• What: 2100 Microsoft Points
• Where: Game
• Current Price: £15.50

With any luck, Microsoft will replace their points system with actual money next generation. For now though we're stuck with them, so you might want to pick up one of these downloads that will save you a couple of quid over buying directly from Microsoft. It's  always handy to have some credit available in your account for those essential download game purchases or the latest bit of DLC.

Thanks to HudsonWY at HotUkDeals.

With Windows 8 set to use local currency as default, Microsoft have reiterated that they'd like to make life as complicated as possible by sticking with the MS Points system for Xbox LIVE.

Eagle-eyed spotters witnessed a little change to Xbox LIVE last night, with prices for Avatar items suddenly showing up in real currency rather than in the usual Microsoft Points (check out the screenshots over at Save And Quit). However, Microsoft have stressed that this was merely a glitch, not an indication that they'd be abandoning Microsoft Points any time soon.

A cheeky tweet from the Xbox LIVE Rewards stream has hinted at something hardcore Xbox 360 gamers will have been eagerly anticipating for some time: an initiative that will allow you to earn Microsoft Points via Achievements.

Tesco Entertainment's EX-15OFF15-1 voucher code is set to provide a slew of decent deals today, and if you're hankering for some Microsoft Points, this nifty little deal will save you a couple of points on the 2100 points card. As for what you should buy, we'd recommend that Sine Mora and I Am Alive would probably be a good start - possibly augmented by Shooting Many Robots.

UPDATE: If you're looking for more points, you can get a slightly larger saving by buying the 4200 Points card using the same voucher code (thanks to danhufc at HUKD).

Microsoft has announced a new promotion for Xbox Live Rewards members. The Triple Play Scheme offers 300 free Microsoft Points to players who take part in three out of a selection of different objectives, which include playing online and/or using an entertainment app for ten hours, logging into Facebook via the Xbox 360 app for one hour, or spending points on software. You'll have to choose one activity from each of the three categories: Gaming, Entertainment and Social.

You'll also have to sign up to Xbox Live Rewards to participate - and getting your free points will be easy if you already frequently use the service. Just watch some BBC iPlayer, buy an Xbox Live Arcade game (Sine Mora is a fine choice) and log into Facebook for a while, and bob's your uncle. We've got the details below.

Any time the price for 2100 Microsoft Points dips below the £15 mark, you know you're getting a good deal. Considering that Microsoft themselves charge £17.99 for just 2k, it's time to get hoarding. What are you waiting for? Nice spot, mmbeak.

A bit of a special Why We Love today, in which we take a peek at the recent rumour surrounding Microsoft's alleged abandoning of the Points scheme in favour of "real" currency, and what such a move could entail.

Rumours have been flying around over the past week or two suggesting that Microsoft Points - the currency currently used to purchase or rent content across Xbox LIVE, Zune Marketplace and Windows Phone 7 - will soon be canned in favour of actual "real" money. For many this will be a joyous relief, and event worthy of celebration as an outdated and potentially confusing model is jettisoned in favour of a simple marketplace that everyone can understand.

Crucially, it will bring Microsoft more in line with its competitors on the mobile gaming battlefield, where transactions are very much one-to-one: you always know where you are with your purchases. In an industry where the lines between gamers and non-gamers, hard core and casual, are becoming every more blurry, such transparency is vitally important.

Remember how we reported that Microsoft were allegedly thinking about getting rid of their Microsoft Points scheme by this year? Well it seems that another source has added to this rumour, suggesting to Eurogamer that consumers will "still be able to use redeemable codes to buy DLC and other products after Microsoft phases out Microsoft Points".

Well this is interesting. According to a new report, Microsoft appear set to discontinue the use of Microsoft Points when it comes to transactions in the virtual marketplaces in a move that will affect the way consumer purchases operate across Xbox LIVE, Zune and Windows Phone.

• What: 12 Months Xbox Live Gold Membership & 800 Microsoft Points
• Where: Tesco Entertainment
• Current Price: £31.00
• Voucher Code: EXM5OFF25-1

Here's another voucher code deal courtesy of Tesco Entertainment. You can grab a year of Xbox Live Gold subs along with 800 Microsoft points for the bargain price of £31... which will net you an XBLA game as well as 12 months of premium service. Note that it's got FIFA branding.

Remember to use voucher code EXM5OFF25-1, which you'll have to log in to deploy.

• What: 2100 Microsoft Points
• Where: HMV
• Current Price: £13.99
• Voucher Code: 20OFFHMV

As any savvy Xbox 360 owner knows, the reliance on Microsoft Points over real money actually works to your advantage. HMV are currently selling 2100 Microsoft Points for £13.99, which by my calculations, works out at £0.0066 per point. This, in turn, means that an 800 MSP game will cost you £5.32 rather than £6.80 at the normal exchange rate! And an Indie Game will cost you 53p.

So, probably worth doing then.

• What: 2100 Microsoft Points
• Where: 7DayShop
• Current Price: £14.49

As any savvy Xbox 360 owner knows, the reliance on Microsoft Points over real money actually works to our advantage. 7DayShop are currently selling 2100 Microsoft Points for £14.49, which by my calculations, works out at £0.0069 per point. This, in turn, means that an 800 MSP game will cost you £5.52 rather than £6.80 at the normal exchange rate!

So, probably worth doing while stocks last.

Thanks to dan394 at Hot UK Deals!

• What: Halo Reach With 800 Microsoft Points
• Where: The Hut
• Current Price: £24.85
• Halo Reach With 800 Microsoft Points Price Comparison
• Halo Reach Review

You can now get your hands on Halo Reach, and enough Microsoft Points to grab a map pack, for £24.85, which is just over £5 cheaper than the deal from Sendit that Felix posted almost a month ago. Whilst the story behind Reach isn't anything special, it's crammed full of action! However, the single player's just a distraction from the multiplayer, which is where you'll spend the majority of your time and once you jump into the online world it's hard to pull yourself away. If you've not played Reach yet, then now's your chance.

• What: Halo Reach
• Where: Send It
• Current Price: £29.89
• Halo Reach Review
• Halo Reach Price Comparison

While it's not quite the cheapest deal for game itself, Send It's offer of Halo Reach + 800 MS Points for just £29.89 is a chunk of generosity we just couldn't resist sharing. All in all, it's a pretty good saving if you purchased each item separately. Not to mention, Reach has just some DLC out, the Noble Map Pack, which just so happens to be 800 MS Points. A coincidence? I think not. Superstitious suspicions aside, this is a great deal for anyone who has yet to sample Bungie's Halo swansong.

• What: 4200 Microsoft Points
• Where: Argos
• Current Price: £30.99
• 4200 Microsoft Points Xbox 360 Price Comparison

If, like myself, you're a little low on Microsoft Points at the moment but you're tempted by all the wonderful content on Xbox Live at the moment, like the new zombie filled Undead Nightmare DLC for Red Dead Redemption, or Sonic 4 Episode 1, then you could always head on over to Argos' site, where you can pick up 4200 points for £30.99. Also with Rock Band 3 out tomorrow it's probably a good idea to have a few extra points in the bank for any additional songs you fancy picking up. Thanks to tom_p1980 @ HUKD.

• What: Xbox Live 2100 Points Card
• Where: Zavvi
• Current Price: £14.35

It's time to exploit Walker's again. Simply sign up for their 'Rainy Day' promotion on their website, fill out the neccesary forms, and once you've received your 10% discount code, hop on over to Zavvi via our link here, slide down to the checkout and input the code. Done? Now you're 2100 Live points are only £14.35. But what to do with them? Well, you could pick up some DLC off the likes of Alan Wake or Mass Effect. The latter, in particular, has some great content. Or maybe you'd like to freshen up your dashboard with a premium theme? I'm beginning to sound a lot like a Microsoft PR rep, so I'll just stop now. Enjoy!

A pretty simple deal this one. Argos are currently offering 4200 MSP for under £30, which is quite frankly a bit of a no-brainer. If you've been waiting for the Summer of Arcade to kick off before buying up a load of points to spend on some utterly cracking games then this is the deal for you. You'll be hard pressed to find a better price than this one.

• Click here to buy 4200 Microsoft Points for £28.99 from Argos

Incidentally, you might also be interested to know that Argos are only charging £14.99 for 2100 MSP. It's not quite as economic and buying double that, and 7dayshop have had them at this price for some time, but if you don't want to blow all your money at once then it might be the logical choice for the frugal gamer. You can buy 2100 MSP for £14.99 by clicking here.

Stuck for things to spend your point on? Check out the Deal of the Week and Summer of Arcade list here or give my review of Ron Gilbert's DeathSpank a read.

Assorted tips oft he hat go to ChrisPalmer, TaylorUk and empwan at HUKD

Lets face it, we all like treating ourselves to a Microsoft points card once in a while, whether it's to buy a few extra multiplayer maps, the latest game add-on, or a couple of extra songs on Rock Band. This latest points card deal from 7DayShop will save you £1.50 over the nearest competitors Amazon and GAME, who are both selling the Modern Warfare design 1200 points cards for £9.99. Considering that most 2100 MSP cards retail for around £17 these days, if you were to pick up two of these, you'd be grabbing yourself an extra 300 or so points free.

• Click here to buy 1200 Microsoft Points for £8.49 from 7dayshop

This is a great deal, and more importantly it gives you the perfect excuse to download the relatively new Stimulus package for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which is exactly 1200 points and is guaranteed to bring you endless hours of multiplayer mayhem!

Don't have Modern Warfare 2 yet? Check out Neil's review for an appraisal.

Thanks to millarcat at HUKD

MW2 Stimulus Package Hits Steam on May 4th

The Stimulus Map Pack enjoyed staggering sales on Xbox Live- and it's now available for preorder on Steam. Set for release on May 4th, the Stimulus Pack will set you back £11.99 or £10.79 with the preorder discount.

This is currently causing a fair bit of controversy since PC map packs are usually free- even for previous CoD titles! Unfortunately, we now live in the age of cynical microtransactions and an increased need for publishers to claw back lost revenue from second-hand sales. [Steam]

Rockstar Offer 400 Free Live Points for RDR Trailer Download

Listen closely, pardners. Starting tomorrow, Rockstar will be giving out Microsoft Points vouchers (worth 400 points each) to the first 5000 Brits to download the Red Dead Redemption Trailer on Xbox Live. Gold and silver members are both eligible for the giveaway, which also includes an exclusive Red Dead Redemption theme.

To be in with a chance, you'll need to download the Multiplayer Freeroam trailer as soon after 00:01 tomorrow as you can. That's right- the offer goes live at a minute past midnight, so you might need to pull a late one if you fancy trying your luck. If successful the code voucher will be emailed to your registered Gamertag email address within 4-6 weeks.

Importantly, it won't count if you've already downloaded the trailer. If you fancy trying your luck, make sure you delete it now and download it again after the clock strikes twelve.

Have a gander at the T&Cs here. Yeehaw! (NB, offer only available in the UK).

Lanning: Oddworld Still Coming to PC This Year

Remember the Oddworld series? Lorne Lanning's bizarre series of warped platformers are still apparently headed to Steam in the near future; including the previously Xbox-exclusive Munch's Oddysee and Stranger's Wrath. Lorne Lanning has blamed the delay on the difficulty of replicating some of the original Xbox's rendering capabilities in DirectX- but we can still expect their revamped arrival sometime this year.

Munch's Oddysee and Stranger's Wrath were awesome cult classics that deserve a new lease of life. More to the point: we'd like a sequel, please! [VG247]