The design of the device can play a role in how people perceive the console, primarily due to aesthetics and practical issues of os placing the system in a room. Console case design balances the line between artistic design (the Xbox 360s curvature, the Wii's shiny, compact casing) and how the system will be stacked (horizontal? vertical? Will discs be readable regardless of how the system is placed?)

Is this the biggest issue a console launch faces? No. But it's something a console owner would like the manufacturer to consider and could affect sales.