[quote name='bojay1997']But how many Xbox 360 owners have been holding out for the chance to spend $150 plus $60 per game (i.e. $210 which is $10 more than a new Wii package which includes an entire console with Motion Plus and pack-in game) on the off-chance that their girlfriend might someday want to play a game on it?
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Well the current 360 owners aren't necessarily the target, but as we all saw it seems to be positively accepted as shown on amazon.com sales chart. Just a comparison shows that both the Wii and Kinect is selling better than the PS Move right now. The former which has been on the market for a long time, while the latter isn't even released yet and significantly overpriced.
Granted this scenario doesn't apply to every or any other store, but it sure is indicative of positive reception so far.
[quote name='bojay1997']
The problem from my perspective is that Nintendo already has the kids and families covered, Sony is gonna pick up the more hardcore/adult gamer crowd and that leaves Microsoft with a mediocre technology that lacks compelling games. Unless they make incredible strides in the next few months in getting Kinect to recognize more subtle movements, it really is going to be another Eye Toy.
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It is true that Wii has the family and kids covered, some of them might not even be interested in buying a console anymore after being burned by Nintendo i.e. buying an expensive electronics that rarely if ever used. However, the Wii still sells as much as Sony and MS combined in hardware every month in the US.
We are not talking about Sony, but the demographic that Sony is going after, the hardcore gamers aren't interested in casual games. They see motion controls as a threat to their current gaming so I really see slow uptake of this. This is also reflective of the amazon.com sales chart, but I am surprised that it made it that far up the chart.
[quote name='bojay1997']
I can't tell you how much the booth staff struggled at E3 trying to make the Kinect pick up all but the most exaggerated motions. Look, I can tell you that both Wii and Rock Band/Guitar Hero are testaments to the power of non-traditional gamers as consumers. Having said that, Kinect doesn't have the same cross-over appeal as those technologies. It really is a product without a market niche right now and only time will tell if they can figure out some killer apps to make it appeal to gamers and other consumers. Frankly, I know a lot of moms and girlfriends and kids who don't mind holding a Wii remote and the fact that Kinect is controller free just isn't that much of a selling point when you consider all the accuracy and control you are giving up to get it.[/QUOTE]
From the video's I have seen sitting on the couch or even tracking subtle movements has not been an issue with PrimeSense. PrimeSense is a partner of MS and deliver some (not all of) the technology behind Kinect.
Here is a video of a dude sitting on a couch using his hand to navigate through a movie list without an issue:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/11/primesense-talks-full-body-motion-control-at-gdc-the-possibilit/
I could imagine how people would love to trade in their Wii Fitness for a system that can track your entire body and tell you if you did something wrong. A Wii remote that can only sense one part of your limb seems inferior in comparison for that particular use.
From all the responses I have seen, the majority are praising Kinect and as you said only time will tell if this will do well. However, the initial response is very positive from people that tried it, the pre-orders are positive even at the $150 price point and marketing has just started.
As a hardcore gamer though, I hope that MS is completely leaving out the hardcore market in general.