As we get closer to the all-in play on the launch of Kinect, we are now finding out more about Microsoft’s plans for the launch of the device. The first big news is that Microsoft has now officially confirmed that Kinect will launch in North America with 17 titles right out of the gate. This number is significant, as the original launch of the Xbox 360 only featured 18 titles.

The majority of the titles are pretty much the same titles we have been hearing about all along, and there are no real surprises here to talk about. The titles are as follows:

Kinect Adventures - Will be the pack-in title included in the box
Kinectimals - A Limited Edition version will be available as well
Game Party: In Motion
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 The Videogame - Offers Kinect support
Your Shape: Fitness Evolved
Dance Central
The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout
DanceMasters
EA Sports Active 2 - includes a heart rate monitor
Zumba Fitness
Kinect Sports
MotionSports
DECA Sports Freedom
Kinect Joy Ride
Adrenalin Misfits
Fighters Uncaged
Sonic Free Riders

The majority of the titles will retail for $49.95 USD, but Kinectimals Limited Edition will be $59.99 USD, and EA Sports Active 2 will retail for $99.95. One title will be less than the $49.95 price, which is Game Party: In Motion; it will go for only $39.99, so expect this one to be a popular purchase on launch day as people try to maximize the number of titles they can afford.

As we also told you about, in addition to the $149 Kinect add-on package, two versions of the console with Kinect will be offered, which are the Xbox 360 with 4GB of on-board Flash for $299 and the Xbox 360 with the 250GB hard drive for $399. From what we hear, numbers of the consoles available on launch date are expected to be a bit limited, but should ramp up as we enter the holiday season.

Microsoft is committing almost a half a billion (Yes, that is billion with a “b”) dollars to the marketing and promotion of Kinect. Yes, those are some heavy advertising dollars, for sure. Microsoft has a number of marketing co-promotions as well, including a number of Burger King games for Kinect that are in the pipeline.

Microsoft has a lot riding on Kinect and they seem positive that they will be able to sell people on it. The company is expecting it to sell well this holiday season, and the latest we hear seems to indicate that they expect to move at least 3 million units this holiday season, and they would not be surprised if the number went higher. It all remains to be seen.