Official, confirmed Kinect price announced

[Hadrian]

A) I don't have £100 (speculation as to UK price. Half the price of an Xbox in Britain like $150 is half of an American one) to drop on any peripheral.

UK RRP of 360 Arcade: £159.99
US RRP of 360 Arcade: $149.99

Oh shit.

 

[Arwen20]

I already pre-orded mine! I do wish that it would come bundle with a game, or a game download voucher. Whatever happened to the break the blocks game that was demoed at the last E3?

 

[Veho]

Worst ripoff fail ever.

Spoiler: This may or may not apply.

In case you're implying the Kinect is ripping off the Wiimote here: It's actually way closer to the EyeToy. It's nothing like the Wiimote. Sure, they they both track your motion and translate it into the game, but then again, so does a computer mouse.
Kinect is not ripping off the Wiimote, unlike a certain other "revolutionary new controller" I could mention *cough*Move*cough*.

That being said, $150? Fuck no. It's not precise and response times are awful, so hardcore gamers that would pay money for good controllers are out, and it's too expensive for a casual gamer. $150 to upgrade your Xbox to a Wii, basically? $200 will get you a Wii with Wii Sports, and access to a huge library of shovelware casual games. Hell, it will get you a PS2, an EyeToy and every EyeToy game ever released, and 90% of users wouldn't know the difference.

Kinect has to show something spectacular, something that can't be found anywhere else to make people buy one, and so far it hasn't shown a thing.

 

[Pazuzu]

I'm more concerned about the power supply cable. This thing's gonna need another plug point? My TV's crowded enough as it is...

 

[Guild McCommunist]

I'm more concerned about the power supply cable. This thing's gonna need another plug point? My TV's crowded enough as it is...

If you're talking about the "power brick" of the 360 I doubt it. It's got a smaller power need and even the new Slim model 360 will not have a "power brick".

But yeah, shitty price, shitty controls, shitty games, shitty product. Why can't they just stick to the old meat and potatoes of the 360? It still sold like 30-something million units that way and good software sales to match.

 

[Hadrian]

But yeah, shitty price, shitty controls, shitty games, shitty product. Why can't they just stick to the old meat and potatoes of the 360? It still sold like 30-something million units that way and good software sales to match.

Agreed.

The money they spent on R&D, game development and all that, they could of got some good exclusives.

 

[Depravo]

Worst ripoff fail ever.

I believe you're implying the Kinect is ripping off the Wiimote here?

The term 'rip off' can also be used to describe something that is absurdly over-priced.

 

[Delta517]

150$?!

I'll get an 3DS like everyone else here will instead.

 

[omgpwn666]

Only $150, nice. I have to get one of these at release.

 

[Veho]

Worst ripoff fail ever.

I believe you're implying the Kinect is ripping off the Wiimote here?

The term 'rip off' can also be used to describe something that is absurdly over-priced.

Oooops.

Okay, I'll edit that part out

 

[DarkWay]

That's more than a new fecking arcade console!
No way, completely overpriced crap, definately not buying this hunk-o-junk.

 

[Deleted User]

a wii is only 20pounds more!

 

[George Dawes]

But how many "casuals" are gonna spend $150 for an add-on? It seems self-defeating to me.

How many anyone would buy a $150 addon? Addons have a long history of failing miserably, looks like MS have pulled a sega (or maybe atari)...

 

[Windaga]

I couldn't get it even if I wanted to - I don't have 6 feet of jumping around room :/

And for that price? No thank you.

 

[Livin in a box]

a wii is only 20pounds more!

If the converters are right, $150=~£100. Though I can imagine Microsoft charging £120 for it over here.

All it is is a glorified webcam- how can it cost more to manufacture than an actual 360 console? :\

 

[Hadrian]

But how many "casuals" are gonna spend $150 for an add-on? It seems self-defeating to me.

How many anyone would buy a $150 addon? Addons have a long history of failing miserably, looks like MS have pulled a sega (or maybe atari)...

Just that really.

They're trying to get a new audience on the 360 but in the end its going to be around £250 over here including the console as most people they'e aiming this at wouldn't have one just for something people would use now and again. At least the Move is integrated into other gamer games, at least you can get more bang for your cash. So far there are no games at all that look like they could be improved by this which is a shame.

 

[Veho]

How many anyone would buy a $150 addon? Addons have a long history of failing miserably, looks like MS have pulled a sega (or maybe atari)...

There are $150 (or much more) gaming keyboards, precision mice or HOTAS flight stick systems, and there are people that buy them. If it enhances the gaming experience (or gives you an edge over the n00bs), Or if it enables you to do stuff you couldn't do with a mouse and keyboard, or a gamepad, it's worth it.

And Guitar Hero and Rock Band both required tons of addons, so not all addons are failures. People are willing to pay extra for a better gaming experience.

But as I said before, the Kinect fails to impress on either field. It's not a precision controller, it won't give you an edge over some 14 year Halo-monkey on XBLA. And on the other hand, the "immersive" side of things, it still hasn't shown a game where it's more suitable than a regular controller. Proof-of-concept tech demos don't count; they need to show a game that can hold the audience for more than five minutes.

 

[Jamstruth]

A) I don't have £100 (speculation as to UK price. Half the price of an Xbox in Britain like $150 is half of an American one) to drop on any peripheral.

UK RRP of 360 Arcade: £159.99
US RRP of 360 Arcade: $149.99

Oh shit.

There's a $150 difference between Elite and Arcade versions in America? JESUS!
I was referring to the Elite price but I still reckon its a pretty solid sounding pricepoint. I wouldn't put MS past bumping it to £130-150 just to screw us over though.

 

[Mid123]

No thanks

 

[Hadrian]

There's a $150 difference between Elite and Arcade versions in America? JESUS!
I was referring to the Elite price but I still reckon its a pretty solid sounding pricepoint. I wouldn't put MS past bumping it to £130-150 just to screw us over though.

I think its more to do with the Tax & VAT thing here. Everything is pretty much more expensive than other places, though nowhere near as bad as others.