Microsoft unleashes 4000-point Marketplace cards
by Ross Miller 
{ Apr 9th 2007 at 8:57PM }
With the upgrade of the Xbox 360 hard drive comes an upgrade to the retail marketplace card as well. Not content having a 1600-point-per-card cap, Microsoft has created a card worth 4000 points now available online at Circuit City.The card will retail for $49.99 -- since 4000 MS points converts to US $50, that's like savings of a whole penny! (And additional fees of sales tax and / or shipping, where applicable.) We're still of the opinion that the most convenient and cost-effective conversion of dollars-to-MS points is a funds purchase via Xbox Live Marketplace itself, we understand the need for these cards as gifts or for youngsters given a (in this case, rather steep) allowance to satiate their online needs.
[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ultran @ Apr 9th 2007 9:12PM
for guitar hero.
Thomas @ Apr 9th 2007 9:13PM
This is exactly what I need! OMG. Can you believe it only 49.99 USD for 4000 MS Points. Actually, speaking of cards and microtransactions, wheres Sony's cards for PSN?
Yuccadude @ Apr 9th 2007 9:22PM
Sorry, Sony doesn't have cards, they have a bucket:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/03/02
Enjoy!
Thomas @ Apr 9th 2007 9:25PM
haha nice. No, but really how hard is it to make a card? Im sure Sony can make one, it may take some effort though...
Ian Von Porter @ Apr 9th 2007 9:27PM
In the real world, people use money. You know, Euros, dollars, cents, etc.. wtf are points?
Judd @ Apr 9th 2007 9:35PM
Hey M$, 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.
ComradeTrotskii @ Apr 9th 2007 9:39PM
"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.
Mike @ Apr 9th 2007 9:40PM
"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.
dsub @ Apr 9th 2007 10:15PM
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.
driven2sin @ Apr 9th 2007 11:48PM
so you pay sales tax when you buy money?
Dave @ Apr 10th 2007 1:46AM
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!
Petrie @ Apr 10th 2007 1:13AM
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.
mnemo @ Apr 10th 2007 3:13AM
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.
Adam @ Apr 10th 2007 6:49AM
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.
Jason @ Apr 10th 2007 7:15AM
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.
Viridium @ Apr 10th 2007 8:49AM
"1600-point-per-card cap"
We've had 2800 point cards in Canada for a while now.
hoos30 @ Apr 10th 2007 9:16AM
4000 point card = Birthday present
stick_man @ Apr 10th 2007 1:31PM
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.
187 @ Apr 20th 2007 2:23PM
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.