Microsoft has claimed that Kinect's launch can be bigger than that of every console in history - including Xbox 360 itself.

According to Microsoft studios boss Phil Spencer, the peripheral - which arrives in November - will represent "the biggest console launch ever".

"We are investing in this like we've never invested in a platform launch," he told Edge in a new interview. "This is, for us, the biggest platform launch in the history of the industry.

"We'll have a huge launch portfolio, we want to sell more units than any console has ever sold in its first holiday, a new platform. Our retail partners are telling us, based on the consumer demand, "this is going to be the number one consumer electronics purchase this holiday. Not just in the games space, all of them.

"In North America 7,000 retailers are doing midnight events when we ship and our pre-order momentum looks huge. So this, for us, is bigger than Xbox launch, bigger than 360 launch - this is a big deal for us. How many units are we going to sell? We're completely goaled in investing as if this were the biggest console launch ever, and that's our expectation."

Kinect is due for launch on November 10 in the UK. Microsoft announced a handful of 'core' games for the device at TGS.

When asked about Microsoft's prediction that Kinect can sell three million units in Q4, Spencer told Edge:

"You forecast, you hope, you do your best, right? You ship something. I know my manager, Don Mattrick, was quoted saying a holiday target of over 3 million.

"I think about it in a bigger way than that. Not that Don's wrong; that's the number that he stated, but a lot has to happen in order for us to have success. Our content partners have to ship great games, our retail partners have to be there with us, our marketing has to be there in a very impactful way."

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/ar ... ?id=267017

I'd love to know if all those people who have Wiis collecting dust will adversely affect their sales

I think that they are being supremely over optimistic. Yes the concept looks sound but until you have the games that people can use with it you will not have much traction. A Star Wars light sabre game could be very popular, as could a few other types.

'Kinell!

If they're blowing serious money on the launch that can't say much for their confidence in terms of exposure and sales...

Yes it doesn't look very confident. Though considering the economic circumstances I would be nervous with a big product launch.

I fear that they are a tad over optimistic. If they make too much of a bally-hoo about it and the thing fails to do as well, I hope they have a Babylon 5 project against which they can write off the losses.

The whole movement control thing is fascinating. What was the name of the funny tilty stick thing you could get for the ZX Spectrum again?

Or the otherside if they dont invest the money they wont get the exposure or sales. I think its called marketing or such nonsense

Distributors and point of sales places (ie the shop where you buy the thing) want to see advertising and much noise made, or they won’t have the confidence to carry it in large enough volumes.

So what they're saying is that their marketing department are trying to poslish a turd by throwing lots of money at it.

It might not be a turd, but they may be wasting a lot of money to try and make it a success.

I think they'll sell a crap load. I really do. I dont like it and i certainly wont buy one but I think it will be lapped up for xmas.

Of course MS, because input lag is just awesome...Clicky

Also dull games might not help it.

I think I read somewhere they were working on reducing or getting rid of input lag before launch. This article was back from the start of August.