Best. Game Console. Ever

[digitalpress]

Let's all argue with one another and see who wins this popularity contest among US game consoles. I've chosen systems that would be considered "contenders" and who are not presently active (or not very - you can't stop homebrews and PS1 releases are still trickling out). If your favorite system isn't listed here then choose "other" and tell us what it is. I know at least one person who would pick 3DO and one who would pick Astrocade. They're in white jackets with long sleeves tied together at the back, but they'd still choose that way.

If someone wants to put up a poll of computer-style game systems, import system, or handhelds, be my guest.

[CrazyImpmon]

I can't believe it DP forgot 32X :shock: (not counting current system or portable)

Anyway my fav is SNES because of the great collection of RPG games available.

[Sniderman]

Puh-leeeeezzz. Anyone who doesn't vote for the Anchor that *is* the Atari 2600 needs to pull his or her head out.

The 2600 is the Best Console Ever for a zillion reasons, including:

1. It launched the home console revolution. Oh sure, it might not have been *first,* but it was the one that was in every home.
2. People are STILL programming for it, 20+ years after its release.
3. Almost every game had "pick-up-and-play" simplisity. You diidn't need a degree in "Advanced BattleTech Mechanics" to figure out the freakin' gameplay.
4. And, if you *did* want a bit of complexity, it was capable of games like Space Shuttle.
5. The system and carts are damn near indestructable. Drop a 2600 down a flight of stairs. Now drop your PS2/GC/XBox down that same flight of stairs. Any bets on which will boot up?
6. The word "Atari" was synomonous with videogaming in its day. Other than "Nintendo (the NES)," no other system reached this degree of acceptance into the lexicon.

I could go on and on, but I think my point is made. So there. Nyah.

[digitalpress]

I can't believe he left out 3DO! I mean, what, are we supposed to forget that classics like "Way of the Warrior", "Shadow: War of Succession" and "DinoPark Tycoon" were ever made?!

Oh yeah. Nevermind.

[Arrrhalomynn]

I was doubting between psx, master system and dreamcast, because they all have very good games.
I voted playstation because it has the most good games. More than than the master system and the dreamcast put together! almost.

[omnedon]

Atari 2600, becqause of what sniderman said. Without it, we wouldn't even be here arguing this.

[theaveng]

COMMODORE=64. It has the most games (and variety) of any system. Everything from Tic-Tac-Toe to Bard's Tale RPGs. I'd be perfectly happy to play nothing but the C=64 for the rest of my life. No other system would be that entertaining (not even PS2).

Runner-Up: Playstation 1. It has many of the same qualities as the C=64... mainly variety of games... and looooong loading times! ;-)

[kevincure]

Atari is certainly the most historically important and Super NES had some fantastic RPG's, but the best overall system is the Sony Playstation.

Ask if they have videogames at the flea market...they don't say "nintendo games" or "some ataris", but "you mean Playstation"?

Look up which system sold 100 million worldwide and is still outselling every active system but the PS2.

See which system had 1140-something titles so far, tons more than any other system.

See which system won in all three territories.

See which system has strong games in every category, redifined "racing", was the first with music games, the system that broke survival horror, the system that introduces the concept of 3d to sports, the system that has a wealth of great 2d and 3d RPG's, the system that killed cartrdges, the system that gave us the dual sticks.

The system with Vagrant Story, Resident Evil, Tomb Raider, Tekken, Madden, Gran Turismo, Ape Escape and so many more.

[YoshiM]

Snider really hit the nail on the head about the Atari 2600. It may be one of the most important in the history, but I can't say it was the BEST (as this is what the topic is about). I'd have to say the best is the Nintendo Entertainment System.

1.) It brought console video games back to life in the eyes of consumers after the crash.

2.) Truely established the side scroll platformer whose roots continue to be a staple in today's games. Of course one could say this was "infamous" as a metric ton of side scroller copy-cats were available on the NES.

3.) Made the game pad controller standard for future systems. To this day, every standard controller (ie not a flight stick or DDR pad, you know what I mean) you find, may it be PC or console, has a cross-style thumb pad and some sort of Start button.

4.) Established control on titles (ie licensing). Yeah, it was militaristic, but it kept the NES going the way of the Atari 2600. Sure we still got drek, but it came in limited quantities. Now it's common practice (along with getting extra spunduli from companies who want to make stuff for their system.

Damn, out of time. Hafta go. That's my 2 zenny thus far.

[nesman85]

NES of course.

[ventrra]

:wink: The PC, of course !! :wink:

It has more games than any of the others, backward compatibility with many earlier versions, CD and DVD support, online gaming, etc.. What more could you want?!? :lol: And if set up correctly, itcan BE most of the other systems! :lol:

Really, though, it would be a tough choice. There are just too many ones that I enjoy to really cast a vote for just one of them.

[k8track]

Well, that's a loaded question. Loaded with dynamite. Still, I'll throw my hat in the ring.

Probably the most significant and important two systems, and perhaps therefore the "best", would be the Atari 2600 and the NES. Sniderman and Yoshi pretty much captured the essence of the systems in each of their arguments respectively. I would go so far as to label each of them as being the dominant paradigm of their respective eras. They transcended their own identity and became symbols of videogaming in general.

HOWEVER, for whatever reason, the Atari 5200 is still and always has been my FAVORITE system, and that is what I voted for. The controllers suck, no question, but once you get some third party controllers (I've got the WICO, the Competition Pro, and the Masterplay Interface), you're rockin'. Nearly all the games are OUTSTANDING. There's just something about the system I love. Being able to play Missile Command with a trakball is bliss, Montezuma's Revenge kicks butt... I could go on. But I won't.

[k8track]

As an addendum to my previous post, here is my somewhat schizophrenic "Top Four Favorite Video Game Systems" list.

4. Sony Playstation and Sega Master System (tie)
3 1/2. Commodore 64
3. Colecovision and Intellivision (tie)
2. Atari 2600 and NES (tie)
1. Atari 5200*

* You could probably lump the 5200 with the entire Atari 8-bit family. Maybe I just should have listed that. Oh well.
** My very favorite game is Super Metroid for SNES; ironically, however, I liked very few games for that system, so it didn't make the cut.
*** I am aware that there are 8 systems in my "Top 4" list. I'm OK with it. And so are you.

[liab1228]

Favorite systems
1. N.E.S.
2. Playstation
3. Sega Genesis
4. Colecovision
5. Atari 2600

Atari 2600 is a great system and has some great games. Unfortunately I have limited space to have my systems set up and out of the 18 different systems I own I have the N.E.S., Playstation, and Sega Genesis set up and ready to play. I always play games on these 3 systems.

[NE146]

Although 5200 has always been my absolute sentimental favorite, I can't vote it as the "best system of all time" in good concsience. There were just too few games!

I also think the Dreamcast is a great system due to the fact that a lot of other consoles are playable on it via emulation, but on that criteria you could also potentially lump in the Xbox.

So yeah, I agree that it comes down to either the 2600 or the NES for the title. What a hard choice! :P It's really close in my mind, but I'm going to have to vote... 2600.

[sir_lavey]

The master system 'cause it was my first encounter with the fabulous video games system world.

[theaveng]

:wink: The PC has more games than any of the others, backward compatibility with many earlier versions...

It does?!? Then how come I can't get Battle Chess or Wing Commander to work? I'd have to say the PC is the WORST gaming platform, because it's such a pain-in-the-ass to make it do anything. It's not plug'n'play simplicity like C=64, Amiga500, or Playstation.

[Sniderman]

I would go so far as to label each of them as being the dominant paradigm of their respective eras. They transcended their own identity and became symbols of videogaming in general.

oooOOOOoooo! Somebody went to Smart School!

I know I ranted about the historical significance of the Atari, but that was a factor I considered when I called it "the best console." I also think the Betamax should've kicked the VHS' ass....but look where that attitude - and $1,000s worth of Beta videos - got me. ;)

[le geek]

Had to vote 2600!

Second and Third Choices would be Commodore 64, then Amiga 500/2000.

The simple reasons are that these were my choices during my formitive years, and they still give me the warm and fuzzies...

NES is cool, but I didn't have one till it was over (did play it at friends houses). N64 was the first Nintendo I bought "new"...

Cheers,
le geek

[ventrra]

theaving said:
Then how come I can't get Battle Chess or Wing Commander to work?

Interesting. Wing Commander (the original) works fine on my Athlon XP 2000+ / GeForce4 / Windows XP machine.

[digitalpress]

To those of you trying to squeeze PC GAMES and SYSTEMS into the mix, might I remind you of a statement I made in my original post up there:


If someone wants to put up a poll of computer-style game systems, import system, or handhelds, be my guest.

PC-based platforms like C64, Amiga, Apple, etc were intentionally left out. Game consoles only, folks.

[ubersaurus]

I was gonna vote for the 7800 (it being my favorite console), but NES really had a large impact on the gaming world, and I can't ignore that. The 2600 did too, and I grew up playing them both, but I have to say the NES is just slightly better in my eyes.

[MankeyMan]

I voted for the N64. I don't really have a special reason like the Atari brought videogaming into the mainstream and bla bla bla.
In my opinion, it should be about the one you had the most fun on, not the one that had the most games, or something like that.
The N64 gave me the most fun.

[Nature Boy]

Probably the most significant and important two systems, and perhaps therefore the "best", would be the Atari 2600 and the NES. Sniderman and Yoshi pretty much captured the essence of the systems in each of their arguments respectively. I would go so far as to label each of them as being the dominant paradigm of their respective eras. They transcended their own identity and became symbols of videogaming in general.

This is why I like K8Track so much. He does all my thinking and typing for me. I was going to post the same thing...

But I'll add some of my own thoughts anyway.

"BEST" and not "FAVOURITE" is the key. What do I think qualifies as the best system? Processors and graphics weren't important I decided. What was was importance. So best to me means most important system. Today anyway.

In the end I sided with NES. As I've alluded to, Yoshi and Sniderman hit the high points. It was a matter of deciding which I'd rather side with. The crash was the deciding factor in my eyes.

[k8track]

@Sniderman and Natureboy--Thanks, I feel validated by that. I'm currently in a Pedagogical Theory class for ESL and the lingo is really rubbing off on me (even though I loathe the class itself... I'm NOT a theory person).

In terms of cultural and historical significance, I still stand by my answer (2600, NES). The 2600 really ushered in the home video game era, being the first really wildly successful console, creating and riding the wave of excitement that followed. Then the crash occurred, and for a brief period, the future of video games appeared a bit uncertain. Thankfully, the NES arrived on the scene, establishing a firm beachhead and a solid foundation for the resurrection of the industry, a stability which still exists to this day. Those two systems were cultural touchstones and spring to the mind of most people when you mention video games. I would also say that the Sony Playstation (I) is another such symbol of its era, the current one, but it lacks the trailblazing quality of the 2600 and NES, arriving on the scene in an already well-established industry.

[theaveng]

PC-based platforms like C64, Amiga, Apple, etc were intentionally left out. Game consoles only, folks.


When you turn on your PS1 it says "Sony Computer Entertainment"... i.e. it's a computer. Guess we need to exclude it from the poll.

[k8track]

Good point! We should also exclude the Atari Video COMPUTER System (a.k.a. the Atari 2600).

[NE146]

Geezus It always happens whenever these types of polls get put out you always got the one guy who thinks he's the first to say "THE PC!! because it plays all the console games and so much more!" as if it's some enlightening angle we haven't had the insight to see :roll:

We've all got pc's. We've all played emu'd games and more. Of course we all know how good it is for games, but come on, what he's obviously trying to get at is easy... BEST DEDICATED GAMES CONSOLE (U.S.) :)

[NvrMore]

*Waits for imminent rules quote and ill-founded maturity remark*

C'mon, this thread was a good one, it had / still has potential..


When you turn on your PS1 it says "Sony Computer Entertainment"... i.e. it's a computer. Guess we need to exclude it from the poll.

That doesn't refer to the type of hardware which the Playstation is, thats the Division of Sony which produces the Playstation, they were originally set up to produce computer hardware for PC based platforms, hence the name.

The thread specifically says Game Console.

A game console is a dedicated games machine whose intended main purpose is to play games and whose hardware is specifically optimized for such.

Platforms such as the C64, Amiga, PC and Spectrum are computing platforms, meaning that they were designed to function as personal computer systems for a multitude of tasks, gaming being just a side-feature and not their main focus.


back onto the topic.. I voted SNES / SFC, good coverage of all Genre's, genuine gaming breakthroughs and revolutionary games and a very good ratio of good to bad games.

*Thinks of way to draw people back to original discussion.. misdirected indignance towards other machines*

Nintendo NES.. Pffft! :roll:
Dreamcast... Hah! :roll:
Atari 2600.. nyeh!.. :roll:

That is all.. probably... perhaps.... well, maybe..

[Stark]

This was not as easy to pick as it sounds. It was a toss up for me between the 2600 and the Super NES. I had to pick the Mother of them all and the start of this great hobby the 2600. I still can play a lot of those classics today 20+ years later.

[Ascending Wordsmith]

Of all these consoles listed in the poll, which one can you take with you on ships, planes, trains, and automobiles?

The answer; the PSOne. With only two attachments (LCD screen + battery pack), it's ready for the one hour drive to your in-laws' house, or the seven hour flight to the other side of the country. Examine the benefits of the Playstation...

-Excellent graphics
-One of the best sound chips ever made
-Quality titles from the best companies and developers
-Every gaming genre is thoroughly represented
-Immense library consisting of over 1,000 games
-Plays audio CD's

... and then, take them with you! I voted for the Playstation because the PSOne is basically the same system, only portable. There is no other portable console unless you count the PC Engine LT, but good luck playing any kind of CD's on that one! The PSOne's ability to be played at home and on the move is, to me, the best feature of any console.

http://www.newgame.ru/32bit/psone.gif

The PSOne; go ahead, take it with ya'!

[kainemaxwell]

I voted for the NES myself, but I also belive the Atari 2600, NES and PSX are the most important consoles in gaming history.

Atari 2600 basically started the video game craze and created the early gaming genres we now play and love, along with having the first console titles of famous gaming francises such as pac-Man (as sucky as it was) and Mario Bros. Sure, the glutton of horrid titles caused the crash, but Atari did break from the norn to bring gaming home.

The NES. Wow. nintendo had the balls to bring video gaming back after the crash with their trojin horse, R.O.B. and by marketing it as the Nintendo Entertainment System. It caught on and continued and expanded game francises and created all new ones as well as creating the first gamepad 9noy joystick), light guns and other perihirials.

PSX I mentioned because thanks to Sony's power and the large quanitiy of games out there from racing to arcade to sports, the PSX ended up turning everyone into a "gamer", so to speak.

[The Clonus Horror]

I would have to say it's a tie between NES and Playstation. I religiously played the NES from around 1986-1989, then briefly owned a Genesis and Turbografx around the time I was 16, but sold them shortly thereafter. Believe it or not, I went through 5 years of college without owning, renting, or playing a console, although I played a Star Wars game once on my roomies PC. I bought a Playstation in December of 1999 after I rented one from a video store and played WWF Smackdown. I never really got into RPG's, but I loved the fact that you could buy all of these collections of old arcade games, especially the Arcade Party Pack. This was before I had any idea about emulation on the PC. I must have played the Smackdown Series for thousands of hours, both solo and with friends, beating each other up and yelling ridiculous things like: "I REGRET NOTHIIIIIIIIIING!" as we'd go flying over the top rope. The NES was more of a great one-player system for me, but the Playstation is great as a multi-player system. I've since bought a N64 (for WWF No Mercy), an Atari 7800 (out of curiosity), and a SNES (for the whip-ass Super Star Wars Trilogy), and found a good deal on a boxed Intellivision with Demon Attack. However, if I'm playing anything at all, it's usually my Playstation.

Just adding my two cents worth... :D

[portnoyd]

There's little to be said at this point. (Damn you heavy drinking!) So I'll just post my top 5, or something.

1. NES (Yep!)
2. SNES (Being a 2D nut, this system had some of the best ever)
3. Genesis (Being a 2D nut, this system had some of the best ever)
4. Gameboy Family (GB/GBC/GBA... :D)
5. Atari 5200 (First system and sweet too...)

Yeah yeah, Gameboy ain't console, but I wub it just the same.

dave

[Raedon]

I actually did a lot of reflection before coming to a conclusion that my favorate system is the NES. Though the snes, and genesis are close. I love the pre-nes systems, but I've really needed a greater depth of gameplay sense I got my c64 and the NES really did it for me.

[spoon]

The NES! Hands down, no arguments.

[IntelliSteve]

Of course, I'm constitutionally incapable of voting for anything else. ;) So, why Intellivision?

Well, one reason is actually over on another MB here on the DP - the top 20 Inty games list. It's easy for people familiar w/ the console to come up with pretty different top 25 lists. And out of a library of 125 games, that's damn good.

And do NOT gimme that crap about the controllers. Anyone here ever play NES or anything later? Well, guess what? The Inty disk is the grandpappy of your lovable joypad. So there! :P

There were a good number of excellent arcade adaptations - Pac-Man was superb, and the less common games like Lock 'n' Chase and Loco-Motion were actually BETTER than the arcade versions! BurgerTime and Bump 'n' Jump were also outstanding in that realm.

Of course, the bread and butter games were the sports titles. They really pushed the envelope at the time and made people realize you could put out great sports games on home consoles. The later INTV versions were even better - and had elements that are in your console sports games to this day!

Too bad the expansion hardware came so late. The IntelliVoice, System Changer (Atari Adapter), Entertainment Computer System, and Music Synthesizer added interesting new features and were lots of fun. The fatal mistake they made was never offerering more types of controllers, like the VCS (2600 for you latecomers :) ) and Colecovision did.

[cerex]

In my opinion, it should be about the one you had the most fun on, not the one that had the most games, or something like that.


i agree

[Sniderman]

Great thread thus far. It reminds me of the old schoolyard "my Atari can whup your Colecovision/Odyssey/Intellivision" debates of my youth.

Here's what I see as being interesting. The 2600 and the NES are in the lead, hands-down. Obviously, this is a vote along generation lines. You had the Atari generation, followed by the Nintendo generation on a videogame timeline. I would've been stunned if these were not the front-runners.

No, what I find interesting is numbers 3 and 4 in terms of votes - the Super Nintendo and the Dreamcast. These were not (to my knowledge) the best sellers of their generations, although the SNES gave the Genesis a run for the money in its time. The Dreamcast though got it's ass handed to it by the PSX/N64 juggernaut.

These votes are a "vote of confidence," if you will. The 2600 and NES got the "I grew up with this" vote. But the SNES and Dramcast got the "these systems ROCK" vote. I know what I'll start collecting for soon.

[Tick]

1. NES - This was the system I grew up with and it gets the most play in my house to this day. So many different genres and series' got their start on this platform.
2. 2600 - As good as the NES in many respects, it didn't get my vote for #1 however because it wasn't the system I grew up with and towards the end there was a lot of crap titles.
3. SNES - This was the system that really impressed me when I was younger. Even technologically superior systems like XBox haven't impressed me in the way that the SNES did back in the day. Before Square made Playstation the RPG king of consoles, SNES was unbeatable (FF2, FF3, Chrono Trigger, Zelda, Breath of Fire series, Secret of Mana, etc.)
4. Playstation - Although there's a lot of crap for it, there's also a lot of really good games out there too. This one gets my vote for the sheer number of titles it had.
5. Genesis - While I thought SNES kicked it's ass back in the 16-bit heyday, looking back I realize that this system had a lot to offer and is, in my opinion, still the undiputed king of action games.

[YoshiM]

Since "arguement" was encouraged :) I've got to say a piece on the Intellivision by IntelliSteve.

I have a hard time swallowing the idea of the INTV controller being the "grandpappy" of the modern gamepads. I think the NES gamepad was a natural progression from the joysticks of old for the type of games that were played on the NES. Could you imagine playing SMB with INTV controllers? Your hand would hurt something fierce after a while alternating between the two side buttons. The controller had to be somewhat comfortable and have the buttons be more accessable. I'd say the NES Max is more of a direct relative of the INTV pad than the standard NES pad.

I look at the INTV controller as an attempt to be "something different" than everyone else at the time. VCS had sticks and paddles. Why not create a pad that one could slide their thumb around to simulate rotation and still be used as like a joystick? Odyssey2 had sticks and a keyboard. Why not combine the control with the keyboard? BAM! INTV controller. IMO, jack of all controls, master of none. I'll agree hands down that the INTV controller had direct impact with the systems of that era (5200, Coleco), but that's where it stops.

Anyway, that's just my opinion on that.

[NE146]

In my opinion, it should be about the one you had the most fun on, not the one that had the most games, or something like that.


i agree

I don't know.. just because a console is your favorite doesn't necessarily mean you have to vote it as the "best". Like I said above, my favorite and the one I have the most memories of fun times with is the 5200..

but I can't bring myself to say it's the best console overall.. but it still IS my favorite. :)

[Nature Boy]

For some reason I keep thinking about this topic. I think mostly because Best wasn't defined. Oh yeah, and I can't let things go sometimes :)

Maybe we should start a new topic about what qualities a great or the best system would have in someones eyes. You know, quality of titles, quantity of titles, genres begun perhaps. That sort of thing.

[Iron Monkey]

Iron Monkey vote PC ENGINE!
HAAAAAAAA! Again weakling Digitalpress Miss!
Best system on List NOT!
HAAAAA!

[YoshiM]

Could someone please, for the love of all that is good, call a vet and have them put the monkey to sleep?

This is probably troll bait by this dude, but I'll bite. I'm bored.

Iron Monkey: to answer your post, the PC Engine IS on the board. It was called the Turbografx-16 in the States. I would assume you knew that but your sensei must've been hittin' the rice wine a little hard teaching you about the whole East meets West Game Hardware Transformation Phenomenon.

[spoon]

:D
Why the NES? Why not?

Nintendo improved in all areas and was as smart as could be when it came to buisness(back then anyway)

great games, great genres,great rpgs(dragon warrior series, best series of rpgs on one console every, dont come at me with the FF playstation series garbage, so easy I could beat those games in my sleep, and the same story line all over again, it's like one big soap opera)

and a agree that the NES controller is the pre.controller the modern ones.
I also agree that the Snes is one of the biggest wow systems of its time(whats wow, when your face goes "o")

I think a seperate thread should be started as someone suggested!

[consoledatabase]

I voted NES. It has loads of great games and has given me hours of enjoyment.

I remember a man in a second hand store telling me once that I could trade in my NES, Genesis and Master System plus all of their games (400+ in total) all for a PlayStation with no games. I told him to bugger off. I can get more enjoyment out of 400+ old games than I can out of 1 or 2 new games (or no new games in this case, just the system). :rainbowafro:

[Kid Fenris]

After a good deal of thought, I decided to vote for the PlayStation. It didn't have the same impact as the NES and Atari 2600, but I have a hard time thinking of a better game library. There isn't a genre that doesn't have an A-list representative in the PSX catalog, and the system hosts more of my favorite titles than any other console. It's not an objective choice on my part, but I guess that's the point.

And for the record, my runner-ups were the SNES and the highly undervalued Sega Saturn.

[kainemaxwell]

The PSX tended to turn everyone into a 'gamer"...

[chips and gravy]

the sega saturn.

no other reason other than it's the one that's given me the most fun.

[bargora]

OMG I wanna cast a contrarian vote for the Sega Saturn, purely for the modern 2-D shooter library (almost all import, excepting Galactic Attack and Darius Gaiden). But then, that would be best "for me". So I won't.

But hey, WTF? Shouldn't you vote what's best "for you"? But then, if I voted Saturn, I couldn't vote for the 2600, and I'd surely burn in VG hell! Ohhhhh--I just can't vote at all!! :shock: :mad:

[mezrabad]

For me it would be a tie between 2600, NES and Sega Master System. Since I can't vote for all three, I voted for the Dreamcast because it can emulate all three.

[richard]

very easy question........the nes,why? well lots of the games that were produced by the nintendo company were famous for makin these games.. metroid,legend of zelda and who can forget the mario bros.that's why.

[beamish13]

NES. Genesis is a close second. If portable systems were included, I'd easily go w. the Game Boy Advance.

[ROBOTRON]

Neo-Geo....he, he! :D

[dreamcaster]

1. The SNES is easily my favourite console. From the second I opened it up on that great day in 1995, to when I just fired it up a few minutes ago - I love it. And always will. Best console ever = SNES. The only reason I rank the SNES above the Dreamcast, is because it was my first.

2. The Dreamcast comes a close second. This was the first non-Nintendo console I actually considered buying. But I kept putting it off, and putting it off. Then I finally picked up a second hand one. For some reason, the Dreamcast feels so right - it's as if I was born to play it. I remember I first played one at a computer and technology expo in 1999 - from the first time I picked up that controller, I was impressed. Everything about it - the controller, the games, the graphics, the console itself. Dreamcast = perfect console - for me!

3. This is a tie between pretty much all my other consoles (N64, Atari 2600, GameCube, NES, PS2 and Saturn) becuase I like all these consoles equally as much - but not as much as my SNES or Dreamcast!

[Charlie]

I voted for the SNES. I care not about historical value or whatever crap you want to throw around. Video games are all about the games, so I decided to vote the the system with the highest total of games I consider to be five-stars. Let's count shall we?

Super Mario World
Mario All-Stars
Yoshi's Island
Mario RPG
Zelda: Link to the Past
Tetris Attack
Tetris/Dr. Mario
Donkey Kong Country
DKC 2
Mario Kart
Earthbound
Final Fantasy 2
Final Fantasy 3
Mortal Kombat 2
Sim City
Super Bomberman 2
Super Metroid
Kirby's Dream Course
Kirby's Super Star...

I could go on, but I won't. Nobody here is going to be able to convince anyone any differently. The truth is that I didn't consider very many PSX games to be mind blowingly fantastic (Although SotN and the Point Blank series are amazing). The Atari 2600 stuff is mostly not that fun anymore, almost to the point of being unplayable. The really good stuff on the NES is drowned out by mounds upon mounds of wretched stuff. Most Genesis stuff hasn't aged all that well. The N64 games I used to like REALLY haven't aged well. The DC might have won but Sega cut the machine off just when it should have hit it's prime.

DC is easily second. Bomberman Online, Chu Chu Rocket, Soul Caliber... damnit Sega, you suck.

[RubbarDucklin]

I voted for NES because it was my firstr system (I'm little, 15 :x) When i was 6 or so I was in LOVE with my NES. More than anyone should love anyone. Naptime....? NEStime :D
Happy Gaming,
The Rubbar Ducklin

[hezeuschrist]

While I had a 2600 (just found 9 games for it, complete, while cleaning out my closet), and I had an NES... SNES gets my vote.

I started on NES mostly (2600 was out before I was born), and that got me hooked on video games... but the SNES is what made me play the games I play today. I can't count the number of times I've beat Super Metroid, A Link to the Past, Final Fantasy 2/3, Secret of Mana, Earthbound, Chrono Trigger, Super Mario World, ect. I'm playing through FF5 on PSX right now and I'm loving it.

Oddly enough, while I'm reminicing about these great games, Metallica comes on my playlist. Memories abundant right now.

[Videogamerdaryll]

NES...it ruled in it's day..and I still make good money selling them..

Everbody knows the word Nintendo..it's so well known.

I don't have a favorite system myself..I play everthing..it's all about the games to me..
I'll buy a system just for one game...

[mosesshirai]

I had to say SNES. Bought it for 213$ and played SMW on a black and white TV until Mom bought a mitsubishi TV. Man my brother used to rule me on SF2. I could take maybe 5 out of every 40 matches. Nuts now I must challenge!!!!! O_O

[AB Positive]

My TG is my baby, I won't make a third mistake in selling it unless I need money. I love the Turbo-Grafix quite a bit.

However, Odyssey 2 is quite good. I'm getting a 5200 soon as well.

It's pretty hard to argue against anything pre 32-bit, except maybe the Channel F. Tons of great stuff all around...

-AG

[coleco_chris]

I voted for the Colecovision 'cause it will always have a special place in my heart as I was completely blown away the first time I saw Donkey Kong in action. I was 12 when it came out, & I had both the 2600 & Intv already, but the CV just destroyed.

If I had two votes, which I don't, I'd have to go with the SNES as well. I just got it about 2 months ago, and the quality of the games is unbelievable. I just wish I hadn't waited so long to finally get one!

[captain nintendo]

while the atari is an important link to gaming consoles....in my
opinion i would have to say the NES simply because they raised the
bar when it came to home gaming consoles....without the NES we would
have never had such great games as zelda,castlevania,megaman,metroid and other great games....and i could be mistaken but RPG games were just starting to evolve into what we know them to be today....on the thats right, you guessed it, the NES. so while the atari is a great system. and they did lay the ground work for people truly having home gaming consoles it
is the good ol NES that takes the prize.

[Ed Oscuro]

Neo Geo. Sure, other game systems have had their day...but the good old Geo is still kicking. In this business, that's not just an accomplishment. That's impossible.

[MegaManFan]

I say Atari 2600. It wasn't the first cart based system, it's not the BEST cart based system, but it's the motherlode OF cart based systems. It's the one that did it so well, and so massively, that everybody jumped on the bandwagon, from Mattel to Coleco to (later) Nintendo. Every time I enjoy a cart based game on any other system, I say thank you to 2600; a system that even today still supports new games that surprise the hell out of us all for looking and playing as good as any (supposedly superior powered) console - just look at Thrust+, Marble Craze, et cetera. 2600 RULES.

[J.P.]

Lots of NES/SNES votes i see

NES/SNES was something i missed at the time. I can understand the 'first love' thing, mine console wise was the 2600 but i must admit it was a computer that i first cut my teeth on.

Still something primative and wonderful about the VCS/2600. However i would plump for the Playstation. Longevity, still capable, games as simple or as complex as you care, simplicity to get going. Its the one i return to when i want to kill some time, or just plain kill something!

My other console is a CD-32. Yep, me is a glutton for punishment!

[Jasoco]

The NES. My favorite. Has a lot of really good games. The early pixelled art labelled games were the coolest. There's something about a closeup of game graphics that just screams retro.

SNES close second. If the NES had SNES graphics, it'd be perfect.

[SFCfan]

SNES
Best Games
Best Controllers
Best 16-bit Graphics
Best Everything

SNES is the best and always will be
:popcorn: NO MORE TALKING, TIME TO PLAY SNES :popcorn:

[Jasoco]

I have a neato Capcom "Street Fighter" controller that I can't live without. I hate to think what I'd do if it died..

[Ixiah]

I'd go with the pocket Console, for it has the larget library as it can play in addition to it's own games, game boy color, Game Boy, NES games, and Master System games

[XpOsUrE]

I gotta really go side with the dreamcast on this one, because out of the current next generation systems I play it the most, still am shocked that a quality system like this died, where a system like the n64 lived on for a whole system life span.

[Jasoco]

Yeah, it is sad. When it came out, I stopped hating Sega. And was sad to hear when they dropped out of the race.

Would have been cool to see whewre they'd be right now if it was still Nintendo, Sega and Sony. What games we'd have. Though, we'd probably only have Sonic on one console as well as PSO. And just about every other Sega branded game that has come out since then.

[Gamemaster_ca_2003]

I voted for the NES but that does not mean i do not have the Heart for other systems because I play alot of games for many systems. The Reason i picked the NES is because I played it alot when i was a kid even when the 32 and 64 bit systems came out. I am also enjoying the playing the NES games in emulation mainly Contra and Super C.(I am a sucker for those kind of games). As well as tetris (Tengen, Nintendo and Tetris 2). And Captian Skyhawk and other games.

[ManekiNeko]

No contest. The Nintendo Entertainment System takes this easily. It's got the largest selection of quality games, and a good controller to play them with. The 2600 loses out because the games are too primitive and because the controller sucks mightily. That rubber cup on the joystick reminds me of the stick shift in a semi truck... and it's about as responsive, too.

JR