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Rpruett on 08 March 2009
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1. NES (Defined gaming and brought video games into many households and more importantly popularized the name in video games.)
2. PS2 (Unmatched software library, widespread popularity, great variety of genres more so than any other console before and after it).
3. SNES (Wonderful system with a wide array of titles and a linear improvement over the NES).
4. PS1 (Really changed the way people experienced gaming.) Had a wide variety of software titles as well and games unseen before.
5. Dreamcast (Really started the whole ball of wax moving on the online component although it failed, it still proved with games like Phantasy Star that online was something consumers were craving).
6. Xbox (Contained a hard drive which added to the wide range of possibilities for games as well as put fuel into the online gaming fire).



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I don't think you can properly evaluate the current generation of consoles yet. The Xbox 360 pushed the online gaming and networking to the forefront. The PS3 pushed High Definition to the mainstream. The Wii pushed a control mechanism that garnered a large casual fanbase. It's WAY too early to see how these decisions will play out.

For example, Xbox 360 came out with the original online networking component but the PS3's network could potentially overthrow the Xbox 360s in terms of software, features, etc. The next generation could feature FREE online gaming from all companies. In which case, the PS3 online model was superior thus nullifying the 360s overall impact.

Another example, The PS3 could have pushed High Definition into the forefront but the next generation could completely abandon the Blu-Ray and move more towards more cost effective development measures.

Another example, The Wii could have had much success this generation with casuals but casuals are called casuals for a reason. Casual gamers don't buy new video game systems ever few years. They buy one once in a great while and then keep playing that system. Who knows if the motion controls on the Wii actually take off and become a feature that all future systems use. Way too early.