Games
So the big E3 gaming convention is going on today, with Microsoft set to reveal tons of Xbox goodness. It may not be a coincidence then to see Xbox Live Extras get updated today to v1.6 with a significant addition, namely the ability to buy and change your avatar's appearance within the app itself.
As you can see from the image above, you can now change your avatar and purchase new items from the Marketplace (using MS Points)--this is quite the update and nearly completes the Xbox LIVE experience on the phone. The ability to use MS Points is interesting only because we're expecting the usage of actual money and MS Points to overlap, eventually, in the Marketplace as an option for purchases--perhaps this is the first sign?
Finally, we can't help but notice the usual speed-tweaks, making the app a bit zippier than before (though perhaps that's placebo). We've reached out to Microsoft for an exact change-log, so expect an update to the post later on.
You can grab Xbox LIVE Extras for free in the Marketplace here.
Comments
How does one obtain MS points.
You can go to Xbox.com and purchase them from there..... Or if you buy a prepaid card, then go to Xbox.com sign in your LIVE id, then mouse over my Xbox (Don't click it just mouse over it) then click redeem code then you can type in the code off the back of the Points card.
Sorry for asking questions, but XBOX.com is blocked at work. How does one do conversion of MS points. It says 320c, which I'm assuming means MS points. Is a conversion tool available there too?
80 MS Points equals one US dollar. So, 320 MSP would be $4.00 US.
I believe there is a microsoft point conversion app in the WP7 app store. Just look up Microsoft points and the app will show up.
I just purchased a Super Street Fighter 4 T-shirt to try it. Works perfectly, and even gives you a code option in case you have a code!!
Just got the GoW gold gun. But what a tedious **** process. Sheesh.
Great, now Microsoft wants to nickle and dime us to death on our phones as well. It was bad enough on the Xbox. Greed, all it is, is corporate greed.
Oh stop it. It's capitalism. Saying "corporate greed" about a consumer electronics platform is a little trite, no?People buy this stuff or like altering their avatar--deal with it and stop being so cynical. While I have only "bought" one avatar item, the rest I received for free when playing my Xbox e.g. Portal 2 gives you t-shirts, a hat and the portal gun for your avatar."Nickel and dime" implies that this is mandatory fees, not an optional purchase, which this is. As avatars become more prevalent in the MS ecosystem, altering them, like your Facebook status, is popular.
dont like it don't buy it.I don't. Def not going to buy money for Ms points. fools will remain fools.money easily parted
I just bought a wristband for my avatar - most pointless purchase ever! :-)And it definitely faster to launch now.P.S. I've never tried it with 1.5 - did avatar fall down when you shake the phone before?
Yeah, the falling has been there after the first update to Extras.
Bwhahahaha, didn't know the avatar fell when you shake the phone. It's the little things!
I really hope this indicates that we will be able to use MS points to download games and apps in the not too distant future. I hate seeing my points balance on my account when I log into the Zune software only to have it laugh in my face because I can't use them for games on my WP7.
What's the purpose of MS points? Seems like another step that has been added just for **** of it.
Buying with MS points allows you to avoid paying sales tax. Buy a 1600 points card at Best Buy and the price is exactly $20. Use said points to buy a game for $10, exactly 800 MS points deducted. No taxes charged.
Even better buy from Amazon, slightly cheaper (sometimes) and no need to step out of your house. Or add a paypal accout to your Live account, buy points then remove.
MS points are designed, in part, to make sure you don't know how much you're spending, hence the 4:5 ratio to dollars. I'd be fine with them without this.Only addition I've ever purchased was a $1.50 eyepatch that, honestly, was well worth the money. Unfortunately it isn't licensed to work on the phone, so no eyepatch in XBL Extras.XBL Extras is pointless for me, anyway. I don't game with friends so I don't need to see who's online (not that we can play with them in any games on this phone yet, can we?) and I also therefore never get messages. The only other features are more useful on the 360 itself. If I did game more regularly with people I'd love it, but none of my real life friends do any gaming off of my couch.
Actually, the reason for MS Points was to have a "universal currency" in the Xbox Marketplace world-wide instead of having conversion factors everywhere--at least that's MS's position on the matter.
Yes, it's their position, but there's no denying they chose the odd conversion rate in their biggest market to obfuscate amounts. No different than going to Dave & Busters and having to buy a points card that takes away the concept of how many quarters you're spending on Time Crisis 2.