this post was submitted on 09 Nov 2024
63 points (98.5% liked)

RetroGaming

19527 readers
118 users here now

Vintage gaming community.

Rules:

  1. Be kind.
  2. No spam or soliciting for money.
  3. No racism or other bigotry allowed.
  4. Obviously nothing illegal.

If you see these please report them.

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

I was thinking about this lately, but I always loved the look of the PS2. I I think the black and blue color scheme works really well. And I like the two levels like the top and the bottom part of it.

Second to this, I think the Dreamcast looks really great. The angles on it make the console look so compact. The orange light on the console is placed really well too.

What do you like?

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] finkrat@lemmy.world 2 points 19 hours ago

Loved this lil guy, small, sleek, simple and played great

PSone console with controller and memory card connected

[–] LunarLoony@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

1512416859173-pc-engine

The PC Engine is definitely a contender. Looks like something from the set of Star Trek TNG, takes unique little cards, and is extremely tiny* and compact. (particularly for a system that was ahead of its time) I think it's neat!

*roughly the size of a sandwich

[–] imPastaSyndrome@lemm.ee 47 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Nintendo GameCube

Purple, had a handle for carrying and the gray perfectly offset the purple

For me all colors are cool. This machine is gorgeous.

[–] Kelly@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago (1 children)

My fist general purpose console was the Sega Master System. It had a flowchart displayed on the top telling you how to use it.

It might not have been pretty in the traditional sense but I loved it.

Looking back on it the chart was somewhat misleading, the console had two built in games that were only accessible if you didn't insert a cartridge or card (Hang On, and Safari Hunt), and a third that also needed a controller connected and a few buttons held down when you turned the system on (snail maze).

[–] M600@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

I have one of these. I got it at a yard sale as a kid. I don’t think I knew about the built in games.

[–] dch82@lemmy.zip 24 points 3 days ago (2 children)

DS Lite: the most timeless handheld imo

[–] dditty@lemm.ee 9 points 3 days ago

I had that exact DS Lite. It was such a huge improvement over the original DS. Such a clean design

[–] M600@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

I wasn’t even considering handhelds when I wrote this, but you are right. That looks so good. I guess I also love the gameboy pocket.

[–] ptz@dubvee.org 28 points 3 days ago (9 children)

SNES.

The NES was a box, and the SNES had lines.

load more comments (9 replies)
[–] ThoGot@lemm.ee 23 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The original Wii

I liked the way it would just swallow the discs whole

[–] empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 15 points 3 days ago

And the blue LED ring 'round the disk slot that doubled as an activity indicator. So cool.

[–] RightHandOfIkaros@lemmy.world 24 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Physical console design? Atari 2600. The black slots and wood grain front with the sleek angular design is still peak console styling IMO.

User interface design? Xbox 360 Blades. Hands down. Easy to navigate, easy to understand, and good potential for minimal advertising abuse.

[–] ilovededyoupiggy@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Were blades the original UI for Xbox 360 or were they the update? I remember getting a beta invite to try the new UI, I can't remember whether it was going to or away from blades. But yeah, I liked that one too.

[–] bigb@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

Yes the original dashboard used blades

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 17 points 3 days ago

Black Dreamcast is pretty sexy.

[–] smokebuddy 19 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I always liked the translucent purple N64 and the controller that came with it. If they made a GameCube that way it would probably be my favourite.

[–] otter@lemmy.ca 5 points 3 days ago

I loved the translucent things (or even pure transparent)

Found an article with a few more

https://www.wired.com/story/remember-when-you-could-see-inside-gaming-console/

[–] Father_Redbeard@lemmy.ml 6 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

For actually released consoles, I think the Famicom is just neat looking

[–] M600@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

I also like the Famicom. I almost put it in the post.

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 12 points 3 days ago

The Dreamcast still looks futuristic in 2024.

[–] cybervseas@lemmy.world 16 points 3 days ago

The GameCube in a cool color (like Spice Orange). Not just because I like orange. It has great contrast with the grey and black parts of the console. And the whole thing is wrapped up in a tidy, aptly-named package!

[–] vgnmnky@lemmy.world 7 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Amstrad GX4000! Fantastic looking machine, sold mine a few years ago, which is a bit of a regret. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000

[–] Peffse@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

That looks like it would give me at least 25 hp when I pick it up.

[–] callouscomic@lemm.ee 9 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Gamecube.

2nd would be PS Vita (original OLED version).

The PS5 is probably my most hated look and shape. Just an idiotic and clunky design, and moronic decisions to go white.

[–] M600@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

I considered the GameCube too. I probably played that the most out of that generation of consoles.

I still think the PS2 had the best looking and at the time most radical design. 1 was cool and iconic. 3 was just ugly. 4 ok, The current design looks cool but is extremely impractical.

Of Nintendo I liked the European SNES, Gameboy Color and DS Lite. N64 is dear to my heart but it was not good looking and the controller was horrendous.

[–] Num10ck@lemmy.world 7 points 3 days ago
[–] kratoz29@lemm.ee 9 points 3 days ago

Console: Nintendo Wii, it is small, and has a sleek vertical design.

Handheld: PSP 2000 and 3000, it is just a beauty at any angle.

[–] SatyrSack@feddit.org 10 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Not sure if it counts (given this community), but the original PS4 immediately became my favorite console design. I am generally a fan of simple, elegant, soulless aesthetics.

[–] _NetNomad@fedia.io 9 points 3 days ago (2 children)

the 2600 and the coleco telstar are the first that come to mind. it's a shame wood grain fell out of fashion right as game consoles fell into fashion! i also love the the grey variant of the Saturn. Panasonic got two hits in a row with the 3DO and their GameCube-compatible DVD player thing.

honorable mention goes to the Daewoo CPG-120 which I only just learned about today. it's a consolized MSX2 that looks like a cross between the Enterprise and a Roomba. i can't decide if it looks magnificent or awful and it's arguably not a console to begin with but hey

edit: oh, and sharp's twin famicom! in general companies that made other kinds of electronic appliances had a way of bringing a certain class to console design without eliminating the fun

[–] HakFoo@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

If we can pick home computers that lean into cartridges, the Atari 800XL is a real winner. Nice two-tone finish, classy silver buttons with a plexi trim oiece covering the power light.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Peasley@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago

Japanese Sega Saturn is my all-time favorite design

Dreamcast and Japanese/PAL SNES are also up there.

[–] 3aqn5k6ryk@lemmy.world 7 points 3 days ago (2 children)

New nintendo 3DS for me. Small compact boxy look. True handheld. Pocketable. Just perfect.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] mrfriki@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago

I always loved the look of the Super Nintendo, for some reason it looked like a piece of decoration straight out of a Super Mario game.

[–] BlueSquid0741@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It’s a toss up; Mega Drive or Mega Drive II

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] edgemaster72@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago

Even though I had the model 2 growing up, I really like the model 1 Genesis/Megadrive. Had a kind of futuristic/sci-fi vibe to me.

[–] comfyquaker@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago

Super Famicom or ‘this is cool’ Saturn

[–] otp@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 days ago (2 children)

The 3DO FZ-10 looks much cooler than one would think the console deserves based on its reputation

[–] smokebuddy 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Rented this a few times from Blockbuster and played it at the demo that was always set up at Costco, it was a really solid system with actual potential. Blockbuster had a program back in the day where for $40 or something like that you could rent a system with 2 controllers and 2 games for 7 days. Did the same with the Sega Saturn with similar feelings, eventually ended up owning a N64 and that was not a disappointment in the end.

The ballistic hard shell cases with foam inserts Blockbuster rented out consoles in were seriously cool I wonder if any exist still

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Pooptimist@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago

I'd choose either the PSP or the dreamcast

[–] Peffse@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I appreciate how sleek the Mega Drive model 2 looks. Without any of the life support modules, of course.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago

Weirdly the 3DS XL for me, I think.

load more comments
view more: next ›