Rewards coming for Xbox 360 achievements?

  • By TimSpot, GameSpot
  • Posted Jan 29, 2007 1:39 pm PT

Source: Xbox fan site Unscripted 360, which picked up on a "partially torn document." The official story: Microsoft rep--"We have nothing to say about these rumors or speculation." What we heard: One of the more surprising innovations from Microsoft's Xbox 360 was the incorporation of achievement...

Source: Xbox fan site Unscripted 360, which picked up on a "partially torn document."

The official story: Microsoft rep--"We have nothing to say about these rumors or speculation."

What we heard: One of the more surprising innovations from Microsoft's Xbox 360 was the incorporation of achievement points into gameplay. By accomplishing certain tasks in Xbox 360 games, players are awarded points that are amassed into a personal GamerScore, which spans all Xbox 360 games. The phenomenon has created "achievement point whores," friendly competition, a cash-for-points business, and a cutthroat race to the top of the leaderboards.

However, when all is said and done, achievement points amount to nothing but bragging rights among the geek elite. That's all about to change, if a post from Xbox 360 fan site Unscripted 360 is correct.

The Web site claims to have gotten hold of "a partially torn document" that gives information on an upcoming achievements-for-rewards program. According to the blog post, Microsoft has teamed up with some sponsors that would give a limited number of real-world prizes for in-game goals. The program will be free, requiring registration only, and will launch next month, according to the blog.

As far as credibility, the owner of the blog, who goes by the name DeaconBlade 360, is an Xbox Ambassador and was awarded the Microsoft MVP Award for 2007 in the Xbox category. He also adds a bit of drama to the post, saying, "I, along with a few others, are risking quite a bit bringing this explosive story to you!"

Microsoft isn't saying much about the program but did give a hint that it is at least thinking about it. "We have nothing to say about these rumors or speculation," a Microsoft representative told GameSpot. "However, what we can tell you is that Xbox is always exploring ideas for how we can reward our loyal customers. As soon as we have anything new to share, we will definitely let you know."

With the success of achievement points catching many off guard, it wouldn't be surprising if Microsoft were looking to cash in on them somehow, and a rewards program makes perfect sense. By signing on sponsors looking to tap the gamer demographic, Microsoft could find another easy source of income for little investment. The only question that remains is "What kind of schwag are we talking about for prizes?"

Bogus or not bogus?: Sounds not bogus, but definitely not confirmed...yet. x

339 Comments

  • thogar

    Posted Apr 5, 2007 8:22 pm PT

    Achievements points are completely worthless!!! I could care less what any of you think of my gamer score. Now GrimBee has the perfect answer. I would play just about any stupid game if I could earn points of value and then, say, download a theme, show, or multiplayer map. For $59 bucks a game, they can afford to give $5.00 in gameplay earned kickbacks. Otherwise, aren't we all getting a little tired of being treated like a dairy cow. . . milked all the damn time.

  • ChadVydi

    Posted Feb 27, 2007 12:28 pm PT

    Sounds like Microsoft is going in the right direction but the rewards for this challenge don't really seem like it's worth the challenge.

  • _Sam_

    Posted Feb 10, 2007 3:34 pm PT

    a rewards program would be VERY cool

  • Justinoheat

    Posted Feb 7, 2007 10:38 pm PT

    What!! Available in U.S. only. I live in Canada and I would really like to do this. Why microsoft, why!

  • Hellisunreal

    Posted Feb 5, 2007 9:27 am PT

    lol

  • MADDENisPIMPIN

    Posted Feb 4, 2007 8:20 am PT

    would be awesome, but dont think it will happen

  • Spartan-1137

    Posted Feb 1, 2007 6:36 am PT

    Thats awsome

  • L1qu1dSword

    Posted Jan 31, 2007 9:39 am PT

    Hell yeah this sounds like a great idea. Good thinking MS.

  • dmastor

    Posted Jan 31, 2007 9:27 am PT

    Good to hear but just turn them to microsoft points that be smart like for every 1000 point get 5 microsoft points that's be small but better then a pepsi head ban!

  • GrimBee

    Posted Jan 31, 2007 4:55 am PT

    I would love MS to have a system where every 1000 gamerscore gives you 500 MS points.

    I thought about this new system -

    You know how achievments give you points and then you FLAUNT those bragging rights. What if you could trade the points you won, for MS points.

    For example, 10,000 score could give you 5000 ms points (for example) which could go on some content. But then once you spend it, it comes from your gamerscore.

    Meaning, you basically trade your "bragging rights" for content, of which then you will feel compelled to buy more stuff, to earn more points.
    Surely M$ can profit from this, this will surely boost sports titles on the console because they usually have an easy score.

    PLUS, all a game would need to do to sell well is to say that is has an easy score for 1000 achievment points (you can only get the 500 points when completing an overall 1000). This would prove a wonderful addition to the community, people can collect the points, people can flaunt them, or people can earn them to buy more content from XBL.

    Could be a wonderful addition which makes people play and buy more games! I mean, it couldnt be a loss to microsoft, and I think people would like to put those points to good use.

    A system where you can trade gamerscore for gamerpoints is wonderful, imo. It gives you the option to flaunt, buys stuff, or both!
    A person could have a gamersroce of 50, but there will be a record of the highest gamerscore that this user has achieved - which then goes for the online ranking.

    Once you trade the gamerscore though, the highest rank wont budge, you need to save those points to move up the rank.... hey it could be an awesome addition! It will seperate the men from the mice, the buyers from the sellers... It will certainly add some POINT to the points system, alot of people just rent sports games to get a high score...

    Rentals for sports games, and sports games in general have had more than DOUBLE the sales because people have been getting them just for the points.
    If Microsoft can get a clever system where points earn you more, this will entice more games being bought/rented. Thus making developers do some crazy new things to get those points.
    I never knew how points could literally open out gaming to a new world!

  • Ansem_Rev

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 9:29 pm PT

    Achievement points are ruining online gaming. I AGREE!!!!

  • Mr_Saturn26

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 8:33 pm PT

    If the achivement points was able to be converted into MS points than the achivement points would actully have a point, and a reason to get. I still dont like the 360, or the online u have to pay for, (if i was free then its a diff story) and the games i really want on xbox live, but idk really care, im never going to get an xbox system, never liked any MS product (but in the end the computer product i have to use like windows and such), but hey im glad they are finally improving for our fellow people.

  • kerc_chaos

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 5:51 pm PT

    who said playing video games would amount to nothing? hehe

  • elektrixxx

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 4:51 pm PT

    Haha. Jeff Gerstmann's havin' a party in his pants right now.

  • JaMeS4418

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 4:40 pm PT

    Hopefully this comes true...

  • uberjannie

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 3:15 pm PT

    seems credible enough..

  • Platearmor_6

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 2:45 pm PT

    I always thought Microsoft was a bit tight. It'll probably work at 50,000 gamer points for a pen, 200,000 for an alarm clock, after you use them there gone and you can't get them back so you have to go buy more games. This probably isn't thee case but I thought I might say it so I can say you heard it from me first if it actual did happen.

  • jake11977

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 1:46 pm PT

    I agree. Microsoft points would be awesome! Cut out the middle man of buying the cards or adding on XBLM or whatever and just reward us that way. I'm sure I could think of something to do with them.

  • s3lFc0nTr0l

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 1:40 pm PT

    this would be awesome. actually have a reason to game!

  • thug9cole

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 1:19 pm PT

    wow points would be worth something instead of brown-nosing other players!!? i might actually start working on some achievement points if this happens!

  • Meskamo

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 12:36 pm PT

    almost guaranteed that if anything like this idea does materialise, it'll be only be open to US & Canadian residents.

  • keinuveye

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 12:31 pm PT

    wait, did he say schwag and bogus in the same article? GS is totally hippie.

  • Toobad4u

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 11:43 am PT

    I kept telling my friends that I wish Microsoft would do what Heat.net did with their service, and if this is true it sounds like they mignt be doing just that. Heat.net when it was around would reward gamers for just logging on to their site and could rank up on heat bucks that could be used to buy games and other stuff. I would really like to see that happen with the 360 but we will just have to wait and see if it does happen.

  • maxpsp

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 10:43 am PT

    I agree, just make them all MS points, that we can can keeping a running total, but the still convert to something. I think if sponsors we involved then your gamerscore will reset everytime you redeem. Keep it in house at MS and you can keep the score going even after getting the rewards.

  • Riverwolf007

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 10:37 am PT

    Probobly too good to be true, especially with things like that fey leveling service that started up not too long ago. This one is bogus, but wow, do I ever hope i'm wrong.

  • VertigoSkyDive

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 10:26 am PT

    "would be cool to convert your score to MS points!!!
    I know that would not happen on 1to1 scale, but that would be easiest and most welcome by many"

    Well put...

  • WESLY_SNYPES

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 10:23 am PT

    I can see people taking advantage of this system already.

  • alberth123123

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 10:20 am PT

    man...if this is true...the a/p in new games r going to be sooooo hard to get

  • nappan

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 10:15 am PT

    @ith people already scamming the system sans any reward but bragging to their imaginary friendly, I can't imagine that microsoft wants to saddle themselves with regulating the whole thing so that they can give things away.

  • Get_Shorty

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 10:12 am PT

    Yesss! My idea if finally coming to fruition. I can hardly wait to start getting the Pizza Hut Coupons.

  • mistergladstone

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 10:11 am PT

    That would be a great function. Finally something to show for all my achievement whoring.

  • MrSickVisionz

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 9:42 am PT

    ""We have nothing to say about these rumors or speculation," a Microsoft representative told GameSpot. "However, what we can tell you is that Xbox is always exploring ideas for how we can reward our loyal customers. As soon as we have anything new to share, we will definitely let you know.""

    Technically, shouldn't this be in the "Official Story" section?

  • CheddarLimbo

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 9:32 am PT

    Talk about putting fuel in the fire. As if the points weren't enough to keep the world's youth out of the sun and fresh air...

  • leoig

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 9:27 am PT

    Give us an example to know what kind of prices they are going to give!!!

  • ReaperXxxx

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 9:24 am PT

    Achievement points a completely ruining online multiplayer gaming. You get these idiots in Gears running around using only 1 specific weapon just looking for their achievements. I personally have most of the Gars multiplayer achievements but they just came in the course of playing the game.

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 9:01 am PT

    It'll be awesome if this is true!

  • brerrabbit23

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 8:55 am PT

    might add some juice to sales of catalog titles, if gamers had reason to go play all the old annuals & bunk launch titles & so forth...

  • Kingsnake976

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 8:32 am PT

    You peoples is crazy if you think Micro$oft will ever GIVE AWAY MS points....
    That couple bucks here and there, several thousand times, over is big profit for what amounts to no actual product. Now, free bonus in-game items (more than likely tied to a paid advertiser) sounds more feasable. And trust me, that would be way cooler than say.... getting a coupon for a free Whopper, or a can-cozy co-branded with MS and Pizza Hut logos......

  • Kingsnake976

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 8:31 am PT

    You peoples is crazy if you think Micro$oft will ever GIVE AWAY MS points....
    That couple bucks here and there, several thousand times, over is big profit for what amounts to no actual product. Now, free bonus in-game items (more than likely tied to a paid advertiser) sounds more feasable. And trust me, that would be way cooler than say.... getting a coupon for a free Whopper, or a can-cozy co-branded with MS and Pizza Hut logos......

  • WillT12345

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 8:14 am PT

    supercrap1's got the right idea on how these prizes will be.....lot of work little reward, but any reward is still welcome.

    I bet you'll be able to cash them in for plastic parachute guys, sparkly pencils, noisemakers, and erasers shaped like animals. Hey, maybe if you have enough patience, you can save up the 10,000,000 points and win that alarm clock with a fake bonsai tree on it.

    Probibly like a ratio of 500 to 1. (ex. 5000 achievment points = 100 MS points)

  • eawil2000

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 7:57 am PT

    If this is true (and I certainly hope it is), then Sony really missed the boat by dropping their entitlement system. My PS3 is looking to be more and more like a system for only a few first-party games, and Blu-Ray movies.

  • KuroriKenshin

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 7:52 am PT

    I would tottally support changing them into MS points. When I first got my 360 I was under the impression that's what achievement points were for. I was very disappointed to learn they were worthless

  • SnuffDaddyNZ

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 7:36 am PT

    Not excited.

  • SemiMaster

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 7:35 am PT

    I've been saying this all along...

  • hotdork70minus1

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 7:18 am PT

    microsoft points works

  • hemakm3

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 7:10 am PT

    That would be awesome.

  • racerx737

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 7:00 am PT

    that would be pretty awesome, but honestly I don't see the prizes being all that incredible for anything but GamerScores well above where most people can reach. But hey, bring on the free themes and gamer pics.

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 6:45 am PT

    i'll nvr give up my rank. sounds like a good idea though

  • Quaresma

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 6:38 am PT

    Well it would be cool if we got like free XBOX 360 Accessories or better yet games, but that wouldn't happen now would it?

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