Well I chose 1996-2001 but I'm sure there is some bias in there. I mean I was a kid, SM64 made me the gamer I am today, and it was my first every experience with a Zelda game that made me go play all the others. Like John Stewart criticized the Fox pundits for, everything is great an awesome when your a kid (was making fun of them for always saying a time when they were growing up is always better).
But unlike the Fox pundits, I really do thing the 5th generation was quite amazing. Obviously I didn't have a PS1 nor have I ever, but I think N64 did enough for me as it was. Not to mention a little known game called Pokemon (sarcasm) came out during that time and changed the world... changed my world. There was just too many things I played during that time (Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, Pokemon, Goldeneye 007, Rogue Squadron, etc.) that just changed my world and really just made me into the gamer I am today.
But if the bias of being a kid is too much to overlook, then this generation now is easily my favorite. As much as I liked the 5th and the 6th, I also love the 7th. Of course I own all 3 systems this time (first ever in a generation) and I have the expenditures to fuel them all with good games (although PS3 gets shafted). So maybe another factor that changes the outcome. Either way still a great time.
