Sony easily.

Nintendo fails when it comes to hardware and sadly they also fail to bring new ip's and connect with a huge market as their online infrastructure is terrible and they're games are too childish in appearance for alot of gamers. That being said, i still believe Nintendo would be great if they created new ip's with realistic art styles and if they would create real hardware that satisfied third parties.

Why, EA, of course.

Does the 3DS count, if so, I would say, 3DS and PS4 at the moment. Base on my view,

I'm not even gonna read anything else posted and just answer based on the topic. Got a feeling this is gonna get ugly fast...

They are ALL equally important to console gaming. MS's attempts to fix their screw ups will push Sony to do even better than they already are. Likewise, MS wouldn't be bothering with all of the exclusives that they have mentioned if Sony had not already been doing the same thing and proven that it is the key to success in the long term for gaming. Furthermore had it not been for Sony, MS would have never reversed there horrible DRM policies and this alone proves that NO single console entity should have all the power. Fan from BOTH sides need to realize this.

Nintendo will remain the go to console for classics. This gen the WiiU will be a nice side console to pick up when I feel the time is right (for me). They are losing influence in the console market, but they will still survive to see at least one more generation. Hopefully they can make a comeback to the glory days and we can see all three going head to head to head on equal grounds. This is what will push the most, and highest quality titles possible on consoles. If Sony and MS are going this hard with just worrying about each other, imagine how much harder they will push if Nintendo steps back into the weight class throwing their punches equally as hard.

So in conclusion, no company is the MOST essential for console gaming.

Actually, if you want to get historical isn't it Magnavox? The Magnavox Oddesy is usually credited as the first video game console. But Oddesy II was the first one I remember wanting to play.

Then the Atari should get the credit for making it HUGE! It grew the industry. Matel, Coleco, and other joined. Then it died, then Nintendo saved it or as I see it, brought it back.

Later we had Sony and Microsoft join in, but the games are so much bigger now. The original full games would be called mini games at best by today's standards. (And yes, I know, Apple, Sega, and other made consoles, but they do not anymore.)

OP When I first read it, I thought you said countries, and I was going to say China. Cause that's where most of the world gaming consoles are made.

tagging for an interesting read later on.

lol, with Sony(&MS)  this industry is dying, high budget games are killing companies after companies, concentrating all the ressources in the hands of a few big publishers who are allergic to inovation & risk taking as albinos are allergic to the sun... I get that the masses of formatated sheep like their generic shooter & teens like their dull gory violent game to make them feel more adult & manly (instead of courting girls outside in the real world), but as seen the console market is shrinking faster than George Costanza intimate bits after a swim, I think the way of AAA high budget Hollywood wannabe type of games is heading in the wall really fast.

How many of those PS2 sold were unique users & not the same dude buying his 4th PS2 because they were crap & barely lasted till the end of warranty??? 150M PS2 sold =/= 150M console players!

If there is anything I have learned about these forums from this thread then it is this:
-Nintendo fans are the most vocal.
-Sony fans are the most numerous.
-Microsoft fans are non-existent.

lol this!!!