For people not familiar with xbox or ms points when you buy an xbox if you have a internet connection you can hook up your xbox to the internet and play other gamers around the world on the xbox live network if you buy one of their memberships that vary 3 months 12months etc depending what you want to spend.

On the xbox network you can buy game ad ons get free demos and watch previews etc and you have something called an avatar which is a animated character representing you which you can buy clothes and items for if you want which all cost ms points which is the network currency xbox uses.

These points are availible in shops like tescos asda hmv etc and each thing you buy is worth a certain amount of ms points. When you buy ms points in shops you get a ms points card which is like a lottery scratchcard and depending on price varies in how many ms points you recieve. You can purchase these online through direct debit if you need to but the shops are a tad cheaper.

The other week i somehow managed to scratch off some of the code from the card with a coin and before you ask i was not scratching so hard i could dig a hole to china. Sadly xbox keep no record of the codes so it was a waste of about £17 as i threw away the asda reciept as you do not expect that to happen as i considered myself able to opperate a scratchcard.

Anyway.... the ms point system is a great idea as it allows you to use your xbox live account (which should be free!) to the full as you can buy items for you avatar or add ons to games you have to full games if you wish although they are expensive and it took gaming to a great level as you dont need to leave your home to buy more discs for add ons if you choose to want them.

Microsoft must be coining it in especially off the people who feel the need to buy avatar stuff (each to their own) but overall its a good service and not too badly priced in some respects as if like me you have to travel 26miles (round trip) to buy some you may as well get them online unless your out where sells them.

Although its not too badly priced it still think they are a tad expensive but it is what it is and i dont imagine ms changing the tarriff anytime soon but they do have some good offers at xmas etc where you can buy some add ons half price i think on what they call black monday.