You said it all in the OP, i.e. "It revived the video game industry single handedly and revolutionized the business with it's 3rd party support."

NES, is hands down the greatest console ever. I say this because any argument, e.g. revolutionary games, control, graphics, sound, etc, that boots the argument for the other consoles, the same can be said and was done in spades on the NES years before, and that is why IMO the NES is the greatest console ever.

Playstation 2

In terms of importance the NES. Take that out of the picture and the industry would look way different. Moreso than any other console.

In terms of personal enjoyment, I'd say the Wii. I just love the first party games that were put out for it. Brawl, Mario Galaxy, Twilight Princess, Galaxy 2, and DKCR are all among my favorite games ever, not to mention how fun things like Wii Sports are with the right crowd.

What a fail of a thread. Put GameCube on the list or else!

The most influencial, the NES. The best for me the, PSX and the snes

So I've been clicking on the profiles of some these gamers that say that the PS1 or PS2 is the greatest ever, and based on their age, you can tell that they possibly are not old enough to have an informed or even credible opinion on the NES. Just thought I'd point that out.

But I understand that we're NOT here to discuss why the NES is not the greatest console ever - so press on.

It's a shame dreamcast wasn't included in the poll.

But i think it would be either SNES or PS2 as my favourite console.

SNES~ because of the awesome platformer games like Super mario world and Donkey kong country

&

PS2~ because of all the incredible games on it, hitman, timesplitters, max payne, silent hill, final fantasy, gran turismo and (especially) grand theft auto to name a few

N64. Because of the revolutionary games and gameplay it introduced, and its controller, along with the analog stick.

I mean, Ocarina of Time, Super Mario 64, Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, the Banjo-Kazooie games, DK64, Mario Kart 64, Diddy Kong Racing, Paper Mario, Rogue Squadron, Conker, Starfox (rumblepak!), Majora's Mask, Smash Bros...

Oh yeah, and Bomberman 64. Glory. T_T

It's all a matter of opinion, in my eyes the mega drive, and always will be, and I thought the ps1 was better and more fun than the ps2, just like someone who grew up with the nes may think that's the greatest console ever, all opinion and different tastes.

Sorry...

First, it's the console that got me interested in home gaming.  I was an avid arcade gamer since I first played Pac Man in 1980, but after an extensive hands-on with the Atari 2600, I had no faith in home consoles being able to replicate what drew me to arcades.  Later when I actually played Super Mario Bros in an arcade unit - and later realized that it was the exact same experience on the NES - I was sold.

My mother and I made a trip to Albuquerque (this is when I lived in NM) just to buy an NES, and I had just seen the latest commercial for The Legend of Zelda, so we went to a Walmart to buy it.  I wanted the NES that came with SMB but they were out of that SKU at that particular store, but when I asked about Zelda, the salesman's eyes lit up.  There was an NES hooked to a small TV there in the electronics section and he actually opened up a copy of Zelda and let me play it.  This was the first time I had ever held the controller and played an NES.  As he explained the details of the game and showed me the full color booklet, the maps, etc, I just stood there in awe and amazement.  My mom looked at me and said, "I don't think you're going to have the patience for a game like this."  Little did she know...

So I actually had my copy of Zelda before the system itself - which I did get with Mario that same night - and before we went back home the next day, my mom let me pick out two more games, of which I chose Ice Climber and Ghosts 'n Goblins (I liked it in the arcade).  Those were the only games I had for a few months until later for Xmas when I got Metroid and Kid Icarus.

No console has ever had the impression on me that the NES did.  It established the 3rd party business model and it single-handedly brought back the home video game market after the big crash of '83... and it firmly established home gaming as a permanent form of entertainment.  So many genres were present on the console:  platformers, racers, light gun shooters, puzzlers, brawlers, action games, adventure games, sports, RPGs... even the "family participation genre" with games like Anticipation.  And it was easily the most dominant console that ever was and ever will be:  Over 90% market share over the Sega Master System and Atari 7800.  Even the PS2 can't claim to have had competitors first party games brought to their console like the NES did, which actually housed Sega games like Shinobi and Afterburner thanks to a company called Tengen.

I don't ever expect to be wowed by another console like I was with the NES ever again.  If I am, I'll consider myself very lucky that I was able to experience that feeling twice.