Microsoft spends $500m on Kinect's "most-integrated" marketing

According to reports Microsoft is shelling out half a billion dollars in keeping Kinect in our thoughts, including ad deals with Disney and Nickelodeon.

There’s a jumbo launch planned in New York’s Times Square with 7,000 US stores opening midnight for November 4th’s release of Kinect.

”Kinect is the largest, most integrated marketing initiative in Xbox history, bigger than its launch,” said Xbox’s Robert Matthews, general manager of global marketing communications. ”We are going to be spending millions to launch this globally.”

The marketing campaign includes ad deals with Burger King, around 400m cans of Pepsi and Diet Pepsi will feature Kinect, alongside 60m Kellogg’s cereals and snack boxes reports the New York Post. 7000 stores will be opening midnight for the US launch.

YouTube’s homepage will be dominated by Kinect, with a large presence felt on Nickelodeon and Disney digital properties. TV spots have been earmarked during ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and Fox’s Glee. They also have magazine ads in motion.

Microsoft is expecting to shift 3m Kinect units before we reached 2011. Sony’s PlayStation Move managed to sell 1.5m units its first month in Europe. Will Microsoft’s mighty wallet help them achieve their Kinect goal for this holiday?