Xbox 2013 Beta

Myrddin

So, anyone opt in for this? The obvious NDA will of course be in place & we can't discuss details...but I signed up this morning. Apparently, MS points are going to be eventually phased out?

Mr E

Yep, in favour of real money. Those of us who were buying cheap points cards from sites like live-codes will now have to pay full price for digital content. Good for MS and developers, but bad for the consumer.

calex71

In the short term we could stand stand to gain though, like 2100 are 24.99 on the dashboard but we all know of places where we can get them sub €20, when the change happens they will be converted to local currency so if they get converted at the 24.99 rate we could profit ..... maybe

Myrddin

Mr E wrote: »

Yep, in favour of real money. Those of us who were buying cheap points cards from sites like live-codes will now have to pay full price for digital content. Good for MS and developers, but bad for the consumer.

I'm probably the last of a dying breed, but I only ever buy physical media. I'll buy digital where there's no choice, so in that respect, it won't really affect me too much. As you mention, the savings from potential 3rd party discounts on points will die along with the points system...but now at least I'll know exactly how much content is costing, & not be confuddled with converting to points currency

erkifino

calex71 wrote: »

In the short term we could stand stand to gain though, like 2100 are 24.99 on the dashboard but we all know of places where we can get them sub €20, when the change happens they will be converted to local currency so if they get converted at the 24.99 rate we could profit ..... maybe

That was my thought process too. Smiley included!!

Stylesclash07

I for one am happy the points are going when you want to buy something the points are odd system sometimes. During the sale I wanted wwe 13 and it was 15 euro. But I also wanted to buy Gunslinger and as this was on the market I needed points. So I bought 4200 points and got what I wanted and a few other things in the sale but as I bought wwe 13 I noticed it was 1240 points but 15 in points is 1200. So if I wanted just wwe 13 I would have had to spend more than 15 on points and I think that's really stupid sorry for mini rant.

calex71

EnterNow wrote: »

I'm probably the last of a dying breed, but I only ever buy physical media. I'll buy digital where there's no choice, so in that respect, it won't really affect me too much. As you mention, the savings from potential 3rd party discounts on points will die along with the points system...but now at least I'll know exactly how much content is costing, & not be confuddled with converting to points currency

Will they though? Just did a quick look on some of the sites as I got to thinking about what if you didnt have a credit card? So I would imagine there will be new cards akin to the ones for PSN credit....maybe and those generally go 2 to 3 pounds cheaper than the marked value.

Myrddin

calex71 wrote: »

Will they though? Just did a quick look on some of the sites as I got to thinking about what if you didnt have a credit card? So I would imagine there will be new cards akin to the ones for PSN credit....maybe and those generally go 2 to 3 pounds cheaper than the marked value.

Yeah true, never thought of the no credit card option

erkifino

Stylesclash07 wrote: »

I for one am happy the points are going when you want to buy something the points are odd system sometimes. During the sale I wanted wwe 13 and it was 15 euro. But I also wanted to buy Gunslinger and as this was on the market I needed points. So I bought 4200 points and got what I wanted and a few other things in the sale but as I bought wwe 13 I noticed it was 1240 points but 15 in points is 1200. So if I wanted just wwe 13 I would have had to spend more than 15 on points and I think that's really stupid sorry for mini rant.

€34.58 for 4200 on go2arena and with the aid of the Hungarian brethren the amount of points required are substantially reduced.
I had never used go2arena but I had the points within 5 minutes. Obviously, Microsoft are looking at closing these loopholes.

chavezychavez

Don't know if anyone can remember the Beta when IE came in, but I opted in for that, and almost every second day there was a huge update required to be downloaded and installed before I could go online.

Now I'm all for getting new tech and playing around with it, but those updates became seriously annoying when you wanted a quick game of FIFA online and had to wait around 20-30 mins before the machine was ready.

Just to keep it in mind people.

Myrddin

chavezychavez wrote: »

Don't know if anyone can remember the Beta when IE came in, but I opted in for that, and almost every second day there was a huge update required to be downloaded and installed before I could go online.

Now I'm all for getting new tech and playing around with it, but those updates became seriously annoying when you wanted a quick game of FIFA online and had to wait around 20-30 mins before the machine was ready.

Just to keep it in mind people.

Yeah that is true, I was in the last Beta too & there were regular updates. Though if I'm all that honest, I found them very quick & hassle free.

the groutch

EnterNow wrote: »

Yeah true, never thought of the no credit card option

if the only option to pay for xbla stuff was via credit card, it'd be a bigger shot in the foot than the X Bone DRM s***.

Myrddin

the groutch wrote: »

if the only option to pay for xbla stuff was via credit card, it'd be a bigger shot in the foot than the X Bone DRM s***.

Well there's Paypal with a debit card too. I totally forgot about store cards. Anyway, the update was pushed to my console yesterday

Captain Chaos

Well MS have done it again. When you convert the MSP to real money you are losing out. They are claiming that MSPs are worth less now that they have to pay you back for them. Only last week they claimed that no one would be left short and they would round up the prices if needs be.

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/news/news-15482-Report--Switch-From-Microsoft-Points-to-Local-Currency-Increases-the-Price-of-Xbox-Live-Content.html

Myrddin

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Well MS have done it again. When you convert the MSP to real money you are losing out. They are claiming that MSPs are worth less now that they have to pay you back for them. Only last week they claimed that no one would be left short and they would round up the prices if needs be.

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/news/news-15482-Report--Switch-From-Microsoft-Points-to-Local-Currency-Increases-the-Price-of-Xbox-Live-Content.html

From that link

One of the problems with this is that if you have 1200 MSP and want to buy a 1200 MSP game, once those points are converted into real currency, you don’t have enough to actually buy the game.

Put simply, your MSP are worth less now.

Here’s a breakdown of the conversion rates:

1600 MSP games now cost £14.99; but 1600 MSP previously converted to around £13.33

1200 MSP games now cost £11.99, but 1200 MSP previously converted to around £10

800 MSP games now cost £8.99, but 800 MSP previously converted to around £6.66

400 MSP games now cost £4.49, but 400 MSP previously converted to around £3.33

Captain Chaos

Seriously, what happened them lately. They can't do anything right. They are slowly killing Xbox and Windows.

calex71

Going on that conversion it works out slightly better for us 400 points is €4.99 to us

A conversion from 4.49GBP is 5.20EU at the moment

Captain Chaos

So it's the UK getting screwed more so. Suppose, we think we are getting hard done by and then look at what the UK has to pay for the X1 and PS4 compared to us and the US.

erkifino

So basically, the people who signed up to Beta to help microsoft to improve things, are the first to get shafted?

Mr Freeze

erkifino wrote: »

So basically, the people who signed up to Beta to help microsoft to improve things, are the first to get shafted?

Basically.

I think/hope people will only buy XBLA and DLC content now when its on sale. That's the only way to get value from now on.

JayzuzHowiye

cdkeys.com have 4200msp for 34€, redeems at 50€

Mr Freeze

JayzuzHowiye wrote: »

cdkeys.com have 4200msp for 34€, redeems at 50€

This is a safe/good site to use for goods?
Do they email them?

JayzuzHowiye

Yes instantly, use them often.

Richard Dower

feckers....the switch to real money will end up costing customers more!!

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-07-10-new-real-money-xbox-dash-raises-game-prices

calex71

here are the numbers from that article

1600MSP games are now £14.99; previously this was the equivalent of £13.60
1200 MSP games are now £11.99, previously £10.20
800 MSP games are now £8.99, an even bigger increase - previously this was £6.80
400 MSP games are now £4.49, previously £3.20

Going by the 400 points = 4.99EU from earlier a 1200 point game (common price point) will work out at €15EU?????? :eek:

Those who know the PSN are their prices rigidly fixed? like X, Y or Z 4.99 9.99 etc?????

More importantly it will cost MS dearly in the long term, I would have thought nothing of getting an arcade title on impulse but not if it's now going to cost me €15

Edit: I'm willing to wait until MS comment etc before I light my torch and ready my pitchfork as this all still part of the "Beta" dashborad and might not be final though if they are already converting points to money it likely is

CMpunked

Anyone got a link to sign up for the beta?

Pushtrak

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/07/10/xbox-live-beta-experiencing-incorrect-pricing-in-select-regions/

calex71

CMpunked wrote: »

Anyone got a link to sign up for the beta?

It wasn't a web sign up this time, there was a link on the home section of the dashboard.

CMpunked

calex71 wrote: »

It wasn't a web sign up this time, there was a link on the home section of the dashboard.

Ah. Which means everyone seen it and they got well enough people to cover this year. Dam. Oh well, I'm guessing its not gonna be as monumental of an update as last year.

2Mad2BeMad

even though i agreed to not saying anything about any of the updates, i shall break the rules !!!!! i love ms and their oh so trusting ways

Mr Freeze

JayzuzHowiye wrote: »

cdkeys.com have 4200msp for 34€, redeems at 50€

Confirmed. Did it yesterday. Got my 50 quid.

Blazer

well we know that your xbox live account transfer over to xbox One so I'd assume your gold account might do as well??
if that's the case simples...buy your codes now and extend your gold account for a few years

Or can it???must read up more on it

Taken from xbox wiki site

Xbox Live on Xbox One has been confirmed by Microsoft. Your Xbox Live Gold account and Achievements will carry over to Xbox One. Your Gamertag and Avatar will also transfer over. [1]

Xbox Live Arcade purchases will not transfer over, as the Xbox One will not be in any way backwards compatible. However, entertainment content that you've purchased, such as movies, will carry over. [2]

According to Microsoft, "Your Gold account carries over so you will have your Gold on Xbox 360 as well as Xbox One. With Smart Match, Game DVR and New Achievements, we previewed some of the major investments we're making to make the new Xbox Live the best place to play games and enjoy entertainment with your friends online. We will have even more to share in three weeks at E3." [Source: IGN Interview with Microsoft] [3]

"Your current Xbox Live Gamertag will stay with you on Xbox One if you choose to keep it, and your hard-earned Gamerscore and Achievements will indeed carry over from Xbox 360


and some more on it

http://www.slashgear.com/xbox-one-will-allow-multiple-users-on-single-xbox-live-membership-22283155/

dloob

I blame the internet whiners that have moaned about the points for years.
They should have spent less time moaning and more time getting cheap points.

You will probably be able to get discounted cards still, but the PSN cards with cash values never seem to have very large discounts.

Batesy

Seems like a fairly hefty update dowloading right now!!

calex71

Batesy wrote: »

Seems like a fairly hefty update dowloading right now!!

Anything new ?

Batesy

Nothing as far as I can see. No update notes in the beta tab either.

Mr Freeze

141_Oscar_Mike wrote: »

Think that update was just for new apps. E.g Eurosport player, Cnet etc.

Eurosport player, nice!

Do you need a sky account or any other subs to use this?

PhlegmyMoses

Pretty sure there is an annual fee for Eurosport.

Fingleberries

Mr Freeze wrote: »

Eurosport player, nice!

Do you need a sky account or any other subs to use this?

This doesn't appear to relate to the beta - because there are public sites talking about this (not covered by NDA). There seems to be a £2.99 monthly sub for this.

http://www.techdigest.tv/2013/07/xbox_360_dashbo_2.html

calex71

I noticed they have adjusted the pricing on downloads, so 4.99 is now 4.79

calex71

Guys can some one else check this for me if possible, been playing Dark Souls using the private chat system under chat and im when you press the guide button as you can't use party chat or it will kick you offline (it's part of the game it's supposed to do that) the game isn't important.

Just want to see if anyone has an issue using the private chat with someone who isn't in the beta, worked fine on my non beta dashboard xbox.

calex71

Beta over , system update is being pushed out now just got it on my other xbox so long ms points

CMpunked

calex71 wrote: »

Beta over , system update is being pushed out now just got it on my other xbox so long ms points

Is real currency not a more fair system? I'd rather pay 4 quid for one arcade game a year rather than going and spending twenty something to get that one thing?

Captain Chaos

CMpunked wrote: »

Is real currency not a more fair system? I'd rather pay 4 quid for one arcade game a year rather than going and spending twenty something to get that one thing?

The thing was though you could get MSP for well below cost price if you know where to buy from. All that is gone now. There are no more "deals" to be had now.

sweetie

will it make it tougher to buy from hungary? Think I had around 1700 pts sitting in a bank over there?

Fingleberries

sweetie wrote: »

will it make it tougher to buy from hungary? Think I had around 1700 pts sitting in a bank over there?

It depends - pricing will still be by region (so they may sell games cheaper over there). Although your 1700 point should have changed to between €25 and €30.

If you buy a points card for cheap now (there should still be stock available on most locations), it will convert to the higher price.

e.g. I bought a 2100 MSP card for £17 stg today , and this converted to €25.50 when I redeemed it. (as opposed to the €19 that the current exchange rate would have given me if I was changing cash to go on hols).

the groutch

Fingleberries wrote: »

It depends - pricing will still be by region (so they may sell games cheaper over there). Although your 1700 point should have changed to between €25 and €30.

If you buy a points card for cheap now (there should still be stock available on most locations), it will convert to the higher price.

e.g. I bought a 2100 MSP card for £17 stg today , and this converted to €25.50 when I redeemed it. (as opposed to the €19 that the current exchange rate would have given me if I was changing cash to go on hols).

thing is though that prices have increased in proportion

eg. 800 point games are now €9.xx
1200 point games are €14.xx
1600 points games are €18.xx

so when points based cards are no longer available and local currency ones are the only ones available, you'll be hit with a 30-40% increase in the cost of games.

deco nate

the only thing we can do now is email ms and complain about the change in pricing and hope they listen..more of a rip off from ms I just hope they read and listen to the furore that this is causing.only time will tell.

calex71

doing the sums here say you buy a game/dlc that was 1200 points and is now 14.49, it would now consume 1600 points on a 2100 card :mad: