Microsoft is banking a lot of their gaming future on Kinect and they have made it abundantly clear that they see the release of Kinect as a bigger event than the release of the Xbox 360.
So stories like this must be making them all warm and fuzzy inside. According to a post on X2theg you can no longer pre-order a Kinect through America’s biggest gaming retailer, gamestop.
However all hope is not lost if you still want one as they are still accepting pre-orders for the 4Gb and 250Gb consoles which are coming bundled with Kinect.
The majority of the gaming news outlets haven’t been very kind to Kinect since Microsoft decided to focus mainly on the casual market but you will remember that the majority of gaming news outlets mocked the Wii as well and Nintendo has proven everyone wrong if measure success by a companies bank balance.
I’m excited for Kinect for the family entertainment value it will bring but am in no doubt that there will be no use for it in hardcore gaming for some months to come.
Source: x2theg
Last Updated: October 8, 2010
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 8, 2010 at 09:50
It’s a good way to manufacture demand by artificially controlling supply. It’s business 101, and even Nintendo did it when the Wii was initially launched (Sony failed to accomplish the same with the PS3s launch, and actually alienated consumers), because when someone hears “it’s sold out”, our natural instinct of hoarding kicks in, and we’re more likely to impulse buy.
lol, Excellent Strategy Microsoft and Gamestop! 😀
Sid
October 8, 2010 at 09:53
Pre ordered mine early, will be hard to get once the holiday season buying rush starts.
severt
October 8, 2010 at 10:04
@ Bobby Kotick for Dummies
Now also sold out at Newegg.com
Looks like your MS and Gamestop Strategy theory is starting to go out of the window. :whistle:
Gavin Mannion
October 8, 2010 at 10:16
Not really because Microsoft can control the flow straight out the gates… if they are planning for a sold out across the country marketing thing..
Personally I just think hardcore gamers can’t comprehend the selling points of Kinect. I know for sure I am buying at least 3 to setup the families video chat… they all have an Xbox 360 already and this is the next step for them
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 8, 2010 at 10:20
@Severt – Actually it validates an age old marketing trick, Gamespot released their statement a few hours ago, and now you’ll see others follow suite.
In any case, the number of copies Microsoft is releasing to retailers is limited, thus sparking an artificial demand (it’s a bit how DeBeers controls the diamond trade, by stockpiling and controlling the supply of diamonds). When Joe Public reads preorders are sold out in Gamespot, Newegg.com or even in Wallmart, they’re more likely to take the chance and buy into it (regardless of the inflated price). This is marketing and business 101. :biggrin:
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 8, 2010 at 10:21
That’s what Microsoft is banking on, after November Kinect floods the market, but everyone is still convinced that there are only limited stock, hence a buying frenzy.
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 8, 2010 at 10:27
My point is simple. Artificial shortages are the order of the day for all launches (the Wii did it, Sony tried it, Microsoft did it with the 360, Apple always does it..etc. etc.). It’s a very effective way to get you and me, interested in a product, and even more so if the letters “limited offer” appears on a pamphlet. 😉
Lol, if you can’t see beyond the marketing game, then guess what you’re being played.
al360
October 8, 2010 at 10:30
totally agree well said :devil:
John
October 8, 2010 at 10:33
Stop lying. I took business 101 and they never taught this. :unsure:
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 8, 2010 at 10:48
lol, then you shouldn’t have gone to a technikon (or University of Technology), John. :tongue: But I’m sure they covered supply and demand in Economics, right? If not, I think you need to demand your money back. You got robbed.
Bonk
October 8, 2010 at 10:50
Well the dedicated MS and Apple crowd can’t be regarded as the sensible type
RSA-Ace
October 8, 2010 at 10:51
Exactly. That’s why when anyone at MS talks about sales they say “Oh Kinect will easily sell 3 million on launch”. Well geez if that many people are getting it then I may as well get it as well…
Bonk
October 8, 2010 at 10:57
*Face Palm*
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 8, 2010 at 11:00
Balmer is hoping to quadruple their number of Xbox owners with Kinect, which is really a pie in the sky, but since MS has gone overboard on the advertising, I’ll be surprised if it doesn’t sell well initially. The yanks have been bombarded with those silly kinect adds, and I doubt many will be able to resist, especially if they have children.
“MOMMEEEE Kinectimals MOMMMEEEE!!”
I’m so glad I don’t live in the States. All those male enhancement commercials, Kinect adds and constant bombardment would have left me mentally scarred and reaching for one beer too many.
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 8, 2010 at 11:05
For us it’s pretty obvious that the marketing machine is working overdrive, but for the unwashed masses “smoke and mirrors” are super-effective.
zs450
October 8, 2010 at 11:16
So, Kinect has been high in the sales slots at all of the major stores since pre-orders were made available. Consider that this is expected to be released around the holiday season and the fact that MS has a LOT of other stuff going on right now (Windows Phone, Xbox holiday ramp up, etc) Do you think they have unlimited resources to produce these things? Would they really sit on them through the holiday sales season where they’d make a killing and push people who are on the fence to Sony or Nintendo which have systems on the shelves?
The strategy only works when it’s strategically sound. This is not the time for MS to play market games, they need to come out strong and flood the market with Kinect sensors. They’ve already had more pre-orders for it than they did for the 360 and we all know how that went….
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 8, 2010 at 11:33
Actually, flooding the market with Kinect won’t be a good idea either because the last thing you want is an over-abundance of stock in retail stores over Christmas (i.e. give the impression that they’re not selling or not selling fast enough).
The psychology of buying is a strange thing, because if consumers know an item is overstocked, there is no urgency to purchase. For instance, as a consumer, you can easily convince yourself that you can always purchase it next month or the month thereafter.
Microsoft will obviously want to move stock quickly, otherwise, retailers will put Kinect on reduced sale (during the Christmas season), and that’ll cause even more harm to the brand. They (Microsoft) won’t necessarily lose out on the individual reduced sale, since they’ve already made money off the retailer, but the future profitability of kinect would be harmed if it ended up in the bargain bin.
Therefore, artificially controlling stock and cultivating demand are really the most strategic moves of all.
Aussious
October 8, 2010 at 11:39
Heheh… all is going according to plan.
Steve Hofmeyr
October 8, 2010 at 11:52
Jeez, Bobby is delving deep into his dusty Uni textbooks to spin this. I’m getting dizzy already.
I guess we will never know if this was MS’s strategy until they release sales numbers.
pip
October 8, 2010 at 12:00
your a moron Bobby, so stop acting like some marketing guru when your not…lol.
1, How easy is it to get 3 million people to commit with real money to purchasing a Kinect peripheral? Its not easy.
2, Kinect is launching pretty much worldwide. That reason alone makes the shortage plausible
3, maybe the casual market is out again buying the next casual device since they bought the Wii 2-3 years ago, and have not bought another game since Wii fit, Wii Sports etc.
your over simplification of the context of the shortage show that you are just trying to explain away the success of pre-orders to “marketing” rather than giving credit to where credit is due.
I think the shortage can be summed up in 3 words..”people want it”…get over it…
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 8, 2010 at 12:01
And yet, there’s no spin, no attack on Microsoft, Kinect, or its rabid xbot following, who go for the jugular before actually reading posts :wub: .
If you’ll notice, I am not even insinuating that Kinect is doomed, merely providing an informed and objective summation of known marketing practices. I even gave my opinion on why it’s a bad idea to initially flood the market, and why it’s best to cultivate that demand before opening the flood gates.
AC!D
October 8, 2010 at 12:14
Dont worry Bobby some of us get what your saying. Viral marketing 101. The more sites that post this story the more ppl will think its the next big thing and jump on the bandwagon.
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 8, 2010 at 12:18
*Straightens tie*
You don’t say, I personally think the simplest answer is the more plausible one, rather than merely believing that the “shortage” is created by unproven global demand out of a vacuum.
Incidentally, my opinion is supported by empirical evidence as we’ve seen by past launches (i.e. history). Yours, has been sucked out of your dirty troglodyte thumb.
The point is, for a new technology, like the Kinect, you have to manufacture demand, and to do so you advertise and you create demand through known marketing ploys (decreasing supply to maximise profits has worked since our species first started trading – I am not going to waste my time teaching you basic economics, you can easily to that yourself).
Your summation is simplistic and false, since the truth is closer to:
“People will want it, because the situation is created to facilitate them wanting it”. 😛
BATHILDIS
October 8, 2010 at 12:37
@Kotick just shut the fucking up becoz Yuo FUCKING now nothing. JUST STFU
BATHILDIS
October 8, 2010 at 12:47
@Koctikc Shut the FUCK UP your a dum fuck and dunt now shit.
Nick de Bruyne
October 8, 2010 at 12:56
Just ask Apple about that strategy
piet
October 8, 2010 at 14:07
:blink:
Steve Hofmeyr
October 8, 2010 at 14:36
I read your posts. You are assuming that Kinect isn’t actually selling much because Msoft is manipulating the market by, on purpose, under-stocking stores. That’s what you call a spin since you haven’t seen any sales figures to confirm it.
I understand the concept, it’s just typical of you to make that assumption when it comes to MSoft.
Steve Hofmeyr
October 8, 2010 at 14:42
I agree with what zs is saying. Under stocking over x-mas is an ABSOLUTE DISASTER. The only why they can pull this off is to understock now and hope that their supply chain is agile enough to restock the stores at high enough levels over xmas, which is just around the corner.
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 8, 2010 at 14:54
@Steve I think what you really want to hear is the following:
“The pre-orders have been really strong”
Kudo Tsunoda
“As far as what we’re looking at for Holiday, this is going to be stuff that’ll blow away any of the sales you’ve seen with iPad.”
Kudo Tsunoda
“The Xbox 360 is already selling better than the Wii and Sony right now. Kinect’s really just going to boost that to a whole new level. People who love playing games like the same stuff. They like games that are fun; they like playing games where the more you play, the better you get. Those are things that we’re doing really well with all of the Kinect titles.”
Kudo Tsunoda
:whistle:
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 8, 2010 at 14:55
Don’t feed it Piet, it might come back with more tidbits.
Steve Hofmeyr
October 8, 2010 at 15:10
@Bobby
I think what you really want to hear is Kinnect is a failure. Any evidence saying otherwise you try to disprove with assumptions and guesses while trying to look smart.
You’re biased against MS and that’s why your theories always fall flat. You would never mention something like this in a PS article. If move was selling out you would have whistled a different tune.
Steve Hofmeyr
October 8, 2010 at 15:20
Yes, god forbid it’s actually selling well.
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 8, 2010 at 15:27
You don’t think the sheer amount of negativity has more to do with one company actually learning from their past arrogance, and downplaying their peripheral, whereas another is declaring theirs the best thing since sliced bread (i.e. the future of gaming)?
However, I think I’ve been rather objective the last few days, giving neutral commentary on a number of issues :happy: Sure it might not be the overwhelming praise you think Kinect deserves.
And… yes, I am well aware that I am considered highly intelligent (almost gifted), but enough about me. :happy: As for my “theories” falling flat. I can’t take credit for known advertising and marketing ploys (or even how markets work), but thanks for thinking that our capitalist system is my doing. 😎
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 8, 2010 at 15:36
But, you need to sustain that momentum, Steve, and ensure that it keeps on selling. That’s basically what we’ve been talking about (i.e. the strategies involved in capturing and fuelling demand).
tsk. tsk. Not every discussion is about cock size or which console has a stronger erection. Xbots… sigh!
Steve Hofmeyr
October 8, 2010 at 15:39
Sony downplaying move? lol For a humble company they do like to bash kinnect a lot. Kevin Butler, that Yay buttons site? You seem to suffer from selective amnesia.
I’m not saying you invented the marketing ploy you moron, I’m saying you are ASSUMING they are using it because you can’t believe that kinnect is actually selling well.
Luna
October 8, 2010 at 15:42
Not that I feel you’re completely wrong, or anything like that (Hey, I live in another country and still like you and your site enough to want to come here over some local ones ^_^) but I don’t think that every single shortage out there could possibly be a controlled shortage for publicity.
The reason I want to chime in on this is since the Genesis/SNES days, whenever there is a shortage, people say this… and I don’t think it can be possible every time. I believe that more often, it is an actual shortage of products as opposed to a manufatured shortage to create buzz.
BUT… I’ll admit that I feel there is more of a chance that THIS one could be a manufactured shortage simply because a whole new console is a LOT harder to keep up with in manufacturing as compared with a smaller device like Kinect. So, I really need to see how often you say this kind of thing to have a fully formed opinion. 🙂
Geoffrey Tim
October 8, 2010 at 15:44
We like you over some local readers too. 😛
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 8, 2010 at 15:46
@Steve
Comparatively Steve, pay attention, if we compare the marketing and advertising campaign of both companies, Microsoft is ploughing more into Kinect than Sony. :biggrin: In fact, Microsoft is advertising more aggressively, with even Balmer (their CEO) commenting on Kinect and as much as possible. Sony on the other hand, downplayed Move’s launch, but maybe that’s because it hasn’t launched in Japan yet. :whistle:
Aussious
October 8, 2010 at 15:47
Honestly I don’t see the big deal here everyone has the right to speculate, when all is said and done I am just glad to see that there are actually alot of poeple in South Africa that share the same hobby as I do, So much so that they’le even speculate and have lenghty discussions about the smallest of issues. Besides if we all thought objectively and rationalised everything to one absolute truth it would make for such a boring world…
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 8, 2010 at 15:52
@Luna I agree, not every shortage would be manufactured, but considering that Microsoft has been aggressively pushing Kinect, with the hopes of (according to Balmer) “quadrupling” their xbox customer base in 2011, I would be very surprised if they’re not artificially creating demand (at least before and for a few months after the launch). It just wouldn’t make sense for them not too, especially given how much is riding on Kinect.
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 8, 2010 at 15:53
@Geoff – Hey wait a second… you like my rants. sniff.. 🙁 bastard!
rick
October 8, 2010 at 23:55
yeah ok its sold out a FULL MONTH before it is even RELEASED. pre orders haven’t even surpassed half a million worldwide and if they are truly sold out then thats half a million sold on launch, and a couple hundred thousand every 2 weeks on new shipments they’d never sell 3 million by the end of the year. Microsoft is artificially controlling stock just accept it.
rick
October 9, 2010 at 00:07
u can buy 3 xbox webcams for the price of one kinect you dumb arse. and i doubt that your families own an xbox and not a computer. you can buy 3 Pc web cams for less than HALF the price of ONE kinect. u xbots try to FIND value in your xbox products, like facebook and twitter and netflix that shits free on a computer u dont need xbox live to use it oh and im writing this on my ps3’s web browser lol lol.
rick
October 9, 2010 at 00:16
thats cause they don’t teach it straight forward like that. even in high school i learned about supply and demand. its the same shit bobby is talking about. for example we have enough oil to last us at LEAST another 30 years but they still keep the supply limited or else gas would sell at 1 dollar a gallon which they cannot do.
Gavin Mannion
October 9, 2010 at 00:38
tried the PC video chat thing and it just failed miserably… they didn’t want to sit in the study and talk and with the laptop the kids all crowded around it and no one could see.
Yes you can setup the webcam to display on your TV via your PC but the people I am talking about don’t want to do that.
As for Facebook and Twitter on the xbox… never used it after my first try… complete waste of time. Sort of like Internet browsing on a PS3 :w00t:
rick
October 9, 2010 at 00:42
people are dumb. see, the strategy is to sell out NOW, so that people know about it, and get hyped so that when it is eventually “in stock” either from added stock to pre orders or on launch day, they don’t see it as “they’re in stock i can wait” they see it as “THEY’RE IN STOCK!!! i need to get it NOW!” i hate kinect and everything xbox but honestly i do think this thing will sell well this holiday season but watch mark my words this thing will flop when people realize they dont want to play a game standing up for hours while playing, every time they want to play. and also the limited functionality it will cause to video games. type in Harry potter Kinect on youtube. the game literally runs for you, chooses the direction and path for you, and even the camera looks where it chooses for you. all because of no joystick to control movement and no joystick to control a camera. games are already having a problem these days from being too linear but with this “Kinect” thing… YEESH!
rick
October 9, 2010 at 02:44
so you’re willing to shell out $450 to buy 3 kinect cameras just because you “dont feel like” setting up a laptop to your tv? what about xbox webcams? still a waste but not as much as the kinect. u dont need kinect its stupid. and web browsing on ps3 isnt a waste, since i can stream movies and tv shows for and other content to my television and its FREE and easy to setup, just like a laptop but actually easier. and if you dont know, there’re a lot of free movie and tv show hosting sites on the net. YOU CANT DO THAT WITH THE KINECT!! 😀 😉
rick
October 9, 2010 at 02:47
@ Gavin
so you’re willing to shell out $450 to buy 3 kinect cameras just because you “dont feel like” setting up a laptop to your tv? what about xbox webcams? still a waste but not as much as the kinect. u dont need kinect its stupid. and web browsing on ps3 isnt a waste, since i can stream movies and tv shows and other content to my television and its FREE and easy to setup, just like a laptop but actually easier to setup. and if you dont know, there’re a lot of free movie and tv show hosting sites on the net. YOU CANT DO THAT WITH THE KINECT!! 😀 😉
Gavin Mannion
October 9, 2010 at 03:51
Rick like I said.. I can setup the laptop to the TV but my parents and family in another country can’t.
I’ll be getting the Kinect for the family, my parents will get it for video calling (I’ll pay if they don’t) and the in laws will get it for video calling and Dance Central…
I don’t want to stream movies and tv shows, it doesn’t interest me… The PS3 interests me for Killzone, LBP, Uncharted, Heavy Rain and more while the Wii is indispensable in our house simply because of the Mario franchise alone… just because I think the Kinect has a use doesn’t mean I think the other two major players are bad… why is this so impossible for people to understand?
rick
October 9, 2010 at 06:12
xbox live vision webcams… they fullfil your purpose… so why would u need kinect? im trying to help YOU out 😀 ill even agree with u on that the console wars are a different topic and whether if the xbox console itself is valuable to you or not could be your opinion that u honestly feel is true… but COME ON KINECT? would u pay 150 for a web cam? nope. would you pay 150 for a universal remote that lets u control tv and dvd player using gestures? NOPE. so why would u pay 150 for kinect to control only the xbox with gestures? dance central? so ur willing to spend 190 to play dance central? it cant be THAT good people wouldn’t pay that for call of duty. nothing else is good and nothing else will ever be good look at that harry potter game. THATS HOW ACTION GAMES ARE GOING TO BE CONTROLLED WITH KINECT…
Gavin Mannion
October 9, 2010 at 06:19
I’m getting Kinect because I enjoyed it at E3 and think it will be fun for the family…
I am making sure my parents get Kinect as their grandkids will like it AND it gives us videochat ability since we are in a different country.
The inlaws are getting Kinect because they will enjoy Dance Central, Your Fitness Evolved AND it gives us videochat.
The videochat is not the reason to get Kinect on it’s own but it is an added benefit that cements the purchase
Luna
October 9, 2010 at 06:34
@Rick: You are not a gamer, you’re a fanboy. If it’s not PS3, you hate it. You spread lies to make the opposition sound worse. Anything you say is pro-PS3 and anti-everything else. I find you are ruining this conversation, as I HATE fanboys.
To everyone who thinks a Kinect game has to be like whatever Harry Potter turns out like… Did you ever even consider the thought that Kinect DOES NOT STOP YOU FROM USING A CONTROL PAD. Geez.
As for me, I’m not getting either Move or Kinect. I can play Move on my friend’s TV downstairs on a screen that is obscenely huge. ^_^ And Kinect? I think it is amazing tech that goes far beyond gaming. I don’t know how well the games will stack up, and see little I want to play on it now. Of course, I said that about Move, and we spent another few hours tonight playing Frisbee Golf… Too much fun!
Anyway, I have both a PS3 and a 360. I don’t have a Wii due to money and time. Do I have a favorite? Yeah, I do, it’s the 360. But it’s not by a HUGE margian. Why do I have both? Because I want the best games, and I get it without having to worry about trying to convince the world that my favorite is the way to go.
Sorry if I’m any kind of jerk about this; I hope I’m not. I just hate fanboys. I think it’s just frustrating to have someone force their opinion on you like that. And no, I won’t change to your religion. 😛 ^_^
rick
October 9, 2010 at 07:02
when did i ever bash on the wii or even the xbox console? im not a fanboy, im just honest about how kinect honestly sucks. people play their wii’s once in a while but kinect is going to be even worse than that. the ps3 is an amazing piece of tech but that didn’t help it much did it :p ok i want everone to bookmark this web page and go back to it in may, june next year before E3 and then after E3 so i can tell u i was right. its going to sell great at first due to the retarded amount of marketing dollars put into this thing, but people will realize what its really good for. its going to start off relatively well at first everone pro kinect will pee their pants a little but then it’s going to flop. face first. as soon as next year watch mark my words. it wont DIE or be discontinued next year or anything like that because M$ will try to keep it alive with their money but kinect WILL FLOP IN POPULARITY and SALES as soon as next year watch. you heard it here first 🙂
Luna
October 9, 2010 at 07:15
@rick: You are a fanboy. Give it up and shut it up. Firstly, I didn’t say you ragged on the Wii. You are going nuts on how great the PS3 is and how everything not PS3 is crap.
Secondly, telling peopole that the Kinect is going to be worse is based on what? Your OPINION. Now shut up until you understand what an opinion is. YOUR opinion means that it sucks for YOU and not everyone. Stop trying to make people not buy Kinect. They’ll buy it no matter what you say. People don’t have to like and hate things based on your fanboy opinion.
Your “help” to Gavin… Sure, he could go cheaper with the Vision camera, but he doesn’t want to. If he has the money to buy it, LET HIM. He OBVIOUSLY thinks that some family members would enjoy the other things that Kinect does.
I will not speak to you again about any of this. I’ve said my peace, and expect nothing but nonesense that will cause me to want to throw my PS3 under a truck just to piss you off. And keep in mind that I spent a great majority of the night playing Move games. I will never be a fanboy (or girl in my case), nor will I ever respect a fanboy/girl.
You are a classic fanboy, period, and I am done with you past the complaints about you that I’m sure to have if you persist to make this site that I’ve grown to like quite a bit a miserable place to be.
rick
October 11, 2010 at 00:12
wow, no where did i rag on wii or xbox and i said the web browser was cool but no where did i praise the ps3 or move but yet i’m a fanboy, even after i said ps3 flopped on sales when it was released. people like YOU think that if someone is against one product then they are AUTOMATICALLY A FANBOY OF THE COMPETITION. i fucking hate the yankees and that doesnt make me a Boston fanboy you retard. Kinect is stupid and retarded and i know people will buy it, because of Microsoft marketing. you’re a woman so that explains a lot. i bet you’re fat and/or ugly. and you better not reply because u said you won’t, so now ur stuck in a situation do u reply or don’t you? oh, and throw your ps3 under a truck see if i care.
Gavin Mannion
October 11, 2010 at 01:13
I’ll save Luna the problem here and reply on his/her behalf.
You’re acting like an ass and debating a point is one thing but actually saying that just because someone is female means they know less than you is not only amazingly stupid but also an insult to anyone with a triple digit IQ.
But no you don’t stop there you actually go one step further and call her fat and ugly even though you don’t have a damn clue who/what she is.
You’re an idiot pure and simple and you have now destroyed any credibility you may have begun to build with this idiotic statement.
There we go, situation resolved
rick
October 11, 2010 at 02:30
Gavin, do some research and you would know that there are countless studies that prove on average men have higher I.Q.’s than women do.
and as for her looks, prove me wrong.
and nobody give me that “it’s only your opinion” that kinect sucks. Well there were people who had honest opinions that what Hitler did was good and there are STILL people who believe that. but the FACT is is that it was wrong just like how it’s FACT that kinect was downgraded to a low resolution camera, removed processor, reduced body tracking, lag gameplay (the only people who say there is no lag are the people selling it hmmm ironic?), and no control of character movement and camera angle in platform and adventure games look at the soccer game all u control is passing u cant run up and down the field. you cant direct your own path or shift camera in the harry potter game. no one’s even ATTEMPTED to show how a first or 3rd person shooter will be done. yeah this sure is the greatest gaming peripheral ever -_-
rick
October 11, 2010 at 02:41
and the sad part is that microsoft actually is literally marketing and advertising kinect as the biggest, most revolutionary product to EVER hit the gaming industry. they’ve said that. and people like you believe that. camera and augmented reality might be the way and future of gaming, but its not going to be delivered from Kinect thats for sure. everything i’ve said about the kinect peripherals from the quality of the camera to the horrid gameplay mechanics for popular game genres like platforms, shooters, and adventures and you’re telling me that this thing is going to be a hit with the gaming community??? yeah we’ll see about that.
Gavin Mannion
October 11, 2010 at 03:05
Rick… there are not countless studies they could be counted quite easily. There are also a large number of studies that have proven that your standard WISC IV and other IQ tests are slanted towards western male intelligence. Don’t try pretend you know much about this though as it’s pretty obvious from your writing that you are pretty far from being our next Mensa member.
As for Kinect, you seem to want a different experience than what Microsoft are offering… that is fine but saying something is dumb because it doesn’t do what you want is pretty narrow minded.
In my opinion Kinect is not for hardcore gamers, it won’t do much for a FPS or action football game at all. The best it could really offer is head tracking in racing games but that’s just dumb
Gavin Mannion
October 11, 2010 at 03:06
I never said it would be a hit in the gaming community.. I said it would be a hit… pretty big difference between the two.
I expect the Kinect to target an entirely new market and also cannabilise the Wii market
Luna
October 11, 2010 at 05:26
@rick I don’t often say things like this outright, but you are a dick. People who express opinions like you do should be fixed so you don’t reproduce.
@Gavin Female, thank you. 🙂 You are gifted with words, and I agree with all that you said … Except head tracking in racing games… I don’t know. It COULD work, but if some dev says that got the trick right, I’ll still have to see it myself. ^_^
Gavin Mannion
October 11, 2010 at 06:14
ah I just dropped the head tracking comment in to see if I could entice lans into the conversation 🙂
Luna
October 11, 2010 at 06:17
Tough nuts, Gavin… You got me instead! ^_~
Aussious
October 11, 2010 at 07:27
Rick rhymes with Dick!
Dave
October 13, 2010 at 09:48
KINECT NOW SELLING OUT ACROSS EUROPE before release.
“Amazon has stopped taking pre-orders”
“High street games retailer GAME has sold out of its initial allotment of Kinect units, weeks before Microsoft’s new system has even launched.”
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-10-12-kinect-sold-out-at-game
Dave
October 13, 2010 at 10:14
When a new car sells out it’s pre orders “It’s because they delibratly caused a shortage”
When a new Plane sells out it’s pre orders “It’s because tey delibratly caused a shortage”
When a new Motorcycle outsells it’s pre orders it’s because ETC ETC ETC ETC ETC.
Fanboys get over it, People who have seen and played Kinect like it a lot.
Most of the population ignore comments on anything to do with consoles when it comes to with influencing their purchases over the internet because they know they are mainly fanboy infested crap, Kinect is selling well becuase people see what it is not what the fanboys want them to see……
Can’t wait to get Kinect set up over Christmas….
Gavin Mannion
October 13, 2010 at 10:17
http://www.lazygamer.co/kinect-now-nearly-sold-out-across-the-uk/
It’s also sold out at Play
FreeStanler
October 13, 2010 at 16:38
The comments Bobby made have merit, but I don’t think one can fool the masses into buying a product by ‘creating’ demand by stifling supply. That psychological trick on its own will only get you that far…the product must have underlying value and appeal for it to have ANY success, and then not to lose momentum quickly – otherwise ppl will realise that they have simply been bamboozled.
But ja, we need more figures to do any kind of substantive analysis, ey.
pip
October 14, 2010 at 15:22
hey rick, ease up on the literalness juice. If i wrote squagatrantazillarillion would you have bothered commenting on my exaggeration of 3 million?
*loosens tie, puts italian loafers up on bobbys clean desk while blowing cigar smoke into his face after lighting it with bobbys business card*
your a spin doctor bobby, pure and simple. What imaginary vacuum are you talking about, what unproven global demand are you referring to?
Real orders, Real money in the tills, Real customers on the order sheet means Real demand. So onless microsoft gave the UK, Amazon and USA 100 kinects each, you really dont have a leg to stand on.
Kinect has sold on some of the biggest online retailers in the UK and America. Believe me when I say that these guys dont buy things in packs of tens.
Also, how much of your argument has taken into account the manufacturing and logistical aspects of a worldwide launch? nada, nein, none, nil, not a damn thing…
the Wii has already proven the size of the casual market. It is huge, eclipsing the PS3 and Xbox 360’s hard core market in 1 year. The casual market look have to there eye on the kinect as it removes the controller all together.
you can spin the whole thing as hard as you want bobby, but the only one getting dizzy is you.
Nick de Bruyne
October 14, 2010 at 15:37
This man speaks the truth
pip
October 14, 2010 at 15:44
The shortage is not for the entire world, every kinect ever manufactured has not been sold. It has however sold out in key retailers in a couple of Markets, being UK and US.
Who do analysts and market researchers look at when gauging the mood of the marketplace? they look to Amazon, Gamestop etc.
Like I said in another post, these big boy retailers dont buy things in packs of ten. If Amazon have sold out, and Gamestop have sold out, then it is pretty safe to say that the market has responded favorably to a product (within the UK and US anyways)
Syth
October 14, 2010 at 15:49
Actually yes, car manufacturers also create demand. Like Bobby said, it is a well know fact that companies creat demand. Most of these people doesn’t say Kinect is crap, they just highlight the markerting ploy.
pip
October 14, 2010 at 16:03
if you didnt fail business 101 bobby, you might have learnt about business indicators in business 102 and 103. Like i said, quit acting like some marketing guru when your not.
Your one trick pony of an argument that you have been using as a high horse has lost all of its legs, and is now using its tail and one remaining hoof to try and stand on.
like i said, 3 words can explain the shortage in a nutshell, “people want it”
Steve Hofmeyr
October 14, 2010 at 16:17
@ FreeStanler
Agreed, well said.
Aussious
October 14, 2010 at 16:32
Geez can you guys just drop this, its gine way past being tedious!
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 14, 2010 at 16:43
@FreeStanler and Nick
However “value” has to be created artificially, for instance, we buy luxury goods like games, movies etc, because the perception exists that they hold value, but that perception had to have been cultivated. If this was not true, advertising would not exist.
Think of it in a different way, if you had never heard of either the xbox 360, PS3 or Wii, or were exposed to gaming by advertisement, books, websites or even your peers, you would never have bought into it.
Kids are the best examples of this phenomena, especially when they’re introduced to a new toy or when toys are marketed to them (cough.. Ben 10), most of them are initially blissfully ignorant of it, but once their peers talk about it, interest is cultivated, and more so when you start seeing adverts on TV, or watch the TV show, or even spot the Ben 10 merchandising in store. Toy manufacturers have artificially controlled demand on these items since the 60s and 70s when toys started to become mass produced, and it has helped grow the toy industry by billions of dollars.
The same holds true for gaming and especially true for an item like Kinect. You can’t tell me that artificially controlling demand and ultimately declaring that the item has been “sold out” in stores (especially pre-orders) will not push more sales when it finally gets released. If you believe that this is too implausible to comprehend, then guess what you have just been had by the marketeers around the world, and they’re banking on your naivete.
Nick de Bruyne
October 14, 2010 at 17:46
Yes but I believe that in this day and age what he said still holds a lot of water. People are more aware of the products around them, especially when they are so expensive.
Sure it all adds up, I am not denying that but we have seen many cases before of products doing all they can to create marketing buzz and generate hype, but if the product isn’t good, it won’t sell well.
FreeStanler
October 14, 2010 at 17:54
@ Bobby
Thanks for lively, interesting debate. This once again proves that gamers aren’t drooling mind-numbed zombies, but in fact are the worlds saviours just waiting for that moment of glory to present itself. (my therapist says my super-ego[inner-parent] is crushing my id [inner child] ).
I suppose this debate is becoming less about Kinect and more about other stuff?
Anyhoo, I somewhat agree/disagree with your point(s).
Yes, the perception of value has to be cultivated (cue advertising), but ‘real’ value has to exist in the product/service. Ideally, these 2 should match: under- and over-hype are both damaging to society. Unfortunately we know that marketers tend to overhype. In the short-term, it will play into their hands; I contend that in the long-term it would work against them, as it would cultivate a distrust in the consumer regarding future products and advertising, ceteri paribus. So, what you say MS is doing is plausible, but not yet verifiable, and given the hands-on experiences of reviewers, it seems as though Kinect definitely HAS value: does the advertising match it, or over-hype it? We can’t rightly know yet.
RE your 2nd par: Yes I agree. But if there weren’t real value, it would never have taken off like it did. Please pardon my ‘stuck-record’ soundingness.
Yes, kids are the best example of that phenomena, exactly because they are the most susceptible to it. There isn’t that much real technical value in a Ben10 toy (as opposed to other no-name brand toys) other than the need be cool in relations with your peers, or having the best ‘perceived’ toy – the value lies in the latter emotions. Toys like this are also generally cheap. However, this only goes a small way to proving your point with the Kinect: albeit arguably ‘casual’ and possibly more inclined towards ‘younger’ ppl, it is an expensive high value toy requiring the discerning mind of adult purchase makers and mature (ahem) gamers – the marketing trick you perceive can truly only go that far. We can’t tell yet, but maybe like + 5-10% in sales, if even? Maybe that’s all MS needs (as 5% can translate into a high absolute amount), completely vilifying your point.
I think MS wants a greater take-up than that, and reliance on cheap marketing tricks will back-fire on them if its not matched with value. Cassius Clay: “It ain’t bragging if you can back it up.”
I’m a bit intrigued (and perplexed) by you saying “artificially controlling of demand” by manufacturers. Perhaps this simply comes down to an easy nomenclature and the space limits of web article comment-making (in which case I completely understand what you mean), but surely it is incorrect. Advertising, marketing tricks, temporary throttling of supply etc. (the only things the manuf/seller can do) doesn’t amount to ‘controlling’ demand; that suggest that the manufacturer can set demand at a squagatrantazillarillion units if they so wish (the obvious choice). They basically control only the supply and their advertising message.
I submit that I could always be wrong in my general point.
Bobby, you’re like an institution at Lazygamer – a very welcome one in my books – thank you for making insightful comments. Before, I’ve been ignorant of the marketing trick you talk about. Now I’m aware, allowing me to grow just that little bit. So overall, I guess I’m saying – thank you.
(also thx Nick and Steve Hofmeyr for comment).
FreeStanler
October 14, 2010 at 17:57
Haha lol this must be a new record
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
October 14, 2010 at 18:16
Correction: Artificially control SUPPLY! (i.e. to increase demand) – Sorry about that guys, I just reread my comments and just had to fix that point.
@FreeStanler – Welcome to you too fellow internet warrior 😀 And I hope this means we’ll see more comments from you too?
FreeStanler
October 14, 2010 at 21:21
@Bobby
Thanks man, but not much more…I keep quiet when I don’t have much to say 🙂 I just love games, but don’t have much time 🙁
Gavin Mannion
October 14, 2010 at 21:50
Oh no we have some threads with way over 100 comments..
This however is probably the most intelligent comment thread overall.
Aussious
October 15, 2010 at 08:18
Well that depends of how you define intelligent, personally I thought after the first 10 post it just became redundant and boring. I mean speculating about sales is just lame really, who cares if the figures are artificial. If want to hear babble about marketing ploys I’ll gladly visit VGCHARTZ were all the trolls who get hardons from weekly projections and quarterly forecasts hangout!
pip
November 19, 2010 at 13:49
1 million in ten days…lol…artificial demand my a$$.
Real money paid in advance = real demand. There is nothing artificial about money in the bank to secure a device on launch.
which ever retailer gambled on kinect by stocking up big on the device will defenitely be raking it in. Like I said, the reasons for the shortages are simple, people want it…
no amount of marketing can bring in those kind of numbers without people genuinely wanting the thing…