In the over forty years that gaming consoles have existed, there has been a wide range of highs and lows. This is especially true when it comes to the console design, with so many different companies jumping in on the action, there are bound to be some blunders here and there.
Most of these occurred in the earlier and much more experimental years when companies hadn't figured out the winning formula yet. Some of the strangest, most unattractive consoles have come at the hand of probing the boundaries. Testing what the fans would accept and stepping a little too far over the line and into bizarre territory.
10 Xbox
While there's nothing particularly gruesome about the original Xbox, there's nothing good about it either. One of the biggest and heaviest consoles around, the design didn't exactly scream effort. Lucky for Microsoft, this wasn't a fashion contest.
Giving no mind to weight or aesthetics, the design team actually got lucky that this was the final result. If fans go back to some of the original plans they had for the console it reveals a massive X build that would have been both more expensive and much heavier.
9 Magnavox Odyssey
One of the first generation consoles to ever be released, the design is easily forgivable. With nothing to compare to, the console was probably more focused on working internally than making a design statement.
The Odyssey did come out looking like it should be in Ikea's new winter lineup though, with controllers that look more like toasters. Even with its old school futuristic charms, the Odyssey is a victim of the era and so became one of the oddest looking consoles in history.
8 Nintendo 2DS
Taking it back to decades past for some reason, the slate design of the 2DS is one of the most confusing on the list. Leaving many who saw the launch of the console asking ''Why?'' While some niche set of fans might be drawn to the retro look, it took an unnecessary step back while still juggling its higher-end devices.
Taking away the hinge that allowed the player to protect the screen when not in use, the 2DS has one giant divided screen left open to the elements. Advertised at a much lower price range, the budget pricing comes at the cost of both looks and functionality.
7 Nokia N-Gage
Sometimes ideas are born before their time, technology just hasn't caught up to the concept yet. The Nokia N-Gage was the first attempt to bring gaming to the cell phone, an industry that has now made billions in profit and has more players than other consoles combined.
Without the advantage of smartphones Nokia decided to try and fuse the brick phone and handheld gaming device, creating a barely useable Frankenstein. The button layout made it one of the most awkward gaming experiences, gaining the nickname ''Taco Phone'' for its curved style.
6 Nintendo Virtual Boy
Casting away the need for a TV, the Virtual Boy had some interesting concepts that made it a hot commodity at release. Another case of technology lagging behind a good idea, the console was a massive headpiece with an equally mammoth controller.
While players didn't need a TV, trying to play it left fans forward heavy and reported some serious eye strain. The designer, Gunpei Yokoi, has stated that he didn't want the console released yet but Nintendo needed to fill the gap between consoles.
5 Tiger Game.com
Tiger's attempt at competing with the Game Boy Color, the system even had a touch screen with a stylus. While it all sounds very impressive the designers well overshot the mark, overestimating the console's capabilities. Trying to jam the likes of Resident Evil 2 on there only lead to incredibly slow framerate, ultimately making them unplayable.
The system even had modem internet access and email, things that are completely unnecessary on a handheld. Next to every other handheld console, the Game.com was a bulky, overambitious flop that practically pushed fans towards their competitor's
4 Gizmondo
On top of looking like a 1960s Star Trek prop, Gizmondo's design was one of the biggest failures in gaming. Competing with the Nintendo DS and PSP, Gizmondo is a laughable challenge that wasn't even sold in gaming stores.
Only fourteen games making it out of the starting blocks before the company went bankrupt, it's no surprise that so little effort went into the console. The system even had a chassis that with no protection from the heat, meaning playing it would cause a slow meltdown of the console.
3 Sega 32X
Taking the Sega Genesis and adding a giant growth to it's back in hopes of competing with Super Nintendo, the 32X was a total flop at the time of release. With many fans of Sega now looking back in rose colored glasses, often forgetting the massive web of wires that existed as a result.
Glazing over the multitude of technical flaws the system had, 32X was simply too much hardware for what it was. With only 40 games ever being released for the console, the amount of additional wires, prongs, and plug space made for the most chaotic setup possible.
2 Intellivision
While this console was looked on favorably when it was released, the controllers are one of the worst in the business. Unable to be detached without some serious hardware skills, it became a floppy armed nuisance for anyone that wanted to move it.
The seventeen buttons didn't help matters, confusing both button layouts and hand position. The console itself has taken notes from old school answering machines and the controllers complete the look with two miniature handsets.
1 Coleco Telstar Arcade
It's not hard to see why the Arcade made the list, looking like an experiment gone horribly wrong. Telstar tried its hardest to make the system look like the best time ever, instead creating a cross between a funfair and a 70s car stereo.
Confusing, to say the least, if kids make up a major chunk of the demographic, don't use wood paneling. Having only four games released in total for the system, it looks like they've added a unique controller for every title.