Filed under: News | Gaming

 

The Kinect Launch Party In NYC - Or - How Microsoft Created Way Too Much Free Crap

It's not every day you get 10 of the same t-shirt for free

Nov 4 2010, 8:24am CDT | by

The Kinect Launch Party In NYC - Or - How Microsoft Created Way Too Much Free Crap
 
 

So, I spent more time waiting in a non-moving line than I had ever done before in my entire life. That's right; I went as one of the huddled masses to Microsoft's official Kinect launch party in Times Square last night, and got more swag that I could have ever imagined.

Gallery

6 images
The Kinect Launch Party In NYC - Or - How Microsoft Created Way Too Much Free CrapThe Kinect Launch Party In NYC - Or - How Microsoft Created Way Too Much Free CrapThe Kinect Launch Party In NYC - Or - How Microsoft Created Way Too Much Free Crap

Yeah, last night was the culmination of a more-than-year-long marketing campaign from Microsoft, the likes of which had never been seen before. Microsoft specifically stated that its promotional budget for Kinect was greater than any Xbox product ever.

Fans waited at the Toys R Us in Times Square for as long as two days for the launch of Kinect, but for many it was less about the actual product and more about the experience, and the opportunity to get free stuff. Usually at these official launch events, you may be lucky enough to get a t-shirt, or maybe a special offer like a free game for buying the product there that night.

But last night, I ended up getting 10 (yes, TEN) Kinect t-shirts, a beanie cap, two umbrellas, two ponchos, $21 in Burger King gift cards, and five free Xbox Live Avatar outfits (all of which are the same). That's on top of the two free Kinect games and one year of Xbox Live Gold service I got for buying the Kinect at the official launch party. And of the people around me, I was actually among the low end of the swag earners. I have never seen such a high volume of swag for a single product in one place in my entire life.

A Kinect official confirmed to me that Microsoft printed up 9,000 t-shirts for the event, even though the company's best expectation was for 3,000 people to show up. It didn't even meet that. Event personnel ended up desparately trying to give away the free shirts, sometimes handing handfulls of them to people who already had a half dozen of them. Lucky tourists who happened to be walking by event got free stuff.

After waiting in line for nearly nine hours, meeting Burger King's "The King," Xbox's Major Nelson, and Kinect guru Kudo Tsunoda, I was one of the first to pick up my own Kinect and will certainly be putting it through its paces today.

Last night's launch event wasn't quite a deal of Oprah proportions, but every single one of the more than 1,000 people who showed up ended up walking away a happy camper. Kudos to Microsoft on a very well executed event.

Sponsored Update

Updates

InvenSense® to Exhibit at Mobile Asia Expo 2013

Source: Freshnews.com

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- InvenSense, Inc. (NYSE: INVN), the leading provider of MotionTracking™ devices, announced that it will be showcasing its latest technology breakthroughs at the 2013 Mobile Asia Expo at the Shanghai New Internat ...
Full article at: Freshnews.com  More like this  14 minutes ago

Nintendo taps Steel Diver franchise for its first free-to-play game

Source: Engadget

Nintendo was coy when it announced that its first free-to-play game will launch before the end of next March, divulging only that it wouldn't belong to the Mario or Pokemon franchises. However, the firm's Shigeru Miya ...
Full article at: Engadget  More like this  18 minutes ago

Skulls of the Shogun heads to Steam next month, beta available now

Source: Joystiq

17-BIT ANNOUNCES SKULLS OF THE SHOGUN: BONE-A-FIDE EDITION FOR STEAM The new Steam version of Skulls of the Shogun is now available for pre-order for a discounted price, and includes immediate download of the multiplayer beta of Skulls of ...
Full article at: Joystiq  More like this  23 minutes ago

Watch all 2013 Superbowl ads

where to buy

Don't miss ...

 

<a href="/latest_stories/all/all/6" rel="author">Mark Raby</a>
Based in New York City, Mark follows the consumer electronics industry like a hawk. A published book author, he has a particular affinity for 3D technology and video games, and as such will surely be in the market for a new pair of glasses soon. Mark can be contacted directly at mark@i4u.com.

 

 

blog comments powered by Disqus

Latest stories

Kim and Kanye&#039;s Baby is Called Kaidence Donda West
Kim and Kanye's Baby is Called Kaidence Donda West
The biggest celebrity news this week is Kim Kardashian's and Kanye West's birth of their baby girl. Now a report claims that they called their baby daughter Kaidence Donda West.
 
 
Dave Chappelle is Back with Oddball Tour
Dave Chappelle is Back with Oddball Tour
Comedian Dave Chapelle is back on tour with a cool comedy festival experience presented by Funny or Die titled Oddball Festival.
 
 
 
Apple&#039;s Low Cost iPhone Case
Apple's Low Cost iPhone Case
Apple's low cost iPhone casing images are leaked online. The leaked case is similar to that of iPhone 5 except thickness which is 2mm more.
 
 
 

More From the Web

Viral Stories

 
 

Viral Videos and Photos