230°

No Correlation Between Kinect Game Reviews and Sales, Says Microsoft

With Kinect launching next week, Microsoft is everywhere talking about it (it even recently showed up on Oprah, among other daytime TV shows). Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business boss Aaron Greenberg recently discussed, among other things, the subject of Kinect's launch games and how they will sell well even if they don't receive high scores from reviewers.

Asked about the importance of review scores for Kinect's slate of launch games, Greenberg told Eurogamer, "I don't know. For us, these are different types of titles and experiences than maybe some of the games traditionally that are targeted to the core market. So the correlation between a review score for Halo: Reach and sales is very high, but Kinect Sports is more about just having fun.

dabri54939d ago

Translation: The people who would be reviewing these games are not the people we are gearing this tech and/or games to. The people who would read and care about the reviews being written are probably not the people this tech/games are geared toward.

I sort of understand this. Soccer moms aren't going to care what Kotaku/Gamespot/IGN thinks of the neat Oprah recommended toy they bought. They aren't that invested. These are the people that MS is gearing Kinect to......which is why I hope it fails horribly.

ryuzu4939d ago

Literal translation : Quality doesn't matter, we're just going to batter people into submission with our marketing budget.

Well, at least MS isn't deluding themselves about who the audience for this is - it's just some people here who are deluded.

r.

Game-ur4939d ago

They desperately need the 500m ad budget, to cover-up the bad reviews and lack of word of mouth recommendations.

The Kinect may set a record for biggest sales decline after the initial effects of the ads and holiday shopping spree fade out.

-Alpha4939d ago (Edited 4939d ago )

It's a huge concern because essentially they are chasing after a non-gaming crowd without care to how we see the product. Thus, it wont necessarily be a product for us gamers, despite the fact that we keep comparing it to Move and MS keeps stringing us along with promises of hardcore games. Right now the priority is the non-gaming crowd.

And Game-ur, Reviews wont matter for Kinect's audience.

Especially since Kinect is something that will be reviewed by Soccer Mom Magazine Monthly or Oprah's Buyer Guide (those don't exist, but you get the drift)

Those reviews will be more positive, there are actually people who find Kinectimals to be a big, new, and enjoyable product. They will review Kinect from their perspective, the perspective of the non-gamer. It's THOSE reviews MS will gloat about because it's those reviews that will matter to the main audience. Why would MS care about Gamespot's review if the product isn't aimed at regular Gamespot users?

But reviews really aren't something this new audience cares about in general. They are sold on the wow factor, the advertising, and the fact that this is going to be a heavily talked about product.

Gamers seem to think that "the most hardcore product will sell the best" but it's not true, and these people are going to be in for a shock if they see Kinect sell so much.

The giant advertising campaign and the exposure is sure to sell 360s this Christmas and no matter how much we may hate it MS simply doesn't care because they are no longer selling the product from our perspective.

4939d ago
Game-ur4938d ago (Edited 4938d ago )

Half a billion $ and surprised holiday shoppers will defiantly drive big initial Kinect sales, but the key is always sustainability, and that needs real quality, word of mouth and the "it" factor. These are the things selling Iphones and Wiis, ads only start the ball rolling.

Halo has one of the biggest marketing campaigns in gaming, but if it wouldn't have become one of the biggest franchises if it wasn’t a great game in the first place.

sikbeta4938d ago

Basically they're trying to sell shovelware and a faulty add-on with a $500 million ad campaign in a way people don't realize how crappy are the stuff they are getting ....

blind-reaper4938d ago

Im totally in for marketing, my major is in marketing, but basing the success of your product solely in market F**KING SUCKS!!

N4WAH4938d ago (Edited 4938d ago )

Isn't that what ALL gaming is suppose to be about, just having fun / being entertained?
Just more fluff, spin and damage control from MS's #1 PR guy, Greenburg.

bviperz4938d ago

"Gamers seem to think that "the most hardcore product will sell the best" but it's not true, and these people are going to be in for a shock if they see Kinect sell so much."

Going to disagree with you there. It's not the most hardcore product that sells the best, it's the product with the most quality that sells the best. And before you jump on, think about it. We both said 'best' not 'most'.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 4938d ago
gigaware4939d ago (Edited 4939d ago )

So that is the way you see it? Some might see it a different way. Maybe he went after the haters and anti Microsoft journalist telling them you can purposly try and kill Kinect's reputation but it wont matter because the consumers will vote with their pockets.

Reading your comment and what is said I'm guessing you hope Kinect fails for much different reasons.

dabri54939d ago (Edited 4939d ago )

You can read my comment history and gather a little more info before you judge that.

I primarily hate motion controls and see them as gimmicky. No console bias on my part.

PS3: cgkyou
X360: DRUG5
Wii: too many stupid friend codes to list

I also own:
Sega Master System, Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, game gear
NES, GameBoy (pocket and color), Super Nintendo, N64, DS. DS Lite
Playstation, PS2, PSP
XBox
Decent Computer.
My general rule has been, if it has good games on it, it's worth a purchase, if not now, then down the road.

gigaware4939d ago (Edited 4939d ago )

Owning other consoles doesn't mean much I can only go off of what you say in your posts I also own the xbox, PS3 and Wii and I favor the 360 by a big margin. Microsoft knows Kinect has high demand and reviewers not use to motion being on the 360 and haters hating will have no effect. That is all that was said. Move sells and the game scores for it where low because reviewers throw their thumbs down at motion on so called hardcore consoles.

Don't be naive their will be an army of media trying to stop Kinect in its tracks.

I called you out because the notion consumers are being suckered or are too stupid to know any better when they buy Microsoft products is a PS3 fanboy mindset. If you don't buy PS3 you are an idiot so childish. People will buy Kinect because they like the tech and the new way to play with new games they will or did enjoy.

dabri54939d ago

Now, I'm just confused. Are you calling me a Sony or MS fanboy? I've simply stated that if we don't want motion controls to be seen as the standard for the next gen consoles (maybe even the only option), then they need to not sell well. If they sell really well, both Sony and MS would have to consider making them standard or even worse, mandatory.

From my comment history, the only thing I ever bash is motion controls so you can say what you want but you haven't shown me any reasons that justify your opinion of me.

Maybe a few quotes that you see that justify your reasoning? (--btw, this is not meant to be stand-off-ish. I simply don't want to come off as being how you say I am and if you are able to point out what you see, maybe I can either explain it or learn from it ---)

gigaware4939d ago (Edited 4938d ago )

"I don't know how reviewers will grade those games because they're so unique and so different to what the reviewers have played with controllers. We'd love to see great reviews but I don't think you'll see the same type of correlation between reviews and actual sales of the game, would be my guess."

What he is saying in a respectful way is Kinect will have bias reviews and it won't matter because people will like the offerings and tech. That's all that was said your translation is well designed flame to turn the tone of this article into a flame pit.

He didn't say, suggest, hint at a darn thing about Microsoft only caring about the causals or ignoring the so called core base and how they make their descisions.

Microsoft did not say they know the mass casual consumer pool will ignore mainstream media and who needs them anyways Muahahaha. Microsoft said their will be biased reviews put as delicately as your comment with a hidden message.

dabri54938d ago (Edited 4938d ago )

Microsoft is focusing Kinect marketing toward a casual market. This is no secret. I seriously doubt MS or any company would ever say FU to their core audience nor did I suggest they were.

I simply stated that what I believe his statement meant is that reviews wont matter because the people the reviews are being written for, aren't the people they are trying to sell those games to. Do you think that Kinectimals is made for hardcore gamers that read any of the sites that I listed? What about Kinect sports, adventures, Dance Central, Joy Ride, Your Shape, EA Active 2, Motion Sports, Zumba, Dance Masters, Biggest Loser, Brunswick Bowling, You don't know jack, Getting fit with Mel B., Deca Sport Freedom, Fantastic Pets, Michael Phelps, Game Party, Adrenaline Misfits, MJ the Experience, or Sonic Free Riders?

For example, if I wrote a children book and found that it had been reviewed by a site that specializes in adult mystery novels, do you think I or any of the people that would consider buying my book in the first place would care? The book wasn't made for them in mind. The games that are initially coming out for Kinect are not made for the hardcore gaming crowd. They are trying to bring more gamers into the market by appealing to casual/non-gamers like Nintendo successfully did with the Wii. MS has stated this. They have also stated they will not ignore the core gamers either and I'm not claiming they are so what is the problem? Where is the subtle flame bait in that?

The only people that would have an issue with what I'm saying are the people who are looking for a reason to get defensive. I haven't said a single BAD thing about MS. I only stated what I think they mean with that statement which in itself isn't bad either. They are gearing this toward a market group that makes sense to gear it to. With competitors showing success with similar tactics, MS hopes to repeat this success by taking a spin on motion controls and putting out something different. By coming out and saying that they don't care about any reviews (good or bad) from the normal go to game sites/ reviewers is completely logical because they aren't apart of this market group they are trying to sell to. Nor will that market group even read those reviews.

Would it be better if I said that I hope Move fails horribly too? I do. I say this in several of my other posts for the exact same reason. I don't want to see motion control become a standard thing. It is gimmicky. That is the only opinion I throw into any of this and it is not console or Company specific.

radphil4938d ago

"Microsoft did not say they know the mass casual consumer pool will ignore mainstream media and who needs them anyways Muahahaha. Microsoft said their will be biased reviews put as delicately as your comment with a hidden message."

I'm sorry...but why in the world do you have muwahahaha put right there?...

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4938d ago
Keith Olbermann4939d ago (Edited 4939d ago )

why not let gaming sites post reviews?? I think they matter more than they are leading on. Moms wont spend the money on this. They already have the Wii. This is spin.

NYC_Gamer4939d ago (Edited 4939d ago )

people who support this hardware wont care about reviews

Edit;
at least explain why u disagree

visualb4939d ago

do you really think they can do that? really?

one thing is pressing a button...another thing is expressing the logic behind doing so (or lack thereof)

=P

Killed4Less4939d ago (Edited 4939d ago )

I disagree because I support this hardware and I care about reviews.

What more is there to explain? Just because I am interested and want the tech doesn't mean I'm not looking for quality experiences with it. Right now, there isn't much of anything in the launch titles that does it for me and the reviews might help me to pick one of them to give it a try with beyond the bundled Kinect Sports.

But these gamer mags cater to the core gamer and casuals just simply don't take it that seriously and don't live and breath this stuff. They will buy a game simply because it looks fun or because their friends have it. Not because IGN scored it 9/10.

Troll_Police4939d ago (Edited 4939d ago )

Damage control. Sounds like they know Kinect games will get bad reviews.

@Godmas290

The poor reviews will scare off the few core Xbox owners who were thinking of getting Kinect and soccer moms and grandparents will not shell out $300 for this thing.

Godmars2904939d ago (Edited 4939d ago )

And yet they expect it to sells regardless. That they actually don't care if its a poorly reviewed product, just that it sells.

Edut:
I'm just wondering how many people who don't own a 360 are going to buy Kinect thinking they don't need an Xbox. You know its going to happen.

dabri54939d ago

It will. It was an issue with the Balance board and the Wii. People would go into Gamestop and buy the board thinking it was a stand alone thing. They would have to explain to them that it only works with the Wii.

gamingdroid4938d ago

"And yet they expect it to sells regardless. That they actually don't care if its a poorly reviewed product, just that it sells."

No, MS don't care about poor reviews from a the wrong target demographic!

Trying to sell a truck to a sports car enthusiast wouldn't work to well, would it?

lzim4938d ago

I'd expect it to sell for the UI extension functionality (remote gesture and voice control and the teleconferencing thing).

It isn't the cheapest teleconferencing platform but it does work and you'd get a gaming and entertainment machine too.

KratosGirI4939d ago

From what I've seen, kids are probably gonna go crazy for it.

lzim4938d ago

= commercials and an immunity to common sense

80084939d ago

So basically Microsoft are saying "inb4badreviews!".

Touché Microsoft. Touché.

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300°

Microsoft Survey Asks About Handheld

A new survey from Microsoft has further hinted at the possibility of an Xbox handheld being in development.

Read Full Story >>
twistedvoxel.com
EasilyTheBest7d ago

This is definitely happening, I just hope they have 2 versions one with a much bigger screen.

GamerRN6d ago

I'll be happy with this, and a PC console hybrid that rivals anything we have power wise

Number1TailzFan6d ago

The problem with bigger devices is playing them on your side in bed, Vita and before that was fine. Since the Switch you gotta have a gooseneck holder & controllers detached so you can lie down holding them, or your arm will quickly get tired.

1Victor5d ago

@thesofware: “A much bigger screen than what?”
A gaming laptop 🤷🏿🤣

Kosic5d ago

Than the screen originally planned...duh... :D

darthv725d ago

it kinda already did... https://www.xbox.com/en-US/...

They are just gauging interest in one of their own.

crazyCoconuts5d ago

A Xbox version of Logitech G-Cloud?
I mean, why bother? Not like the G cloud is flying off shelves and what would Xbox add to make it better?
They're surely not going to create bespoke architecture here and there are already a few Windows handhelds out there. I have little confidence in their ability to put together an attractive UI in the way Steam did. So I doubt anything will come from this.

KicksnSnares6d ago

Day One buy for me if they'll make a dedicated handheld device.

darthv726d ago

i have that logitech g-cloud. Its a sweet little piece of kit. I like that it can also install games from the play store unlike the other android based handheld.

mudakoshaka6d ago

It sure is! Don't understand why you get the down-votes. Whoever does not like the G Cloud must have been dropped down a well, head first, when they were of a younger age.

PassNextquestion6d ago

I wonder if Microsoft will perform better in Japan if they do actually make a handheld since everyone says handheld and mobile are king over there.

TiredGamer6d ago

This looks like the future of the game industry... all three platforms with a handheld option.

I wonder if the Playstation Portal is a technology test-bed/prototype for a future Playstation handheld?

rlow16d ago (Edited 6d ago )

It’s a possibility but I can’t help but think would that be the best way to go about it? Though it would give you data on how much it is used and game type. It’s still not a true portable device and so people approach it differently. I think that data on phones, tablets, and of course the competition would give a better indication.

But I really think if Sony is considering a new PSP that could play ps5 games, now would be the time to dive in. Honestly, if they do this, it would be huge.

Traecy6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

Doubt if Sony PS wants to support a new handheld with first party games. Something they lacked with the Vita. What they should do is have a handheld that is like the PS Portal which can play all games but play those games on the go as well as at home. Something like that is a better investment.

TiredGamer6d ago

Agreed that you will probably never see a separate line of games specifically for the handheld (a la PSP or PSVita). The modern economics and expectations of game development make that cost prohibitive. What makes more sense is if the full-fat game on PS5 or PS6 has a special "handheld" profile that is automatically optimized for the lower spec handheld. There would be some significant compromises compared to the bigger console variant, but it would be the same game overall and would only require a single purchase.... somewhat what the Switch does with a lower resolution when playing handheld versus docked.

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310°

Xbox Games Showcase Followed by [REDACTED] Direct Airs June 9

- Xbox Wire - Mark your calendars! The Xbox Games Showcase followed by [REDACTED] Direct airs June 9. More info inside.

Read Full Story >>
news.xbox.com
bionicstar6d ago

Will they show Fable 4, Stalker 2, GoW 6 & Perfect Dark?

PhillyDonJawn6d ago

Crossing fingers for Fable and perfect dark. And State of Decay 3

RaidenBlack6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

And maybe Clockwork Revolution, South of Midnight, Contraband, Project 007 & OD? lol
and whatever happened to Everwild ?
+ that rumored Wu Tang RPG

Sonic18816d ago (Edited 6d ago )

Will they have official release dates and gameplay?

anast6d ago

Another game pass event with their plans to go all streaming.

6d ago
Lightning776d ago

It's an Xbox showcase that they have every year.

Make smarter comments for once.

anast6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

Tell me what a smarter comment is.

If they don't sell game pass the entire time, then I will be wrong. All of this can be proven once the show gets underway. Let's wait and see.

InUrFoxHole5d ago

@Anast
Anything you didn't type. Good day sir!

6d ago
6d ago
6d ago
6d ago Replies(1)
Lightning776d ago (Edited 6d ago )

Wow too easy.

You went from MS going all streaming to selling gamepass content in which we all know they are.

Which one is it?

Pretty clear you don't know what a smart comment is at least you admit you don't know.

6d ago
anast6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

"Another game pass event with their plans to go all streaming."

It's both. I would worry about your own intelligence at this point. It seems that there is not enough to go around for you to worry about how smart other people are.

Lightning776d ago

It's just a regular event announcing games. Nice one captain obvious they're gonna mention gp stuff like they do every year what else is new.

The all streaming part is just you, being you I guess. They have streaming options but going all streaming again is just you pulling stuff outta thin air.

anast6d ago

You don't know what a smart comment is or isn't. You're welcome for the help.

Lightning776d ago

No you said something dumb then you tried to back track and mention GP.

Again make smart comments for once.

anast5d ago

And we have broken record syndrome.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 5d ago
darthv726d ago

Wonder if they will address the handheld rumors....?

jimb0j0nes6d ago

For a brief moment I thought we might get a whole Direct for Gears 6 - seems like it's COD though!

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290°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
darthv7211d ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle11d ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic188110d ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio10d ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning7710d ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga11d ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

darthv7210d ago

to you it may seem like the minority... but your bubble is shrinking because more and more are following suit. convenience is a hell of a drug and its also why physical sales only amount to 30% of overall game sales. times are changing, you either get with them or you get left behind.

neutralgamer199210d ago

Darth

30% physical sales: yet Phil and xbox division are in a rush go give up on that 30%. they don't have any right to give up any piece of the pie since the control such a little of the pie to begin with

also, the market is clearly speaking that the model Xbox is pushing isn't working right now the keyword being right now. you are right about freedom to play anywhere so i hope they put their games on steam

shinoff218311d ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga11d ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan10d ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

S2Killinit10d ago

MS is after diminishing consoles as a medium. They want to destroy this market because they couldnt win. MS’s vision is to dissolve console gaming.

romulus2310d ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv7210d ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

TheEroica10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

Perfectly reasonable post down voted by insecure corporation friendly folk.... But not gamers. Real gamer want accessibility and ease of acquisition for all.... Company shills are the only ones still telling us that hardware locking people from games is good for us.

Chevalier10d ago

@Darth

You should stop parroting metrics like an idiot without context.

"Xbox content and services revenue grew 62% in Q3 from a year earlier, “driven by 61 points of net impact” from the purchase of the third-party video game giant, Microsoft said."

61 of the 62% was from their merger so net increase is ONLY 1%

https://www.mesaonline.org/...

itsmebryan9d ago

@chevalier

It looks like made a great purchase. Much better then Sony buying Bungie. 😉
Cheers

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 9d ago
purple10111d ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos11d ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

DOMination-10d ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac11d ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple10111d ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic11d ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead10d ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 10d ago
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