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Most substantial console redesign?

Beamerball

Beamerball

Member
Jan 16, 2018
1,416
Recent threads on the PS2 got me thinking about how substantial the PS2 Slim redesign was compared to the original model. It went from this huge machine to something the size a two dvd cases in size.

what other console/handheld experienced such a drastic redesign? Only other one I can think of at that magnitude was the DS to the DS Lite.
 
lobdale

lobdale

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,991
NES to NES top loader was pretty drastic. GB to GB pocket. Genesis to Genesis 2. Sega CD 1 to Sega CD 2. PSone wasn't much bigger than the CD you put in it.
 
NinjaScooter

NinjaScooter

Member
Oct 25, 2017
54,164
PS2 to PSX and Gamecube to Panasonic Q were substantial in the other direction (Bigger), but those were less redesigns and more secondary products.

GBA to SP was pretty drastic as well.
 
SNRUB

SNRUB

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,009
New Jersey
GB SP with the backlit screen was such a massive goddamn glowup compared to that shitty excuse for a lamppost for the original design.
 
MercuryLS

MercuryLS

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
5,578
PS2 slim for sure, especially the model that also incorporated the psu into the console. The PS2 was partially as large as it was due to the hard drive bay, but even if you took that out of the equation, the size down for the slim was amazing.
 
NinjaScooter

NinjaScooter

Member
Oct 25, 2017
54,164
Sega CDX is another that sort of pushes the definition of "redesign" but for the time putting a genesis + Sega CD into a package that wasn't that much bigger than a lot of portable CD players of the era was pretty incredible.
 

Shroki

Member
Oct 27, 2017
5,911
Even though I prefer the original GBA's design from an aesthetic standpoint, the inclusion of a backlight was just WAY more functional than any home console redesign I can think of.
 
Dr. Feel Good

Dr. Feel Good

Member
Oct 25, 2017
3,996
s-l640.jpg


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Lobster Roll

Lobster Roll

signature-less, now and forever
Member
Sep 24, 2019
34,380
I don't think it was the most substantial, but going from a front-loader to a top-loader as a kid blew my mind.

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NES-101-Console-Set.jpg
 
RowdyReverb

RowdyReverb

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,934
Austin, TX
Lobster Roll said:
I don't think it was the most substantial, but going from a front-loader to a top-loader as a kid blew my mind.

1200px-Nintendo_Entertainment_System.jpg


NES-101-Console-Set.jpg
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lobdale said:
NES to NES top loader was pretty drastic. GB to GB pocket. Genesis to Genesis 2. Sega CD 1 to Sega CD 2. PSone wasn't much bigger than the CD you put in it.
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Yeah, top loader NES-101 looks almost like a different console from the original. Entirely different design philosophy and fixes many of the flaws of the original deck.

Side note: the top loader was my first game console and I rarely experienced the sharp corners of the original NES controller thanks to my "dog bone" controller! I was so disappointed to learn it was incompatible with Game Genie though lol
 
RomanticHeroX

RomanticHeroX

Member
Oct 27, 2017
2,889
lobdale said:
NES to NES top loader was pretty drastic.
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The original Famicom only had RF output, so the top loader Famicom was a huge improvement in adding composite out. The original NES, meanwhile, had composite out to begin with, but the top loader went backwards and only had RF out. It would be a great system aside from that, but you have to mod it to get not terrible video out.

The most impressive redesign in terms of shrinking the hardware was the PS2 slim, but for improving the usability of the hardware, the best redesign is easily the GBA SP.
 
Lobster Roll

Lobster Roll

signature-less, now and forever
Member
Sep 24, 2019
34,380
RowdyReverb said:
Yeah, top loader NES-101 looks almost like a different console from the original. Entirely different design philosophy and fixes many of the flaws of the original deck.

Side note: the top loader was my first game console and I rarely experienced the sharp corners of the original NES controller thanks to my "dog bone" controller! I was so disappointed to learn it was incompatible with Game Genie though lol
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Yep. We had our first NES permanently "borrowed" by somebody we thought was a friend, and so we got a top loader as a replacement. The wishbone controller made me forever hate the original one haha
 
Bigg

Bigg

Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,637
Well, the first two that came to mind were the ones you already put in the OP, PS2 to PS2 slim and DS to DS Lite. As others have said, GBA to GBA SP is good too

I think Game Boy to Game Boy pocket is a bit underrated? The original GB was massive and the GBP really did live up to its namesake. If only the US got the Game Boy Light, honestly.
 
Pyro

Pyro

God help us the mods are making weekend threads
Member
Jul 30, 2018
14,505
United States
The PS2 Slim is still the king IMO. I'm really looking forward to the PS5 re-design (assuming there is one and not just a "Pro").
 
Indelible

Indelible

Member
Oct 27, 2017
13,695
Canada
Launch Genesis to the model 2 Genesis, I grew up with the model 2 so the original design always looked weird to me.
 
Dead Man Typing

Dead Man Typing

Member
Oct 27, 2017
5,844
Theswweet said:
GBA to GBA SP.
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Yep. I didn't do this upgrade and regretted it later when I realised how substantial it was.
The screen quality, the form factor and the rechargeable battery all add up to something really special when compared to the original release.

For home consoles, I think the PS2 Slim was such a radically smaller version, combined with the price drop and the introduction of a pink version really opened the machine up to new markets. I worked retail in 04-07 and we sold so many PS2's in that time.
 
MysticGon

MysticGon

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 31, 2017
7,285
3DS to 2DS. You could be forgiven in thinking they were 2 different platforms.
 
Rodney McKay

Rodney McKay

Member
Oct 26, 2017
12,205
The New 3DS adding eye tracking to make the 3D effect more stable was pretty cool, but the increased hardware power wasn't too big of a deal.

GBA to SP was probably functionally the biggest update I've seen. Fixed both of the massive flaws of the system (folds to protect the screen, rechargeable battery, and a light for the screen). The original GBA was pretty much only usable with a light attachment.

In terms of physical system redesigns the PS2 Slim is still the most impressive one I've ever experienced. It was just so ridiculously small and still had all the functionality as well as built in internet and power brick if I remember right.
 
Butch

Butch

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,438
The answer is PS2 - PS2 Slim.

Also, I like that small red Wii, but it seems to be en unpopular opinion lol
 

CanUKlehead

Member
Oct 30, 2017
3,406
If the change in size and form factor from PS2 to Slim is anything close to how they'll go from PS5 to Slim, I'd be stoked. Doubt it would come close to that drastic change (for many functional reasons), but I can dream.
 
woodypop

woodypop

Member
Oct 27, 2017
818
Rodney McKay said:
I think it removed the Gamecube backward compatibility and also online functionality, so no online multiplayer or virtual console or anything like that.
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Yeah, most console redesigns incorporated more improvements than removed features. The Wii Mini was not one of them. The Genesis 3 also comes to mind.
 
hasher

hasher

Member
Oct 10, 2020
558
Original DS to DS Lite. The Lite is just impeccably designed and has that sturdy Nintendo feel.
 
RestEerie

RestEerie

Banned
Aug 20, 2018
13,618
OG NDS to NDS Lite.

Went from looking like something Microsoft will release (*ahem* OG Zune) to a sleek iPod.
 

Deleted member 59126

Banned
Aug 10, 2019
2,053
PS3 slim helped sell a lot more systems as it was half the price of the what the original model launched at, and $100 cheaper than the standard 40 gig model.
 
Devil

Devil

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,666
360 Slim because that didn't just make it much prettier and smaller but also not explode when you look at it wrong.
 
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