Most ICONIC video game system

[Gregory DG]

Taking a cue from this thread I started thinking about the question of "most successful system" and what it really means.

 

Of all the systems ever created, which one has been the most iconic of video games in general? In other words, what system does the planet collectivelly think of when someone says, "video game"? What system is the most ingrained in the fabric of our society? (And which one, to this day, still has its sound effects used in tv commercials! )

 

THIS is how I define "most successful" and personally, I think it would have to be a toss-up between the 2600 and the NES.

[PuddWakkr]

I'd have to go with the NES or the PSX. PSX? yes. I can still go to my local Rite Aid or CVS pharmacy and pick up $10 PS games. That sounds like a popular and successful system. (granted the games are crap but you can get them).

[chrisbid]

the 2600, NES, and PSX are all about the same, in the public's mind

[joeybastard]

I think the woodgrain VCS, then the NES. I don't think as many adults would recognize a PS as you may think.

[Brad2600]

Hands down, the VCS.

 

There is no other system quite like it...even after 26 years in existence.

[Ze_ro]

I'd say the 2600 as well... I still see commercials on TV that use the Pac-Man sound effects, the electronics beeps are so unmistakable.

 

Funny that despite the 2600 beeps, the kids were holding N64 controllers... but whatever

 

--Zero

[z28in82]

I'd have to agree with the general consensus and say

#1 2600

#2 PSx/one/playstation

#3 NES

 

And I rank the PSX higher than the NES cause even the adults who have never played a PSwhatever have kids/ cousins/ nieces/nephews who have owned them and bought games as presents

[raindog]

I don't think the PSX (uh oh, better start calling it the PS1) has been around long enough to be iconic yet; it's even still in production, not to mention that all those PS2's currently being sold can play almost the entire PS1 catalog out of the box. Even for a couple years after they stopped making the 2600Jr (at least in the US), I was still finding new, shrinkwrapped Atari games for a couple bucks each at the stores where they originally would have been sold (as opposed to dollar stores or people like O'Shea's.) Hell, I was finding Intellivision and Colecovision carts as late as 1990, years after both systems were distant memories.

 

Besides that, gaming has progressed to the point where you don't need to use one, single, annoying sound effect over and over again to the point where even people who have never played a videogame but live in the same house will say, "Oh, he started Pac-Man over again" or "Oh, Mario died again".

 

It may be that in another 5 or 10 years you'll be able to include a Spyro knockoff in commercials and people will know it's supposed to be Spyro, supposed to be referencing the PS1, and be amused by it.... but from where we stand now, it doesn't seem like there are any PSX images or sounds that are even associated with the console enough to make people think "Oh, Playstation" when they see it in passing or hear its sound effects the way Mario does with the NES or Pac-Man does (for better or far worse) with the 2600. Maybe the kids who grew up with it will come up with some way to convey that for the PS1, I dunno.

 

The point is, "iconic" doesn't just mean "people remember it", it means "you can reference one of its traits without mentioning it by name and your audience will think of the entire genre it represents." The 2600 and NES are iconic of all of videogaming. The Playstation might have a shot at being iconic of the point at which videogames became just another random form of big budget entertainment. But lack of differentiation is like the opposite of being iconic, so if anything, the PS is an icon of non-iconicness. The anti-icon, if you will.

[christianscott]

the gameboy by a mile

 

how many times on tv and movies do you see someone using a gameboy, its the visual symbol for mindless diversion. i like how it pops up on king of the hill "bobby i'm taking away the vid-ja game"

[sku_u]

The Atari 2600. Think of all the 2600 sounds one still finds regularly in commercials.

 

Next would have to be NES.

 

I wouldn't put PSX into that category yet.