Microsoft once made a bold statement. A statement that caused chuckling around water coolers everywhere. Okay, that is an exaggeration, but still doubt surrounds Microsoft's claim that Kinect will sale five million by Christmas. Even when I heard this, staying as objective as possible, I couldn't help but laugh. It just seemed so ridiculous that a peripheral costing $150 on top of the cost of a new 360 console, and each new game being sold at $49.99, someone was high at Microsoft's marketing division.
The wonder and intrigue circling Kinect displaced the trouble people had with the price. The device sold a million units in its first week, and 2.5 million units with the help of Black Friday. It is a gaming powerhouse and its interest among the public was gravely misunderstood. Still, in a difficult economy, people are willing to spend $300 or more on not needing to hold a controller.
Personally, Kinect's success can't all be attributed to what the device does. Sure it is cool technology, and it could lead to some cool things with gaming, but Microsoft's advertising prowess made it what it is. An extravagant festival in the middle of Times Square to celebrate Kinect's release brought it to the public's attention.
Could the machine really sell five million? Microsoft obviously says yes. I have to disagree. Microsoft marketed the hell out of the thing and just how cool it is are reasons enough to believe this feat could happen; but, in a bad economy, people are still reeling. If economic conditions were better, Kinect could sell five million easy.
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