Microsoft's E3 media event didn't include the official pricing information for Kinect when they broke it out on stage Monday, but it looks like that anonymously leaked $149 mark was accurate after all. Following $50 rumors and $200 rumors, Amazon.com, Best Buy and Walmart all appear to have settled in between with their listings.
Since those prices come with pre-order buttons, it's a fair bet that this is the most official confirmation we're going to see about Kinect until Microsoft sends out a press release. Meanwhile, Sony will be selling its PlayStation Move controller for $99.99 with the PlayStation Eye and a game, so it will be interesting to see how that $50 difference distinguishes itself.
I was hoping to see the control system formerly known as Project Natal squeeze in at under $100, but $150 still doesn't seem extravagant. Based on what Microsoft has shown thus far, it looks like they'll be trying to market their device as one with broad entertainment applications, and my guess would be that that's where they see the additional $50 value. The voice commands alone will be a quite an evolution in home entertainment controls if they work as well as they're supposed to.
Anyhow, the lines are being drawn for the holiday season collision between Kinect and Move. Pick your horses.
Do you think $149.99 is a fair price for Kinect? Do you plan on pre-ordering? Share your opinions in the comment section below.