MCV is this morning reporting that pre-orders for Microsoft’s camera-based motion control device, Kinect, are “booming“, claiming retailers are reporting “high pre-order numbers”, squashing current internet chatter that the £129 price point is pitched too high.
The site continues, saying that it’s heard “one large chain” has been encouraging their stores to secure 10 pre-orders for the device every day, and claims sources are saying they expect advance orders to break half a million in the UK before it’s out.
Apparently, the £129 price point is “reflective of the product’s playability and appeal to a wide range of customers”, with Grainger Games saying that the feedback they’ve had so far from our customers is that they feel the price is “appropriate to the product.”
“We have taken a large number of deposits for Kinect already and it is set to become our biggest pre-order to date. This tells us the device’s appeal has not been affected by the price point,” said director Phil Moore.
“Kinect is a fantastic piece of technology and we believe that once people actually try it for themselves, they will understand the full scope and value of what it offers them,” echoed GAME’s Martyn Gibbs, who also appears to be behind Kinect 100%.
Bilbo_bobbins
Of course they will be behind it, they want to make money lol.
I’m sure orders are up, especially as they can only go up since none have ever been sold before. Stupid bloody bullshit probably paid by a certain company or two.
Nauraph
Hmm… I’d never expect that so many casual gamers have a 360. I thought most of them just own a Wii.
MrTwP
I would have thought the casual gamers will buy kinnect after it’s out, I’m not sure how many wii owners pre ordered.
Radboud
Well, if I had an Xbox360 (and no Blurays), I’d probably buy one just for the multimedia control schemes.
Kinda of a gadget freak too, so I’d probably pre-order it too.
theshockwave
I think this is just the core gamers preordering. I don’t think casual gamers will know about this yet. We will only know how successful it is when it releases.
Nauraph
There you got a point.. I really wonder why core gamers would want it.
Boomshanks
Why to play Kinect Adventures of course. Epic! /sarcasm
Tuffcub
“encouraging their stores to secure 10 pre-orders for the device every day,” – That’s not 10 people a day buying it, thats the store telling its staff to shove Kinect down everyones throats so grandma who has no idea what it is will buy it. Thats not a sign of Kinect being popular that is a sign of some nasty marketing!
Bilbo_bobbins
yep agree. then you get some crappy article from MCV saying that pre orders are booming.
nofi
Jesus guys, what is this?
bunimomike
Sony need to be as bullish as Microsoft when it comes to marketing. Or at least as proactive.
I’ve never seen a grandmother in a game store but now I’m curious and might hang out to see what sort of quality GILF walks in.
Tuffcub
To be fair to MCV they did get a quote from Grainger Games saying they had decent sales, but they tied it in with a quote from someone saying a certain chain is agressively pushing Kinect – that is not that same as “Kinect is selling well”. It’s rather misleading – and I wasnt having a go at you Mr Nofi.
beeje13
it also says ‘we have taken a large number of deposits’ meaning people pre ordered before they new it was going to be £129.99
hazelam
i’ve seen store with huge displays for both kinect and move, preoerders are good and all, but let’s see how they translate into sales come launch.
LycanGav
More interested into how many trade-ins we see six months down the line when consumers realise that the motion based games being released for the various systems are all just Wii shovelware with prettier graphics.
Radboud
I wouldn’t call KZ3, Socom 4 and Sorcery shovelware though…
bunimomike
I find the statement more relevant for Kinect. Initial sales will be impressive, I feel. However, word-of-mouth is a powerful thing and unless Microsoft bring something new to gaming (with the games themselves) then people will simply remark on the games being like the Wii but with more arm waving.
LycanGav
KZ3 has Move support, it’s not a game developed for Move specifically so not sure you could judge it in the same light, bit like trying to shoehorn Heavy Rain in there. As for games specifically developed for Move, we’ll have to wait and see. While Sony may turn out some good first party titles, so do Nintendo for the Wii. Doesn’t escape from the fact that 90% of third party software is beyond dire and terming it shovelware is being kind in all reality. The same being true for both Move and Kinect is a very real worry, given the market both are aimed at and the fact that demographic don’t really care if the games are all that great.
JoshHood
In GAME yesterday, I heard the two guys behind the desk talk two different people out of getting Kinect, because they thought it was a “load of crap”. Guess they didn’t get the message ;)
Charmed_Fanatic
They are sacked now ;)
PhilipJWitow
Are you sure this isn’t just a fluffy piece of marketing that Microsoft is doing to make people more likely to pre-order and make it acceptable?
nofi
You’d have to ask MCV. It’s not from our point of view, anyway.
badgersnapper68
This story could be true or not – it doesn’t matter. MS will be quite pleased with reports such as this. Reading deeper, though – are MS nervous about what Kinect will mean to the consumer in general terms?