Best/Worst looking Game Console

[Sonicwolf]

I wanted to know what other people consider to be the best looking console, style wise and such. Basically, whatever you think looks awesome. PLEASE DONT TURN THIS INTO PS3 VS 360. (that always seems to happen)

Rules - Console must accept cartridges/discs. No singularly dedicated game consoles.

Best Looking - Dreamcast - I always found that it looked powerful and sleek, a big difference compared to its competition at the time of release. It was also pretty compact for the power it held at the time.

Worst Looking - Colecovision - I think this thing is hideous. Its a mish mash of old pong machines, what with the attached controllers mashed on top, mixed with some Star Wars sci-fi styling. A giant brick with a matching giant brick power supply.

[Kid Ice]

best - Vectrex if it counts....if not, PlayStation

worst - Intellivision

[mnbren05]

Best- Ps2 slim looked very nice overall after the box like original ps2

Worst- Jaguar/Game Cube Both had unsusal designs and I never wanted to leave them out for others to see

[eugenek]

Best - Sega Wondermega. That is one sharp looking console, especially when the LEDs are lit.

Worst - NEC Supergrafx. It looks cheap and toylike, like the bottom of a GI Joe playset from the 80s.

[k8track]

I have to disagree with the first three posters on the worst-looking console. I'm very biased when it comes to the Colecovision; I used to be obsessed with it as a kid and wanted one very badly. I thought it looked cool--still do--and even had a Colecovision ad taped on my bedroom wall.

Sorry Kid Ice, I freakin' love the original Intellivision design, I love the gold and woodgrain and numerical keypads. Love the Jaguar as well, I love it because of its unusual shape/design and black and red color scheme. It especially looks cool (and strange) with the CD attachment on top and the wicked boss keypad gamepad controllers on the side.

Other designs I love are the original Famicom (I didn't get to see one till years later), the red Sharp Twin Famicom, the Bally Astrocade, Coleco Telstar Arcade (who doesn't love triangles?), the Mountain Dew edition original Xbox, and of course the original heavy sixer Atari VCS.

The only butt ugly one I can't stand is the original American purple and gray SNES, even uglier when the gray yellowed over time. The Japanese Super Famicom looked infinitely cooler.

Didn't I answer this already a while back? Oh well.

[slapdash]

I'm almost certain there's already a thread about this...

Best: N64 (sexy like a Corvette)
Worse: Pokemon N64 (OHMIGOD WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!?)

[Misto]

Best: Vectrex, Genesis (model 2), SNES mini, Gamecube, Panasonic Q, Jaguar

Worst: Atari XEGS, 2600, O2, PS3

[theChad]

Seconding Vectrex for best and Supergrafx for worst.

EDIT: Thirding Vectrex

[Sonicwolf]

The only butt ugly one I can't stand is the original American purple and gray SNES, even uglier when the gray yellowed over time. The Japanese Super Famicom looked infinitely cooler.

I recently purchased a Super Famicom for 7 bucks and I almost died when I compared it side by side with the Super Nintendo. The Super Nintendo is hideous. I dont know why they would wreck such a beautiful design.

the SNES is pretty bad... That and the George Foreman Gri--- I mean, PlayStation 3...

[Steve W]

Best looking consoles, I'd have to say either the Turbo Duo, Genesis 3, or Atari 7800.

Worst looking consoles, I'd have to go with either the PC-FX, most models of the Philips CD-i, or the unreleased Ultravision. Damn, that thing was fugly.

[Sonicwolf]

most models of the Philips CD-i.

I agree. All of the CD-I systems look pretty horrendous. Like 80s compact disc players.

[j_factor]

Speaking of compact disc players, I quite like the look of the Sega CDX. I remember its compact design seeming downright futuristic at the time. Dreamcast is also very sleek and modern looking.

Worst looking, I have to say the original SMS. I'm sure someone will disagree, but I think it's just too weird looking with the shape and the weird stuff printed on it. Also, Jaguar CD looks like a toilet. :p

[walrusmonger]

My favorite is probably the PS3 or duo-r, least is the r-zone or game boy micro.

[k8track]

Didn't I answer this already a while back? Oh well.
Aha, I knew I typed part of that answer before:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114474

But that thread was for good consoles with bad designs. This current one is more inclusive.

[Nebagram]

My favourites are probably the Master System 2 (with the roll-open lid), the PS3 (it's imposing) and the PSOne. As for worst, I'd probably have to go with the original NES- it just looks like a lunchbox.

[Cornelius]

I'll second the CDX for best. I don't keep it out, so every time I see it in storage I do a doubletake because of how small it is.

I also really dig the 3do FZ-1. Something about the way it looks like it is on pillars and it is just overall appealing to me. The FZ-10 doesn't do much for me.

For worst I'll have to go along with the SNES sentiments. I think they should have stuck more along the lines of the NES 2, which I rather like.

[Sonicwolf]

I also really dig the 3do FZ-1. Something about the way it looks like it is on pillars and it is just overall appealing to me. The FZ-10 doesn't do much for me.

Im the same way. The FZ-1 almost looks more powerful to me. I like the original Panasonic 3DO, one of my favorites.

[john_soper]

2600 Woodgrain for my favorite, I love 70s products trying to look futuristic.

[Pantechnicon]

Best:

Atari 5200 - Big and sexy. (I know...I know) (http://resources.bplondon.org/images/antiinspiration/atari-5200.jpg)
Sega Master System Model I
Dreamcast
Gamecube - Truth in advertising, I guess.
Game Boy Advance (non SP)

Worst:
SNES model I - Bland. And can somebody explain why I need four fingers to turn the thing on?
Intellivision I - Worst of the woodgrains.
Game Gear
N64

[j_factor]

SNES model I - Bland. And can somebody explain why I need four fingers to turn the thing on?

I don't disagree with the bland part, but, uh, I can turn it on with one finger just fine. Perhaps you have weak digits?

[Sonicwolf]

I dislike the Genesis model 1. Its just a little to clunky and awkward looking. That and the lack of standard Genesis av out and the power sliding switch is also a pain in the ass.

[k8track]

I don't disagree with the bland part, but, uh, I can turn it on with one finger just fine. Perhaps you have weak digits?
Oh snap, Pantech just got PWN3D!

And Pantech, why is Intellivision I the "worst of the woodgrains"? Could you elaborate? It's freakin' gorgeous, is what it is! We should sit down and settle this Frost/Nixon-style. (I call Frost.)

[namzep]

Best Looking: Sharp Twin Famicom (black & green color scheme)

Worst Looking: the CD-i or Atari Jaguar

[abbub]

Best? Hrm... Probably the SNES...it just looks like fun.

Worst? This isn't 'one' console, so I'm not sure how valid an answer it is, but the Genesis with the second generation Sega CD (or even the first generation) and a 32x just looks silly. :)

[GnawRadar]

Well, I'm the only one so far and even though it doesn't get much use anymore, I think the Wii is one of the best looking consoles. Its a simple design and when its on it's stand it just looks very cool with the rest of my systems. As for the worst looking system, I'm going to go with original Xbox (its just so damned big!) and the Tiger Game.com.

[Slate]

Worst Looking: the CD-i or Atari Jaguar

Could you be more specific? There's supposed to be about 30 different versions of the CD-i ;)

As for me, I don't know about the best looking but as for the worst, R-Zone. I don't think it should even qualify as a video game system. Well, perhaps some of the non headgear ones would...

[ubikuberalles]

Aha, I knew I typed part of that answer before:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114474

But that thread was for good consoles with bad designs. This current one is more inclusive.

That thread was also in Classic gaming and, I think, this thread should be there to since it is decidedly on-topic.

>>>MOVE>>>

[PresidentLeever]

best:
european snes
dreamcast
mega drive model 1 (high definition graphics and sound)
ps2 slim
famicom
master system 1

worst:
snes (us)
n64
xbox
turbografx and all of its addons and variations
all the pre-nes systems
master system 2
genesis 3
jaguar

[Phyeir]

Best:
PS2 Slim and the Wii. They are both very discrete and don't try to do anything fancy.

Worst:
Gamecube: What test marketing did Nintendo do to think a purple cube is what people want?
X360 RE Edition: As if the dogbone looked bad enough, did anyone really need it in bright stick out wherever you put it red?

[Cornelius]

Ya know, if I had to pick a console with the biggest spread between best/worst between variations of the console, it'd probably be the Gamecube. I actually like the size/shape/design on the black one, but the purple color (indigo my ass) is just hideous. Silver is okay.

[Flippy8490]

Best: Im going to have to go with the original Xbox. I thought it was really stylish looking, however big it may have been. However, I thought the Sega CD 2 was cool looking too. (I like odd designs)

Worst: NEC Supergrafx...just awful looking

[CosmicMonkey]

Sega RG-M1 Wondermega
Divers 2000 Dreamcast
Panasonic Q


So are these the best? Worst? Mediumest?

(I'll resume my post now guests have gone. Didn't realise I'd actually replied....)

Do you really need to ask? They're the three finest looking consoles ever created. Admittedly they're all non-standard versions, but then most standard consoles aren't overly pretty to begin with. For standard edition machines I'd have to say the PlayStation 3 and Duo-R/RX are really nice looking. Oh, and the PS2 TOOL dev system is a very nice looking bit of kit.

[k8track]

Sega RG-M1 Wondermega
Divers 2000 Dreamcast
Panasonic Q
So are these the best? Worst? Mediumest?

[Blanka789]

The Wondermega and the Duo-R have got to be the two best looking. I'm also a fan of the CDTV design, but I'm not sure if it counts as a console. I wish more systems looked like high-end electronics...

As for worst, I'll have to go with the Pikachu N64.

[otoko]

Best:
Atari 5200 (I like how it looks... way too big though.)
Phatstation2 (cause the revision looks like a two bite sandwich)
Sports edition Dreamcast (It looks sexy black.)
Colecovision (I don't know why, I just really like it.)
Sega CDX (If mine wasn't so beat up from it's previous owner it'd look damn fine.)

Worst:
Snes model 2 (specially it seems cheaply made when I actually got to hold one)
Xbox (bleh)
intellivision 2nd model (white, bad button design, to me it looks unflattering)

Best system combination:
Sega Genesis model 1 with Sega CD model 1, and Power base converter. (They fit together like a lime with a coconut)

Worst System combination:
Sega genesis model 1, Sega CD model 2, Sega 32x. (random UGLY!)

[IcBlUsCrN]

Everyone is wrong lol best would have to be Atari jaguar w/cd or a neo geo aes
worst Gamecube (they must of thought long and hard on that design) and the turbo grafx 16.

[Zebbe]

Worst: NES, Jaguar Toilet, Saturn, all new computer-like standing up systems popularized by PS2 but invented by some NEC machine.

Best: Mega Drive 1, Atari 2600.

[CelticJobber]

Worst looking: Super NES or PS2

Best looking: Dreamcast or PS3 I also liked PSOne's design.

[alexkidd2000]

I love the original Sega Master System. Next to a NES it just looked so much more modern and cool.

I think Dreamcast was a very good design as well.

Worst would be SNES.

[Famidrive-16]

Favorites:

Jaguar - It's just nice and simple looking. Yeah, the CD add-on doesn't look so great but it's not terrible either.
Dreamcast - One of the best designs for a CD console.
N64

Least favorites:

Sega CD 2 - I always thought this version was just cheap looking.
Master System 1 - I dunno, I just cringe whenever I see it.
Gamecube with GB player add-on - I don't think it looks bad otherwise but ho boy, it just looks hella awkward with the add-on attached.

[Wraith Storm]

Best Looking-
Neo-Geo AES
Turbo Duo
Sega Saturn

All three of these systems I thought looked sleek, sexy and down right intimidating. They look like they mean business!

Worst Looking-
PS3
DS Phat

I'm at a loss for words with the PS3... I mean seriously... WTF!?!?!? The original DS just looked like a cheap pirate game system. It looked cheap, felt cheap and was just an ugly, clunky design.

[Chemdawg]

Best: Wii, ps2, and the DS

Worst: N64, and i dont know if you can count the 32X as a system it self, but the look of a sega gen with a 32X pluged into looks like one ugly beast.

[Crystalian]

BEST: PS3 (damn that thing's hot, I just wish it would have come out with complimentary controllers instead of re-recycled PS1 controllers), Turbo-Duo, MOST N64 models...

GOOD: 3DO, Saturn, PS2 version 1, Dreamcast, SNES G2, CDX

WORST: Genesis version 1, Supergrafx, PS1, Pokemon N64 (awesome call on that one...)

ABSOLUTE WORST: Virtual Boy

[Battlehork]

Best: Neo Geo AES. I'm going to go out on a limb here and make the case for the Intellivision II. Unlike the original, it was compact and didn't have fake wood. The color scheme is very similar to what was later used on the NES.

Worst: A Model 1 Genesis with Model 2 Sega CD, especially if you don't have that part that extends the base of the M2 Sega CD, and 32X attached.
For extra hilarity plug in Sonic and Knuckles with Sonic 2/3. Place on top of Model 1 Intellivision.

[Gentlegamer]

Best: Nintendo 64 - It has nice curves that look very graceful and attractive

Worst: Have to think about this one

[Ed Oscuro]

If the RCA Cosmac VIP was a console, I'd say it would be a contender. On the "plus" side, I've read it has something like Chip8 graphics statements, so...get your Chip8 on! On the other hand, it has terrible super-low-rez graphics, almost smaller than my own avatar here (and black-and-white only to boot) - only an indirect dot resolution of 64 x 32 is usable, although 64 x 128 is available too (compare that to the Evans & Sutherland Picture System series, from 1974 and on, which could output wireframe 3D and 4096 x 4096 images at 30Hz).

The case of the VIP is pretty hideous too, sorta like a ghetto Sega Pico from what I can see.

I sort of like my FM Towns Car Marty, but it's not winning any beauty contests. I still respect its looks though; it's a functional dark gray box, made to sit somewhere around the armrest in a compact car.

I also never really liked the way the Super Famicom / Euro SNES looked. I've seen a prototype SFC that looked much nicer, I thought.

The normal NES and Toaster NES and A/V Famicom look decent and so does the SNES Model II, but a real killer design...hmm, probably something from the PC-Engine line. The original white PCE tends to get dirty looking, but others fare pretty well.

I like the look of the DS Lite, although I don't like the ergonomics.

Dreamcast is sort of just this little white box, hokay. Not terrible, and a whole lot better than that scary looking spider-like prototype with three "legs" on the sides, yikes. The Divers 2000 DC is nice looking, but I don't need yet another monitor cluttering up my house.

Wondermega is pretty nice looking stuff; CDX is very functional, probably more than the Wondermega, but will get mistaken for a clunky old portable CD player (which it very nearly is!)

I think that, right now, the 360 is the best looking console produced so far.

Edit: Crystalian reminds me to get a Virtual Boy, heh heh...it's not such a bad looking machine. Mostly just odd. (Who am I kidding? I need my eyes.)

[icbrkr]

Favorites:

- Gamecube (sorry, I love the design, and my 'spice' colored one is just freakin' awesome looking)
- Jaguar - yep, another oddball but I find the grey and red with a low profile design a good idea.
- Dreamcast - it just 'feels' like a powerful machine.

Least Favs:

- RCA Studio II - reminds me of a big ol' remote control
- Atari 5200 - the sheer size of it alone prevents me from keeping it hooked up most of the time
- Sears' Intellivision clone.. oh gawd, the colors.

[deltoidsteep]

ive got to disagree with a few of you. the intellivision is a sexy machine. the sleek gold paneling, the way the controllers fit in flush with the console...mm. and the gamecube is cute, very compact, not complex looking. my favourite would probably have to be the wii though. very compact, white, shiny, everything is hidden away under little flaps. its great.

as far as ugly ones go, the intellivision model 2 is disgusting. looks like a retarded 80's house phone. the cdi and and 3d0 are also pretty bad. both look very cheaply made.

[Ed Oscuro]

My portable CD-i looks very professional, thank you. 3DOs tend to look like VCRs, though. I hate VCRs. [/francis]

[ncman071]

best:

have to say the Dreamcast

worst:

model 1 genny and all atari systems prior to the jag

[Sonicwolf]

best:

have to say the Dreamcast

worst:

model 1 genny and all atari systems prior to the jag

I personally think that the Atari Lynx II and Atari 7800 look pretty sleek. The Jaguar was nice too.

The Dreamcast is one of my favorites and it is kind of funny in a wierd sort of way. It looks like a simple, little, meak system but it sure as heck isnt. It looks impressive while giving a false sense of inferiority. It doesnt look like a system that was state of the art.

[Game Freak]

Best: SNES. Always gets the job done, a good amount of space to take games out at an angle, and the eject button helps you get the contacts lined up just right, not to mention take games out.

Worst: Sega Genesis. Hideous thing, looks like a CD player, practically is a CD player with its headphone port, and its cartridges are so hard to get out without space to pull straight up

[tom]

not the best picture, but i think my Teradrive looks pretty sexy:
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/thomasholzer/megadrivepc.jpg

worst:
C64GS

[TurboGenesis]

Why is there so much hate for the Super Grafx look?

It is a marvel of art.

The design is supposed to be that of an engine from a motor vehicle. A V6 engine to be more precise. Many Japanese engines at those times were I-4 motors and the V6 was a performance upgrade and the Super Grafx was supposed to be like that of a high performance PC Engine.

Anyways, the worst looking console…

http://www.computercloset.org/ViewMasterIVision.jpg

Viewmaster Interactive Vision LOL

[Ed Oscuro]

Why is there so much hate for the Super Grafx look?
Agreed, almost added this to my "looks good" list, but I've never seen one in person. The quality of the plastic does a lot, here.

[RASK1904]

Best Atari 2600 (Wood Grain?!!! Sweet!!!)
Worst X Box. (Who had the idea to make it an "X" "Box"?)

sorry I know it's not retro.....

[kupomogli]

Best. Original Gameboy Advance, PS2, PSP Slim(preferably white or green,) and Dreamcast.

Worst. Top loader NES/NES2, GBASP, and the Arcadia.

[Solertia]

Best: PlayStation 3, Super Famicom

Worst: Xbox, anything woodgrain (I'm sorry, but I hate that haha)

[boogiecat]

BEST: Dreamcast,FM Towns Marty 2,Famicom Junior and PS One

WORST:NES and Atari 2600(its a good console but the wood finish is awful..)

[Marriott_Guy]

Best Looking:
o Bandai Pippin @WORLD w\the optional FDD
o Panasonic Q
o FM Towns Marty 2
o Sharp Famicom Titler
o Neo Geo AES

Worst Looking:
o RCA Studio II
o Nintendo GameCube
o Amstrad GX4000
o Gakken Compact Vision
o Commodore 64GS

[JunkTheMagicDragon]

best:
panasonic q
ps2 phat
wondermega

worst:
playdia
intellivision
xegs

[eskobar]

In my opinion:

Best Looking: Playstation 2 - Original Fat Console.

Why: It's monolith contemporary design is quite elegant and the logo is discrete and in a very harmonic color. The console has enough detail that shows all the work of the designers, very nice looking color LEDs for the power button.

Follow-Ups:
Nintendo DS. Elegant and neutral contemporary design that will look good even in 20 years. Good materials and well manufactured.




Worst Looking: Atari Jaguar

Why: There is nothing sexy about the Jaguar, boring curves, boring details, looks cheap and its control design is one of the worst ever; you can forgive the intellivision control design because it was launched in the fall of the 70's. It's "toilet-esque" desing of the CD add-on looked even worst .... ugly.

Follow-Ups:
Super NES. I love the SNES but it looks really ugly, the plastics are cheap, almost every SNES alive presents discoloration ....

[VG_Maniac]

Best - Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, Atari 7800

Worst - Playstation 3, Intellivision, Game Cube

[Sonicwolf]

Best - Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, Atari 7800

Worst - Playstation 3, Intellivision, Game Cube

I agree with that list except I always found the Nintendo 64 to be kind of awkward looking.

The PlayStation 3 will always be the George Foreman Grill. Hideous

[Ruudos]

Best: SNES (PAL), N64, Sega Master System

Worst: SNES (US)

[Diosoth]

Best: Gamecube, PS1 slim, PS2 slim, Genesis model 2, Dreamcast. They take up very little shelf room.

Worst casing: Xbox, Saturn, model 2 Sega CD, Odyssey 2, Atari 5200. They take up a lot of room.

Worst looking: PS2. It's plain and ugly. The "actual" power switch is on the back. TurboGrafx-16. A box with a slot on the front. Nothing to look at.

[A Black Falcon]

The PlayStation 3 will always be the George Foreman Grill. Hideous

At least it looks better than the PS2 or the original PS1... :)


Hmm, though, what would I say for a list... there are a lot of systems that I think look good. Aside from the PS2, I don't really dislike the design of any of the consoles I have. Some are a bit better than others, sure, but all are at least serviceable... this seems true for most systems, really. Obviously I'm not much of a design critic. :)

I really can't judge first or second generation systems, as I've never used them and have only very rarely seen them. By my "the NES is the first console I remember" thinking though, most of them look blocky and poorly designed in comparison... the Odyssey 2 looks kind of cool, though, in pictures. The original Atari 2600 perhaps as well, I'm not sure. I'd need to see more of them.

Anyway, my favorites...

Nintendo 64 - It has such a beautiful design... nicely curved with no straight corners, great layout... this is definitely one of my favorites. No fans either, great! The detachable but internal power brick is a fantastic design, and the prominent controller ports really say "play multiplayer on me!" :) I've loved this design ever since I first saw a picture of it in a magazine back in 1995 or so, and still do.

Dreamcast - In design, at least, the system looks beautiful. In operation I'd definitely rank it behind the Saturn and Sega Genesis/Sega CD (2), because it's so, so loud while both of those systems are whisper-quiet and barely make a noise (and they look reasonably good, too, if not quite as great as the DC), but it looks fantastic.

Toaster NES - the original and the classic...

I also like the SNES (original US design), the original Game Boy, the Saturn and Genesis 2/SCD2 as mentioned before, the Genesis 1, etc.


Least favorite?

Playstation II (original style) - Ugly, pretty loud, bad "ridges" design along the sides, somewhat flimsy construction (this is the only system I own that a piece actually broke off of -- the disk tray door end. I still have it, but it comes off constantly.)... I've never liked Sony, and their designs don't help their case.

Playstation (original style) - I don't have one of these, mine is a PSone (the small kind) and I think that that one looks okay (it's so small... :), but the originals... ick, I don't know, I've always really disliked this thing for some reason. I hate the controller, for one, it's one of my least favorite designs ever, but I never liked the system design either, somehow... still dislike it. It's like some kind of grey appliance or something...

Hmm, not sure what else to put here. There are some that I dislike in comparison to others that show up in the 'good' list, though... I don't really consider them "bad", but "worse than the good list systems" at least.

-Game Boy Color - as I said in the recent GB thread, I've always thought it looked cheaper and less well designed or built than the original GB. The plastic is lighter, the design not quite as "cool" looking somehow, it has near-useless design elements like the IR port... (you had to put the systems on a table, like two inches away, for it to work...) it looks okay I guess, but I've never loved this design.

I also think that the toaster NES looks cooler than the NES 2; though the small size of the NES 2 is a big advantage, the toaster is special. And the SNES 2 and Genesis 3 don't match up to their predecessors design-wise, though as I said I think the Genesis 2 is just as good as the original model so redesigns aren't always worse looking. The PSone would be another example of that I guess.

Overall, I vote the PS2 the worst of the systems I own. I can't say that it's the worst overall, though; CD/DVD-player style systems like the CD-i and Nuon look terrible, for example. Some 3DOs seem pretty bland too... but the PS2 design is bad.

[boogiecat]

Why is there so much hate for the Super Grafx look?

It is a marvel of art.

The design is supposed to be that of an engine from a motor vehicle. A V6 engine to be more precise. Many Japanese engines at those times were I-4 motors and the V6 was a performance upgrade and the Super Grafx was supposed to be like that of a high performance PC Engine.

Anyways, the worst looking console…

http://www.computercloset.org/ViewMasterIVision.jpg

Viewmaster Interactive Vision LOL


What the heck was that???

[Sonicwolf]

At least it looks better than the PS2 or the original PS1... :)

I always found that the PlayStation, although bulky and plain, looked like a good console. The color was just grey but it still looked alright. It was like many electronic items in the 80s and 90s. People didnt care a huge amount about asthetics, more about features and functionality.

For Example: VCR's in the 80s, much of the time, sacrificed cosmetics for abilities. They were build massive, heavy and with many, many buttons for the many, many features. One old Betamax VCR I have is ugly as hell but it is built like a tank and looks like an impressive and powerful piece of technology.

THEN IN 1987 PEOPLE DISCOVERED THE FORD TAURUS AND HAD TO MAKE EVERYTHING LOOK LIKE A POTATO.

[A Black Falcon]

Oh, I forgot to mention, I think the SuperGrafx looks fantastic, one of the coolest looking consoles ever. I definitely wish I had one. :)


I always found that the PlayStation, although bulky and plain, looked like a good console. The color was just grey but it still looked alright. It was like many electronic items in the 80s and 90s. People didnt care a huge amount about asthetics, more about features and functionality.

Completely bland, generic, and boring... its major competitors (and the consoles of the previous generation or two) look better. But of course, my bias against Sony likely has always affected my opinion of their hardware design... but it does look like something aimed at being a boring, mass-market people wouldn't notice next to the rest of their electronics, while the N64 looks much more interesting and at least the Saturn doesn't look awful, just large (and both have like ten times better controllers, but that's a different issue).


For Example: VCR's in the 80s, much of the time, sacrificed cosmetics for abilities. They were build massive, heavy and with many, many buttons for the many, many features. One old Betamax VCR I have is ugly as hell but it is built like a tank and looks like an impressive and powerful piece of technology.

THEN IN 1987 PEOPLE DISCOVERED THE FORD TAURUS AND HAD TO MAKE EVERYTHING LOOK LIKE A POTATO.

Hah, potato? How so? :)

I do agree though, the older things focused on features and durability, but newer stuff cut back on that in favor of "looking better". Just look at that Game Boy vs. Game Boy Color comparison for a perfect example of that.

[Sonicwolf]

Hah, potato? How so? :)

If you knew what I meant... TOO BAD.. Im still gonna rant. (I just hate new cars now)

In the mid 1980s, when Ford released the Taurus, everyone was like "Gotta get me some of that" Thus, it became the bestselling car in America. All of the other companies are like this "Oh crap, were still selling BoxMobiles. We have to design our cars to be modern and curvy, just like the Taurus." Thus began the GREAT TAURUSIZATION of the auto-industry, which eventually leaked into every other industry of design also. By the late 80s, most cars that had a major design change after the release of the Taurus were now Taurus lookalikes ...what with the whole "Potato with wheels" idea being applied. Eventually, as evident today, Most cars made after the mid 90s were so curvy that sometimes you couldnt tell the ass end from the front. IM LOOKING AT YOU FORD TAURUS!

Funny thing is that the Taurus was, ironically, killed in the auto industry due to its own curved designs. By the mid 90s, Ford decided to make the Taurus even curvier then before. Thusly making it completely butt-ugly. BEHOLD

1986 TAURUS http://www.allblueoval.com/ford/images/1986-ford-taurus.jpg
1996 TAURUS http://repo.net/repoimag/96taurus.jpg

and who can forget... THE 1996 TAURUS WAGON http://daddytypes.com/archive/v8showagon_photo.jpg

That Taurus wagon is hideous.

Just like the PlayStation 3. Too much curve, too little effort.

[Technosis]

Best:
Gamecube: What test marketing did Nintendo do to think a purple cube is what people want?


I'd love to hear the reasoning behind the "handle" and if the designer that suggested it is still employed (knowing Nintendo probably LOL)

[Technosis]

Best:
Gamecube: What test marketing did Nintendo do to think a purple cube is what people want?


I'd love to hear the reasoning behind the "handle" and if the designer that suggested it is still employed (knowing Nintendo probably LOL)

P.S. I'll go with the O2 as being amongst the worst designs

[Sonicwolf]

I'd love to hear the reasoning behind the "handle" and if the designer that suggested it is still employed (knowing Nintendo probably LOL)

I always wondered what good that handle was. That and the color. That purple was completely awful and should have never been used. Nintendo wasnt helping their struggles out of the kiddy reputation with that decision...

[crom]

the snes and its smoker yellow plastic makes it the ugliest system...

the 3do goldstar is pretty nice although very big...
dreamcast is proportioned perfectly and designed practicly so its the best looking in my book...

the cdx would get my first vote but it doesnt count because Ive only seen one in my life...