How a Console Looks: It Really Does Matter

Hardcore Gamer: Despite our best efforts as human beings, we're prone to judging books by their covers, and how a device looks has an effect on how we perceive its power or functionality.

[Knightshade]

There are people who will argue that those dirty-signal polluting lights on their PC make it faster. So yea, perception is that looks make it faster, but the reality is no.

[SkullBlade169]

My Gaming PC is just a big black box lol, I never saw the point in adding flashy lights to them it'd just annoy me while gaming or watching a film in the dark.

[memots]

agreed.

Its nice to look at but who seriously keep starring at the inside of a PC.

Mine has a nice side panel and i bought cord extension to make a nice clean wire free setup ( for airflow ) but i think i showed the inside once to my buddy, Its impressive but i dont understand how its important.

Same for Console some people think its important since its on display in the living room. So some people care but most dont.

[darthv72]

Im not one of those form over function kind of people. the look of the system is irrelevant to me. the comfort of its controller however, thats what i like.

[Sayai jin]

I game in my theater and my PC, PS4, XB1 and Wii U sit behind me. I never cared about what they looked like. Now when you talk about cars or clothes then they matter IMO. It's a piece of plastic and subjectively are not that expensive.

[SkullBlade169]

I don't really like it when a console tries to look like an appliance like a VCR or DVD player, I like the more interesting looking consoles like Sega Genesis/MegaDrive, Original Xbox, Dreamcast, PS1, PS3, PS4. The elite 360 consoles look quite cool too imo

[deafdani]

The PS4 does look like a VCR or DVD player, though.

With the others console you listed, though, I agree.

[NeoTribe]

Ps4 is prolly one of the most different designs to ever exist... how is the original xbox in his list? Its liderally a box that looks like a vcr.

[SkullBlade169]

@NeoTribe

I just like the big X on the top thats the only unique thing about that console design really.

It literally was an X-Box lol

[Alstor_H2O]

The article could have easily gone into controllers, too. They're the biggest compliments to the design of the console and play a big part in its design (e.g. a curvy Xbox 360 controller for a curvy console).

[CerealKiller]

For people who have no idea about the specs, the console design influences their perception about how powerful it is. Just like cars and PCs.

[GentlemenRUs]

It needs to be small enough to fit in my unit and big enough to keep cool... The PS4 mastered both of these :P

[Geekman]

As long as it's not so big that it takes up half of my desk (Xbox 360) then I'm good. But seriously, the Xbox One is so big that it takes up the entire TV area, making no room for a PS4 or Wii U. We're being FORCED to make it our "number one entertainment system."

[Ultraplayerxp]

Design encompasses every aspect of the product, not just internally but externally as well. Take the iPhone for instance. Its looks is one of its biggest draws. The same principle applies to every tech product out there.

[SpiralTear]

It was really Apple's iPod line that stimulated the interest in making products in the color white. Before that, the color of choice for tech products (and even other products like cars) was black or a glossy steel.

[AD705]

The NES was my favorite console design. Followed by the original ATARI. Sega genesis. Atari Jaguar. and the gamecube.

[tweet75]

i really dont care about the looks of a console. I care about size and stability. Ive always loved the wii because to me its the perfect console physically. It leaves plenty of rooms for other things on entertainment shelf and does not clutter things up. Small can fit in a small space and plays great games.