Would you buy a 9th or a 9.5th gen console???

[sergiodaly]

Last gen was the jump to HD, this gen was the jump to 1080p. Last gen, we had expensive HW with some what eccentric architectures and that result in 30fps HD games. (Nintendo did its own thing but that is irrelevant for the point i want to make)

This gen we did get cheaper HW, with a more familiar architecture (Again Nintendo against the tide, again, irrelevant but at the end the question could also apply to Nintendo) resulting in 1080p and sometimes 60fps but so far we can only get one or the other.

Many did get disappointed with the new gen, more powerful but not that much, i guess you get what you paid for.

With all the recent talk about nintendo nx and fusion. Still we get lots of talks about 900p, 720p, 30fps, and what not, pointing fingers at this new generation. 

It get me thinking, if the maker of consoles you prefer, for the 9th gen, did two versions of the console, lets call it PS5 and PS5+, Xbox Two and Xbox Two Plus, Nintendo NX and NX+. What are you talking about? You may ask. I'm saying same architecture, but different levels of power, more RAM, more and faster storage, you name it. Devs would do games for the more powerful, and pull the knobs down for the regular one. It would be mandatory to do the game for both. (same architecture in every way, could be done in a week)

The difference? well after 1080p, we have now 4K tvs, and a well done 4K capable console to run games at 60fps will, for sure, be a beast. That is the + version in this narrative, which obviously will cost more than the regular. The regular would run the games at 2K some at 30fps others at 60fps, depending on the game and devs. 

Just as example, i will give a price to fit this scenario.

Regular 450 dollars/euro

Plus edition 700 dollars/euro

Coming in 2018 so money will not have the same value, but you get the idea.

Which one would you buy? The 9th generation one, that like the previous one, get things done, but price keeps it from being great, or the 9.5th out of the gate generation that you sacrifice price in the name of this hobby you love?

PS: Nintendo gamers might not see themselfs in this situation, but the question is applicable, lets say nintendo will come with a more familiar architecture and the chance of working with powerful HW attracts 3rd party and Nintendo can still do its own games and be price conscious with the regular version.