base; Nintendo's 1987 Player's Guide says the Game Pak includes the five colored discs and disc holders. R.O.B. was sold separately. stack-up-history/accessories
pp. 5-6 (PDF p. 4), Names of R.O.B.'s Parts and Attachments — the text layer doubles the apostrophe in the second "R.O.B.'s"Fit the hands onto the ends of R.O.B.'s arms. Next, fit the trays into the five slots on R.O.B.''s base.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 5-6 (PDF p. 4), Names of R.O.B.'s Parts and Attachments — the picture's labels read "Hands (2)", "Blocks (5) (red, white, blue, yellow, green; 1 ea.)", "Trays (5)", and "Game Pak"Blocks (5)Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 5-6 (PDF p. 4), Names of R.O.B.'s Parts and Attachmentsyellow, green; 1 ea.)The Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 157, Stack-Uppak includes the five colored discs and disc holders.The Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 157, Stack-UpR.O.B. is sold separately.)Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 5-6 (PDF p. 4), Names of R.O.B.'s Parts and AttachmentsHands (2)Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 5-6 (PDF p. 4), Names of R.O.B.'s Parts and AttachmentsTrays (5)Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: "R.O.B.'s attachments" for "the game comes with"; quoted "Hands (2)" and "Trays (5)".The manual's parts order form sells the colored blocks, the block trays, and the block hands as sets (pp. 21-22, PDF p. 12), and Gyromite's lists the same parts (gyromite-history/robot-parts).
Cited by: Stack-Up
The player doesn't steer R.O.B. with the pad. The pad moves Professor Hector, who jumps up, down, left, and right from key to key on the screen, and R.O.B. moves according to the command key he jumps on; on controller 2 the pad moves Professor Vector. R.O.B. grasps and releases, raises and lowers, and turns and carries objects left and right. stack-up-history/professor-keys
pp. 7-8 (PDF p. 5), Controls — the control pad's entryThis is used to operate Professor Hector.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 7-8 (PDF p. 5), Controls — the sentence ends "which position is pressed" after the picture's labelsThe Professor jumps up, down, left and right depending onStack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 7-8 (PDF p. 5), ControlsNote: On Controller 2, the control pad is used to operate Professor Vector.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 11-12 (PDF p. 7), DirectR.O.B. moves according to the command key that Professor Hector jumps on.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 11-12 (PDF p. 7), DirectR.O.B. Makes Three Kinds of Movement: 1. Grasps and releases objects 2. Raises and lowers objects 3. Turns and carries objects to the left and rightThe Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 157, Stack-UpProfessor Hector will help you as he jumps from key to key on the screen, controlling R.O.B.'s every move.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Stack-Up
In Direct mode the player restacks the blocks from a starting configuration to the final one shown in the upper right of the screen, in as few moves and as fast as possible; the faster, the more bonus points. The blocks start on tray 3, in front of R.O.B., from top to bottom red, white, blue, yellow, and green. stack-up-history/direct
pp. 9-10 (PDF p. 6), Direct — the sentence begins "The object of this game is to move the colored" and ends "figuration in as few moves as possible and as fast as possible", with picture labels between its lines in the text layerblocks from a starting configuration to a final con-Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 9-10 (PDF p. 6), Directfiguration in as few moves as possible and as fast as possible.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 9-10 (PDF p. 6), Direct — the text layer reads "R.0O.B." for "R.O.B."Stack the blocks on Tray No.3 (directly in front of R.0O.B.) from top to bottom in the following order: red, white, blue, yellow and green.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 11-12 (PDF p. 7), Directrestack the blocks as directed in the upper right of the T.V. screen in as few moves as possible. The faster you do it the more bonus points you will get.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Stack-Up
In Memory mode the player writes into memory, ahead of time, the commands that should restack the blocks: Professor Hector jumps on a memory key to write the command chosen with A and B onto it, up to 100 keys, ending with an END command or a blank. The player sets the Professor's speed to match R.O.B.'s, and on playback the Professor runs the program to music while R.O.B. restacks the blocks. The faster the program is worked out, the more bonus points. stack-up-history/memory
pp. 11-12 (PDF p. 7), Memory — the sentence begins "This is a challenging game where you must write"into memory the procedure you think will restack the blocks from a starting configuration to a final configuration in as few moves as possible. The faster you figure it out the more bonus points you get! After you finish, play back the memory to see if the memorized procedure works.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 13-14 (PDF p. 8), MemoryMake Professor Hector jump on top of the memory key where the command will be written. The command shown above the cursor will then be written on the key (up to 100 keys can be written).Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 13-14 (PDF p. 8), MemoryAfter you are finished, write an END" command onto the last key, or simply leave a space.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 13-14 (PDF p. 8), MemoryIf there is a discrepancy between the movement of the Professor and R.O.B. during playback (i.e., the Professor is too fast or too slow for R.O.B ) adjust the speed of Professor Hector.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 13-14 (PDF p. 8), Memory — the sentence begins "The speed selection screen will then appear. Press it"; the text layer puts step 8's heading between its linesagain, and Professor Hector will play back the program you wrote into memory while accompanied by music and R.O.B. will restack the blocks.The Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 157, Stack-Upyou can write R.O.B.'s moves into memory, then playStack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 13-14 (PDF p. 8), MemoryUse the A or B button to move the cursor beneath the command symbol you wish to use.Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Quoted the A or B cursor line.Cited by: Stack-Up
In one-player Bingo the commands sit beside the rows and columns of a grid of keys, and the Professor sends one to R.O.B. by making every key in its row or column dark. The bugs Flipper, who flips the keys he passes, and Spike, who crawls around the board, get in the way, and a Professor who runs into one is knocked off the screen and comes back at the re-entry point. A move that completes a row and a column at once sends nothing until one of them is undone. The blocks start in any order, colors don't count, and a dropped block means starting over. stack-up-history/bingo-1p
pp. 15-16 (PDF p. 9), Bingo (1 Player)move the blocks from a starting configuration to a final configuration without dropping any of them.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 15-16 (PDF p. 9), Bingo (1 Player)from top to bottom in any order. (In this game, disregard the color of the blocks.)Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 15-16 (PDF p. 9), Bingo (1 Player)complete a row or column of five keys to send the corresponding command to R.O.B. (The commands appear to the side of the rows and columns.)Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 15-16 (PDF p. 9), Bingo (1 Player)The keys must all be dark to complete a row.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 15-16 (PDF p. 9), Bingo (1 Player)The bugs Flipper and Spike will try to interrupt your plans. Flipper - Flips along the keys, changing them as he goes along.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 15-16 (PDF p. 9), Bingo (1 Player) — Spike's entry; the text layer sets the name on the line above- Crawls around on the keyboard.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 15-16 (PDF p. 9), Bingo (1 Player)If the Professor collides with one of the bugs, he is sent flying off the screen. He then returns to the game at the re-entrance position.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 15-16 (PDF p. 9), Bingo (1 Player)When a row and a column are completed at the same time by pushing a common key, the command signal cannot be sent (both commands are flashing). No command is sent until you make one of the commands incomplete again.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 15-16 (PDF p. 9), Bingo (1 Player)If you drop one of the blocks, press the select or reset button and start again from the beginning!Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Stack-Up
Two-player Bingo is head to head: each Professor sends commands the same way, and the player with the most blocks on their own trays after 5 minutes wins. Three blocks start on tray 3 and one each on trays 2 and 4; Professor Hector, on controller 1, has trays 1 and 2, and Professor Vector, on controller 2, trays 4 and 5. Only Spike appears. A Professor knocked off the screen comes back flashing, at half speed for about 20 seconds, and can pass the other Professor and Spike unharmed meanwhile; when the two Professors collide, the one that wasn't moving is knocked off. stack-up-history/bingo-2p
pp. 17-18 (PDF p. 10), Bingo (2 Players)In this head-to-head game, two players compete to see who can get the most blocks onto their trays in 5 minutes.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 17-18 (PDF p. 10), Bingo (2 Players) — the sentence begins "Put three blocks"in tray No. 3, and one block in trays No. 2 and 4 (in any order of color).Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 17-18 (PDF p. 10), Bingo (2 Players)Professor Hector: Controller 1, tray No. 1 and 2 Professor Vector: Controller 2, tray No.4 and 5Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 17-18 (PDF p. 10), Bingo (2 Players)In this game, the bug Spike appears, but not Flipper.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 17-18 (PDF p. 10), Bingo (2 Players)While the Professor is flashing, his speed drops by half (for about 20 seconds).Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 17-18 (PDF p. 10), Bingo (2 Players) — the sentence begins "During that period," and ends "ting bumped off the screen"he can go past the other Professor and Spike without get-Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 17-18 (PDF p. 10), Bingo (2 Players) — the text layer reads "*\f" for "If" before itthe Professors collide with each other, whoever was not moving will be sent flying off the screen and start to flash.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 17-18 (PDF p. 10), Bingo (2 Players)The game time limit is 5 minutes.The Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 157, Stack-Upon-screen spoilsports- Flipper and Spike - will interrupt your best laid plansStack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 17-18 (PDF p. 10), Bingo (2 Players) — the sentence's start, that each player completes rows and columns to send commands to R.O.B., is split across the text layer's linesthe same way as in 1 Player Bingo.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 17-18 (PDF p. 10), Bingo (2 Players)If a Professor collides with Spike, he is sent flying off the screen.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 17-18 (PDF p. 10), Bingo (2 Players) — the sentence begins "When he", which the text layer moves below itreturns, he starts to flash.Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Quoted the same-way line and the Spike knock-off and flash lines.Cited by: Stack-Up
In Direct, Memory, and one-player Bingo a phase scores 10 × (Par − Step) + Bonus, where Step is the number of commands the Professor sent, Par the average number of steps needed to restack the blocks, and Bonus extra points for restacking them all quickly. stack-up-history/scoring
pp. 19-20 (PDF p. 11), ScoringFor Direct, Memory and Bingo(1 Player) games, once you have managed to restack the blocks as designated, press the start button to add up the score.Stack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 19-20 (PDF p. 11), Scoring10 x (Par - Step) + Bonus = ScoreStack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 19-20 (PDF p. 11), Scoring — the text layer lists the terms "POINT", "STEP", "PAR", and "BONUS" above their definitions: The number of commands sent by the ProfessorStack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 19-20 (PDF p. 11), Scoring: The average number of steps needed to restack the blocksStack-Up NES instruction booklet (North America) · pp. 19-20 (PDF p. 11), Scoring: Extra points for restacking all the blocks in a short period of timeChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Stack-Up
Nintendo's 1987 Player's Guide puts Stack-Up in its Robot Series with Gyromite, the two on one page. stack-up-history/robot-series
contents — the contents line runs on to "DONKEY KONG JR. MATH 157"GYROMITE-STACK-UP-The Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · index — under the index's Robot Series heading, after "Gyromite 157"Stack-up 157The Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 157, Stack-Up — the page's heading for Stack-Up; the text layer reads "TACK-UP" for the title above itHIGH TECH JUGGLINGThe Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 157, Stack-Up — the page's series banner, above "HIGH TECH JUGGLING"ROBOT SERIESRevised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Quoted the page's ROBOT SERIES banner.Cited by: Stack-Up
Chris Scullion's NES Encyclopedia (2019) notes that every NES Deluxe Set with R.O.B. also came with Gyromite, which makes Stack-Up the only stand-alone game for the robot, and that its accessories make its box twice as thick as a standard NES game's. stack-up-history/standalone
Stack-UpSINCE EVERY NES Deluxe Set that came with the R.O.B. robot also came bundled with a copy of Gyromite, this gives Stack-Up the dubious honour of being the only standalone game designed for the doomed peripheral.The NES Encyclopedia: Every Game Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System · Stack-Upthe box is actually twice as thick as a standard NES game.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Stack-Up
Chris Scullion's NES Encyclopedia says the western Stack-Up's title screen reads Robot Block, not Stack-Up. stack-up-history/title-screen
Stack-Up, Fact sidebar — the sidebar's OCR is garbled around it; it opens "The western version of Stack-Up is pretty" and the parenthesis after "Robot Block" begins "the game's Japanese" before the text is lostThe title screen doesn't even say Stack-Up: it says Robot BlockChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Stack-Up