According to rumors, those pesky Microsoft Points will be gone by the end of 2012. For the uninitiated, Microsoft Points are the system of virtual currency used to buy content on Xbox LIVE, Zune Marketplace, and Windows Mobile Marketplace.
The points, which do not correspond to actual money in a way that makes sense to human beings, seemingly have no purpose except to make you spend more money. If you don't know how much an actual item costs, you're more likely to fork over points for it. It's like trading tickets in at the arcade. Can you believe this bouncy ball that would only cost me fifty-cents at the store was only 12,450 tickets? SCORE! Plus, you can only purchase microsoft points in bundles, and because of Microsoft's pricing structure, you always end up buying more points than you actually need, which means more money for Microsoft and a pair of sunglasses for your avatar.
While most other app stores use dollar-to-dollar cost models (except for the Nintendo Wii, which also uses points), Microsoft has stood by their confusing and convoluted system that makes you feel like a clueless American tourist trying to figure out what 34,000 Yen equates to in US dollars so you can get a new girlfriend pillow. Now, it seems the system is so out of line with the way the rest of the industry does business, that Microsoft might actually have to price things at what they cost, and not in their archaic system of space bucks.
What do you think? Do you want to see the death of Microsoft Points?
Comments
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Hellfire87
It is not that difficult to understand the point system and how it correlates to dollar amounts. It is 80 MS points to the dollar, meaning that something that costs 800 points is $10 or something that costs 400 points is $5. The only time it gets difficult to figure out how much an item costs in dollars is when the price is some random MS point value like 498 MS points, but frankly Microsoft never allows for random point values so we never have to worry about that.
What did annoy me about the MS point system was that we always have to buy the points in packs instead of just buying the exact amount needed. There have been so many times when I had 240 points and just wanted to get another 160 points to buy a 400 point DLC but the system forced me to buy a 400 point pack. So I would prefer it if the system would allow me to buy exact MS point amounts.
shuttey
i actually like MSP there different and it gives the xbox its own special thing and any idiot can find how the currency difference 80 is a $1 so a average dlc for 800 msp would be $10 or a 1500 msp for money whores like the cod franchise would be $15.
jkhamada
Many people rely on Microsoft points to purchase games and movies on Xbox live. Xbox live is a huge problem with hackers stealing their credit card information. By removing the Microsoft points system you're creating more opportunities for hackers to steal users credit card information. With Microsoft points they will have to store their credit card and PayPal information on Xbox live, Zune, games for Windows and Windows mobile phone 7. www.dirtcheapmicrosoftpoints.c om
Microsoft Corporation has denied that the Xbox live community has been hacked. But the honest truth is that Xbox live is being hacked as we speak right now. Hackers from around the world steal Xbox live members credit card and PayPal account information and use it to purchase Microsoft points. The stolen Microsoft points are then transferred to bogus accounts where they are then sold on the black market.
Countless victims have had their credit card information stolen and charged for amounts up to $1000. Typically the hacker will sell the fraudulent Microsoft points within 24 hours before the credit card company can catch up with the fraudsters. By then the Microsoft points and spent by the new owners, who typically have no clue that the Microsoft points are stolen.
Microsoft Corporation plans to discontinue the Microsoft point currency system at the end of the year. If Microsoft cancels the currency system then users will be forced to their credit card information online which is susceptible to theft. For more information visit www.dirtcheapmicrosoftpoints.c om
jkhamada
Many people rely on Microsoft points to purchase games and movies on Xbox live. Xbox live is a huge problem with hackers stealing their credit card information. By removing the Microsoft points system you're creating more opportunities for hackers to steal users credit card information. With Microsoft points they will have to store their credit card and PayPal information on Xbox live, Zune, games for Windows and Windows mobile phone 7. www.dirtcheapmicrosoftpoints.c om
Microsoft Corporation has denied that the Xbox live community has been hacked. But the honest truth is that Xbox live is being hacked as we speak right now. Hackers from around the world steal Xbox live members credit card and PayPal account information and use it to purchase Microsoft points. The stolen Microsoft points are then transferred to bogus accounts where they are then sold on the black market.
Countless victims have had their credit card information stolen and charged for amounts up to $1000. Typically the hacker will sell the fraudulent Microsoft points within 24 hours before the credit card company can catch up with the fraudsters. By then the Microsoft points and spent by the new owners, who typically have no clue that the Microsoft points are stolen.
Microsoft Corporation plans to discontinue the Microsoft point currency system at the end of the year. If Microsoft cancels the currency system then users will be forced to their credit card information online which is susceptible to theft. For more information visit www.dirtcheapmicrosoftpoints.c om
NortheastMonk
With MS you pay the extra tax with the Gold membership.. I'd rather buy classic PSOne games for 6.something and get free online with the "choice" to get games cheaper with PS Plus.
ArtikChill
I love how most don't understand that 80pts = $1 it's really simple math. I would rather have the point system over the dollar system for a few reasons.
The biggest one being tax. On the PSN where they have the dollar system they charge you tax, where when I purchase the points of XBL I am not charged tax. So buying a $5 game or (400pts) PS is actually making more money off of you then MS is. So for you uninformed fanboys and trolls posting MS doesn't make more off of you by using a point system.
Next was just in the gaming new recently about how pricing. Just recently we saw how the point system actually works in out favor with the game Amy. PS had to wait a week so that they weren't charged more then MS. Yes it was only a week but overall it showed how the points system can really work out. Go read some articles on it if you want more info.
Lastly it helps a lot of over seas gamers that I know. Especially users who have strict bans or overpriced retail games like Australia and other Islands. I have a friend who just plays arcade games because they aren't $80+ a pop compared to our $60.
RoyaltyGamer
Fantastic news !! Those points are so annoying.
G. Callen
Does this mean no acheivement points? PLEASE SAY IT AIN'T SO!
If that is the case my 360 will be like an XBOX and nothing more(other tha the usual stuff.
Norski1020
About time!
rocketwolf
I like the points system, or what I think to say I like what I can do with the points system. I may buy in bulk and have left over points, but they add up very quickly like putting your spare change in a jar. I usually end up finding an indie game I like to spend them on or I hop over to the Zune Marketplace and buy music, extra purchases I don't think I'd make and enjoy if I were paying EXACTLY what it's worth each time
LAWlessEYE
...i know some people already know this but............its freaking simple and never changes
80 ms points======$1.00 (Canada and the US its all the same not sure about other places)
so its really easy to know how much stuff costs ...and normally everything i set at 800($10.00) and 1200($15.00)... and its good in the way they cant really pull the .99 cents thing to rip you off...and they cant "charge" taxes cuz you are paying points... and as for left over points, unless you have payed like 80 billion dollars to them already by getting EVERY thing on xbox live...there is always something to get/ save up for
its not the best, system its not, the end all be all but i like it better than iTunes where you like ya $.99 a song... then they add tax and other hidden fees and hike the cost
Anakin-Vincent-Maximus
What they can do is give you options on how to pay, whether by real money or by MS Points. For someone who doesn't live in the US and doesn't believe in having a credit card, it is much easier to just buy the prepaid MS Points card and purchase items/DLC/games
Infinius
I don't get the Microsoft Points confusion. Each point is worth $0.0125.
400 points = US$5
800 points = US$10
...and so on.
duvie07
This is way past due.
sinder66677
I would kinda like to know how much items actually are, Not that I buy a whole lot of points. So I dont mind and kinda prefer it
ScrappedHeap
If they are getting rid of the points system does this mean they are going to allow microtransactions for all content?
UnwaveringLogic
Honestly, as convoluted as they may be, I actually do like, though perhaps it's because they make me feel better about spending stupid amounts of money on various DLC content and XBLA games( and regrettably avatar outfits as well).
UnwaveringLogic
Honestly, as convoluted as they may be, I actually do like, though perhaps it's because they make me feel better about spending stupid amounts of money on various DLC content and XBLA games( and regrettably avatar outfits as well).
silent_deadly_6
Glad to see MS saw having this system was retarded and that using real money made more sense
Apache_Pieman
Honestly, i always get pre-paid cards, so as long as they stay i'm indifferent to the point system, i hardly buy much DLC anyway. However it would be nice to see them go; I'd rather know how much DLC really costs instead of this tom foolery point system, I'd just like to see MS pull this off well, there's lots of ways this idea could have a rocky start and potentially fail. Guess we'll wait and see.
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