Pcmag.com's "10 Best Video Game Consoles of All Time"

[JohnBuell]

First page of the article

 

It's presented in slide show format, which personally drives me crazy, but lets see what everyone has to say!

[+GroovyBee]

At least its not the NES in the number one slot .

[Video]

Iphone? I fucking phone? That's as much a game console as a PC is. Yeah, it happens to play games....no I don't consider it a "game console" IMO, to be a game console, that has to be it's primary function. (though to be fair, a lot of modern "consoles" are going away from being game consoles....though they do still all play games first)

 

Props for such a wide range of stuff though.

Edited May 31, 2010 by Video

[mbd30]

"Instead, I've ranked them on their importance and innovation."

 

Then Atari 2600 should probably be in the top two. Before NES came along, "playing Atari" and "playing video games" were interchangeable terms. It was the dominant console of its day. I don't understand the logic behind putting Dreamcast at #1. How did the DC impact the industry that much?

[VectorGamer]

This is the biggest POS top 10 "best console" list I've ever seen. How TF does a phone make it onto a console list? And the 2600 doesn't even make the top two? A f***ing handheld? Gimme a break...I'd seriously like to kick the author in the nuts...

[Mirage]

Okay, I can spot 4 definite errors in the 2600's description without even being nitpicky:

 

"The founding father of video-game consoles. The Atari 2600, an obvious product of the times, with its (somewhat) stylish '70s wood paneling, is the prototype for living-room gaming. It launched at $199 (the same price as the Sega Dreamcast 22 year later) and included Combat and two controllers—everything you needed to jumpstart a burgeoning new hobby. It was succeeded by the Atari 5600 and the Atari 7800, but when the name Atari is mentioned, this pioneering video game system is what typically comes to mind.

Outstanding Titles: Frogger, Pitfall, Yar's Revenge "

[Mirage]

And I agree... I love the DreamCast, but in what conceivable way would it be #1, especially if the 2600 is #9? And the NES #2 behind the DC? The iPhone should not be on this list at all.

[Animan]

Finally, a Top 10 that looms like it's trying to be honest.

 

The iPhone CAN be on there. It can play games. It can be called a Game System. Some systems tried to be more than a game systems (CD-i, 3D0, etc.), but we still call them game systems. While the iPhone wasn't trying to be a game system, but it ended up being one. A good one too.

 

If it was really ranking them by "innovation and importance", The Wii would have easily been in the Top 5. It put motion controls on the map (besides the EyeToy, but that's different in my book), and it's been the first game system for MANY people I know who once stated they would never buy a game system and they were "bad for you". That's quite an impact the last time I've checked.

[zombiecraig]

I just recently sold "the #1 video game console of all time".

 

Sorry Dreamcast, I don't miss you.

[Animan]

Also, it kinda does depend on ones perspective of importance and innovation. For some, online gaming is a big innovation. If it weren't for the PS2's pesky marketing techniques and Sega's tarnished reputation at the time, the Dreamcast could have beat the PS2, Gamecube, and Xbox.

 

I'm not sure if I personally would put the Dreamcast at number 1, but from a majority of the posts, this topic is full of Dreamcast haters.

[Mirage]

I guess the iPhone could be on there, but it says "video game consoles". I was thinking more like primary function is video game console, not phone that also plays video games. Everything else on there I'd say is primarily a video game console that also does other things. Also, I like the iPhone/touch as a gaming platform... I have one... this has nothing to do with "like".

 

If you were referring to me, I'm in no way a DC hater. I love the DC. Have dozens of original games for it, and right now, it's the only console hooked up to our big TV. I just don't see how it can be #1. What is the criteria? I don't even usually like any sort of ranking like this that doesn't have clearly-defined criteria from the outset, because without that, it's just someone pulling stuff out of their butts.

 

(Yes, I see he said he was ranking on "importance and innovation", but that's not clear criteria, that's vague and subjective criteria at the very best.)

[Jess Ragan]

The iPhone? Really? Hey, I just played a rousing game of Last Gladiator Pinball on the system and had a lot of fun doing it. However, this device has a long way to go (especially in the control department) before it's in the top ten. Also, I love the Dreamcast as much as anyone, but giving it number one on this list is just a few doors down from crazy. I did a more comprehensive version of a list like this last year and it got an impressive, but realistic sixth place spot.

[+wood_jl]

What a dumb-ass piece of s*it article, in line with the "greatest PCs of all time" article. Basically the whole thing's just filler.

 

I'm as big of Dreamcast fan as any, but there's no way it's the greatest of all time. I have tons of DC stuff and love it.

 

iPhone on the list, but PS2 isn't?

 

Neo-Geo is even on the list?? Oh, PLEASE!!!! Narrow genre of games that many don't care for (not broad appeal and $200/each game???) Get real!

 

A2600 should be close to the top, for initial mass appeal.

SNES should be on there somewhere.

PS1 should be higher, for popularizing 3D

PS2 should be on there somewhere.

 

<yawn>

[Animan]

I guess the iPhone could be on there, but it says "video game consoles". I was thinking more like primary function is video game console, not phone that also plays video games. Everything else on there I'd say is primarily a video game console that also does other things.

 

If you were referring to me, I'm in no way a DC hater. I love the DC. Have dozens of original games for it, and right now, it's the only console hooked up to our big TV. I just don't see how it can be #1. What is the criteria? I don't even usually like any sort of ranking like this that doesn't have clearly-defined criteria from the outset, because without that, it's just someone pulling stuff out of their butts.

 

(Yes, I see he said he was ranking on "importance and innovation", but that's not clear criteria, that's vague and subjective criteria at the very best.)

 

No, I wasn't referring to you. *reads through old posts on this topic*. I guess I was wrong about the DC haters.

 

I consider importance and innovation the criteria because that's pretty much all he gives us.

 

While I think about it, I think importance and innovation shouldn't be the criteria for the top 10 game systems. If it was, we'd probably have the Game.com on the list and other ambitious, crappy systems.

 

The Game.com was innovative for it's touch screen (despite being a low resolution, but that's not the point), had online (if only for high scores and internet, but that was still kind of neat back then), two cartridge slots (less loose games in your pocket. I'm all in for that.), and it had some kinda handy PDA features. It was just hampered by bad marketing and that Tiger must not have known how to program games for it's own system, as the games were crappy, even though the hardware was superior to the Game Boy.

 

If importance and innovation was the criteria, they should just made a whole new list called "Top 10 Most Innovative Game Systems).

[Mirage]

Exactly... "important" in what way? Sales? Influence? Time on market? Maintained long-term interest? Titles released for system? "Importance" can mean anything, and in itself isn't "criteria" at all. "Innovation" is a little bit better, but even that needs more definition to be considered good criteria.

 

Maybe the author knew what his specific criteria was, but since he didn't clue us in on it, it's just a list of random consoles in random order. Maybe by his unknown criteria, the DC really is #1.

[famicommander]

Xbox 360 and iPhone? No. Just plain no.

 

Here is my list:

1. Saturn

2. Nintendo 64

3. Super Nintendo

4. Genesis

5. Atari 2600

6. Playstation

7. Neo Geo AES/MVS

8. Gamecube

9. NES

10. Turbografx-16/PC Engine

[famicommander]

For those who consider the iPhone a console... it has no physical media, it has no buttons, it has no secondhand games market, and it has very limited mainstream support.

 

If the iPhone is a video game console, so is the Motorola Razr and the Microsoft Zune. iPhone is a phone first, a PMP second, a PDA third, and a game console fourth.

[Animan]

For those who consider the iPhone a console... it has no physical media, it has no buttons, it has no secondhand games market, and it has very limited mainstream support.

 

If the iPhone is a video game console, so is the Motorola Razr and the Microsoft Zune. iPhone is a phone first, a PMP second, a PDA third, and a game console fourth.

 

OK. That doesn't mean the Razr and the Zune HAVE to be on the list. They could have been on the list. Why not? They can play games. You could call it a game system if you want.

 

You don't have to have physical media, buttons, and a secondhand games market to have a game system. That's like saying you can't have a sandwich without peanut butter. You can, it's just a different sandwich. The iPhone is a game system, just a different game system.

[mbd30]

Good list. These things only exist to provide fodder for nerdy arguments on internet message boards. The more senseless the list, the more everyone complains, and the better they fulfill their task.

[ls650]

I don't think it's that bad of a list. I would have ranked the 2600 much higher than #9, and I don't think the PC Engine should even be on the top ten list.

[superdevil]

Let's see, out of the top ten we have:

 

10. I-phone: A cellphone that happens to play some games (rather awkwardly I might add)

 

9. Atari 2600- The most important console of all time having barely made the list

 

8. Game Boy- sure, it's great, but are we talking consoles or handhelds here?

 

7. Neo Geo- a console that all of five people owned

 

6. Playstation- is it really that great? I would have had it maybe at number ten, or better yet, the PS2 instead

 

5. PC Engine- Citing the lack of Colecovision or Snes, the PCE/TG16 shouldn't even be on this list

 

4. Sega Genesis- I think it should have been up there a little higher, but that's just me

 

3. The fuxking XBox 360? The worst built console of all time? The most poorly engineered crap that Microsoft ever shat out? It's not even the best console of this generation, much less of all time!

 

2. The NES? Honestly, as stupid as the rest of the list is I'm surprised it even made the cut.

 

1. Dreamcast- First off, I love the Dreamcast. It's probably my favorite console. But is it the greatest? Fuck no. The SNES, the Genesis, NES, Vectrex, 2600- all of these were better, more historically important, and more successful financially (except maybe the Vectrex).

 

I hate lists like that. The guys who write twaddle for sites like PC Mag and Yahoo strike me as being people that have absolutely no interest in the subjects they write about. Their editor says "Hey Joe, we need an article about the ten best game systems of all time." Then Joe goes on Wikipedia and takes notes about consoles that he's never heard of, making little citations next to the entries like "Neo Geo is really popular among arcade fans". These guys are the "journalistic" equivalents of The Irate Gamer- people that don't know jack shit about games pretending to be experts. Fucking hacks.

[Gabriel]

What utter fail.

[Animan]

My personal list...

 

1. Nintendo DS

I'm not lying. There are TONS of great games. Lots of hidden gems, and many at a cheap price.

2. Atari 2600

Several Timeless classics, and a great system for collectors.

3. SNES

Several greats games, and also the system that got me into video games AND classic video game collecting

4. Gamecube

While not a biggie in the third party department, The 'Cube had fantastic exclusives.

5. Sega Genesis

The Sega CD and 32X Add-ons are underrated. Oh, and there are good games, too.

6. Dreamcast

Mmmm, Sega Exclusives...

7. NES

Definitely not my favorite system (I think it's a little overrated), but it's still a great system.

8. Vectrex

With possibly the highest "Good game to games released" ratio, the Vectrex has more personality than most other systems. Oh, and back in 1982 you could play games while your parents watched TV at the same time.

9. Game Boy

Popeye's favorite game system. With good games also.

10. N-Gage

So much potential trashed by a few flaws and cruel competition. Still has great games.

 

If I let the GP2X Wiz on the list, it'd be number one. But it cheats with emulators as it's main strength.

[The_Laird]

Putting the I-Phone in that list is just about the biggest fail I have ever seen on the internet

[TwinChargers]

Heres my list, full of bias but still better than the original authors.

 

10. MasterSystem

9. Dreamcast

8. Playstation

7. SNES

6. Xbox

5. Genesis

4. PS2

3. Wii

2. NES

1. Atari 2600