TheEmissary wrote on Jan 24, 2012, 19:24:Bingo. You don't need to use points to have a wallet system. Points are just another (inferior) currency; wallets can be loaded with USD instead.Comet wrote on Jan 24, 2012, 14:57:
Here is the thing. MS points allowed me to charge my child account with a fixed number of MS points. My child could waste those MS points on whatever he wanted. Now if he wants to buy a freaking DLC or anything like that I will have to do it.
This makes no sense. After all consoles are also TOYS. Thanks Microsoft for getting us used to a system and then turning it upside down.
Anyway. If people would rather input their CC information over and over again or not use the MS points system they could add that option.
I see no advantage on closing the MS points system.
I am pretty sure they will have a Wallet to load the account with a set amount of money. Steam does this and doesn't have to resort to a point system. The real reason they are getting away from points is because of the upcoming Windows 8 Tablets and the windows appstore. No one on serious computing devices is going to want to buy points to buy software.
Another question is why doesn't Microsoft implement game gifting through the live marketplace so you don't have kids dealing with money.
Kahanamoku wrote on Jan 24, 2012, 19:37:
So I'm a$$uming they will move to a model similar to iTunes? $0.80 for something in america, and sell it also for $17.00 in Australia
Comet wrote on Jan 24, 2012, 14:57:
Here is the thing. MS points allowed me to charge my child account with a fixed number of MS points. My child could waste those MS points on whatever he wanted. Now if he wants to buy a freaking DLC or anything like that I will have to do it.
This makes no sense. After all consoles are also TOYS. Thanks Microsoft for getting us used to a system and then turning it upside down.
Anyway. If people would rather input their CC information over and over again or not use the MS points system they could add that option.
I see no advantage on closing the MS points system.
Enahs wrote on Jan 24, 2012, 11:16:
I am not sure they should change it. It was a smart financial decision for them to do that, ignoring anybody that might avoid the system because of the points. And it is now an even better financial decision with the changes and fees in the banking system.
Lets explain why.
Every transaction that is made via a CC or debit card, the bank(s) charage a fee. Lets pretend it is just 10 cents. So, if Microsoft were to charge $1 for a song, they lose 10% of the revenue from that purchase. Do that millions of times a day/week/etc, it adds up quickly.
Now, lets say you buy $10 worth of 'points', the banking fee is per transaction. Microsoft has now only lost 1% of revenue on that same transaction.
As you can imagine, this can QUICKLY add up to millions of dollars lost if you are doing a lot of business.
With the recent dramatic increases in fees for CC/Debit card transactions; this points system is even a bigger savings boom. Why throw it away now?
Beamer wrote on Jan 24, 2012, 11:39:Yeah, I would want an extra layer of passwording or something. I hope for those of us with a bunch of stockpiled points they'll still accept them (kinda like they do now for buying games on demand even though they prefer dollars) even if they stop offering them.
Plus it gets back to how annoyed I am that Microsoft forces me to store a credit card when I'd much, much prefer to just re-enter the information every time so no one can buy $100 worth of crap on my account if they gain access to it.
J wrote on Jan 24, 2012, 11:35:
Whilst you have some good 'points' (rimshot!) about MS points, the main issue I had - and I doubt I'm alone in this - was that I'd end up with leftover points if I were to purchase something. It's like having to pay ten for something that's worth nine.
If a company wants me to jump through extra hoops, they need to make it worthwhile somehow. If I have to put in extra energy and money to get something that I could happily get elsewhere - why would I want to do that?
Enahs wrote on Jan 24, 2012, 11:16:
I am not sure they should change it. It was a smart financial decision for them to do that, ignoring anybody that might avoid the system because of the points. And it is now an even better financial decision with the changes and fees in the banking system.
Lets explain why.
Every transaction that is made via a CC or debit card, the bank(s) charage a fee. Lets pretend it is just 10 cents. So, if Microsoft were to charge $1 for a song, they lose 10% of the revenue from that purchase. Do that millions of times a day/week/etc, it adds up quickly.
Now, lets say you buy $10 worth of 'points', the banking fee is per transaction. Microsoft has now only lost 1% of revenue on that same transaction.
As you can imagine, this can QUICKLY add up to millions of dollars lost if you are doing a lot of business.
With the recent dramatic increases in fees for CC/Debit card transactions; this points system is even a bigger savings boom. Why throw it away now?
Lobster wrote on Jan 24, 2012, 10:00:
Optimist: Microsoft finally decided to listen to the customers.
Pessimist: Microsoft wants to launch a product that is incompatible with MS points for technical or legal reasons.