Really starting to despise the 'point' system in XBLA/Wii

[indecks]

The PlayStation Store has prices on their games, not 'points'. I wanted to buy Castle Crashers last night, but I couldn't because I had to get more microsoft points. 1200 points is what, 15 bucks in real money? Well, I can buy 1000 points for $13, and 500 points for $7 for a total of $20 - to purchase a $15 game. Or my other option is to spend $25 to get 2000 points.

This is really annoying. I would have bought the game but I currently don't want to spend $20 to $25 for the game. Regardless of it only being 1200 points, I still have to spend AT LEAST $20.

That's so retarded. If the game was on PSN which is inferior in nearly every way - I'd be able to PAY $15.

[RadarScope1]

Where are you located indecks? I don't recognize those point totals. Are they in Canada or Europe? In the US it's 1600 and 4000 point cards.

Does Microsoft allow you to drop your CC info into their system and purchase directly? I haven't tried it because believe it or not I kinda like the point system, but that may be an option.

I like the fact that I can spend $20 or $50 on the points, and then bank them to my account. I hang onto them until something good comes along and then I've got the spacebucks to get it. It's also a good way of controlling your spending. Putting your CC info in there means you can make impulse purchases at any time and rack up the spending. This way I have to think about if I really want something.

Sony is supposed to be introducing cards for PSN in NA next month. I just got a PS3 and I probably won't buy anything on PSN until I can use those. I'm kind of wary of putting my CC info into their systems.

[nickfil]

Does Microsoft allow you to drop your CC info into their system and purchase directly? I haven't tried it because believe it or not I kinda like the point system, but that may be an option.

nope- you still buy it in bundles of points. The only difference is that putting your CC in is like a one click shopping.
I kinda hate the points system too. I have 600 right now which doesn't really buy anything. If i add to it, i'm still going to have a weird number of them.

I guess they are banking on when the console dies, everyone will have X amount of points left. And that is just profit for them.

[indecks]

I'm in Austin Texas. On the 360 you can order 500, 1000 and 2000 point bundles (maybe even 4000, but I'd have to check again) as opposed to buying pre-paid cards. The cards are slightly better deals, I think.

[UBERTRON777]

I like it because I have Rock Band. The five dollars that are left over just go to more songs, either that or I save them up to get another game.

[Doctor Fugue]

Surprise! They want to make money, and we have to like it.

It's like old arcades that made you buy arcade coins. Normally arcade machines were 25 cents per play, but the arcade might charge 1 dollar for 3 arcade coins...you're not supposed to notice that you're being ripped off because you are still just sticking one coin in the machine! Grrr...I'm still mad about it after 15 years.

[ZenLogikos]

Well, there are two issues here, and I can explain one - the other you just have to deal with.

1. Microsoft Points are not exactly like arcades...you are not getting ripped off here. Well, actually, I can only speak to purchasing of points through the xbox, not using those prepaid cards. I'm not sure what those cost. But purchasing the points through your xbox gets you your credit penny for penny. I always buy 5000 points, which is $62.50. Since 80 points = $1, you ARE getting the exact same value, unlike those arcades Doc mentioned. You can play three games with your tokens, but four with your quarters. You are getting less for your money.

2. The second thing going on is just Microsoft - getting your money - in the first place. They're doing nothing different from used game stores. Trade in your games and get store credit. By forcing you to buy in bulk, MS is guaranteeing that you most likely spend more than you want to AT THE TIME, by rounding up to the next Point amount you can buy. This doesn't bother me at all because there will always be a future game I want, so I will eventually spend the 'extra' points I was forced to buy.

[Doctor Fugue]

Sorry, I was didn't write that clearly enough. I only meant that instead of Microsoft giving the nice round number of 100 points=1 dollar, it is less. So like in the arcades, you are unexpectedly paying more than you think (well, only if you don't really think about it). I was just trying to say that they are "hiding" the price of games in an arbitrary number of points.

They aren't actually ripping us off, just diverting our attention.

[ZenLogikos]

Yeah, true enough. I wasn't thinking about that angle.

I worked in retail...they can't fool me!!!

[otaku]

yeah I don't much like it either. I bet they do because for some reason it makes it much easier for me (and I'm sure many others) to blow all sorts of dough on games I might not otherwise. I've bought almost every rock band song and recently galaga, pinball fx, castle crashers, rez yikes! $$$