OXM

Microsoft has paired up with US retailer Dollar General and prepaid transaction service InComm to let users top up their Xbox Live wallets from stores, in what could be the beginnings of a move away from the existing voucher system.

As reported by Polygon (via VG247) the fetchingly named Microsoft Xbox Live Prepaid PIN on Receipt service goes live today, allowing players to buy Xbox Live points and upgrade memberships in denominations of $19.99, $24.99, $49.99 and $59.99 directly from the register. Or as us Limeys know it, the till. You'll then be handed a receipt and details on how to redeem your purchase.

"By offering unlimited digital payment services, our sales potential is never limited by the number of Xbox LIVE physical cards we have in stock, and our customers always have secure access to virtual currency for their favorite games," Dollar General's executive vice president Todd Vasos commented in a release. "This new venture marks our first major foray into the online video game category and we see a unique opportunity which gives us another way to fulfill our commitment to helping our customers save time and money, every day."

The scheme only covers one retailer, and is not available outside the US, but given Microsoft's habit of road-testing tricksy concepts with the aid of selected retailers, it's not impossible that we'll see something similar on our shores.

http://www.oxm.co.uk/48546/new-xbox-360-scheme-allows-you-to-top-up-microsoft-point-wallet-in-stores/

Why do they not just use normal money instead of these points?

Probably so you cant work out how much you are actually spending on a game. Fairly clever when you think about it. (This is not a knock on microsoft by the way. I just asked a question proceeded to answer it myself.)

Game have been doing this for years in the UK. You can also buy xbla games. You get a code printed on your receipt that you redeem from the xbox dash. The same as cards but not preprinted.