View Full Version : Kevin Rose and XBOX live point conversion.
masherscf
02-11-2007, 02:31 PM
How an obviously intelligent guy can say such stupid things is beyond me, but here goes...
Converting XBOX lives points to cents is not difficult. You can even do it in your head.
An XBOX lives point is worth four-fifths of a cent. This translates to 80 points per dollar spent. Divide the point total by 80 and that's the number of dollars. For example, an HD movie costs 480 points converts to 6 dollars. A wallpaper that costs 40 points converts to 50 cents.
Honestly, I don't know why Microsoft uses the freekin' stupid point system. You can make-up your own theories. Wacky conspiracies would make some entertaining forum reading.
However, converting the points to dollars should not present a challenge to anyone who has graduated from the forth grade.
jayeveryday
02-11-2007, 03:19 PM
Not that its hard its stupid as a consumer we want quick and easy.M$ utilizes this point system so that you always have points left over after a purchase. Creating a cycle to use the left-overs you must purchase new points. Smart on M$ point but sucks for the consumer. Btw I love the Xbox360 and its the only Next-gen system I own.
masherscf
02-11-2007, 03:59 PM
Not that its hard its stupid as a consumer we want quick and easy.
As simple arithmetic isn't quick and easy..?
M$ utilizes this point system so that you always have points left over after a purchase. Creating a cycle to use the left-overs you must purchase new points. Smart on M$ point but sucks for the consumer. Btw I love the Xbox360 and its the only Next-gen system I own.
I've heard this and I think it's bunk. Imagine that points and cents are one-to-one. As long as your buying blocks of points, the differing cost of content makes remainder points a fact of life.
It's like you have a Best Buy gift card for $20. What are the odds that your gonna be able to spend exactly $20? You're always gonna have to add cash or have money left o the gift-card. It's not a conspiracy.
However, the points DO force you to spend more than the item you are purchasing since the point have to be purchases in blocks. However, This does makes processing easier.
The 80 points to a dollar ratio seems a bit arbitrary. There may be something to the notion that they wish to hide the actual amount that you are spending on downloads.
Of course, they could has picked a number that was even harder to deal with. Eighty is itself divisible by two, four, five, eight and ten. As long as point coast are also multiples of those factors, division is not hard. Imagine if they picks 67 points to a dollar. That would suck.
jayeveryday
02-11-2007, 06:16 PM
As simple arithmetic isn't quick and easy..?
Yeah it easy but its unnecessary and by no means a conspiracy but purely another marketing scheme that all business do. Imagine going to Bestbuy and trying to purchase something and everything was in a point system that wasn't one to one. Would that make sense? Not at all and I imagine that it would discourage some people.
However, converting the points to dollars should not present a challenge to anyone who has graduated from the forth grade.
Irony. :D
To me there is no defending this points system...it's garbage, and only intended for the sole purpose of getting people to spend more without thinking about what they're doing. They lose sight of the money spent after the conversion to points takes place (in the store), and that's the goal.
Who in the hell enjoys dividing by 80 when purchasing things?!? Bah. At least you know with traditional gift cards that $20 is good for $20 worth of merchandise, which is appropriately priced in dollars.
fluidstickman
03-08-2007, 09:44 PM
How an obviously intelligent guy can say such stupid things is beyond me, but here goes...
Converting XBOX lives points to cents is not difficult. You can even do it in your head.
An XBOX lives point is worth four-fifths of a cent. This translates to 80 points per dollar spent. Divide the point total by 80 and that's the number of dollars. For example, an HD movie costs 480 points converts to 6 dollars. A wallpaper that costs 40 points converts to 50 cents.
Honestly, I don't know why Microsoft uses the freekin' stupid point system. You can make-up your own theories. Wacky conspiracies would make some entertaining forum reading.
However, converting the points to dollars should not present a challenge to anyone who has graduated from the forth grade.
Which grade is the "forth" grade? lol I'm sorry but if you're going to point out
how math that's easy shouldn't be a problem, at least watch your spelling.lol
magunwarrior
03-08-2007, 09:45 PM
Which grade is the "forth" grade? lol I'm sorry but if you're going to point out
how math that's easy shouldn't be a problem, at least watch your spelling.lol
Thank you for necroposting this, I mean really, you did a great service to us.
masherscf
03-08-2007, 10:21 PM
Which grade is the "forth" grade? lol I'm sorry but if you're going to point out
how math that's easy shouldn't be a problem, at least watch your spelling.lol
He he he, that's funny. Go 'forth' and post.
bayareaking510
03-14-2007, 06:44 AM
yeah it's easy to convert, but it's a bit inconvienent for most people
masherscf
03-14-2007, 11:57 AM
yeah it's easy to convert, but it's a bit inconvenient for most people
This was I have trouble getting around. Micro-payments suck. That's a fact. However, they don't suck because you have to divide by eighty to get a dollar amount.
Having to take the stairs instead of the lift is inconvenient. Arithmetic shouldn't be.