The "Xbox Live Rewards" program tested over a year ago is now a real thing. The website for the US/UK-only loyalty program is now live, and you can sign up and check out the rewards.

It's kind of like Club Nintendo, except instead of fans and tote bags, you get Microsoft Points and Microsoft Points. The bonuses range from 10 MSP for renewing a one-month membership, all the way to 400 for buying or renewing a family plan. You can also get 100 points for activating Netflix, unspecified bonuses for buying certain things on Marketplace, and an occasional 20 points for taking surveys. Microsoft also promises "cool prizes" in promotions.

As Club Nintendo users know, there is basically no downside to a loyalty program like this. You do the stuff you were going to do anyway, and then someone gives you free stuff periodically.

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/01/xbox-live-rewards-program-launches/

Hmm thanks for this link again, as the page was dead yesterday.

Still some kinks to work out I think as when I signed up, it noted I should "upgrade to gold" even though I've been a gold member (haha, goldmember) for 4 years.  Oh well.

Yay, you get prizes for spending money at their store. Hmm, if only you could have saved that money to buy something that you liked rather than a potentially sucky gift they're going to give you.

Just liked Credit Card rewards programs. YAYYYY BONUS REWARDS!!! I spent 1500 bucks where's my rewards....oh shit now I have to pay 18% interest back.

This doesn't make any sense though...

Nobody's forcing you to buy anything...you don't want it, don't buy it, no problem.  IF you do want it, and were going to anyway, then you get rewards for it. 

How is this a "losing" situation for anyone?

It isn't if you planned on buying that stuff anyways. I just find it to be funny that there are people out there who will spend there money on this stuff just because there are rewards attached to them. Though they completely forget (like in the credit card example) that they have to pay back interest. or that they off-set something else they could have bought with something potentially sucky.

That's pretty cool, I'll finally buy a gold membership.

This is long overdue, but i'm happy that it's finally here. I wish there was a Reward Program for Achievement though, i spend most my time getting 100% completions, and achievement scores for my games than i do buying content, and renewing my Gold membership.

Yay! This must be one of those added features/value they were touting when they revealed the price increase! Woooo! Go Canada! Pay more for missing services that make it so I'm supposedly getting better value out of Xbox Live!

Why do we always get shafted, eh?

I got 800 points for joining The family plan and an extra month and some credit. That family plan is a pretty sweet deal tbh. One downstairs on my main console, one linked to my boys console and finally one upstairs running the Sky player Xbox with a little Windows Media center chucked in for good measure..

Still got one left to dish out as well.

It only doesn't make sense on credit cards if you carry a balance. I charge everything every month on my credit card, pay it off at the end of the month, and get great rewards just for buying what I would have anyway. Not sure what your problem is with this system. If you were going to by the DLC, renew your subscription, etc. anyway, then this is a great bonus to get something in return for being a loyal customer.