Greenberg: Kinect sales won’t match review scores
It’s no secret that Microsoft has been fairly heavy handed in regards to controlling Kinect’s image. The company has placed a launch day embargo on the product and has been hesitant to ship out review units. It appears that Microsoft is expecting a mixed reaction from reviewers.
Companies usually want media outlets to review its devices so that it receives the recognition it derives. This process also helps gamers weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. However, Microsoft has been treating the Kinect a bit differently, almost like its trying to sell a household electronics like a vacuum cleaner.
Some have speculated that Microsoft is anticipating negative press thus has bypassed traditional video game journalists in fear of bad reviews. It appears that this may actually be the case as Aaron Greenberg admits that the company expects mixed reviews.
Eurogamer: You sound like you’re a bit nervous about what the specialist media will think of the games, but confident Kinect will still sell well…
Aaron Greenberg: I’m not nervous. I know what the media thinks; we know they love Dance Central, we’ve heard they think it’s the killer app. They’re excited about Child of Eden. We’ve even had a lot of good feedback for Kinectimals from the core.
In a recent interview with Eurogamer, Greenberg stated that the company is not expecting Kinect reviews to correlate with sales figures. This basically means that he expects reviews will be harsh or mixed but sales will be stellar regardless.
Greenberg stated:
This will be the largest launch we’ve ever had as a business. We’ll definitely sell more sensors than the Wii sold when it launched or the Xbox 360 sold when it launched.
I can’t say for sure if the Kinect will review poorly or not, but part of me is a little sad that the company will be taking such a drastic departure from its hardcore roots.
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62 Responses to “Greenberg: Kinect sales won’t match review scores”
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October 30th, 2010
He’s basically saying review scores don’t effect sales as much for casual titles as they do for hardcore titles, as Wii and Move have already proven.
October 30th, 2010
Wow Kinect must really suck!
What are they hiding? Its like the casual market they are aiming for read gaming websites like the hardcore.
Makes no sense.
If Kinect is the killer hardware they are hyping it to be then they should show it proud and aloud.
This really is very crazy.
Smart people usually take time to do research and test products before we even buy them for sure.
Surely M$ ain’t targeting smart people but the kind of people who just dive in because of hype.
WOW! Clever! Just like the Xbox 360 launch of 2005!
MicroStupid Gaming Division just will never learn.
So many poor unfortunate souls on November 4.
October 30th, 2010
Carl B
I fully agree. I don’t blam them as the mainstream thinks that Kinect is all a casual affair. There is a fair share of negitive comments out there by so called hard core journalist. One site even made fun of the commericial so why should these sites be taken seriously. It’s different so it will get scrutinized and if the reviewer is lazy well you know what to expect. I’ve tried it and I think it’s great that’s why I have no problem getting one. People will have to decide for themselves but I’m sure many people will love it and that why they went straight to the streets and skiped the reviewers because the best review is your own. I also see Kinect as something bigger then gaming so I can see why Microsoft is targeting the audience the way it is because when Kinect starts to take on other forms of use outside of gaming at least the mainstream public will already have a sense of what this divice can do. The tech is cool and will sells itself. Besides Hardcore gaming is now a niche compared to the casual market. Here is a quote about Google TV but I couldn’t agree more because Zynga is now bigger then EA.
“The first generation of Google TV isn’t exactly hardware for hardcore gaming: it’s essentially a netbook with the screen torn off, its innards containing the familiar Atom processor and a gigabyte of RAM.
That’s fine for Flash gaming, but you wouldn’t want to try a recent first-person shooter on it.
That doesn’t matter, because hardcore gaming is a niche market. Look at the way the Wii outsells the Xbox, the way Wii shovelware outsells the decent, grown-up games or the way Farmville outsells everything.
The internet’s most annoying game is so popular that its creator, Zynga, is worth more than gaming powerhouse EA. It’s the second biggest games publisher in the world, and its games run quite happily on modest hardware. Hardware like, say, a netbook with the screen torn off.”
Read more: http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/consoles/is-google-tv-the-next-xbox–903984#ixzz13pxvsWLN
October 30th, 2010
If there is more profit in casual then there will be more focus and resources poured into it rather than hardcore gaming (Wii, Move, and Kinect). Sad.
October 30th, 2010
“If there is more profit in casual then there will be more focus and resources poured into it rather than hardcore gaming (Wii, Move, and Kinect). Sad.”
That may explain why the only notable game for the 360 next year is Gears of War 3. Sad.
October 30th, 2010
The first favorable review of Kinect is in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJsQcnB6GC0
October 30th, 2010
kinect is a blessing for Sony because all the hardcore gamers on 360 will eventually get pissed off with all the casual crap and will switch to ps3 because of its library of exclusives and harcore titles. which will equal a sale for Sony.
October 30th, 2010
“That may explain why the only notable game for the 360 next year is Gears of War 3. Sad.”
You seem really emotional.
Forza 4, XCOM, and The First Templar are set for next year, besides…
Batman: Arkham City
Dragon Age 2
Dead Space 2
Mass Effect 3
CoD MW3
L.A. Noire
Duke Nukem Forever
Brink
Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Bulletstorm
Mortal Kombat
Portal 2
Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
F.E.A.R. 3
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Crysis 2
Rage
True Crime: Hong Kong
Shadows of the Damned
Warhammer 40,000
Max Payne 3
Alice: Madness Returns
Beyond Good & Evil HD
Red Faction Armageddon
Silent Hill 8
Doom 4
Saints Row 3
Devil’s Third
El Shaddai
…as multiplat titles will kind of crowd the market next year for a fledgling console manufacturer that probably should be focusing more on it’s next gen console rather than more exclusives that may or may not get a fair share of sales. Not to mention Sony’s titles are “infamously” delayed, though I am still looking forward to inFamous 2 being released next year if it is as good as it’s predecessor.
October 30th, 2010
lmao….Kinect will fail
October 30th, 2010
dragon age 2 cant come soon enough.
October 30th, 2010
roca
to true. . .sure the 360′s audience now consists of bored middle aged women. . .not gamers. and CAD is such a hypocrite saying online gaming is where its at and how hardcore the 360 was and now he is just a casual fag saying kinect is great and calling hardcore gamers idiots. the only muppet here is CAD. LMAO
October 30th, 2010
Ps3 is the best gaming system in the world. Ps3 will continue to stomp all over the Xbox360. Ps3 is the home of hardcore gamers. Good-bye Microsoft.
October 30th, 2010
Twilight
I have to say your the biggest flipflop in here can you really be taken seriously. Your excuse this time is hilarious. Your 360 has vodo on it and therefore bad things are happening to you LOL!! It’s all good though just pick a side already because you flip to whatever side is not going to gang up on you. What happened to Multiplaforms are better looking on the 360 and that Live is Better but I guess that does not matter anymore. Thanks for the humour.
October 30th, 2010
Yeah Kinect will fail but it’s just sold out like everywhere LOL!! The games will come as they have already been anounced but go on pretending they don’t exsist. Ubisoft just wants to be the biggest Kinect developer for no reason and there are so many studios making Kinect games. Hate all you want but Kinect will thrive and the PS3 will suffer or just copy because Sony lacks innovation.
October 30th, 2010
You know Kinect IS going to sell well.
It’s going to be bought by middle aged women who watch Oprah and Ellen (CAD & HH) and who have no fucking clue about gaming or what their kids want to play, but will buy it because Oprah & Ellen were paid by MS to make it a big deal. Just goes to show how stupid some people really are.
Their kids will look at this and go “what the fuck were you thinking you stupid ass bonbon eating idiot of a woman. Where is my copy of Halo”
So, it’ll wind up sitting there gathering dust or being sold on ebay for $2, and MS will have exactly what they wanted…more money.
October 30th, 2010
” has been hesitant to ship out review units.”
LMAO that is because it sucks ass and they know it.
They need as many preorders as they can get before the shit reviews come out. That is how they roll.
October 30th, 2010
“Surely M$ ain’t targeting smart people but the kind of people who just dive in because of hype.”
Exactly how the sell every halo game.
October 30th, 2010
CAD
you should be embarrassed man… Kinect offer nothing for gamers… I’m pretty your mom will have fun with it though
a month later she won’t even remember Kinect even existed
October 30th, 2010
“kinect is a blessing for Sony because all the hardcore gamers on 360 will eventually get pissed off with all the casual crap and will switch to ps3″
Won’t happen. They are too stupid. Look at CADs post.
October 30th, 2010
And Carlb. Another idiot xbot defending MS to the tits.
October 30th, 2010
Ubisoft is nothing but a shovelware company. Of course they want it.
October 30th, 2010
@CAD
time to get a PS3?
http://www.inserg.com/?p=99
October 30th, 2010
“And Carlb. Another idiot xbot defending MS to the tits.”
Exactly. This is why I haven’t played a game on 360 lately and boycotted it because of their refusal to improve in order to remain competitive with PSN/PSN Plus. I’m even ordering new games for PS3 that are rated as having better graphics for 360. Btw, did you get an invite for the PS Rewards program yet? Am I still the only member? lol
October 30th, 2010
Kinect offers nothing for gamers?
Are you kidding me. It offers the next step in gaming. You guys can sit there are na say all you want and miss a hugh era in gaming. It won’t bother me one bit trust me I’ll be having fun. Your not gamers if you shun technology but we all know it’s not the tech for most of you it because you’ve made yourself into a fanboy and will hate it because it’s from Mictosoft and not Sony. Controller free gaming is very cool in my books and just tasting the begining of it I can’t wait to see how the tech grows. Don’t think for one moment that 360 is a casual affair because Just this year alone there has been ME2, Crackdown 2, Alan Wake, Splinter Cell Conviction, Halo Reach, Fable 3, plenty of Arcade Games and Multiplatforms. Just because Microsoft is trying to sell to a broader Markert how dare they try and attract new customers and make casual games LOL. Yeah I’ll be enjoying Sonic Joy Ride, Kinect Sports, Kinect Adventures, Dance Central, Fighters Uncaged, Your Shape and maybe Harry Potter.
October 30th, 2010
Don’t know don’t care. I do know that the white diamond on your profile is to show you which one is the current person logged in. Everyone has it.
It probably isn’t in Canada. You say you are boycotting MS yet you come in here spew shit at Sony every day.
So go fuck yourself you lying POS.
October 30th, 2010
“Kinect offers nothing for gamers?
Are you kidding me. It offers the next step in gaming.”
what ever you say retard.
October 31st, 2010
ncaissie, how on earth did I “spew shit” at Sony?
Check your own fiction before accusing others.
October 31st, 2010
When you make stupid comments like “Still third. Maybe next year lol.” when up know dam well the ps3 has already out sold ms when you remove the extra year of sales from the year head start. At least when I troll I don’t make up lies.
October 31st, 2010
I dont have to because fucks up so much we have years of material to bug you xbots with.
October 31st, 2010
Sorry nc, but it is still third in total sales.
What’s funny isn’t that it’s still in third (I want it to be in first right now because Sony deserves it from their efforts to date), it’s that pbots get so worked up and defensive about it.
Try not to get your panties in a bunch.
October 31st, 2010
LOL. . .ncaissie i dont think carl is an xbot, he just makes them comments to wind certain people up. , .i just find it funny but certain people obviously dont.
October 31st, 2010
@CAD
Did you ever have a PS2?
October 31st, 2010
Cad,
Lol. Like I always say, if you can’t stand the heat get out of the Gamer Blorge kitchen. You should realize by now that I don’t care what people think. My thoughts are my own. Multi-platform games do tend to look better on the Xbox360 because developers have problems developing for the Ps3 but it doesn’t matter anymore. Both companies are in business to make money. However, I’ve decided that I’d rather just support a company who cares more about gamers (Ps3) then a company that takes gamers for all that they are worth (Microsoft). Afterall, you were even upset about Microsoft raising the cost of Xbox Live.
October 31st, 2010
didnt CAD agree with the XBL price hike?
October 31st, 2010
Cad expressed how he really felt about the price hike with his avatar on Xbox Live. He would never say anything bad about the Xbox360 on this site.
October 31st, 2010
I think CAD was happy to pay the increased fee for XBL so that he could access free services like facebook and twitter, and then to have to pay an extra fee for Netflex etc etc.
In CAD world, that’s fucking awesome value!
October 31st, 2010
Lmao
October 31st, 2010
After reading CAD’s comments, my head hurts. I know we all joke about it, but he obviously did pre-order Kinectimals because, “It offers the next step in gaming.”
Wow.
Kinect is a joke. The 360 is a good console, but you don’t have to buy everything that has a 360 logo on it. If enough people like you buy into this stuff, that’s exactly what your going to get more of.
If you buy the good 360 games, and refuse to buy into the Kinect hype, you’ll end up with more good 360 games in the end.
Don’t be such a tool CAD.
October 31st, 2010
I did something last night I never thought I would ever do.
It was during the Aust v England match, and there on the big screen at the venue while the video ref was doing his thing was the Kinect Logo.
I nearly turned my tv off in disgust. It’s bad enough that Harvey Normans have their name plastered over every fucking thing, but to add Kinect to it made me want to throw up.
Thankfully it was the last time they went to the video ref so my rage subsided.
November 1st, 2010
It’s only going to get worse as we move closer to launch. Microsoft will have adds everywhere by then.
November 1st, 2010
Every 360 commercial I see now has MILfs in it.
November 1st, 2010
3 days left until Kinect hit the shelves..where are the reviews?
Microsoft is really that afraid of reviews hurting the sales of Kinect?
November 1st, 2010
Some don’t even have kids in it. Pathetic!
November 1st, 2010
“Microsoft is really that afraid of reviews hurting the sales of Kinect?”
Yes
November 1st, 2010
BJ,
Kinect is going to be everywhere. Advertising is one of the few things that Microshaft does well.
November 1st, 2010
more like ‘false advertisement’ is one of the few things that Microshaft does well.
November 1st, 2010
So I heard you automatically get ‘The Biggest Loser’ title if you get Kinect…
November 1st, 2010
Roca,
Lol.
November 1st, 2010
“didnt CAD agree with the XBL price hike?”
@Liquid
on his XBL profile he stated “XBL $10 more?…WTF!!”
November 1st, 2010
ok lets set this record straight my avatar one the first day I heard about the price hike I wrote “live $10 more wtf” the very next day when I realized the price was not going up for me because I live in canada I took back what I said which I stated quite clearly for all the idiots. I find it fair because in Canada we pay $60 already and many here feel like the USA get more content yet we pay more. Excuse me for not changing my statement right away but now it clearly tells roca to suck my cock LOL!!
November 1st, 2010
“Excuse me for not changing my statement right away but now it clearly tells roca to suck my cock LOL”
It was there for more than a week..Now you can write me all the comments you want but as you have noticed login on second rate XBL very often. Everything a gamer needs is on PSN.. free, secure, open, free access to [insert service, website, feature]..etc
so you already pay $60 for XBL? uhmm that means you have been getting it from MS for years LMAO
November 1st, 2010
Roca,
Microshaft just sticks it to gamers anyway they can.
November 1st, 2010
Big surprise:
IGN gave Sonic Riders a decent review score of 7.5. Looks like Kinect’s add campaign can buy decent reviews.
IGN gets bought out all of the time, so it’s not that surprising. We’ll have to see how it ends up getting reviewed by sties that have some integrity.
November 1st, 2010
LMAO Roc, Are you paying for Live?
November 1st, 2010
IGN are a bunch of morons. Probably owned by MS.
I know CAD get owned by MS every time he pays his Live bill. LOL
November 1st, 2010
I’m a [free] silver member…so I get free access to a bloated UI full of ads and also free access to spend money on DLC and XBL game. somehow I don’t get access to all the other features that are free everywhere else…maybe because they are ‘actually ‘FREE’
November 1st, 2010
Ncaissie,
Roca was smart enough not to pay for Xbox live. He used the free online month that Microsoft gave him when he signed up for Xbox Live.
November 1st, 2010
*How PS3 Cut Xbox 360?s Lead Down to Nothing*
“According to sales figures from Microsoft and Sony, sales for Xbox 360 are at 41.7 million units and sales for PS3 are at 41.6 million units. It’s hard to believe that only 100,000 units separate two consoles”
http://consolepress.com/main/2010/10/31/how-ps3-cut-xbox-360s-lead-down-to-nothing/
November 1st, 2010
“IGN are a bunch of morons. Probably owned by MS.”
Yeah. That’s why they gave Move such glowing technical reviews and Sports Champions the same score; Uncharted 2 GotY, PS3 a better review, etc., etc.
In any case, The Fight: Lights Out, Time Crisis: Razing Storm, and The Shoot all suck as well as every other game that was designed for move, with a few mediocre exceptions.
November 1st, 2010
Roca your right it was there for some time and I kept saying I was going to change it but everytime I did not know what I was going to replace it with so I would just keep putting it off until your dumb ass one day decided to bring it up like it was fact that I say one thing and do another. Right there and then you gave me something to say and I put “DRoca X Suk my Ass”.
November 1st, 2010
LOL CAD, you might think it’s Roca sucking your ass, but really it’s Greenberg getting you lubed up right before he fucks you over, then charges you for the experience.
November 1st, 2010
LMAO