Things are about to go crazy for Kinect and Microsoft, because according to the New York Post the publisher is planning to spend $500M on its launch. That’s half a billion dollars. On a controller. Think you’ve avoided the hype? Think again.
“Like a much anticipated summer blockbuster,” says the newspaper, “Kinect will appear on everything from soda cans to cereal boxes and will span television, magazines and the Internet.”
“Kinect is the largest, most integrated marketing initiative in Xbox history, bigger than its launch,” said Robert Matthews, general manager of global marketing communications for Xbox. The figure quoted outstrips that spent on the original Xbox launch, which included hardware development subsidies.
Kinect will take over YouTube’s home page and have a big presence on lots of TV stations and other websites, including Nickelodeon and Disney. Microsoft, according to the report, is “spending ad dollars in places it doesn’t normally to target moms as well as kids”.
Bonkers.
deepmenace
i predict mass returns as parents cant get it work properly due to sound/light/messy clothes on floor interference.
yogh_wayne
“…and will span television, magazines and the Internet.”
Anybody else misread that as “… will SPAM…”? Guess that would’ve been too honest for the announcement of a marketing campaign :P
solidsteven
Oh s*** that means we will get a kinnect ad on youtube on every single video :(
Boomshanks
I know I shouldn’t say this but I actually want kinect to fail. It seems like an unfinished product to me and by marketing it heavily it will surely be bought by many unaware consumers. Quite low tactics if you ask me, though I don’t have any information to back it up. It just how I feel about it
Quinlank
They can spend all they want, but if the thing is as broken at launch as first hand reports with it so far have suggested it is, then anyone who buys it really is just buying hype and little else judging from the games line up on the thing.
I honestly can’t see any good coming of something like this being a success. It would send the message that not only are gamers(Even though most gamers wouldn’t touch it, it’ll be the gadget head casuals being sucked in) marks who will pay anything to have the latest thing, but also that gimmicks are the way to go in future.
theaface
“That’s half a billion dollars. On a controller.”
But hang on… if I believe MS, then I am the controller. Does that mean I’m worth millions? Sweet.
spek
Will i have kinect printed on my toilet paper?
TSBonyman
I haven’t heard anything about preview kits being sent out, like with Move (i don’t think the betas were for review purposes) so i guess we’ll have to wait until after the launch for the review. That does seem a bit suspect if it is the case but i’m looking forward to the definitive review here on TSA.
jayjay119
So we’re going to be seein something similar to last xmas when every other advert on TV was an ad for the 360? Well that’s just gonna put me off more, If I’m having it shoved down my throat everywhere I look it’s just gonna p*ss me off to the point I never wanna see it again let alone have it staring at me from under my TV. Considering MS spens so Much on advetising and Sony so little, MS are not doing a whole lot better in terms of sales!
spek
Go kinect
Go kinect
If your a fool and not a clue
Go kinect
It’s just a web cam
It’s all a big scam
lf your a fool and not a clue
buy kinect