Microsoft unleashes 4000-point Marketplace cards

for guitar hero.

This is exactly what I need! OMG. Can you believe it only 49.99 USD for 4000 MS Points. Actually, speaking of cards and microtransactions, wheres Sony's cards for PSN?

Sorry, Sony doesn't have cards, they have a bucket:

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/03/02

Enjoy!

haha nice. No, but really how hard is it to make a card? Im sure Sony can make one, it may take some effort though...

In the real world, people use money. You know, Euros, dollars, cents, etc.. wtf are points?

Hey M$, you guys ever heard of buying in bulk? Why would I buy a $50 card if I can just spend $10 whenever I need more points. I'd rather waste the extra minute to buy more points when I need it, then take a chance and spend 5 times as much money then I need to. This goes for the Wii as well. 10 for 1,000 points or 50 for 5,000 points. Seriously, where is the incentive?

Let's say the 800 MS points($10) and 1,000 Wii point($10) are your basic choices. How about 1600 points for $18 and 2400 points for $25? Or 2000 Wii points for $18 and 3000 for $25. Nintendo and Microsoft are only losing out on $5 but they convinced their buyers to spend $15.

These are fairly basic business practices. Whether you're buying toilet paper from Costco, or weed from a street corner, everyone knows you're supposed to save money from buying in bulk.

"In the real world, people use money. You know, Euros, dollars, cents, etc.. wtf are points?"

Just you wait. First the PC software market, now the home console business, soon the world. In space year 2032 we will all be using Microsoft Points as our global currency.

"In the real world, people use money. You know, Euros, dollars, cents, etc.. wtf are points?"

Something Microsoft got rolling before the mafia could think of it.

In my opinion, the MS points should be priced like the XBL subscriptions. The more you buy at once, the more you save. If they must use a point system, there needs to be some kind of incentive to it.

so you pay sales tax when you buy money?

I hate points systems. I'm only familiar with the Wii Points, but I'm sure they're all similar. You can only buy at least 1000 at a time, but most games are 500-800. So if you want to buy two games from 800, you need to buy 2000 total. Then you have 400 left over, which isn't even enough for the cheapest game (500)! So if you want a 500 game after that, you need to spend another 1000!

I always buy the cards rather than buying points online. I can use the Best Buy Gamer Gift Card coupon and get the 1600 cards for $15, and various other deals available. I have never paid more than 75% for my points.

Here in Germany you can get the cards at a discount at some online shops, so the exact conversion rate does not apply. It's sometimes cheaper to get a card than to buy it directly on Marketplace.

Here in UK you can buy 2000 direct from microsoft for £17, and buy online with shipping 2100 for £16.99.

For some reason :/ So i just buy from online (play.com) because i get a free dvd case that way too.

These cards are in the B&M Circuit City stores now as well. I got one last week. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before the cards get to BB, Gamestop, etc.

"1600-point-per-card cap"

We've had 2800 point cards in Canada for a while now.

4000 point card = Birthday present

just as long as I can sell them on the street corner for .50 on the dollar... Vodka in a paper sack is far more important.

I agree with Petrie. While I can't argue about the convenience of buying the points through the console, the cost-effectiveness is not there. If you look for discounts, you can actually spend much less money for the same amount of points. For instance, late last year buy.com was offering $20 off a purchase of $50 or more. So I bought 3 1600 point cards ($20) and essentially got one free. My 4800 points cost me a little over $40, but buying them through Marketplace would have cost me $60.