From In-Portal Developers Guide

Xbox Live Membership and Microsoft Points

A trendy advert that showed a young child saying "The big plus with the 360 isn't beating the games, it's showing everyone online that we did" explains the concept of the Xbox 360's Gamerscore feature. Thus giving gamers a whole new ways of competing with the other person with the accumulation of Gamerscore, even without playing directly against the other person.

Simply completing in game tasks, accumulating wins in online matches and performing extraordinary feats inside a game will net the ball player points to enhance their Gamerscore. While Gamerscore points is not accustomed to redeem services or goods from Xbox Live, it hasn't stopped shadier gamers from utilizing hacks to amass numbers of Gamerscore significantly bigger than their competitors and peers.

What's Gamerscore, and just what Should it Do?

Gamers can keep an eye on achievements by way of a system that measures the amount of points with an Xbox Live profile. These points are classified as Gamerscore, and they are measured in G's. These points are awarded for items like level completion, performing extraordinary feats, completing game objectives or by defeating other players in online matches.

Xbox 360 games offered approximately 1,000G for full titles, with downloadable Xbox Live Arcade Games offering up to 250G. Microsoft enforces policies which determine standardized amounts of Gamerscore a new player is able to accumulate within a given game. Full featured disc based games should have 1,000 Gamerscore points amongst gamers itself, with as many as 250 more Gamerscore points possible regular with expansion packs or downloadable content. Free or paid games entirely on the Xbox Live Arcade normally include around 200 Gamerscore points, with 50 more presented in downloadable content.

Gamerscore made its debut on Windows based gaming machines in 2007 with Halo 2. The Games for Windows program works in the same way to Xbox Survive the Xbox 360 system, in this achievements with corresponding Gamerscore point gains might be accumulated from the player.

The Gamerscore system has built by itself a distinct segment on the internet alongside cheat codes and online FAQ's and guides. Various websites completely specialized in providing tricks and tips to cooking Gamerscore points exist, while established cheat code and FAQ sites offer separate aspects of their websites for Gamerscore how-to's.

Gamerscore had proved a real success that people who wished to accumulate Gamerscore points through illegal means begun to appear. In 2008, a network wide campaign to compromise upon these cheaters was implemented. Players found guilty of accumulating Gamerscore points through illegal or otherwise unsavory means had their Gamerscore reduced to zero, and weren't allowed to regain anymore Gamerscore points throughout the time of their Xbox Live account. A "Cheater" label seemed to be stamped on the Gamertag in order that gamers would take heed from the player whenever she or he joined multiplayer matches. Microsoft Points

The currency used from the Xbox Live Marketplace or Games for Windows Live Marketplace, these are known as Microsoft Points. These Microsoft Points also extend on the Windows Live Gallery and Zune online retailers. This points system allows users to purchase extra game content or any other downloadable products available within the online marketplace without having to use a credit card. While many downloads for example full versions of games and downloadable content cost Microsoft Points, some games entirely on the Xbox Live Marketplace have the freedom.

Microsoft Points can be found in the sort of prepaid credit cards, and so are sold at retail and supermarkets. Microsoft Points cards include a code employed to redeem various yet fixed denominations of Microsoft Points with regards to the price paid and country or region the gamer resides in. Prepaid credit cards could only supply only one time and could expire otherwise used after a fixed period of time. Microsoft Points cards are simply redeemable in your neighborhood they're purchased in.

Microsoft Points are employed to purchase games, game expansions, Gamertag customization options, and also other downloadable content. Users may also be in a position to purchase videos and tv episodes in the Marketplace, and they are usable throughout other services with use Microsoft points including the Zune marketplace, where one could have the ability to download music and videos.

Xbox Live Memberships

There are two degrees of membership offered for the Xbox Live service: Gold and Silver. These different accounts offer Xbox 360 system users entry to features at different price points based on the type of membership.

The disposable Silver membership allows basic online functionality possible, from setting up a unique gamer ID and profile for the Xbox Live network. You're also in a position to create and gaze after a listing of friends and buddies you meet online. You are also given access to the Xbox Live Marketplace so that you can download demos, games, and customization options for your Gamertag. This Silver membership will not, however, provide for online fees for many games requiring such.

Gold membership includes all of the perks of Silver membership and gives the user a chance to play online to Xbox Live Gold members. Gold members will also be given usage of exclusive Xbox Live Marketplace Content. However, Gold membership comes at prices starting from ?8.99 for a month's membership with as many as ?39.99 for the year, but discounts and opportunities can be found on different third party websites.

Xbox Live Gold Membership can be obtained with a charge card or through subscription cards or free xbox live codes provided by retailers or convenience stores. Subscription and Microsoft Points cards contain redeemable codes that the user inputs in their Xbox Live screens.