Sid Of Bee
Member
Let's talk about the generations of video game consoles and the engineering of the hardware respective of the time...
First Generation is actually Pong machines.
I say the Coleco Telstar series and Nintendo Color TV game systems take this one IMO
2nd Gen:
Atari 2600
Intellivision
I'm open to other options, but the Atari 2600/VCS gets my vote.
3rd Gen:
NES/Famicom
SG1000/Colecovision
Atari 7800
MSX
I choose the NES/Famicom. Released in July 1983, it was vastly superior to it's contemporaries in regards to videogames both in graphics, audio, and cost. The Sega Master System/ Mark III was late in the game and basically a mid-gen console.
4th Gen:
PC Engine/TurboGrafx 16
Genesis/MegaDrive
SNES
NEOGEO
Maybe the CDi lol
I say SNES. It boasted colors, audio, effects, and affordability above the competition. Again, the games show this IMO.
5th Gen:
3DO
Atari Jaguar
PS1
N64
Saturn
I say the PS1. It offered the power and storage to deliver the games of the time. Look at the library and success. Yeah, the N64 was more powerful, but it came out more than a year later and was hamstringed by low storage.
6th Gen:
Dreamcast
PS2
Gamecube
Xbox
I say Gamecube. The most powerful per dollar by far. Great conversion, library, and the architecture was so good they decided to use it twice.
7th Gen:
Wii
Xbox 360
PS3
I say the 360. Released a year ahead of it's contemporaries and was the best third party machine due to development ease and amazing capabilities. Also, the best online console to date by far.
8th Gen:
PS4
Xbox One
PS4Pro
Xbox One X
Wii U
This is a weird gen to me. Mid gen refreshes. Based on the originally released hardware... PS4 was the best designed and positioned perfectly from the capabilities to cost. More for less. But the Xbox One X is one of the best engineered consoles I've ever held and I rode the last end of the gen on that. Quiet, cool, powerful and the best versions of games til recently.
9th Gen:
Switch
PS5
Xbox Series X
The Switch is the most capable portable console of all time (I'm not including tablets and phones.... they are not consoles/ dedicated game hardware). And I'm not sure about the PS5 vs Xbox Series X... seems too early to tell. I think the Series X is physically designed better than the PS5, it's features are better as far as BC and online IMO, but this comparison has yet to really unfold. They are the same price, they are similar in power, and I am not sure what system will be better in the end. From an engineering standpoint.... what will be the easiest to develope for when the tools develope, what will have more capabilities, etc. The Switch is another beast altogether...
Up in the air for me.
Thoughts?
BTW.... NOT your favorite console of each gen, but the best designed/engineered on the basis of these factors:
1) Power
2) Cost
3) Development
4) Capabilities
5) Time Frame
First Generation is actually Pong machines.
I say the Coleco Telstar series and Nintendo Color TV game systems take this one IMO
2nd Gen:
Atari 2600
Intellivision
I'm open to other options, but the Atari 2600/VCS gets my vote.
3rd Gen:
NES/Famicom
SG1000/Colecovision
Atari 7800
MSX
I choose the NES/Famicom. Released in July 1983, it was vastly superior to it's contemporaries in regards to videogames both in graphics, audio, and cost. The Sega Master System/ Mark III was late in the game and basically a mid-gen console.
4th Gen:
PC Engine/TurboGrafx 16
Genesis/MegaDrive
SNES
NEOGEO
Maybe the CDi lol
I say SNES. It boasted colors, audio, effects, and affordability above the competition. Again, the games show this IMO.
5th Gen:
3DO
Atari Jaguar
PS1
N64
Saturn
I say the PS1. It offered the power and storage to deliver the games of the time. Look at the library and success. Yeah, the N64 was more powerful, but it came out more than a year later and was hamstringed by low storage.
6th Gen:
Dreamcast
PS2
Gamecube
Xbox
I say Gamecube. The most powerful per dollar by far. Great conversion, library, and the architecture was so good they decided to use it twice.
7th Gen:
Wii
Xbox 360
PS3
I say the 360. Released a year ahead of it's contemporaries and was the best third party machine due to development ease and amazing capabilities. Also, the best online console to date by far.
8th Gen:
PS4
Xbox One
PS4Pro
Xbox One X
Wii U
This is a weird gen to me. Mid gen refreshes. Based on the originally released hardware... PS4 was the best designed and positioned perfectly from the capabilities to cost. More for less. But the Xbox One X is one of the best engineered consoles I've ever held and I rode the last end of the gen on that. Quiet, cool, powerful and the best versions of games til recently.
9th Gen:
Switch
PS5
Xbox Series X
The Switch is the most capable portable console of all time (I'm not including tablets and phones.... they are not consoles/ dedicated game hardware). And I'm not sure about the PS5 vs Xbox Series X... seems too early to tell. I think the Series X is physically designed better than the PS5, it's features are better as far as BC and online IMO, but this comparison has yet to really unfold. They are the same price, they are similar in power, and I am not sure what system will be better in the end. From an engineering standpoint.... what will be the easiest to develope for when the tools develope, what will have more capabilities, etc. The Switch is another beast altogether...
Up in the air for me.
Thoughts?
BTW.... NOT your favorite console of each gen, but the best designed/engineered on the basis of these factors:
1) Power
2) Cost
3) Development
4) Capabilities
5) Time Frame