Gamerpoints mean real prizes?

If you have a rather large Gamerscore, you should be eager to hear rumours from Internet-land that Gamerpoints could soon be bagging you proper rewards.

The idea originated on Xbox community blog site Unscripted 360, which claimed to have seen a partially torn document containing "interesting plans". From this elusive piece of evidence it announced that Xbox (Microsoft) was teaming up with sponsors to launch a free program to reward Achievements with prizes.

With no proof to speak of, and Microsoft unavailable for comment, it's something to be taken with a pinch of salt: but it's certainly not beyond the realms of possibility.

[God of Gaming]

I love this idea. Anything they can do to keep achievements fresh through the life of the system. Its a great way to get gamers to play games in odd or tough ways and I am excited to see things evolve.

[Harry]

All sounds a bit too spurious if you ask me. I doubt that Microsoft would give away live content for obtaining some points on a game.

It also raises the issue of having games with easily obtainable achievements.

[ryanjtravis]

Well, while it does definitely sound like a totally made-up rumor, MS really should implement some sort of reward system for gamerscore. It would be a great investment, because people would be even more crazy about Achievements than they already are (if you can believe that).

This would lead to more sales (or at least rentals, which equals more sales to rental businesses) and higher customer satisfaction. It seems like a wise move to me.

[Evolved360]

Microsoft was talking about this before the 360 even came out. I guees we will have to wait and find out when they decide to let us know.

[PS360PCROCKS]

I think it's a really cool idea actually, also this new site's pretty darn cool.

[Sphinx]

It'd sorta be like Marlboro points. Smoke enough and get a hat! I know this guy, I work with him, who smokes so much that the majority of his clothing has a cigarette logo on it, "It was free!" he says.

[UMC]

I am achievements addicted (not mad about getting the 1000 points for every single game) but I buy a bad game if the achievements are easy to get and this in turn generates more sales, so MS and other companies will have even more money, so in the end I believe that we gamers are the ones who get the best deal. The score is for my own satisfaction as I don't even play online (silver account). I just love when the 'achievement unlocked' logo pops up on the screen. The achievement system is a great idea and there is always that I want more!!! feeling. It would be cool if we could be offered like a two weeks Xbox Live Gold for free once you reach 10 or 20k points. Or even better, a worldwide gamescore leaderboard as you see in the games. An Achievements leaderboard.

[HaKeRsCanRotINHEL]

I wonder what kind of goodies Microsoft's gonna dole out?

[BlackCountryBob]

Didn't Nintendo announce a similar program where Nintendo Stars points would covert into Wii points?

Anyway, sounds like a good idea IMHO, I'd like to be offered stuff like faceplates for getting certain points totals.

[Nintenuendo]

Good idea, but difficult to regulate. It would have to be done with only certain achievements, monitored very closely, and to be honest, EA would have to be excluded (You clicked the right thumbstick- 50 points!), but it could be really beneficial. What better way to get people to pick 360 over PS3 than to tell them that if they play enough, they can get free stuff?

[PS360PCROCKS]

lol "you clicked the right thumb stick 50 points!" so true you get rewarded for anything in Madden, turning the game on, playing a game, finishing a game with like over 250 yards, it's like ok 250 yards in a virtual football game? it's a little easy

[PS360PCROCKS]

lol "you clicked the right thumb stick 50 points!" so true you get rewarded for anything in Madden, turning the game on, playing a game, finishing a game with like over 250 yards, it's like ok 250 yards in a virtual football game? it's a little easy

[fukuba7]

I pretty much doubt it's true.. but mabey they'll have virtual stuff like gamerpics and themes when u get enough gp (like some GoW achievements).

[Havince]

I heard about tis early last year also, i think if the DO give anything away it wont be much really.

[MicroGamer]

It's too easy to inflate your gamerscore by using other people's saved games on a memory card. Microsoft would go broke if they started giving away premiums in exchange for gamerscore points.

[Animagi]

I love achievements. I'm proud of my 40k and I earned all those achievements. However, I am NOT down with the fact that someone like StripClubDJ could get rewards for being a Cheater. That's why this rumor is just that...a rumor. No way Microsoft or any developer could monitor the millions of users cashing in Achievement points for prizes or whatever.

If they could figure out a fool-proof way of monitoring and containing cheaters than ok. Other than that Microsoft should just leave Achievements as they are...nerd points. :)