Best Video Game Console

Video games made their way into American homes as early as the 1970s. But it wasn’t until the console wars in the 1990s that in-home video-game consoles became nearly ubiquitous. Nintendo, Sega, Sony, and Microsoft were all pumping out quality machines that played increasingly awe-inspiring games, and that trend has continued ever since. As Nintendo prepares to kick off the next generation of console releases with the imminent arrival of the Switch 2, the Great Pop Culture Debate wanted to look back at the slickest systems from the past and name the Best Video-Game Console.

Systems debated include: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Game Boy, NES (Nintendo Entertainment System), Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sega Genesis, Sony PlayStation 3.

Join host Eric Rezsnyak and GPCD panelists Andrea Guerrero, David Silbert, and Jim Czadzeck as they discuss 16 of the most legendary video-game systems of all time.

Play along at home by finding the listener bracket here. Make a copy for yourself, fill it out, and see if your picks match up with ours!

For more exclusive content, including the warm-up in which we discuss even more video-game consoles that didn’t make the bracket, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast today.

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Round 1 Match-Ups:

Not a Patreon subscriber? Here’s a primer on how we came up with the bracket.

Match-Up 1: Nintendo Switch (1) vs. Nintendo 3DS (4)

Match-Up 2: Sony PlayStation 4 (3) vs. Nintendo GameCube (2)

Match-Up 3: Nintendo Wii (1) vs. Nintendo DS (4)

Match-Up 5: Sony PlayStation 2 (1) vs. Sony PlayStation (4)

Match-Up 6: Game Boy Advance (3) vs. Super Nintendo (2)

Match-Up 7: Nintendo 64 (1) vs. Microsoft Xbox 360 (4)

Match-Up 8: Sega Genesis (3) vs. Sony PlayStation 3 (2)


Want to play along at home?

Download the Listener Bracket and see if your picks match up with ours!

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Episode Credits

Host: Eric Rezsnyak

Panelists: Andrea Guerrero, David Silbert, Jim Czadzeck

Producer: Bob Erlenback

Editor: Bob Erlenback

Theme Music: “Dance to My Tune” by Marc Torch

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