AfterDawn: News

Microsoft to move away from Points to regular cash?

Microsoft has begun moving away from the controversial Microsoft Points payment system, moving instead to good old cash.

For services like XBL and also in Windows 8 betas, customers have been forced to pay in Points, which almost always left scraps of points left that are unusable because they are so low or oddly numbered.



One dollar of real money has equated to about 80 Microsoft Points, and users could not use a credit card to pay, instead having to buy Points first.

The new changes are for Windows 8 and the way customers purchase or rent videos and music, and will allow credit cards and other cash payment types. You can still use Points if you have them, however.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 8 Oct 2012 12:51

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• 5 comments

• phobet

  I think this is a good thing. Forcing you to pay with "points" you have to purchase is a way for the vendor to disconnect the customer from the true cost of anything you buy. It's like casinos and their chips. You have to buy chips to play any of the games. Even though the chips have a 1-to-1 value measured against cash, the disconnect here is that it doesn't seem like real money, so you tend to spend more of them while you play. After all, how many people go to the store, and pay with chips?
  

  14.10.2012 22:12 #1

• ddp

  i eat chips after i go to the store.
  

  14.10.2012 22:14 #2

• phobet

  Originally posted by ddp: i eat chips after i go to the store. Nom! Nom! Nom!
  

  14.10.2012 23:50 #3

• JOHNSTARR

  Actually this would kinda suck if they discontinued the points cards down the line because those that are good at price shopping get them well below the retail value.
  

  No time for Leap frog!!!

  15.10.2012 07:12 #4

• xboxdvl2

  Originally posted by JOHNSTARR: Actually this would kinda suck if they discontinued the points cards down the line because those that are good at price shopping get them well below the retail value. from what ive heard the chinese already exploit the points system on an international scale.
  

  R.I.P. mr 1990 ford falcon.got myself a 1993 toyota corolla seems to run good.computers still going good.

  16.10.2012 13:12 #5