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

[zorg1000]

GProgrammer said:

zorg1000 said:

the only reason i didnt go with Atari 2600 is because it also killed the market it created.

Good point, I'll stick that as #3 remember from the OP its 'By significant, I mean the one that had the most impact on the industry/hobby of gaming.' the videogame crash of 1983 certainly was an significiant event

#1 It launched consoles into the mainstream
#2 Most dominant console compared to its contemporaries in history

#3 It almost killed the console market in the USA

Based on these facts the atari 2600 is obviously the most important console in history, anyone claiming otherwise is deluding themselves

sure the crash was significant but in the opposite sense of what the OP is talking about.