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Amazon floats Xbox Live Arcade store

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpotPosted Apr 9, 2009 12:55 pm PT

Roughly half of Xbox Live Marketplace games now available for purchase, gifting through online retailer.

Xbox Live games can finally be purchased with real currency instead of Microsoft points. Online retailer Amazon.com this week launched a devoted Xbox Live section, from which users can purchase download codes for Xbox 360 games.

Now you can use real (but still not tangible) currency to purchase Live Arcade games!

The Amazon site compensates for one of the Marketplace's biggest shortcomings: the inability to send games to friends as gifts. Customers who purchase games, Microsoft points, or Xbox Live subscriptions from Amazon's site will receive a code redeemable for those specific items that they can send to others.

The prices for games on Amazon are generally identical to those in the Marketplace, with the apparent exception of limited-time price promotions. For example, the Xbox Live Deal of the Week is Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 1: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness for 800 Microsoft points ($10), but the game is selling on Amazon for its original purchase price of $20.

Another advantage that the Marketplace still has over the Amazon site is the selection of games available. Amazon lists 99 games in its Xbox Live section, whereas Xbox.com lists 196 games currently available for download. Among the more conspicuously absent from the online retailer's catalog are recent releases such as The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai and popular games such as Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix.

39 Comments

  • Spybreak

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 10:17 pm PT

    Yet another feature I'll use from Amazon, awesome. Gifting is finally available and no more stupid points cards, unless getting DLC.

  • Dante2710

    Posted Apr 13, 2009 5:48 pm PT

    very interesting, specailly for those no wanting t buy points

  • EPaul

    Posted Apr 12, 2009 7:05 pm PT

    Nice, sony needs to do this as well i need Wipeout HD badly

  • jrabbit99

    Posted Apr 12, 2009 10:14 am PT

    Finally!

  • CaptainMuse

    Posted Apr 10, 2009 3:39 pm PT

    Amazon is trying to make money again when there trade in program didnt work so well

  • Ovirew

    Posted Apr 10, 2009 1:51 pm PT

    It's nice to see xbox meshing so well with amazon, since I usually buy my stuff there. Still, I will buy my points the way I always have.

  • richlockard

    Posted Apr 10, 2009 5:46 am PT

    This is great for me, who'd rather not store my credit card information with Microsoft or have to go out of my way to pick up cards (which usually lead to un-used points). Nice option.

  • mikekearn

    Posted Apr 10, 2009 4:37 am PT

    Does this mean I can spend 10 dollars on a game and not have another 300 points sitting around useless for the next year? Because that would be really awesome.

  • parhar67

    Posted Apr 10, 2009 2:49 am PT

    points are great for kids who get an allowance or cut grass or do chores for cash and dont have a credit card. Amazon will be great for adults who would rather use their credit card instead of being forced to buy more than the need. E.G the average xbox arcade game is 800 points. The lowest amount of points you can purchase for a card is 1400. Yes i know you can use your credit card on your xbox as well. However that is also a predetermined amount of points as well. What are you going to do with like 10 points left on your account. I always have like 10 or 15 points on my account. Cant even buy a display picture with it!!!

  • snarple_basic

    Posted Apr 10, 2009 1:31 am PT

    I'm hoping Amazon gives us some cool sales.

  • cowmaster2k3

    Posted Apr 10, 2009 1:27 am PT

    this is a great idea! good job amazon and microsoft!

  • postmanmanman

    Posted Apr 9, 2009 7:49 pm PT

    That's pretty cool. Now I won't have to put up with "Points." HOW I HATE THE POINT SYSTEMS!

  • Stabby

    Posted Apr 9, 2009 7:47 pm PT

    @FUBAR24

    And many game only stores, particularly in Europe use a wasteful method. They should just sell them as cards themselves.

  • habitation

    Posted Apr 9, 2009 7:40 pm PT

    Sweet. Ive been wanting to buy my sister a game for $5, but I wouldnt because I didnt want to get her a $20 card.

  • RockmanSRD

    Posted Apr 9, 2009 5:28 pm PT

    This is cool. Now I can gift games to my favorite guy to play them with.

    It would be nice if the PSN and Sony did something similar through another retailer, maybe just Gamestop's website would be cool. When I'm playing games, 95% of the time I'm on my PS3 anyway. My 360 is dormant mostly all of the time, unless there is some exclusive game/download that I just have to get (even though I usually regret it later)... lol.

  • lazy_trash

    Posted Apr 9, 2009 5:23 pm PT

    rab_J

    so far im about 4 or 5 hours in, its almost done i think.. but the big draw to this game is the writing. if you like the penny arcade comics, its like playing a comic. a good comic too. if yer not a fan, i wouldnt bother.

  • FUBAR24

    Posted Apr 9, 2009 4:52 pm PT

    @Stabby

    retailers like target and walmart sell them as just the cards like any other gift card.

  • rab_J

    Posted Apr 9, 2009 4:35 pm PT

    Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 1 for $20 what a rip-off. It better be hours long.

  • delusional696

    Posted Apr 9, 2009 3:51 pm PT

    Not about the issue........ but why use tiny url for embedded links?

  • Stabby

    Posted Apr 9, 2009 3:45 pm PT

    Another issue with MS points is the unusual packaging IE a dvd sized case that can only hold cards... seems like a HUGE waste.

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