800 Microsoft Points cards hit retail
by Jason Dobson 
{ Dec 19th 2008 at 10:54PM }
It's convenient, plus gift cards remain a bastion of hope for the last minute holiday shopper. And for those who fancy video games on your lists, why not fill their stockings with digital money instead. It works just like regular money, but it's, er ... fun.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
JAmerican @ Dec 19th 2008 11:07PM
More people will buy more of these than they would a 1600 MS points card because its cheaper and they think they are spending less.
Iwa @ Dec 20th 2008 12:08AM
Probably not. I only buy the 1600MS cards when they're on sale at Target for $15.
zuburi @ Dec 20th 2008 12:47AM
If it's cheaper, you do tend to spend less...
(???)
Tiptup300 @ Dec 20th 2008 1:16AM
I actually don't think the cards get the stores any money or very very little. It'd be more of a, hey lets go to walmart to get MSpoints, what else do we need to buy?
Just happened to me recently since MS is rejecting my perfectly fine credit card. >_>
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 20th 2008 12:17PM
I love how MS manage the points here.
1500p cards (Yes 1500 not 1600) are like in the equivalent of 18$ or something and the 4500$ are like in 58$.
18$ 1500 Cards X 3 = 54$
WTH?
Probably I'll buy 2 of these instead of 1 of 1500p.One would think MS would make 4500$ cheaper and not more expensive.
Tomasooie @ Dec 20th 2008 12:35PM
Actually it is cheaper if you buy two 800 point cards instead of one 1600 point card.
You save one cent.
Jeepers Creepers 712 @ Dec 20th 2008 2:38PM
"I actually don't think the cards get the stores any money or very very little."
That's not true. Best Buy discount is cost + 5% for employees. Most $60 games come out to $51-53 dollars, so roughly an $8 mark up per game, which is $60. Break that down to $2 gain per $15 purchased.
MS points on discount are 17.80 something, so saving you $2.20 per $20 spent.
They're earning percentage wise pretty close the same profit as if you were buying a game. Cards are good (easy) money for stores, that's why places like supermarkets, 7-11, and Best Buy started selling gift cards for everything. Theaters, restaurants, video games, etc. It's basically guaranteed profit since there's no depreciation on point cards like there are on games.
I mean, name one launch game for the X360 that still sells for $60? Oh, that's right, they don't even SHELVE them anymore, let alone charge full price. 1600 MS points still costs $20 as it first did though. No loss for the store.
zuburi @ Dec 20th 2008 6:37PM
If Best Buy is only making $8 per game, something is wrong. Walmart makes around $25 per game sold (depending on the game - shitty games tend to make them more money since the publisher sells them to Walmart for less in hopes that they'll stock them).
I'm guessing you're not getting told the real cost of a game at Best Buy unless you're upper management, since that information isn't readily available.
Tephlon @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:59PM
No, Creepers is right. Having worked at a Best Buy and now with a co-worker who was ex-BestBuy management (we both left to work for the same company), the discount is absolutely "Cost + 5%". Sometimes it amounts to nothing. Sometimes (like when buying cables, for instance, it can be an 80-90% discount off retail. But it really is always Cost + 5%... no jacking around there.
But it's pretty common fact that retail stores don't make much money on media of any kind. All they have to do is make 'some' money, and get you in the store... the rest is up to pushy employee's and advertising.
Einhanderkiller @ Dec 19th 2008 11:09PM
Games for Windows?
Is there even anything to buy in the GFW Marketplace right now?
NukeAssault @ Dec 19th 2008 11:37PM
Nope, nothing but trailers and a few demos. =\
Tiptup300 @ Dec 20th 2008 1:13AM
I really hope they redesign the GFW Marketplace application, it's pure garbage. I was hoping for a Zune Marketplace type thing, very visual and snazzy, instead it's IE8 with a really sucky shell.
Obie @ Dec 19th 2008 11:30PM
We need to get "gifting" on the 360. Why am I able to give people VC games on the Wii, yet the 360 does not support this feature.
Poisoned Al @ Dec 19th 2008 11:55PM
I agree. It would be a nice feature to have. Steam does it too and I've used that service a few times now.
iofthestorm @ Dec 20th 2008 1:05AM
The effect is really cool when you get a gift too, you get a message wrapped in a ribbon thing. But on the other hand, you guys get a lot of things on your downloadables that are much better IMO. For example, I would love it if Nintendo would build netplay into their VC emulators so you could play them online, but that would make too much sense. Ah well, homebrew emulators will probably get there eventually anyway. But seriously, gifting has got to be the only thing that Nintendo's online has over XBox Live. I guess that's why I'm still primarily a PC gamer.
Tiptup300 @ Dec 20th 2008 1:11AM
They used to have the feature. It was an independent MSPoint management site. Why does microsoft always release new big websites and just dismantle them without anyone knowing?
NukeAssault @ Dec 20th 2008 1:11AM
You used to be able to... but they stopped it for reason. http://majornelson.com/archive/2007/12/23/give-the-gift-of-points.aspx
pfemm @ Dec 20th 2008 1:13AM
360 used to have an option on xbox.com that allowed you to purchase MS points for gamertags. It was ... 2 years ago maybe... my husband and I both got 2000 points or something from a friend. it was super awesome. I don't know why they stopped doing it. It would make things alot easier.
Obie @ Dec 20th 2008 8:51AM
I remember it two years ago, but it wasn't even giving to gamertags. The person needed a "Windows Live" account, either an MSN or hotmail account. So even if you knew the persons gamertag, but not their email you could not give them points.
So yeah MS, all I want to do is select a marketplace item, select a gamertag and give the item and have it deducted off my points....simple.
Desert Eagle @ Dec 20th 2008 6:47PM
You know... that actually sounds like an excellent idea. Perfect for someone like me who wants to send a good arcade game to his nephew living in Tijuana. Maybe even use your avatar to send&give the stuff you choose.
Not bad at all...
Brodo @ Dec 21st 2008 1:15AM
Holy CRAP, the wii has something that the 360 doesnt!
All hope is not lost
Joe @ Dec 19th 2008 11:36PM
Its about damn time, now I don't hate Microsoft as much for there monopolizing crimes.
Tiptup300 @ Dec 20th 2008 1:14AM
What? I'm sorry, I seem to misunderstand.
MillRecover @ Dec 19th 2008 11:38PM
ah, finally. Now I can buy points for DLC, and put another $10 toward a game.
Poisoned Al @ Dec 19th 2008 11:42PM
Ha! I remember that Simpson's episode.
Me, I'm buying Woolworths vouchers. They are great for people you don't like.
itchy @ Dec 20th 2008 5:24AM
Buy one of these as a gift and nothing can possibli go wrong... possibly go wrong. Hmmm, that's the first thing that's ever gone wrong.
grimm @ Dec 19th 2008 11:59PM
Finally, this is gonna make christmas easier and somehow i feel halloween from five years ago will be easier too, somehow
(The Award-Winning) dark_inchworm @ Dec 20th 2008 12:16AM
It's good enough when the 1600-point cards are marked down to $15... I hope to see these on sale for $5 someday. Mmm mmm mmm.
Ignatius @ Dec 20th 2008 12:33AM
I sincerely doubt they'll drop them to $5 apiece.
(The Award-Winning) dark_inchworm @ Dec 20th 2008 12:35AM
Stranger stuff has happened, without a doubt.
emotaku @ Dec 20th 2008 1:00AM
Ignatius: He's talking about retailers during sales.
Ignatius @ Dec 20th 2008 6:41PM
The only time in HISTORY that they've actually dropped cards to half their retail price is when Circuit City had a "buy one $19.99 and up accessory and get one $19.99 accessory and below free" sale. It was meant to be bundled with the Xbox 360 Elite, however, I was able to pricematch with Best Buy and get 6400 points for only $40.
Youthinized @ Dec 20th 2008 12:44AM
Coming Soon!
1200 point retail cards....
Divine Dirtclod @ Dec 20th 2008 10:58AM
Actually, 1200 MS Point cards already do exist to some degree. You can find Zune Marketplace 1200 Point cards at most retailers. The points and five by five codes work on both the XBL and Zune Marketplaces.
Ryan @ Dec 20th 2008 1:01AM
I've never understood why they don't give you more for buying in bulk.
800 can be $10
1600 can be $18
4000 can be $40
make a 12,000 pt card for $100 too.
Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Dec 20th 2008 1:55AM
Better question, if Gus is healthy, and we get to the post seez, do we play him if T Jack keeps up the good play?
Ryan @ Dec 20th 2008 2:27AM
Depends on his performance in the next two games. If he keeps this up, then yeah. But if he turns into the old Tarvaris (jump passes, running first, overthrowing deep balls), then we have to think about going back to Gus.
The 4 teams we could face would be Atlanta, Dallas, Tampa and Philly. The Falcons have a soft pass D, but the other three are stingy. I'd love to play Atlanta in the first round the most, but we'd probably have to lose on Sunday for that to happen.
As long as T-Jack stays on cruise control, we can do almost anything. Keep in mind we have had recent successes with each NFC division leader. You never know.
nsdcx @ Dec 20th 2008 3:07AM
Fuck the Vikings. 800 Microsoft Points!
Jerk Face [GT:xJERKFACEx] @ Dec 20th 2008 3:46AM
@nsd
lol
Megadanxzero @ Dec 20th 2008 8:30AM
Is that what they look like in America? Damnit, in the UK we get a bloody DVD case just for the stupid little card. And it's not even a proper DVD case, it has no place for a disk, so you can't even re-use it. Biggest waste of plastic ever...
I really hope these come over to the UK though, I'm sick of having to buy 2100/4200 points when I just want to get one thing off Live...
PeterF @ Dec 20th 2008 12:19PM
They just switched them to cards like this. They used to come in that annoying clamshell packaging that is impossible to open.
justshovejayohbe @ Dec 20th 2008 8:49AM
even for a blog specifically about gaming, this doesn't seem worthy of news at all.
F TANK @ Dec 20th 2008 9:36AM
They've already been out for well over a month...I Had to settle for 2 of those 800 point cards when Circuit City ran out of 1600 point ones for their Gears 2 promotion
Procris @ Dec 20th 2008 12:39PM
Now bring these to UK/ and Europe. I'm tired of having to buy 2100 points card because thats all thats available to us.
ChiTownRuler23 @ Dec 20th 2008 1:48PM
this would have been handy a couple months ago when i wanted to buy the map pack for COD4 i was forced to buy the 1600 point card o well ima use the rest of the points when GTA IV's DLC comes out
StarCasm, formerly known as Rastafario, formerly known as HB96st @ Dec 20th 2008 2:47PM
Now I know what to get the relatives.. Microsoft points for All!!
Rell @ Dec 20th 2008 3:22PM
Good to see.
Desert Eagle @ Dec 20th 2008 6:50PM
Yay. Now if I wasn't living in Mexico, I would be glad, but the thing is, we gamers living in the border have the option buy 1500 point card (at least in my city here). Then again, I don't buy them ever since my dad got its credit card and use it to digitally buy them.
Good move MS did though.
Yipcanjo @ Dec 20th 2008 6:59PM
I have a hard time finding Microsoft Points (Xbox or Zune) in any "brick & mortar" stores. Who normally stocks them? Why is it when I see a whole rack full of "gift cards", that I *never* see the Microsoft Points there?
Honestly... they're just difficult to find... :(
Bilbao @ Dec 21st 2008 6:25PM
Hey, is anyone else having this problem with their 360's?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STOL2_V3pEY&feature=related