Which is the most significant (important) console in history?

[SegataSanshiro]

VAMatt said:

fatslob-:O said:
I'm kinda bummed out that the Atari 2600 doesn't get the credit it deserves for being the absolute first to show that there was mass market potential for consoles ...

You can talk about the NES all you want about reviving the console market in North America with stronger it's stronger licensing rights and that it brought console gaming to Japan but that doesn't compare with the Atari 2600 alone for setting setting trends in the new console generations to come thereafter ...

I'm not bummed.  But, yeah, it deserves more credit. 

Like I've said before, as have others - it would be really interesting to know how the age of commenters impacts their thinking about which system is most significant.  Personally, I'm thinking that people have trouble recognizing the signifigance of Atari 2600 because it came and went before they were even a twinkle in their parents' eye.

I started on Atari 2600. My parents became parents of my brother and sister before Ralph Baher even invented his brown box which was the first prototype console ever. I still said NES.