The best looking video game systems and computers

[Steven Pendleton]

Since we have threads for overrated, underrated, and ugly video game systems and computers, I think we should have one for beautiful systems like the X68000.

 

I nominate the aforementioned X68000, maybe the Intellivision, and definitely the original white PC Engine. If you've ever seen a brand-new looking white PC Engine in person, you know that its pristine, radiant beauty is blinding, much like looking into the sun. At least that's how I felt when I saw Konami's brand-new looking one at Tokyo Game Show. Too bad I only have a CoreGrafx and now I'm sad.

 

Also old video game boxes are great. I love them and so should you. I say Japanese Mega Drive, Neo Geo AES, and some of the X68000 boxes are excellent. I don't mean box art in general, but how the whole thing comes together to be beautiful, so box art + design of the box itself = overall presentation. Neo Geo AES definitely wins overall for boxes, though.

Edited February 18, 2020 by Steven Pendleton

[+Ryan Witmer]

The Atari 5200 is the best looking game console ever made.

[Steven Pendleton]

Yeah, the 5200 is awesome! Too bad the controller isn't very attractive. Also too bad everything these days looks like a damn VCR except the Switch.

[Punisher5.0]

Computer: Vertical X68000 

Console: N64 and I find the Phat PS3 to be sexy

[CatPix]

I think there was a thread about computers on the computer side of things. So...

 

The Micral 80-22

Who doesn't want a Star Trek computer at home? now you can!

 

The Nordmende Teleplay

 

European licenced Channel F with a mad twist on the US Woodgrain style

 

LEMZ AGAT

 

 

This Soviet computer designed around 1985 was nothing but an Apple II clone. Despite this fact, the Soviet Union worked to sell it internationally through ELORG (the State company that also sold Tetris to the world). The projected price of 25 000$ was seen as a deal breaker, even with the few improvements made.

The red (HAH) version here was the first model and it's basically unseen outside of BITD pictures; the more common models are gray or black which isn't as cool as this

 

(The logo is less Trekkie too)

 

The Radofin 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System :

 

First European-made console. Like the Nordmende, you can see that BITD for "advanced" electronics, Woodgrain was banned , and white 70's plastic was more the thing.

 

Small is cute, they say :

I agree. The 2600 with the metal band and rainbow stripe all along is very cute and pretty! And no cheesy woodgrain

 

Some may see it as clunky. I agree. But my nerdy side says that it can be good-looking too :

 

A suitcase of 8 bits fun!

 

For further consoles... weeell I think that it's gonna be a tie with the usual suspects so... Might stop here for now.

[Steven Pendleton]

51 minutes ago, Punisher5.0 said:

Computer: Vertical X68000 

Console: N64 and I find the Phat PS3 to be sexy

Vertical X68000 is damn sexy.

N64... even the Pikachu one?

8 minutes ago, CatPix said:

I think there was a thread about computers on the computer side of things. So...

 

The Micral 80-22

Who doesn't want a Star Trek computer at home? now you can!

 

The Nordmende Teleplay

 

European licenced Channel F with a mad twist on the US Woodgrain style

 

LEMZ AGAT

 

 

This Soviet computer designed around 1985 was nothing but an Apple II clone. Despite this fact, the Soviet Union worked to sell it internationally through ELORG (the State company that also sold Tetris to the world). The projected price of 25 000$ was seen as a deal breaker, even with the few improvements made.

The red (HAH) version here was the first model and it's basically unseen outside of BITD pictures; the more common models are gray or black which isn't as cool as this

 

(The logo is less Trekkie too)

 

The Radofin 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System :

 

First European-made console. Like the Nordmende, you can see that BITD for "advanced" electronics, Woodgrain was banned , and white 70's plastic was more the thing.

 

Small is cute, they say :

I agree. The 2600 with the metal band and rainbow stripe all along is very cute and pretty! And no cheesy woodgrain

 

Some may see it as clunky. I agree. But my nerdy side says that it can be good-looking too :

 

A suitcase of 8 bits fun!

 

For further consoles... weeell I think that it's gonna be a tie with the usual suspects so... Might stop here for now.

I LOVE my PC Engine+CD ROM2+IFU! It's so cool! Too bad I have a CoreGrafx and not the white original. The mismatched colors don't work so well, but it's still awesome.

[Steven Pendleton]

This is kind of cheating, but I also really like the Japanese Mega Drive Mini. It's so cute next to the real thing! I bought it just for display because I'm a stupid Mega Driver and not rational. Too bad I ran out of space on my desk and had to kick it and the real MDCD32X off to make room for the PC Engine. Yes, my photography skills are terrible and so is my camera, but oh well.

Edited February 18, 2020 by Steven Pendleton

[CatPix]

Does it come with a mini Mega-CD and 32X or are those third party add-ons/decorations? This is cool!

[Steven Pendleton]

1 minute ago, CatPix said:

Does it come with a mini Mega-CD and 32X or are those third party add-ons/decorations? This is cool!

It's an official thing that you have to buy separately.

 

https://www.amazon.co.jp/セガゲームス-メガドラタワー-ミニ/dp/B07SPZ2R4K/ref=sr_1_4?__mk_ja_JP=カタカナ&keywords=メガドライブミニ&qid=1582039632&sr=8-4

 

Never thought I'd spend 5000 yen on useless junk for a not great game system, but here we are and it was ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT!

[Punisher5.0]

Nice tower of power there!

[Steven Pendleton]

2 minutes ago, Punisher5.0 said:

Nice tower of power there!

lol which one?

 

I forgot to mention that if you open the Mega-CD Mini it has a little piece of cardboard with the motherboard printed on it and also Sonic CD. Let me see if I can find a picture of it on the internet. I can't open mine as my screwdriver doesn't fit.

 

Here, not mine though:

Edited February 18, 2020 by Steven Pendleton

[Punisher5.0]

All of them. Yeah I saw that PCB picture. Thats a really neat touch.

[jcalder8]

The TurboDuo is one sexy beast. Either the black or the more curved top of the white.

[+save2600]

 

[+save2600]

 

[Magmavision2000]

It's hard to choose for me since I think every system looks good in its own way. But if I had to one system and computer, they would be:

[John Stamos Mullet]

[128Kgames]

1st place: Neo Geo AES

Runner up: Astrocade 

[+-^CrossBow^-]

For consoles I say the 5200 as well. While I do happen to really like the design of the PS4 pro I still always say to myself how sexy that 5200 looks when I have it setup for play.

 

Computers? Not so sure..but I would probably give that nod to the Sharp X68K as well...

 

[mbd30]

3 hours ago, John Stamos Mullet said:

 

I'm a NES fan, but the Master System does look a lot sleeker.

 

[Flojomojo]

All in one Macs were cute once. Hopelessly beige today, but times change. 

 

 

The PSP was super slick in 2005. 

 

Palm V was desirable once upon a time. 

 

Now that I'm old, I think back on the stuff I thought was cool when I see expensive, desirable tech. It won't be that way forever. 

 

I paid a lot for my precious here. 

[+wongojack]

I kinda feel like I can be convinced to appreciate the design of every console even if they look like a dog's breakfast, so I asked my wife.  She said something like "they all look like clunky boxes of plastic."

 

She did admit that the PS2 slim is pretty nice and compact.  I agree, but I couldn't really find a picture that really shows the size comparison well.  Maybe this one:

 

 

 

[Steven Pendleton]

Yeah, the Master System and PS2 slim are awesome!

 

Look what I found in Super Potato today! Not for sale, but I asked the dude and he said it does work! They use it to check games that come in to make sure they work.

[+phoenixdownita]

48 minutes ago, wongojack said:

I kinda feel like I can be convinced to appreciate the design of every console even if they look like a dog's breakfast, so I asked my wife.  She said something like "they all look like clunky boxes of plastic."

 

.....

 

I think I agree with your wife, even if some of them do look a little better than others I am afraid she's spot on ... I do hate the Megadrive/Genesis 1 for faking the CD-Rom trap door on top ... I always thought it was lame they went with that "circle" design ... at the same time it is not bad looking so what do I know!

[+phoenixdownita]

16 hours ago, Steven Pendleton said:

 

Austin Powers Mini-Me comes to mind (RIP Verne)