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?
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silent136
points need to stay , thats all i use, 80 points = $1.00 , thats alot of indie games you can get. i like having points left over, it`s not that big of a deal having left over points , they add up. and i use them for map packs and add on stuff. so yeah...
sabresong
I don't have an Xbox, partly because of the points thing. It just seemed so convoluted and unnecessary to me. I think this is probably a good move, if you really can still buy prepaid cards for the Xbox, just with dollar values instead of points. As a rule, people like to know what they're spending.
But what about those people who still have points on their accounts? I'd like to think that maybe Microsoft would credit those points against the monthly subscription fee for XBL, but to be honest, the company has never been very receptive to anything that could be considered user friendly when it comes to their income. Which, really, is one of the other two reasons I use a PS3. Now, if MS did away with both the points AND the monthly subscription fee, I might be more inclined to get my son an Xbox. (But I'll still use the PS3 pretty much exclusively. It's a personal preference.)
redrumerog
DOUCHE BAG FAN BOYS, no one is saying that they're getting rid of the prepaid cards, just the points system, no wonder Microsoft is ripping everybody off, the majority of user are complete &$@*ING IDIOTS, educate yourself and shut the *&%$ up, not once was a credit card mentioned as being necessary, prepaid cards aren't going anywhere, you'll have to buy a $20 card to get $20 dollar credit on your account instead of paying $20 for 1600 points
KDollaz
I say Hooray! My only issues with the MSP system is what was mentioned above. I can't spend mircro 20pts from a 1600pts card for some sunglasses because MS wants to Suck all the money they can with 400pts costumes for avatars to look cool which were supposed to be free and 1200 or 2400 for add ons. MSP or dlc should come complimentary with Gold Subscriptions because thats alot of money to be shelling out from the start Games, Gold Subscriptions, Cheap A** Accessories that always needs replacing and freeking MSP its really to much!
zachary4959
points must die simple as that
voxin45
Cant believe so many people are upset about this lol. Okay you say you dont want to use a credit card? well alot of us use a credit card to GET our points, and im sure after the change you can still buy prepaid cards of an "X" amount from retailers like we can now. so whats the problem with that? i have a PS3 AND xbox. i will say i love my xbox and xbox live alot more than the ps network. BUT like when i buy a game from PSN for $9.99... i PAY $9.99. to get a game of similar value on XBA i cant just spend that exact amount. sometimes it works out sure. but most of the time ill be forced to buy an odd number of points leaving me with like 300 or so left over. yea i may use them later, but its kind of annoying. i think its more efficient if the game is $8 or $10 or $18.50 or $17.23 ill pay it exact and leave it at that with no purchasing of points i dont need. it would be like if you wanted to buy an $8 game on PSN but they only let you add either $5, $10, or $20 at a time. so i think its an improvement all around with no real reason to argue against it really.
voxin45
Cant believe so many people are upset about this lol. Okay you say you dont want to use a credit card? well alot of us use a credit card to GET our points, and im sure after the change you can still buy prepaid cards of an "X" amount from retailers like we can now. so whats the problem with that? i have a PS3 AND xbox. i will say i love my xbox and xbox live alot more than the ps network. BUT like when i buy a game from PSN for $9.99... i PAY $9.99. to get a game of similar value on XBA i cant just spend that exact amount. sometimes it works out sure. but most of the time ill be forced to buy an odd number of points leaving me with like 300 or so left over. yea i may use them later, but its kind of annoying. i think its more efficient if the game is $8 or $10 or $18.50 or $17.23 ill pay it exact and leave it at that with no purchasing of points i dont need. it would be like if you wanted to buy an $8 game on PSN but they only let you add either $5, $10, or $20 at a time. so i think its an improvement all around with no real reason to argue against it really.
flyguy1
i dont mind the points, but at least something that doesnt need a cheat sheet and a couple minutes of thinking to figure out a price. 100 points per dollar sounds nice.
or maybe just real prices
MasterOfWeed
You all seriously can't say that those 200 left over points were useless because I have gotten a couple of decent games with those points because they add up over time especially if you're part of Xbox Rewards. In the end MS will loose out on some money but it will be more user friendly.
Elite_Bull_
I like MS POINTS. Its easyer for me to go buy 1600 points for 19.99 then use a Credit card.
Colesl4w
An honest question to all you Xbox users. If you're using XBL, is your credit card matched up with that, to just take money out of your account to renew, or do you input your info each time you do that, or do you all go to the store to buy the pre-paid membership cards? Cause the credit card thing seems to be everybody's main concern, like you assume prepaid point cards will go away or something. I'm pretty sure that won't happen since you can get pre-paid cards for pretty much everything these days.
upbeatdown
Um... Dana Leahy, maybe you should take the time to actually do your job and report on why the points are going away instead of wasting reader's time by doing nothing but insult the points. If anything, microsoft did do it for more money and it is indeed a brilliant marketing strategy because you don't run a business to not make money. So, sorry if you feel like you've been tricked out of a few bucks. Maybe next time you can complain to microsoft's CEO so he can laugh at you.
K.RECK
the arguement about not using your credit card is complete bull, i mean look at PSN you dont need a credit card, same principle, buy a prepaid card. Just its more logical to use actual dollar amounts
ZoMbIEx23x
I don't want to see them go because I don't want to use a credit credit and it's much easier to limit my spending if I've got a set amount of points. Also I have no job. I need one.
Deathspear666
Do not know why some of these derps keep mentioning PSN and credit cards.....If you're that paranoid then get a pre-paid $20-$50 PSN card. NOBODY is telling you that you HAVE to use a credit card. As far as the MSP's go...glad that M$ is going to get smart(if rumor is true) and quit ripping people off with their point system.....
WraithMastah
I would rather the points system say for similar reasons to others. I like being able to actually buy point cards in a store with cash. Reasons being I don't have my own credit card and would rather not spend my families money <.< I have cash to pay you people with, TAKE IT!!!
MyNameIsMyName
Bing rewards get me 100 MP every 13 days, so I kind of like the points
ZombieChocobo
Its funny how everyone thinks you NEED to have Credit Card info on your profile to buy points...You can get cards as well.And about taxes...You usually have to buy more MS points than needed, anyway, so it evens out. I say good riddance to MS points. They are annoying, and are unnecessary. All they do is trick consumers in to thinking something is cheaper, when it is actually way overpriced.
400MSP does not sound like a lot, but t is actually around 4 bucks. 4 bucks for a fake, fake lightsaber?
ImpurestCrowd
Wow, just another thing MS is copying Sony over.
expl0siv0
Yes, I'm so for this. Microsoft points are my biggest beef with the 360 as it is currently. It is nothing more than a way to be nickle and dimed with every purchase you make. I won't be so dramatic as to call it "highway robbery" but I think you get what I mean when I make the comparison.
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