Kinect predicted to rule Christmas in UK

Microsoft Kinect is predicted to be this Christmas' most-wanted tech toy, according to a new industry report.

Market research outfit Ipsos says that Kinect will be the most popular gaming hardware in the UK in the run-up to Xmas 2010.

Ipsos claims that 13 per cent of Brits intend to buy a Kinect this Christmas, compared with only 11 per cent who are planning on investing in a PlayStation Move controller.

That said, Ipsos' research also adds that Kinect is perceived to have more "uniqueness" and "believability."

Kinect more believable than Move?

"Given a new usage experience, one might expect some level of scepticism among respondents for Kinect," reads Ipsos' report.

"Surprisingly, though, Kinect excels on both uniqueness and believability... PS Move is rather weak on both dimensions."

"While there are a lot of factors other than consumer appeal that influence demand, the underlying potential for Xbox Kinect looks very good."

Kinect is finally out in the UK on November 10. Not long now!

Kinect's $500m Marketing Blitz, Launch Titles

Microsoft wasn't kidding when it said that Kinect's launch would be treated like that of a home console - the company has revealed to the New York Post that it is spending $500 million on "a major movie-style marketing blitz," while the peripheral's UK launch game tally is close to that of the Xbox 360's own in 2005.

19 games are being prepped for Kinect's 4th November release in the UK (17 titles will launch in North America), and include five fitness games, two dancing games and one movie tie-in. Alongside first-party titles like Kinect Adventures and Kinect Sports, Ubisoft's Motion Sports and THQ's The Biggest Loser will be on store shelves to carry the device.

Konami announced that it will be bringing Dance Masters and Crossboard 7 to Kinect, with Hudson's Sports Island Freedom arriving later in the month on the 25th November. While Major Nelson only lists the US launch titles, over here we get the added bonus of Get Fit With Mel B and Dance Paradise.

Microsoft aims to spend its colossal marketing dollars by slapping Kinect on TVs, cereal boxes, print and online media and soda cans. Hollywood director Steven Spielberg has even been involved in the planning of the campaign. It'll certainly be interesting to see whether all that marketing spend translates into sales...