Straight to the Point(s)

One of the coolest things to happen to gaming since multiplayer and the totally useful Vitality Sensor is the addition of online content. One of the hardest things is the addition of payment methods for it. Each console now has its own pricing and point structure, and each has its own difficulty level. After wondering why each works the way it does, and a little research, this is what I came up with.

XBOX Live (MS Points)

This is the oldest, and one hopes, most mature point system available. This also is the most confusing system. Blocks of points are sold in 1600 and 4000 increments. Those cost 19.99 and 49.99 respectively. 800 points cost 10 dollars. One of the major criticisms of Live is the point structure and the confusing system that it is built with. While no one has really said why this is, there are really two main theories. First, that MSFT is out to screw consumers with confusing point systems and costs, so that no one really knows an exact point to cost ratio. The second, and far more likely cause, is that MSFT wants to reduce the amount of Credit Card charges they process with every order. It’s not the simplest system, but as someone who uses it on a regular basis, it is certainly not something that slows down my purchases, even if I would like to see more choices of point packages. I also like to use this system to take a look at what I may be purchasing, and also to see how much money I would need to buy all of the game content on Live ($6,135.52).

Wii/DSi Shop Channel (Nintendo Points)

This is both simple and challenging. Nintendo has broken their point system onto their two consoles. If you redeem the points on either, they are locked to that console, and cannot be transferred. Not a bad setup, but can get annoying if you want to break up your points across systems. Their values are a lot more simple to understand, with 1000 points equaling $10.00. 2000 points are $20.00 and so on. Again, I would like to see a kind of ‘top off’ point choice, to round out those purchases.

Playstation Store (Real Currency?)

Sony throws me for a loop on this one, offering a real money value to their downloads. Things cost the exact amount they are worth(maybe) and make total sense. If a game or addon is 6.75, you pay exactly that. It adds this almost too simple approach to the online gaming idea. After buying points, it seems a little weird to me to just buy and use the software.

Conclusion:

Overall, this system of points works and really does not leave you feeling like you were taken advantage of. I would really like to see the addition of a smaller value of points for both Nintendo and Live, but honestly, I purchase so much on there that buying a few extra points really do not stay extra points for long. If you have not already, take a look online, and see what your console’s marketplace offers (For Live users, Shadow Complex is still an awesome game).