E3 2010: MS Not Concerned About Natal/Kinect Name Change
Only you hardcore gamers knew about Natal anyway.
Microsoft is not concerned about any potential confusion that may arise from marketing Kinect as Project Natal for a year before changing its name. Director of Product Management for Xbox Aaron Greenberg explained to IGN that this is largely a case of most of the market not even being aware that it exists just yet.
"What's interesting is that despite everything we've done for Natal -- and people are very excited about it -- the actual awareness around the name is not as high as you would think," said Greenberg.
"I think the right time is now. One, we love the name, so that helps. Two, people will realize it makes sense…It fits. Then three, a lot of people that are going to be watching and learning about this for the first time ever, they're going to learn about the new name."
Earlier tonight Microsoft announced the new name for Project Natal as Kinect at a Cirque-du-Soleil circus event. Microsoft is hoping that the event will help to get the word out to a broader audience than E3 press conferences generally reach, as it hopes to sell [insert name] to new people.
"That's our belief," said Greenberg, "that [Kinect] has this universal appeal and it's not just this thing for current owners. It delivers all new experiences for us, but it also enables non-gamers, it enables people that never thought of gaming as a way to interest them."
And if all else fails, Microsoft will make sure everybody knows about the name change through advertising. "We're obviously going to have a massive marketing and advertising campaign to make sure the name and everything gets out there. Frankly, the world premiere Cirque-du-Soleil event is a big part of that."
Source IGN
