Your Favorite Console...in Terms of Hardware Only

[BurningDoom]

I just love the look of the Sega Master System 2. I think it is the best looking Sega cart system.

That looks terrible, to me. Just a misshapen mess.

[SamuraiMegas]

teh Atari jaguar is liek teh b3st consul uv all TIEM.

I like the Saturn a lot as well the dreamcast.

[Snowman Death Droid]

Better is relative I suppose. The main advantage it has is audio quality. A lot of the model 2 board revisions come with significantly inferior sound chips. If you're outputting through s-video or composite, the HD model 1 units also have an advantage in that as well. All of the model 1 and 2 genesis revisions can natively output RGB, so if you're going that route, it's really only the sound chip.

How did Sega not notice the inferior audio quality? Why was there a difference between the models at all?

Oh, and for Sega CD games, a ton of them are imports, but Batman, NHL 94, Sol-feace, Lords of Thunder (although there's a better port on the PC engine) Robo Aleste, Popful Mail, Keio Flying Squadron, Bari-arm, Sylpheed, Shining Force CD, Lunar 1 and 2 and a ton of other things I'm forgetting.

Well I guess I got a starting point for some research. Thanks!

[Thierry Henry]

that's tough. Hardware only though I'm very impressed with the Saturn's controller and the fact that it's probably the quietest disc-based system ever.

Compare its noise level to the Dreamcast... yikes! What happened Sega?

Cos the DC is thinking, d'oh

Seriously, though, back then cd/dvd drives kept jumping in speeds, and when a new speed was achieved the drives were very loud. I've heard some that sound like jet engines taking off. It wasn't until a later revision that the drives would get quieter.

One of the biggest issues of CD systems at the time was unbearable load times, so I'm sure Sega wanted the fastest drive they could afford to put in there.

If you want to get your DC quieter just spray some silicone lubricant (silicone based lubricant, Not petroleum based like WD-40) in around the spindle bearing and sled rails, and presto, no more noise.


Back on topic,

I'll put in a vote for the JVC Wondermega RG M1/Sega Wondermega








And the Sanyo TRY 3DO,

[EvilRyu2099]

that's tough. Hardware only though I'm very impressed with the Saturn's controller and the fact that it's probably the quietest disc-based system ever.

The funny thing is that the launch PS3 is very quiet up until it's going to die.. When it starts sounding like a Jet Engine, you know it's on borrow time..

[pierrot]

Better is relative I suppose. The main advantage it has is audio quality. A lot of the model 2 board revisions come with significantly inferior sound chips. If you're outputting through s-video or composite, the HD model 1 units also have an advantage in that as well. All of the model 1 and 2 genesis revisions can natively output RGB, so if you're going that route, it's really only the sound chip.

How did Sega not notice the inferior audio quality? Why was there a difference between the models at all?

I don't think it was as much a quality control issue as it was an outsourcing / cost cutting issue. Model 2 Genesis revisions were assembled in a number of different countries with only a handful of parts in common. I'm sure all the revisions were efforts to stabilize quality while cutting costs to maximize profit. A lot of the model 2 hardware just suffers as a result.

I wouldn't say that the differences in quality are so drastic that they should lead people to paranoia levels of scouring for particular revisions, but they're still noticeable if one were watching/listening for them.

[CFFJR]

I love the look of all of the sega consoles, and the Genesis (Model 1) is definitely my favorite. Particularly when combined with the Model 1 Sega CD and the 32x. I love the sleek, shiny black and the smooth feel of the plastic.



Beautiful.

On that note though, I've never cared for the model 2 Genesis. Its always looked and felt cheap to me.

Other than Sega, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the PC Engine Duo series (Duo, Duo-R, Duo-RX), which are just sexy as hell. Here's the Duo-R:



It kinda has the vibe of a sports car you know? It looks fast.

[Thierry Henry]

I love the look of all of the sega consoles, and the Genesis (Model 1) is definitely my favorite. Particularly when combined with the Model 1 Sega CD and the 32x.

You'll get a lot of head shaking for this.

Other than Sega, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the PC Engine Duo series (Duo, Duo-R, Duo-RX), which are just sexy as hell.

And a bunch of head nodding for this choice.

[the7k]

Saturn. S-Video makes it look great even today. Expansion slot makes imports easy to play. One of the best pads for arcade style games - which the system library is practically built on.

Dreamcast. One of the most open system to exist, even if Sega didn't intend for it. Allowed it to stay relevant far past it's expiration date.

Gamecube. Mainly because it was compact, plus it had a handle. In a day and age where memory cards are becoming a distant memory and more and more save files are being locked to their original system, system devs would do well to remember that now the ONLY way we can bring our unlocked characters, leveled up parties and downloadable games to a friend's place is to take the whole system with us.

[ApolloBoy]

My favorites: