14 DAY TRIAL // After nothing but rumors for the past couple of weeks, Microsoft has finally decided to break out the heavy guns and give a complete look at the rewards system for the Xbox Live. The program is only available as long as you've been invited, and Microsoft started handing the invitations out yesterday. The Xbox Live Rewards Squad invitations will stop at the end of April 2010, so, if you're not blessed by then, you can start looking for a new reason to live. The Rewards Squad will favor the Silver and Gold subscribers of Xbox Live, but the Gold members, as it could be expected, will get more out of the deal.
Every time you renew your Gold subscription for another month, you will be awarded Microsoft Points, starting from ten or $0.125 all the way up to 60 or $0.75. If you make a three-month commitment to the network, it will grant you anything from 30 Microsoft Points or $0.375 to, once again, 60 points or $0.75. If you decide to take the big step and ask the network to move in with you and establish the 12-month deal, you'll instantly receive 200 Microsoft Points or $2.50. The owners of the Xbox Live Silver subscription won't get to see a single dime back for their $49.99 invested every year.
Microsoft will also use the system to push the Xbox Live Marketplace. The Gold and Silver subscribers will receive 100 Microsoft Points for their first purchase with the application. Gold members that continue to buy from the Marketplace will receive a one-percent discount for their products in the first month, two percent for the second, three percent for the third, four percent for the fourth, and five percent for the fifth and sixth months. The company thought of giving the sixth month a six-percent discount, but that would've have ruined its profits too much. If that would only be true, since, if you really do the math, you'd probably end up with $3 saved every time you pour 1,000 dollars into its program.
Under the impression that it hasn't both confused you and excited you enough at one fell swoop, Microsoft will award Gold and Silver subscribers 100 MS points every time they complete a survey. With all the numbers it has thrown around and the fractions of dollars they'll get back, usable only to purchase Microsoft products, the one thing the company didn't clear up was how the selection process for the invites worked.