The Xbox 360 dashboard update reportedly due in late October may dispense with Microsoft's long-running Microsoft Points currency, if recent moves on the Windows 8 front are any indication.
The Verge notes that real-money purchases can now be made on prototype versions of Windows 8's Xbox Video store - previous Windows 8 betas have used the points system.
New Xbox 360 dashboard features known to be in the works include a console version of Internet Explorer, the streaming Xbox Music service, and user recommendations and ratings. The manufacturer threw open another round of beta testing in August.
Certain OXM forumites are known to be among the testers. Anything to disclose that isn't covered by a non-disclosure agreement, chaps and chapettes?
15 comments so far...
unabatedshagie on 8 Oct '12 said:
Hopefully, fed up spending more than I need to in order to get a game etc and then having points left sitting afterwards.
I should only pay for what I spend.
I know why they do it as they expect people to spend these spare points on avatar items or other small things.
Cokney Charmer on 8 Oct '12 said:
The NDA that governs the Fall Dashboard Beta pretty much prevents discussion of anything seen on it..but every week we have to download the latest version of the Dashboard again, currently everything still in MSP
Personally I think a move that will phase out the MSP system is a mistake, Its the ultimate in protection being able to buy prepaid points card to add to your account to use on various features from DLC to avatar gear to renting music or movies
To make it real time cash tranactions only by credit card is a mistake, and one I dont like. I like the freedom of just buying a MSP prepaid card on a sale if I see it, I like being able to "top up" my MSP balance if I know there is DLC I want for a game coming up. I like being able to gift pre-paid cards to friends for example on birthdays and Xmas as stocking fillers
Using real money I think is a mistake, I can subscribe to Gold without using a debit or credit card, I can buy additional content without using my debit or credit card.....to be forced to do so going forward would really put me off in all honesty, its a level of protection I have enjoyed for years and will only encourage more attempts to "hijack" accounts to get access to payment options held on an account
Hadouken545 on 8 Oct '12 said:
I am a part of the beta. From what I've seen it's still points for now. Though there does seem to be an update every couple of days so maybe they'll throw it out there soon. What I'd like to know is will they convert all currently banked points into £'s or would we have to spend them before then?
RyanGowran on 8 Oct '12 said:
This basically means everything will get much more expensive then coz these we sheifters are totally gonna round their shit up to the nearest pound up or to the nearest 99p atleast
also xbox is getting shit with all the down time so im on the verge of going to the dark side and get a PS3
Lazarus22nd on 8 Oct '12 said:
They can still have prepaid cards, like everyone else does for these systems, so wont necessarily be forced to use a debit/credit card through the system.
moses2kay9 on 8 Oct '12 said:
So what's gonna happen to Xbox Rewards? Will there be an extra currency for Reward points being given out, or will they just give money? I hope they don't just discard the system, I really am starting to like it
Captain_Chao5 on 8 Oct '12 said:
Hmm...would be a shame if they get rid of Rewards. I've been using it for some time now.
delmariachi on 8 Oct '12 said:
So Happy Wars which was Beta only is launching this week according to this article and yet you lot are still saying that the Dash is at the end of the month?
Surely its coming at the same time, isn't it?
SOURCE:
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/free-to- ... rs/0104112
Branhelm on 8 Oct '12 said:
i hope if they do change MP to £'s they convert peoples existing MP into money, otherwise that will anger anybody with left over MP, possibly resulting in the idea failing not long after it changes.
msbhvn on 8 Oct '12 said:
It's a bit late to drop MS points on the 360, why not just move to iTunes-like pre-paid cards that redeem for MS points on 360 or cash on Windows 8? That's what Nintendo did with the Wii and 3DS.
Whatcat on 8 Oct '12 said:
Yeah... I'm getting tired of download an update EVERY single week. some of them are HUGE! IE is getting updates like twice a week. But then again.. thats what you get when you are part of a beta!
Whatcat on 8 Oct '12 said:
No one ever plays this game on-line! seriously! i want to be able to explore the multi-player features of this game, and since i downloaded the pre-relase beta not one person has been on-line!
Thos. on 8 Oct '12 said:
There would have to be a pretty big advantage for them to do this.
The way the system currently operates is that everyone who has ever bought a game has paid Microsoft more money than the cost of their purchases. That extra money is all sitting in a bank account somewhere.
If Xbox have 25 million users with an average of $5 each in unused MSPs, that's $125 million of loose change.
CrispiestSavage on 8 Oct '12 said:
i only buy games on disc. then its mine cos a downloaded game dont belong to the consumer. read the small print its in there. and what about trade in oh hang on you cant.
Decent_Jam on 9 Oct '12 said:
It makes a lot of sense to me, and definitely seems more 'grown up'. I suspect if they want to be consistent it will happen, makes sense to trial it on the last few months of the 360 before they launch it on their new console - just to make sure everyone has got the message. They will keep MS points valid for the time being and then make the points cards obsolete when Gertrude joins us.
Just my tuppence.
As for the beta...the first rule of the beta is that we don't talk about the beta...(but it's interesting)