Microsoft Rolls Out Xbox Rewards Program

Microsoft is rewarding diehard Xbox fans with free points and arcade games just for playing an online game.

The incentive is part of the Xbox Rewards program, which launched last week. The program offers free games and other nuggets to gamers at Xbox.com/Rewards.

Already, the program has found a mark. The rewards offering was so popular its first week, gamers overloaded the company servers. Microsoft had to temporarily shut it down and make adjustments to handle the traffic, according to news reports.

The first challenge gets gamers to increase their scores by playing the Old Spice Experience Challenge. Players who boost their score by 1,500 points through April 15 will receive rewards based on their game level.

For example, level one players will receive a copy of Contra, the Xbox Live Arcade game. Gamers who reach the second level get the online game and 100 Microsoft points to use in the Xbox Live marketplace.

Players who reach the third level reap all the rewards, including an Old Spice T-shirt, 200 Microsoft points and a copy of the Fusion Frenzy video game for Xbox 360. Online materials support the program.

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