Microsoft Sucks!

"The Games for Windows Live Marketplace is closing this month. Microsoft has detailed the rhyme and reason as well as what this means for PC players:
"As part of the recent Xbox 360 system update, Microsoft Points will be retired and the Xbox.com PC Marketplace will be closed as of August 22, 2013," Microsoft explains. "We encourage you to spend your Microsoft Points balance prior to this change. Although you will not be able to purchase new games, you can continue to enjoy previously purchased content by downloading it through the Games for Windows Live client software as usual."

When Xbox 360's system update happens, Microsoft Points will convert to an equivalent cash value on your Live account -- because the Marketplace is going away on PC, and there will be nothing to buy on GFWL, there will be no rollover. As Microsoft mentions, you should spend your Microsoft Points before August 22 to avoid losing those funds altogether.

To be clear, Games for Windows Live as a service will continue to operate. A series of frequently asked questions on Xbox.com details the consequences. Your existing purchased content remains yours, although the ability to buy it through the Marketplace will vanish.

This is another major change in the evolution of Microsoft Live, which will see major overhauls in the coming weeks leading up to Xbox One's launch."

Now even though I have some unused points there, I have no problem with Microsoft closing their Windows Live Marketplace. It's a business decision and frankly it's one I understand. 

The Windows Live Marketplace is terrible and I never used it before. Yes, even though I have points, I never used any of it before. I don't have that many points and I'm the sort of person who if there's nothing on that interest me, I would rather keep the points for another day.

So Microsoft closing the marketplace is something I can understand. What I can't understand is why I have to learn about this from the gaming website IGN? The passage above was taken from IGN and that was how I first learn that the Windows Live marketplace is closing. That sucks!

I'm an account holder who has valid points in the marketplace, so if Microsoft is closing the thing down, why the hell didn't I receive at least an email from them on the matter? I have to learn of this from a third party website that had nothing to do with Microsoft! What if I'm one of those guys who don't visit gaming websites? The points will disappear before you know it! I mean the date stated above is 22 Aug; it's already the 16 Aug! 

Microsoft, you guys want to close the marketplace? Good and well; a totally understandable position. Closing it down without informing people who have accounts on it? That sucks big time!