Microsoft Tells Shoppers to Get Kinect ASAP

[eddieroolz]

This will surely add fuel to the flame.

Next week: Microsoft posts 2M Kinects sold.

 

[wowohwow]

It's all about the impulsive buyers. Same thing happened with the ipod, ipad, iphone.

I know people who have PC, XBOX 360, Wii, PS3, everything, because of impulsive buying and the fact that they have the money.

2M Kinects sold because of the fact that it's a new technology.

Everyone bought a Wii until they realised it's limitations.

 

[adamboy64]

[citation][nom]wowohwow[/nom]Everyone bought a Wii until they realised it's limitations.[/citation]

Everyone'll buy Kinect until they realise it's limitations.

 

[thechief73]

[citation][nom]jhansonxi[/nom]You can edit it from the forum. Search this page for "Read the comments on the forums".[/citation]
Sorry, but no you cant. I have gone to "Read the comments on the forums" countless time over many months and unless their is some super top secret hidden edit button that I failed to find in several months of looking, you cant edit. You may be thinking of THW, you can edit there by going to the "Read the comments on the forums".

 

[Griffolion]

I wonder if Kinect technology is coming out for PC?

Would be fun to control your desktop with flicks of the hand.

 

[kikireeki]

Microsoft is saying get a Move

on!!
Sony would be delighted to hear this!

 

[hiruu]

The thing has sold over 1 million in 10 days...hullo...I don't think this is just M$'s scare tactics...Not only that, MS raised their estimates from 3 million to 5 million...you can only produce the thing so fast, since you have to worry about things like....oooh quality. Let me guess, the people yelling scare tactics would probably LOVE to see M$ rush Kinect devices out and have another RROD like situation, no doubt. M$ is giving consumers a heads up...buy it early, JUST like Nintendo did before the 2nd holiday period...they can only produce them so fast.

 

[RavinRivie]

I love Microsoft and the 360, but forget the stupid Kinect. It's made for casual gamer idiots who want to flail their arms around in front of their TV. I bought a launch 360, and I now own an Elite 360...I'm not buying the resdesigned 360, nor am I buying this overpriced EyeToy junk. Please stick to making innovations with the console - I'm more apt to someday give in and buy a redesigned 360, but the Kinect is to convince those people who were wanting a Wii but want better graphics.

No thanks, I had a Wii and I hated the thing. Terrible graphics, mediocre games, mediocre control - there's just nothing it excels at. I like my 360 the most but I like my PS3 too (Classic PS3 - not the crappy new thin one with no backward compatability, that was a fail move but I'm going off-topic). Trying to push this stupid toy onto me will just result in me becoming a louder critic of the thing. If it was $80 or even $100 I'd just say - eh, whatever, but $150? With their cost being $56 on the thing, uh-uh I don't think so. Down with the Kinect, the Move and the Wii - stop focusing on idiot motion controls and make new consoles already!!!

 

[awood28211]

Not sure the scarcity of this item is artificial... But I got two already... on launch day... YAY ME?

 

[Chris_TC]

[citation][nom]hellwig[/nom]1 million in 10 days is impressive, except when you consider that a single game, Call of Duty: Black Ops, sold 7 million copies in 24 hours.[/citation]
Are you comparing a game release (on three platforms) to a hardware peripheral?

Maybe you should look at some console launch numbers; the Kinect sells almost as quickly as the Wii. No other console accessory is even close.

 

[smeker]

Yeah.. here I am running to the store... not!

Kinect... hmmm... if I want to be active, I'll go out and jog or play sports. I 'll get fresh air and some sun...

The whole point of Consoles was to lay in front of the TV, be lazy, chill and play your favorite game... and now what? Am I suppose to jump around like a freak...
Just wait until fat slobs and dumb kids start getting hurt... lawsuits will be flying around

 

[gogogadgetliver]

[citation][nom]SlickyFats[/nom]I bought one the day they were released because I thought it would be fun for when my friends and their kids came over. that is $162 down the drain. It is the glitchiest piece of crap ever. There is going to be a ton of the these flooding back into the stores and online auctions soon. The Move has this beat handily. The tracking on the Kinect is okay at its best but when it messes up it messes up big. Just steer clear of this until they have better software to back the somewhat impressive hardware.[/citation]

Thanks for your anecdote. I've had 0 trouble from mine.

 

[gogogadgetliver]

[citation][nom]jhansonxi[/nom]Nothing like a little artificial scarcity to motivate the undecided.[/citation]

Actually yes there is something like it. Real scarcity. I'm sure that microsoft exec is getting much enjoyment from his announcement but it doesn't change the fact he's right. They sold a million in 10 days and stores are running out of them. Until the holiday rush is over you can expect REAL shortages.

Gots mine.

 

[Guest]

Granted the XBox360 is interesting and so is the PS3 but it is the Reek of Desperation to make profit on worthless accessories for both consoles. There are poor people in the world that cannot afford these outrageous prices for game consoles and their accessories. So I don't care for either consoles because I am one of the poor people who cannot afford it.

 

[hellwig]

[citation][nom]Chris_TC[/nom]Are you comparing a game release (on three platforms) to a hardware peripheral?Maybe you should look at some console launch numbers; the Kinect sells almost as quickly as the Wii. No other console accessory is even close.[/citation]
Apple sells 1 iPod every 15 seconds, so yeah, while disks are easier to manufacture, obviously complex technology can be produced at a rather alarming rate.

And my point wasn't about the complexity of making these items, my point was that if video games sell millions of units on the DAY of release, surely Microsoft, in the months since they've been demoing Kinect, could have forseen how many units they would need. No way Microsoft puts $1billion behind their Kinect marketing then forgets to make enough for the holiday season. I'm not saying Microsft won't run out. What I'm saying is that a simple marketing tactic, such as telling people they are running out to build more hype, is not beneath Microsoft.

If people want a conspiracy theory, here's one: The Wii shortages around the holiday season the first couple years after the console came out were actually due to Microsoft sending people out into stores to buy up all the stock. If there were no Wii's for sale, people might instead buy an XBox-360. As we all know, the money is in the games, not the actual console. Therefore, a family forced to buy a 360 instead of a Wii would then buy more games for that 360, and by the time more Wiis came into stock, the family probably wouldn't want one anymore. Sure, Nintendo still sells a bunch of consoles, but because Microsoft dumped them in a landfill in India, their game sales suffer. Pure Genius!!!

 

[Guest]

Neither this nor the PS move have any good software yet. Most are "fun for the first couple of hours" type of game. The wii has a lot of "good" software, because it's older. However, Mine has been gathering dust since I bought it and only get rarely used. My PS3 is being used at least once a week, and my 360 almost everyday. I may get the kinnect and/or move in the future, but I'm not going to make the wii mistake again. I'll wait for the games.

 

[gogogadgetliver]

[citation][nom]hellwig[/nom]Apple sells 1 iPod every 15 seconds, so yeah, while disks are easier to manufacture, obviously complex technology can be produced at a rather alarming rate.And my point wasn't about the complexity of making these items, my point was that if video games sell millions of units on the DAY of release, surely Microsoft, in the months since they've been demoing Kinect, could have forseen how many units they would need. No way Microsoft puts $1billion behind their Kinect marketing then forgets to make enough for the holiday season. I'm not saying Microsft won't run out. What I'm saying is that a simple marketing tactic, such as telling people they are running out to build more hype, is not beneath Microsoft.If people want a conspiracy theory, here's one: The Wii shortages around the holiday season the first couple years after the console came out were actually due to Microsoft sending people out into stores to buy up all the stock. If there were no Wii's for sale, people might instead buy an XBox-360. As we all know, the money is in the games, not the actual console. Therefore, a family forced to buy a 360 instead of a Wii would then buy more games for that 360, and by the time more Wiis came into stock, the family probably wouldn't want one anymore. Sure, Nintendo still sells a bunch of consoles, but because Microsoft dumped them in a landfill in India, their game sales suffer. Pure Genius!!![/citation]

Pre launch estimates were 3 million in the first quarter. Now that they got hit with "stronger than expected" in the tune of 5 million in six weeks the game has changed.

Do you think when shortages come that Microsoft should deny it or something? Seems like you have some gripe with Microsoft.

Your conspiracy theory is one of the stupider things I've heard in a long time.

 

[maestintaolius]

[citation][nom]hellwig[/nom]Artificial scarcity comes from Microsoft withholding stock, not by being out of stock. Microsoft says they're running out, but small amounts keep trickling into retailers to keep-up the hype. 1 million in 10 days is impressive, except when you consider that a single game, Call of Duty: Black Ops, sold 7 million copies in 24 hours. Microsoft probably made 10million Kinects. If you went to Best Buy and saw 500 units on the shelf, you might wait until better games came out, or to see if it was even worth it because "hey, there are plenty units left". By shipping only a small percentage of their units out at a time, people see "oh no, one kinect left, better buy it". Of course, after it sells out, the store gets another shipment next week, and the week after, and people keep seeing dwindling stock and think "better buy it now". This isn't a Microsoft tactic, its a well-known retail tactic.[/citation]
Exactly, in other news Apple says to hurry up and buy your iPhone/Pad/Pod before supplies run out and Nintendo says to hurry up and buy a Wii XXXX (whatever gizmo they come up with to attach this Xmas season) too.

 

[jimmysmitty]

[citation][nom]smeker[/nom]Yeah.. here I am running to the store... not!Kinect... hmmm... if I want to be active, I'll go out and jog or play sports. I 'll get fresh air and some sun...The whole point of Consoles was to lay in front of the TV, be lazy, chill and play your favorite game... and now what? Am I suppose to jump around like a freak...Just wait until fat slobs and dumb kids start getting hurt... lawsuits will be flying around[/citation]

I am waiting for a Star Wars Jedi game for it. Then we will have millions of fat Star Wars kids flying around the room.

I think its interesting how people love the Wii but at the same time bad mouth Kinect when in reality this was probably Nintendos next step as well. Both do the same thing. The only difference is that if used in the right area, Kinect has less chance of you throwing something into your TV.

Of course this comes from a mainly PC gamer.....

 

[gogogadgetliver]

[citation][nom]hellwig[/nom]Artificial scarcity comes from Microsoft withholding stock, not by being out of stock. Microsoft says they're running out, but small amounts keep trickling into retailers to keep-up the hype. 1 million in 10 days is impressive, except when you consider that a single game, Call of Duty: Black Ops, sold 7 million copies in 24 hours. Microsoft probably made 10million Kinects. If you went to Best Buy and saw 500 units on the shelf, you might wait until better games came out, or to see if it was even worth it because "hey, there are plenty units left". By shipping only a small percentage of their units out at a time, people see "oh no, one kinect left, better buy it". Of course, after it sells out, the store gets another shipment next week, and the week after, and people keep seeing dwindling stock and think "better buy it now". This isn't a Microsoft tactic, its a well-known retail tactic.[/citation]

Ok I thought the conspiracy theory from that other guy was stupid but this. This.

Let me rephrase for you and see if the stupid comes to the surface:
"Microsoft is deliberately not selling some units so that the shortage will help them sell more units (that they are not selling)."

Stupid yet?

There is NO reason why you would deliberately not sell something. What are you going to kill supply at a store and lose all the sales for that day in the hopes that: 1) **ALL** those lost customers will come back and not buy a competing product instead. 2) Your shortage will generate so much hype that you'll be able to makup those lost sales. 3) You have to magically end the shortage just as everyone shows up to buy. 4) Ensure the sales making up for the lost sales are not really canibalizing sales from people that were just going to buy later anyway.

I'm just stunned by really how dumb these posts are. It must stem from this deep hatred or mistrust of Microsoft. "Oh microsoft is so bad/evil that they would do this underhanded bad/evil thing even though it flies in the face of logic and will make them *deliberately* NOT sell product." W.T.F?

Face it: Kinect is selling like hotcakes. They are having shortages. It's the truth. Microsoft is more than happy to tell everyone about this because it just boosts hype. No great conspiracy there.