Game Rewards Programs

Many places offer game reward systems, stores and companies alike. Xbox Live, Play Station Plus, and Game Stop Power Up Rewards are some popular examples. What do these services have to offer members, and which is, objectively, the best?

I'll start with Game Stop's power up rewards. Something nice about this one is that you can get it for free. A limited version, without any other specific benefits, gives you points for everything you buy, as well as access to some special offers. However, paying the fourteen dollars a year for the pro version is where is starts to really shine. In addition to several discounts and a bonus on your trade ins and point earnings for spending money there, you also get a free year of game informer magazine. Purchasing a year of game informer from their website is twenty dollars a year, which actually makes it cheaper to get with the game stop benefits.

Then, of course, is Xbox Live. Xbox Live does have a point reward system that works similar to the above, and is entirely free. However, this system is based off of surveys and services you use from Xbox instead of the purchases you make. However, if you have a high Gamerscore (A points total based on the number of achievements you have accumulated) you do gain points based on game purchases, up to 300 for a dollar. However, if you are not an Xbox Live Gold member, you can only earn points through surveys. This has the end result of a more stable, but less pronounced, growth of points.

Also for Xbox is Xbox Live Gold, previously mentioned above. This service has a monthly fee that's primary draw is allowing to play online using the Xbox 360 or Xbox One. This also allows you to use most internet based apps, such as Netflix, which are not usable otherwise. Xbox Gold also gives you two free games a month, which you can keep after you cancel the service, and special offers. If you have an Xbox One it allows innate recording of games, as well as Skype and some other nifty services.

Finally, of course, is Playstation plus. At the moment I write this, joining Playstation Plus (for a monthly fee) nets you the benefit of almost $400 worth of free games across the Playsation 3, Playstation 4, and PS Vita immediately, with the bulk of these games being on the PS3. New games are removed or added from this list frequently, and you can only play the games given if you continue to pay for Playstation Plus. If all you have is a Vita or Playstation 3, it grants you special beta game access, the previously mentioned free games, game discounts and some online save data storage for you games. If you do have a Playstation 4, Playsation Plus allows you to play online (online play is free on the Vita and Playsation 3).

If nothing else, and you go to Game Stop at all, you should get the free membership. There is no reason not too, as it allows you to get bonus items (eventually). If you have an Xbox, there is nothing to lose by getting the live reward program either, although it is very slow. However, I would personally recommend the Pro game stop membership, if only for the game informer magazines, which I love. I also find Playstation plus to be better in principal than the Xbox Live gold, but if you want to play online on an Xbox, you need to drop the money for it.

Sources used are below -

https://www.gamestop.com/poweruprewards/

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/rewards

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live

http://us.playstation.com/playstation-plus/