14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is getting ready to push its new Kinect motion detection system to Xbox 360 users everywhere, and is quite confident that it will succeed, but Activision Blizzard boss Bobby Kotick isn't so sure, and wants a price cut to be made as soon as possible.
Kotick has often been accused of being a bit too greedy, and wanting to profit from every move his company makes, so when he says Microsoft may have priced Kinect a bit too high, perhaps the Redmond giant should listen.
Kinect will be launched on November 4 in North America and November 10 in Europe, with a price tag of around 150 U.S. dollars.
The Activision boss has recently talked about the new motion capture system, as well as the new 3D technology and the peripheral business which has also been keeping his company on top in terms of profit with titles like Guitar Hero or Tony Hawk: Ride.
He reveals that 3D might really work with video games, but it needs to be carefully implemented.
"I think that 3D is super-compelling," he said. "The push has come from film but, personally, I find that live action in 3D is disruptive to the storytelling. But games in 3D are incredible. And when you see bullets whizzing past your ear, or imagine you're playing Guitar Hero over the internet and your bass player is right next to you, that's a really great enhancement of a game experience."
In terms of Kinect, the idea is pretty good, according to Kotick, but Microsoft needs to lower the price in order to ensure that it will attract people.
"I think 3D was made for videogames, and I'm very excited about that. With Kinect... I love it as an idea, but [Microsoft has] got to get the price down."
Without a doubt, Kotick wants to Kinect to succeed, but a high price means a lower user base, which means Activision titles developed for Kinect won't sell that many copies, and if there's one thing Kotick hates, it's not making a huge profit.
In terms of the peripherals that made his company so popular, the Activision Blizzard boss has once again emphasized his support for such things, but only if it enhances the experience.
"So as long as we think a peripheral is going to deliver something that's compelling and interesting and innovative we'll support it," he said.
"To me, that's moving the medium forward, and physical interfacing I think is a really important part of the future. So, yes, we're going to keep making physical interface products if we think that's going to enhance the experience - and we have some really cool ones for next year."