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Xbox Rewards may be expiring rewards [update 1]
X3F reader Shafnitz sent word that his Microsoft points that he won for completing the Xbox Rewards challenge are expiring. After winning the Old Spice Experience Challenge at level three, Shafnitz won a bunch of stuff including a 200 Microsoft points code. After redeeming the code and going on his merry way, weeks went by and he recently got the urge to take a look at his account online. And, to his surprise, he was smacked in the face with a points expiration notice as seen above. Expiring Microsoft points, who ever heard of that? Well, according to Microsoft's FAQ it states that "purchased points don't expire" but that "any points you get through promotions can have expiration dates. Typically, points expire within thirty days of the date you get them".Update 1: Shafnitz informed us that his expiring points problem was probably due to a contest he won over at the Gamerscore Blog and not from the Xbox Rewards giveaway. Oops on his behalf. So, expiring points from the Xbox Rewards program may not be true, but there are still expiring Microsoft points out there. You've been warned.
Xbox Rewards program giving out the goods
If you've been participating in the Xbox Rewards program then take a look at your account. HHHawk sent word that he received his prizes in code form to redeem on Xbox Live. So, if you've completed the Old Spice Experience Challenge and pressed "I'm Finished", you can redeem whatever goods you were promised. To locate your prize codes, login into the Xbox Rewards website and make your way to the "My Xbox Rewards" section. Then, head to the "My Rewards" section where, if you completed the challenge, you'll find codes for your prizes. We still aren't sure about the physical prizes that the level three players earned, but hopefully someone can shed light onto that situation. Remember, the Old Spice Experience Challenge has been extended until April 22nd, so get to work if you haven't earned your 1500 Gamerscore.Also, we just noticed that the Xbox Rewards website conveniently keeps track of your progress for each challenge. To see how much more Gamerscore you need to complete the Old Spice Experience Challenge, head to the challenge's main page and click the "I'm Finished" button (even though you know you aren't finished). If you haven't earned all 1500 Gamerscore then a window will pop up telling you how much more you need. Nice touch isn't it?[Thanks, HHHawk]
Clarification: Xbox Rewards sign up issues [update 1]
The rollout of the Xbox Rewards programs has been rocky to say the least and we know everyone is either a little confused, angry, or curious to what's going on. We've put on our web surfing boots and found some answers. First off, the official Xbox Rewards page is down, not allowing anyone to enter the program right now. But, for those of you who have broken through and registered we'll clarify this mess. First, you must sign into the site with your Windows Live ID to begin the registration process. That's step one. Then, you'll have to confirm your name, shipping information, etc. to join the actual Xbox Rewards program. But, that's not everything. You still have to register for the Old Spice Experience Challenge separately. We presume that in the future they'll be offering multiple contests at the same time, which can be viewed under the challenges section, and to keep things straight they want to you join only the contests that agree to. So, you have to specifically join each individual challenge even though there is only one.Update 1: Hooray! The Xbox Rewards website is working! Time to win the goods.
Xbox Rewards Revamped [update 1]
Due to issues with the servers overloading at the Xbox Rewards site, the guys at GamerscoreBlog announced that they would be extending the Old Spice Challenge to April 15th. This gives you an extra month three days to rack up your Gamerscore by 1,500 and they even added supply to the rewards so that more gamers can win. When we got word that the policy had been updated, there were brief hopes of broadening the access to the program, but given how much traffic they're getting, that obviously was not the case. Still, they say the site will be back up and running within the next 48 hours. If you haven't gotten in already, are you going to try now that the rules have been amended?[Thanks PacoDG]Update: Barbie says "Math is hard."
Cologne and movie = free gamer pics and themes [update 1]
It has been a while since we've received free themes or gamer pictures from the XBLM, but that drought is no more. Jump onto Xbox Live and navigate to the gamer pictures and themes section, new releases of course. There you'll find three free downloads today. First up is from the the new Xbox Rewards program where you'll be able to get a free Old Spice Reward Challenge theme. But be warned, no guide background and a single image for every blade makes this free theme moderately worthless. The other free downloads come from the movie called Shooter, featuring Marky Mark Wahlberg. Here you can download a free picture pack and a theme for the movie. The theme is actually good featuring a blue Shooter logo for the guide and shots from the movie on each blade. That's all we have today for free goods, so get downloading.Update 1: Fixed spelling error. And we counted each download separately, one gamer picture set and two themes.
Stuttering start for Microsoft Rewards program
The Xbox Rewards program remains deadlocked today, following yesterday's launch, which apparently drew more prospective registrants than anticipated. If you've yet to register -- perhaps planning to leisurely earn your 'rewards' during the allotted month -- you've likely already missed out. 'Cause guess what? All those rewards are limited to finite numbers; paltry numbers when compared to Xbox Live's user base.This isn't an 'Old Spice Challenge,' it's a Competition -- and no doubt there are enough registered players teens already racing to gobble up those prizes. If you're lucky, you might score (possibly another) copy of Contra, since 70,000 download codes will be handed out. But even the '100 Microsoft Points' prize (limited to 6,000 winners) could be gone by week's end. Bah, who wanted Fusion Frenzy 2 anyway?Hint: Try this link.
Microsoft to reward Xbox Live achievers with freebies
It seems that the recent rumors about real world rewards for virtual world Xbox Live Achievements are true. Microsoft has just announced a cross-marketing promotion with Old Spice deodorant to give some freebies to American Xbox Live users who add at least 1,500 Achievement points to their gamerscore between Feb. 12 and April 12. Players have to be at least 13 years old and register at Xbox.com/rewards after Feb. 12. Prizes are divided in to three tiers, depending on the participant's "annual gamerscore" (which we can only assume is the number of points you've gained in the last year):
