What's the best computer based console?

[TL]

[align=center:3rd1lv6x][size=140]Many companies tried to make consoles based on computer hardware and most of them failed, which makes you wonder just why they kept trying!

But the question has to be asked, which one of the best of the bunch and why?[/size]

[/align:3rd1lv6x]

[TL]

For those who might have been wondering what computer each console was based on:

CBS ColecoVision (MSX)
Atari 5200 Super System (Atari 400)
Sega SG-1000 (MSX)
Commodore 64 Games System (Commodore 64)
Amstrad GX4000 (Amstrad CPC464+)
Commodore Amiga CDTV (Amiga 500)
Atari XE Games System (Atari 65XE)
Fujitsu FM Towns Marty (FM Towns)
Commodore Amiga CD32 (Amiga A1200)
Apple Bandai Pippin (Apple Macintosh)

[TrekMD]

I voted for the XEGS.  It has a very nice library of games!  I also happen to like the design of the system.

[Cryptic33]

XEGS but I am biased of course. Still, there were some great games for the system and the whole design just works and still looks good today! :79:

[TL]

XEGS but I am biased of course. Still, there were some great games for the system and the whole design just works and still looks good today! :79: :113:

[Cryptic33]

[align=center:1hjaxljk][/align:1hjaxljk]

Yep, still looks sexy

[zapiy]

Looks too much like a toy to me...

[triverse]

I was partial to the CDTV based on the adventure titles they advertised with it (most never were a reality).

[tomwaits]

Not sure if the Colecovision or SG-1000 really fit the category since they're not based on the MSX operating system... similar hardware but they pre-date MSX computers. I don't think the Coleco Adam or SC-3000 computer 'upgrades' were MSX compatible either.

But, since it's on the list, I voted for the Colecovision. It had the most unique games and offered a huge library of quality arcade ports.

[TL]

Not sure if the Colecovision or SG-1000 really fit the category since they're not based on the MSX operating system... similar hardware but they pre-date MSX computers. I don't think the Coleco Adam or SC-3000 computer 'upgrades' were MSX compatible either.

But, since it's on the list, I voted for the Colecovision. It had the most unique games and offered a huge library of quality arcade ports.

Quite a few of these consoles were not directly compatible with the computer they were based on but the fact is they were all based on computer hardware in the first place. The MSX standard was developed and modified while the first machines were being released. The Colecovision, SG1000 and Spectravideo SV were all early adopters of the MSX hardware but were not 100% compatible with what eventually became the MSX standard. This was more problematic for the Spectravideo machine rather than the Coleco or SG1000 as that was a computer and not a console. Spectravideo did actually end up releasing a revised version of the machine that was 100% compatible after the standard had finally been set in place.

[SnakeEyes]

Not played on a whole host of these to be honest. I do have the Gx4000 and know for a fact that that is not worth considering in this poll.

probably the XE, or purely down to the fact I really want to try one, the CD32.

[TL]

Not played on a whole host of these to be honest. I do have the Gx4000 and know for a fact that that is not worth considering in this poll.

probably the XE, or purely down to the fact I really want to try one, the CD32.

The CD32 is a great machine to play classic Amiga titles on, if you can get a decent controller that is!

[dougtitchmarsh]

CD32 for me, but it was a tough call between the CD32 and Colecovision.

[Gorf]

I for one was down with the Astrocade as the best Computer based console... since it was the heart of a computer injust about every way.

[ArcadeAction]

The Sega Dreamcast has some similarities to consoles listed, but in a different way and in a different time period. It used Microsoft Windows CE and had keyboard, mouse and web browser.

Mostly though I'm thinking about the game portability perspective...

From Wiki:
Microsoft developed a custom Dreamcast version of Windows CE with DirectX API and dynamic-link libraries, making it easy to port PC games to the platform,[36] although programmers would ultimately favor Sega's development tools over those from Microsoft.[32]