[DMczaf]

What the hell can I get with 20 pts!?

[Fuzzy]

Better than what Sony gave me.

[shintoki]

Making it rain.

[bjork]

Sega would've given you a cake.

[Wario64]

Don't spend it all on 1 item now, DMczaf

[Aeana]

Maybe they thought that once you saw that you had a balance of 20 points, you'd go "dang, I only need 1180 more points to buy something" and you would go for it.

[GruntOfAction]

It's the thought that counts? You should be happy an automated system operated by people who make tons of money off of Xbox Live Subscriptions alone are sending you a whopping 20 Microsoft points!

That fancy birthday graphic they sent you probably cost 80 Microsoft points anyway. So there's that.

[YianGaruga]

[Shining Sunshine]

Happy Birthday!

Please spend $10 so you can actually afford something.

[LiK]

money is money. appreciate it!

[Littlegator]

It's the thought that counts? You should be happy an automated system operated by people who make tons of money off of Xbox Live Subscriptions alone are sending you a whopping 20 Microsoft points!

No, because he'll now always have that extra 20 points at the end of his point total that he can't spend.

[Catchpenny]

"Your birthday Microsoft Points will be automatically deposited into your Xbox LIVE account by the 15th of the month." So you don't even get the 20 points on your birthday?

[PorygonVandal]

I also got that email today...

25 cents of pure joy

This and the 1% or 2% discount on Live will leave Microsoft doomed.

[Medalion]

Wow really

[EnderWiggles]

Don't think of it as $0.25, think of it as 5% off a $5 purchase

[Zeer0id]

You can buy a birthday party hat for your Xbox avatar

[DMczaf]

Actually, the email is a gif

[GruntOfAction]

Actually, the email is a gif

As I said, they probably spent the rest of the Microsoft points on the graphic.

[Wario64]

Free stuff you can get on your birthday according to Slickdeals:

ALFY'S PIZZA - free mini pizza
ALL-AMERICAN CAFE - free dessert
APPLEBEES - free dessert
AUSTIN GRILL - Register First - free meal
BAKERS SQUARE - free pie
BANDIDO'S - free entry
BANJARA INDIAN CUISINE - free meal
BASKIN ROBBINS - free ice cream treat
BEACHES RESTAURANT - free meal
BEN AND JERRY'S - free cone
BENIHANA'S JAPANESE RESTAURANT - $30 (only birthday person can spend it)
BENNIGANS - free dessert + song
BERN'S - free meal
BILL KNAPP'S - gives adults a % discount equal to age; plus a free bday cake (w/purchase of a meal) during the week of your B-day
BJ's - Free Pizookie
BLACK BRISKEE - free meal
BOB'S BIG BOY - free hot fudge ice cream
BUFFALO WILD WINGS - free dessert (chocolate cake or scoop of vanilla ice cream)
BURGER KING - free kids meal to all kids club members
CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN - Register First - free kids meal during the month of their birthday
CAPTAIN DIZZY'S CAR WASH - free car wash
CARROWS - free cake
CATTLEMEN'S - free dessert and cowboy hat
CHARLIE BROWNS RESTAURANTS - free meal for "Handshake Club" members
CHARLIE'S SEAFOOD - free meal
CHEVY'S - free dessert and sombrero
CHIPS N GIGGLES - free meal
CLAIM JUMPER - Free Dessert
CROWN THEATRES - Buy One Movie Ticket, Get One Free
CRAZY BUFFET - free meal
DAVE AND BUSTERS - $5 game card credit
DENNY'S - free Grand Slam Breakfast
DESPARADOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT - free meal
DOCKSIDE RESTAURANT - free meal
DUKE'S CHOWDER HOUSE - b1g1 coupons (register first). FREE dinner for your birthday!
EINSTEIN'S - free meal
EL CHICOS - free dessert
ERNIE'S STEAKHOUSE - free meal
FAMOUS DAVE'S BARBEQUE - Buy one get one free meal (w/advance signup) October 2011
FIREHOUSE SUBS - free medium sub <--- false
FREEBIRDS - brownie, 10 free points (good towards Monster burrito) - also for half birthdays!
FUDDRUCKERS - free burger
FUNNY BONE COMEDY CLUB - free cake (party of 5 min.; 2 drink min.)
GOLDEN CORRAL - free meal to birthday Club members (not just kids!) during month of birthday
GREAT AMERICAN COOKIE CO. - free cookie slice w/ purchase of soda
GRILLFISH - free meal
HANA JAPAN - free meal
HARD ROCK CAFE - free dessert
HOMETOWN BUFFET - free birthday cake
HOULIHAN'S RESTAURANT - free entree
HOLLYWOOD VIDEO - one free video rental
HOOTERS - free song + tshirt
HOSS'S STEAK HOUSE AND RESTAURANT - free cake + song
Hungry Howie's - Free medium 1-topping pizza coupon via email on your birthday when you join their email club.
IHOP- Free Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity on your birthday
JACK IN THE BOX - Free birthday dessert (chocolate overload cake or new york cheesecake)
JASONS DELI - free $5 certificate
JOE'S CRAB SHACK - free appetizer w/ purchase of entree
JT WHEATFIELDS - free coupon in phone book
KING BUFFET - free meal
LADONNA - free meal
LOMBARDI'S IN BALLARD - Register First - free meal w/another during month of birthday
LOTUS - free meal
LUTHERS BBQ - free stuff (varies) for "Great Rewards" members
MACARONI GRILL - free dessert + OPERA-style "Happy birthday" song
MAGGIANOS - $10 Off purchase of $20 (sign up in advance)
MARBLE SLAB CREAMERY - Free Small Ice Cream w/ one topping
MARIE CALENDERS - free dessert
MAX AND ERMA - free $5 dessert
MCALLISTER'S DELI - free $5 certificate
MEXICAN VILLAGE - free meal
MOONIES DINER - free meal
MUCKLESHOOT CASINO - free sushi dinner + player's club points
NEWICK'S SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS - free entry
NITTY GRITTY - free drink + souvenir glass
NOODLES & COMPANY - free bowl of noodles (join e-club in advance)
OKAYAMA RESTAURANT - free meal
OLD SPAGHETTI WAREHOUSE - free meal
OLIVE GARDEN - cake (some say free, most say $$)
ONAMI - free dinner WITH 3 other people paying
OUTBACK Steakhouse - free dessert + song
PANCAKE HOUSE - free entry
PAPPA'S RESTAURANTS - free dessert
PARADISO'S - free meal
PERKIN'S - free stack of pancakes
PF CHANGS - free cake or cheesecake
PIZZA EXPRESS - free meal
PONCHO'S - free meal, dessert & picture
PROVINO'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT - free $10.99 meal and ice cream dessert
Radisson - free entree in their 12th floor restaurant
REAL SEAFOOD COMPANY - free meal and dessert
RED LOBSTER - free slice of cake + song
RED ROBIN - free burger
RICE & COMPANY - free meal for Robinson Rewards Club members
ROCK BOTTOM - free appetizer for Mug Club members
ROUND TABLE - free personal pizza
RUBY TUESDAY - free burger of your choice no price limit, sign up for their club online and you will receive email
SCALINI'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT - up to 10.95 off pasta specialties
SHEPARD'S BUFFET - free dinner buffet w/3 other paid customers
STARBUCKS - free anything (YMMV)
STEAK AND ALE - free mini choco cake
STEAK-N-SHAKE - free dinner for "birthday club" kids
TACO BELL - free combo meal of your choice
TACO CABANA - free flauta plate
TGI FRIDAYS - Free birthday Dessert
THE 99 - free meal
THE BARNSIDER'S/DEPOT RESTAURANTS - 1/2 off meal + cake & song
THE LOFT - free meal
THE PALM - 3lb lobster (must be a member/register first)
THE PARADISO - free entry + sombrero & song
THE VINE TAVERN - free meal
TODAI SEAFOOD BUFFET - Free Meal or voucher for Meal Next Visit
TONY ROMA'S - free dessert, free meal
UP THE CREEK - free meal and dessert
VACCARO'S ITALIAN PASTRY SHOP - free dessert and drink
WENDY'S - free kids meal to all kids club members
WINGSTOP - Free Large Fresh-Cut Seasoned Fries
Z' TEJAS - Register First - $15 coupon for the month of your birthday
ZIO'S - free dessert mini pizza

=========================================================================== ====

NON-food:

DSW - Free $5 Certificate
SEPHORA - Sugar Kisses Mini Lip Duo
VICTORIA'S SECRET - $10
Acapulco: free entree (acquired through e-mail sign up)
Ben and Jerry: Free scoop (acquired through e-mail sign up)
Benihana: free meal up to $30 (acquired through e-mail sign up)
BJ's Brew house: free pzookie (acquired through e-mail sign up)
Medieval Times: free food and seat at show (acquired through e-mail sign up)
Red Robin : free burger (acquired through e-mail sign up)
Sephora: free birthday gift no purchase required if redeemed in store but must add on to any order if redeemed online (acquired by signing up for their free beauty insiders program)
Starbucks: Free drink (acquired by registering gift card online)
Victoria's Secret: $10 gift card (gift for angel card holders)
Xbox Live: 25 cents by the 15th of your birthday month

[sinxtanx]

Don't think of it as $0.25, think of it as 5% off a $5 purchase

Actually, if he doesn't have points already, he HAS to pay whatever amount because points

[specialguy]

so what do sony and nintendo give you??

it would be cool if they gave you a xbla game, or at least a free avatar clothing of your choosing or something.

but realistically, i think people just like to bash microsoft. sony and nintendo give you nothing.

but lemme guess the counterpoint to that BUT THEY DONT POINT A GUN TO MY HEAD AND MAKE ME PAY FOR LIVE EITHER

[-Pyromaniac-]

Is it more insulting to get nothing at all, or 25 cents. Let us discuss this at length.

[YianGaruga]

so what do sony and nintendo give you??

Nothing, but at least they don't pretend to actually care.

[SSReborn]

so what do sony and nintendo give you??

Don't you need a gold membership to even be able to get a "birthday gift"

[bon]

In three more years you can buy an indie game.

[Ken]

Don't you need a gold membership to even be able to get a "birthday gift"

So think of it as 25 cents off your membership. What a deal.

[Baconsammy]

Their birthday gift to me is Bing Rewards. 512 dollars in MSP and counting so far.

[DMczaf]

so what do sony and nintendo give you??

Nothing.

EA on the other hand gave me 25 percent off!

[sorijealut]

I hate bad gifts.

[bon]

so what do sony and nintendo give you?? it would be cool if they gave you a xbla game, or at least a free avatar clothing of your choosing or something. but realistically, i think people just like to bash microsoft. sony and nintendo give you nothing. but lemme guess the counterpoint to that BUT THEY DONT POINT A GUN TO MY HEAD AND MAKE ME PAY FOR LIVE EITHER

I've gotten a lot of free stuff from Club Nintendo and some of it is really cool.

EDIT: oh, for my birthday. yeah nintendo never remembers my birthday

[specialguy]

realistically every single person has a birthday, so any birthday award amounts to mandated annual freebies as part of the membership. i can see why sony and Nintendo dont give you anything.

[shagg_187]

Nothing. EA on the other hand gave me 25 percent off!

25% here and another 25% for complaining to customer service how you're not satisfied.

[Wario64]

25% here and another 25% for complaining to customer service how you're not satisfied.

They gave me 15% when I asked for a coupon. They really are a coupon dispenser.

[Baconsammy]

Magiannos gives me a free entree every year. I like them. Lasagna please.

[Ysiadmihi]

so what do sony and nintendo give you??

Well at least they're not trying to persuade you into buying more spacebucks so you can actually make use of your "gift"...on your birthday, no less!

[Kazerei]

I found a quarter on the ground the other day. Felt good.

[SovanJedi]

Lucky you (and happy birthday)!

I didn't even get that, or my usual 50 Stars Points from Club Nintendo... I think they stop when you reach a certain age. :<

[sorijealut]

I found a quarter on the ground the other day. Felt good.

LOL didn't think of it this way. I found a quarter today too.

[Wario64]

I found a quarter on the ground the other day. Felt good.

It was years ago but I found a 50 dollar bill at a gelato place. It felt good

[DMczaf]

I found a quarter on the ground the other day. Felt good.

LOL didn't think of it this way. I found a quarter today too.

I don't even have a quarter!

I have the promise of a quarter that will come later!

[edgardavids]

Nothing, but at least they don't pretend to actually care.

Not true i got a birthday cake for home from sony.

[VanWinkle]

I really would have to wonder if it's a mistake. How could they possibly make a message like 20 MS Points is an actual gift? I mean, technically it IS a gift, but what in the world do you do with that?

[Tagg9]

You ungrateful little beggar.

[Baconsammy]

If they weren't so inept, I'd regift it. But nooooo they can't figure out how to give points/games to other gamers. I'd love to give everyone on my friends list 10msp.

[AlmostMilk]

Last I checked, it wasn't the year 1902.

[edgardavids]

I really would have to wonder if it's a mistake. How could they possibly make a message like 20 MS Points is an actual gift? I mean, technically it IS a gift, but what in the world do you do with that?

well it just accumulates onto the points youve made from xbox rewards i presume.

[MatthewB92]

so what do sony and nintendo give you?? it would be cool if they gave you a xbla game, or at least a free avatar clothing of your choosing or something. but realistically, i think people just like to bash microsoft. sony and nintendo give you nothing. but lemme guess the counterpoint to that BUT THEY DONT POINT A GUN TO MY HEAD AND MAKE ME PAY FOR LIVE EITHER

DS makes a sound when it starts up on my birthday. That is better than 25 cents :p

[Trike]

I laughed when I read that email too. Then I realized I had 380 points prior to that. Now I am waiting for the 15th.

[Box of Bunnies]

That's, like, 0.055 MS Funbux for every Unbirthday.

[Seance]

Better than what Sony gave me.

Not to sound like a fanboy, but it is better than nothing, lol.