http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/game-customers-name-1996-as-gaming-s-golden-year-names-wii-as-best-ever-console/0113110?

1996 has been named as video gaming’s ‘golden year’ by a survey of 2,000 GAME customers.

Big hits released that year included Resident Evil, Super Mario 64, Tekken 2, Crash Bandicoot, FIFA 96 (which was the first in the series to use real-life licenses) and the mighty Tomb Raider.

2002 was the runner-up with releases such as Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Elder Scrolls III and Halo.

Perhaps more surprising is the Wii’s nomination as the best console ever released. The all-conquering PS2 only achieved a fourth place finish.

Here are all the results:

Top Five Years for Gaming

1. 1996 (14%): Tomb Raider and Crash Bandicoot on the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 launched. We were singing along to Baddiel and Skinner’s Three Lions and Brit Pop was at its height

2. 2002 (13%): Halo and Elder Scrolls III on the Xbox and Grand Theft Auto Vice City. BBC 6 Music arrived on our airwaves and Arsenal won the FA Cup

3. 1991 (12%): Street Fighter II and Super Mario World on SNES and Lemmings was out on the PC. It was the start of the Iraq war and the year Bryan Adams made history when (Everything I Do) I Do It For You entered its 15th successive week at number one

4. 1985 (11%): Super Mario Bros, Duck Hunt and Donkey Kong Jr on the NES and Ultima IV and Oregon Trail on the PC. It was the year Eastenders went on air and the mullet was considered the most desirable hairstyle for men and women alike

5. 1980 (10%): Pac-Man and Centipede in the arcade, Space Invaders on the Atari 2600 and Zork on the PC. It was the year John Lennon was shot dead and David Bowie was at number one with Ashes to Ashes

The Top Consoles of All Time

1. Wii (15%)
2. Xbox 360 (10%)
3. PlayStation 3 (9%)
4. PlayStation 2 (8%)
5. Sega Mega Drive (7%)
6. PlayStation 1 (6.5%)
7. Super Nintendo (6%)
8. Game Boy (5%)
9. N64 (4.5%)
10. Nintendo DS (4%)

Wii as best console ever? How old are these 'gamers' in the 15% range I wonder?

What astounds me more is that MegaDrive beat the SNES.

1981 was God-tier in gaming. But I suppose there's no wrong answer, except for years that pre-date Pong.

They neglect to mention that 1996 was the year Pokémon was released in Japan. The first Pokémon.

Gamers can say whatever they want, but the Wii made its place in gaming and the world. You can argue everything you want, but you can't say there is one people in the world that doesn't know about the Wii. I am exagerating of course, but you get the idea. 

There is a reason why people hate it!

GAME is a UK store so it makes sense.

This survey is just so full of wrong. Either that or the UK has a really strange taste in gaming.

The Wii is appropriate for all ages.

Except 12.

that is somewhat true, look at Aliens Colonial Marines in the top ten the launch week.

Wii probably was the best console for local multi player gaming ever. Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, Wii Play, Wii Party, Mario Party 8-9, Smash, Mario Kart, DKC, Tatsunoko, Punch Out, Just Dance 1-4, COD, Rockband, Kirby, Sonic, GH3, GH: World Tour, Zumba Fitness, Zumba 2, Michael Jackson, Rabbids, NSMB Wii, Excite Truck, NBA Jam, countless supplemental sports, fitness, and racing games, not to metion all GC multiplayer, and all major NES, SNES, Genesis, N64, and major Arcade / minor console multiplayer games on VC, and then all the WiiWare multiplayer content.