Best Console Designs of All Time

[Lone Deranger]

Nec PC-Engine. No question about it. I liked it so much that I rebuilt it in 3d with Softimage and rendered it with Mental Ray.

 

[Suture]

Nec PC-Engine. No question about it. I liked it so much that I rebuilt it in 3d with Softimage and rendered it with Mental Ray.

I'm surprised how small they were able to get those things.

 

[Lone Deranger]

I'm surprised how small they were able to get those things.

Indeed. And then they also managed to make a feature compatible handheld out of it too (PC-Engine GT). Very impressive for the time.
Shame they ruined it with the American version, the TurboGrafX 16. And then totally blew it with the SuperGrafX design. Those two looked awful.

 

[Suture]

I also just realized that is a render -- nice job.

TG-16 was one of those consoles I always wanted. The only home console I own right now is a Wii U, but when I was visiting a friend in NY two weeks ago, we found ourselves in a retro video game shop. I thought I was going to go crazy. They had so much of EVERYTHING. I was terrified I was going to whip out the Amex and fulfill all of my childhood dreams right there. They had the TG-16, PC-Engine, Turbo Duo -- even a TurboExpress, not to mention all of the other console manufacturers. And the games -- they had so many.

So glad I was able to exercise some restraint and come out of there empty handed.

 

[Antares]

N64 the worst for me. By far! Was a bit ashamed to put it into my room..

Really??!! I think the N64 is one of the best looking console designs! Plus, it was so solid and sturdy. It was a tank...you couldn't damage it...unlike the fragile PS1 at the time.

Just wondering: where's the eject button? It didn't exist in that version?

The eject button on the US SNES is that grey rectangle in between the two purple switches. It's flush with the console. I remember, as a kid, trying to figure out how to get the cartridge out...until I figured out that that gray part presses down like a lever.

We just yanked the cartridges out.

Gosh, I hope not. That's a good way to break the cartridge mechanism and housing.

 

[Liberty.]

Handsdown, Gamecube.

 

[HereBeMonsters]

Just look at this:

How retro futuristic is that? Ace.

Also honourable mentions for:

and

 

[apolloa]

My choices would be:

The PS4, it looks cool and that light on the side when it's amber is lush

The original Panasonic 3DO because IMO it looked like it's price tag! Never had one due to it's price tag haha.

The last place would go to the original PSP. I've still got mine and at the time of it's launch it looked so so so much better than the competition. It's also a lot more pocketable than the Vita is!

 

[808?]

I freely admit, the N64 one is mostly nostalgia. Playing stuff like Goldeneye with my late GF and our roommates. When I look over at my console collection the N64's ugliness kinda melts away.

Goldeneye is still an all time favourite for me, even today.

 

[HereBeMonsters]

Goldeneye is still an all time favourite for me, even today.

Yep, I still get the N64 out every few months and run around on it. Doing train by only using the watch as a weapon. Facility not killing anyone etc.

 

[0098386]

Yep, I still get the N64 out every few months and run around on it. Doing train by only using the watch as a weapon. Facility not killing anyone etc.

I remember first playing that when I was 11, my cousin had it and said "you have to play as James Bond, be a spy, be sneaky". Which is why he was running around a runway with a rocket launcher.

 

[arzhang]

1)Victor Wondermega RG-M1
2)Panasonic Q = Sega Genesis Model 1 + Sega Cd Model 1
3)GameCube Gundam Char LE = 60Gb PS3

 

[h9826790]

My XB1 CoD AW Edition. It looks the best, and perform the best so far (I don't have PS4 yet, still looking for a nice looking special edition).

 

[VI™]

I absolutely love the PS4 Destiny edition. That all white console and controller just looks amazing.

 

[0098386]

I think the Pokemon themed DSi's are incredible. Also for bonus points, my custom modded GBA SP.

 

[takao]

Gamecube: hands down

the handle was responsible for ridicule at the time but actually the compact size & handle made it perfect to take to friends house for some mario kart/mario party just by putting it into a backback with a few controllers and a couple of games

also looking at pictues of it's internal layout it was nothing short of ingenious inside as well with a huge single heat sink for all the chips which were even symetrical alligned on the board.
The top loading disc drive was also super reliable compared to the ps2 xbox ones which had their fair share of problems at the time.

The system logo with the squares and thus the animation bootup were fantastic

and the controllers were extremly comfortable for small and big hands and long playing sessions

and the whole thing did cost me 189€ bucks on launch

the only 2 big blunders nintendo made were the smaller capacity discs and the purple version choosen for the ads/marketing. My GC was jet black and simply fantastic.

 

[sebseb]

1- PS3 Fat model
2- PS2 Fat
3- PSP 1000

I think Sony always made a sick looking fat console, but when they made it slim, they really ruined the looks of it!

 

[mandoman]

These are a couple of the ones I had that I thought were sweet at the time from a design aesthetic.

1) Sega Genesis CDX (Sega Multi-Mega in Japan and Europe). Small portable sega cart/cd combo.
2) Original PS1

Someone said 3do. Great system at the time (Road Rash 3do!), but it was kinda bulky (FZ-1 version) and the controller wasn't great.

 

[APlotdevice]

To me, the [original] Intellivision is almost a work of art.

 

[gkarris]

Image

To me, the [original] Intellivision is almost a work of art.

Yes, Mattel Electronics did make 70's "woodgrain" a part of their futuristic design...

I can finally chime in:

Bally did a decent attempt at it with the Astrocade:

As well as both versions of the Fairchild Channel F:

 

[cocky jeremy]

Image

lol, never seen the right one in reality. Left version was the default one in Germany (Europe?) - and called SNES. Extremely sexy back then. Controller too!

But N64 and cool looking? Can't agree with that one - these clumsy "feet" front left and right absolutely killed it for me. (Controller was great though)

Image

Looks like some kind of ugly/old router.

 

[Gav2k]

1, uk sega mega drive with mega cd1
2, Atari Lynx
3, neogeo

 

[gkarris]

My list chronological order:

1. Atari 2800/Sears Video Arcade II

2. Atari 2600 Jr.

3. Atari 7800

4. Panasonic 3DO

5. Nintendo NES Top-Loader

6. PSOne

7. PS2 Slim ver II (one with built-in Power Supply)

 

[Savor]

Atari Jaguar

 

[fuchsdh]

For me, white Sunset Overdrive edition of the XB1.

Sure, it'd be nicer if it was closer to PS4 in size, but I have no complaints about its aesthetics.