Confirming rumors that have been circulating for the last few months, Microsoft announced that it will be launching a new Xbox Live Rewards pilot program. Many Xbox Live users have already received emails inviting them to participate in the pilot program, which will award gamers Microsoft Points for various activities, like subscribing to Netflix or renewing an Xbox Live Gold Membership. Users will also be able to earn incentives of up to five percent of the points they spend on Xbox Live in a given month. This promotional program is slated to last for six months, and participants can begin spending their Rewards points after three months.
It will be interesting to see how this develops in the coming months. As of right now, the program is only available to those that received the email invitation from Microsoft, and those users are divided up into three tiers: Project A (the lowest tier), Project Y (the middle tier), and Project X (the highest tier), with the higher tier users being rewarded more points for a greater range of activities. Users who received the email cannot change their tier or transfer their invitation to another user.
Either way, it's good news for those of us that are looking for a little love from Microsoft for all those XBLA games we've been buying. Let's hope this pilot program is successful and quickly opened up for all Xbox Live users.
[Note: the picture at the top reflects the reward structure for Project X pilot program members]
So what do I get for 100k gamerscore?
I wonder if I can cancel Netflix then join again when Microsoft decides I'm cool enough to be in this program?
I was selected. Got the e-mail yesterday.
We'll see what happens with it.
This should be a cool little reward system for the 360. It will maybe make Microsoft get more money because people will be doing stuff like getting netflix and more XBLA games for the rewards.
Yay. Gamerscore for money! /sarcasm
I can't help but wonder if Microsoft is preparing to soften the blow of a forthcoming XBL subscription price hike.
gameinformer.com/.../news-Xbox-Live-Subscriptions-Could-Rise-To-_2400_100_2C00_-Says-Analyst.aspx
Yeah what if we've already subscribe to all their new features? are we getting backpay. Well Back-rewarded for it all?
I would hope I could get this for already doing pretty much all of that stuff already; I'd have maybe about 550 free points! It's free Rock Band songs for me :-D
I was initially excited about this until I laughed at a Kotaku comment which equated the awards to digging through your couch for spare change.
Spending $50 dollars towards renewing your Gold membership nets you $1.25? Stay classy, Microsoft.
I'm still waiting for my email (Project X).
Hm. I like this structure of rewarding people for doing things they do naturally on XBL (Marketplace purchases, NetFlix) and for continuing to subscribe.
I don't think it points at anything more than Microsoft continuing it's nigh on top notch support of Gold members. I mean seriously, Michael Pacther is a joke. I never believe a single word he says.
And for the people saying it's "not enough", you are aware that credit card companies do the same thing? Their rewards plans aren't amazing either. I mean I dropped 1 grand on a new TV on my card and didn't see a ton back in rewards, so suggesting MS should do something more than the accepted standard is insane.
I think this is a great idea, for all the people who have not discovered the world of DLC, (downloadable content)then this is the perfect program to start getting new users and old veterans to really get into the download buisiness. Our world of games is rapidly expanding and DLC is what the future of gaming holds. Developers and game designers are now finding this new medium in which they can now get us our new content and games. Its only a matter of time before we see more mainstream games go completly download only. Shadow Complex is one of those titles that has really opened the flood gates for this new, innovative way to get us gamers our content.
@John: I agree completely. However, I worry that more developers will try and package less in the game itself to try and milk gamers out of dollars with DLC.
Having said that, I also must say that it will allow companies to put out a solid game and keep supporting it after launch, something I find VERY FEW developers actually do.
i got selected as well but it was on the wrong gamer tag hahaha it was on a secondary account that is no longer active lmao. i mistakenly filled out the survey they sent me a while ago on a wrong account
I just resubscribed for a year, I already subscribe to Netflix, and I have long since made my first purchase on Marketplace.
If I get selected, I better be rewarded for those.
Microsoft giving us something for free? No wait, they're PAYING us to do something?
This can't be right.
This is just to set up a price hike!
This looks really cool to bad I didn't get invited even though I have all Microsoft made games and a 30,000 Gamerscore and had 360 since launch with live. This sux.
huh, i'll have to check my email