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Microsoft shows off Xbox Live Rewards program

Microsoft has announced the launch of the Xbox Live Rewards program, giving regular gamers free points "just for doing the stuff Xbox Live members do all the time."

Users can earn free points for renewing Gold subscriptions and can receive rewards whenever they spend in the Marketplace.



A one-month Gold renewal will get users 10 MS points ($0.125 USD) with a cap at 60 MS points. Three month renewals have the same cap and will net you 30 points. The big "winner" is the 12-month renewal, at 250 points and no cap.

Gold and Silver subscribers can also get points for their Marketplace purchases, with users getting 100 MS points for their first purchase. Gold users who continue to use the market will receive monthly discounts off their purchases. 1 percent for the first month, 2 for the second, and so forth until 5 percent.

Finally, users can receive 100 MS points for answering surveys.

It is still unclear how and when you can sign up, however.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 4 Nov 2009 17:11

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• 13 comments

• mike.m

  How about the people, like myself, that have spent at least over 3000+ points in the past few years? Do we get anything for this? Because I'm not planning on buying anymore points for a very long time. We pay $60+ for a game, $60+ to play online for a year, then have to shell out even more just to play some of the modes/maps of the game online. 250 points doesn't even cover half of the cost of most maps/add-ons.

  4.11.2009 17:19 #1

• SomeBozo

  Originally posted by mike.m: How about the people, like myself, that have spent at least over 3000+ points in the past few years? Do we get anything for this? Because I'm not planning on buying anymore points for a very long time. We pay $60+ for a game, $60+ to play online for a year, then have to shell out even more just to play some of the modes/maps of the game online. 250 points doesn't even cover half of the cost of most maps/add-ons.Well Majorshaft isn't rich because they give you stuff for free.

  4.11.2009 19:24 #2

• Morreale

  Oh, how generous. This has to be the greatest thing since the ShamWow.

  4.11.2009 19:49 #3

• stuntman_

  so lets drive sales by giving away tiny portions of ms points that won't get you half of anything, I am not buying into this. Whoever spends more money just for the so called free points is an idiot. If you were planning on buying something anyways and you get some free points extra more power to you. But this is just a stupid way for them to make money off of idiots who already waste money on their stupid services....I wish most of my friends had PS3's instead of 360's

  4.11.2009 20:38 #4

• scorpNZ

  fly buys card anyone..lol..for those not familiar fly buys is a subscription based points scheme pretty much what ms is mentioning,tho it's on selected products,spend x amount & get a measly amount of points,i tried it out for a year waste of money the sub was $10.00 that's about the amount of points i earned in a year,needless to say i cancelled...lol..might be alright with ms points i spose so long as it's accumulative & not wiped if points don't get spent in 1 year like the fly buy crap
  
  https://www.flybuys.co.nz/pages/default.aspx

  4.11.2009 22:02 #5

• KillerBug

  I think this is just microsoft's way of saying "We charge you $60 a year for something that should be free, so here are some credits that cost us nothing to make and will not get you anything"

  4.11.2009 23:05 #6

• SomeBozo

  Originally posted by KillerBug: I think this is just microsoft's way of saying "We charge you $60 a year for something that should be free, so here are some credits that cost us nothing to make and will not get you anything"I agree, i consider the the need for "Live" stupid.. It should be free, considering you bought the console, plus the game, you would think there is already some margin for the live service. Besides it seems Live to MajorShaft to be a fixed cost for the most part. Develop the infostructure, the hardware, and after that the cost shouldn't be that much.
  
  In contrast if we all get a PC game, we can play free over our internet connections, and no monthly/yearly fees for most games.

  5.11.2009 00:58 #7

• KillerBug

  Quote:
  In contrast if we all get a PC game, we can play free over our internet connections, and no monthly/yearly fees for most games.Same for PS3 & PSP. 360 is the only platform that charges a monthly/yearly fee to go online through your own internet connection. This shouldn't be a suprise from a company that has bribed content providers like NetFlix and Rockstar Games to not release content on the PS3, despite the fact that either could easily by converted to the PS3, resulting in almost pure profit. Microsoft has clearly demonstrated that they will not even pay lipservice to the laws of their own country (antitrust)...if they won't even pretend to follow the law, why would you think they would act in an honorable way?

  5.11.2009 04:53 #8

• fgamer

  Microsoft is a joke. This rewards program makes me laugh, it should be more like buy 4 get 1 of the same of equal value for free. That's a good reward system. Or how about, spend 3200 points and get 400 back? That's a rewards system. And the points you get for renewing your membership is laughable too and the points are capped at that?? How about if you renew your membership for 1 month you'll get an additional 48hours added..and if you renew it for 3 months you'll get 1 month additional or if you renew it for a year you'll get two months additional. Microsoft is the only company that acts poor when surely that's not the case. I prefer them not to introduce any rewards if the damn points is just gonna sit there and never be used...oh wait that's the gimmick right? Microsoft will one day regret the way they try and shaft the gold members who like me are already paying for half the stuff that should be free as it is. Microsoft isn't guaranteed a success with their next console..and hell the PS3 is already gaining ground even though it sucks. OK rant over!

  5.11.2009 06:32 #9

• huskiefan

  Originally posted by mike.m: How about the people, like myself, that have spent at least over 3000+ points in the past few years? Do we get anything for this? Because I'm not planning on buying anymore points for a very long time. We pay $60+ for a game, $60+ to play online for a year, then have to shell out even more just to play some of the modes/maps of the game online. 250 points doesn't even cover half of the cost of most maps/add-ons. I know it's so stupid i mean every single time you want to play a new map it's like money coming out of your pocket but there "mircosoft Points" some people might say but it's actually money out of you pocket like 1.00 a map it's stupid

  5.11.2009 09:04 #10

• TBandit

  yep packin up the XpesivBox360 and just moving the ps3 and pc till they quit chargin so much for there asseccories and services funny how the ps3 sucks but grains ground right? =D

  5.11.2009 11:39 #11

• ZippyDSM

  More points....why not give everyone whos paying for live 50$ worth of points a year, I mean come on it made up money and it at least makes it so live is kinda free.....without making it so....

  5.11.2009 13:25 #12

• prikit1234 (unverified)

  Content removed for violation of forum rules

  18.1.2011 04:53 #13