Microsoft Apologizes For Rewards Difficulties, Doles Out Free Games!

I just got a very nice email from the Xbox Live Rewards program. You may recall this little promotion being set up so that Xbox Live gamers can get a reward for spending so much time bulking up their gamer scores. Prizes included copies of Fusion Frenzy, downloads of Contra, and Microsoft points. I had trouble getting through the registration when the site went Live, and given my low gamer score, I kinda gave up on it. I wasn’t alone, and now they’re sending out consolation prizes for putting up with these technical difficulties

The email in my inbox tonight included all the rules for participation and registration and they admitted to having problems, and to make up for it, they included codes to redeem for a free download of Robotron and Joust from Live Arcade. Thats pretty generous considering I just was going to sit the whole thing out.

Anyone else who had problems get this email? Leave a comment below.

Full email after the jump.

Xbox Rewards Announcement

Dear FakeTrout,

Thank you for your interest in Xbox Rewards. Due to technical issues, you may have experienced difficulties while trying to register for Xbox Rewards. Please accept our sincere apologies. To help make up for any inconvenience this may have caused you, we are providing you with two Xbox LIVE® Arcade games*. (Use the tokens provided at the end of this email).

All technical issues have now been resolved and we would like to welcome you to come back to Xbox Rewards and join the Old Spice Experience Challenge**. To help ensure that you have enough time to complete the Challenge, we have extended the Challenge Period by 10 days. You now have until April 22, 2007, to increase your gamerscore by 1,500 and get rewarded. Here are the key things that you need to know when returning to Xbox Rewards and joining the Old Spice Experience Challenge:

* Return to Xbox Rewards at www.xbox.com/rewards, sign in using your Windows Live ID, go to the Old Spice Experience Challenge page, and click “JOIN THIS CHALLENGE”. When determining whether or not you successfully completed this Challenge, Xbox Rewards will only consider the Gamerscore that you accrue AFTER you join this Challenge
* After you have complete the Challenge, return to www.xbox.com/rewards, sign in using your Windows Live ID, go back to the Old Spice Experience Challenge page, and click on the “I’M FINISHED” button.
* If you have qualified to receive a physical reward, you will need to verify your mailing address one time by clicking on the “CONFIRM” button before your rewards can be shipped. The “CONFIRM” button will not disappear after you verify, but don’t worry, you don’t need to do it twice.

Xbox will send out rewards shortly after the Challenge ends in April to the registered members who met all requirements. Remember, you can only receive the rewards listed for your level, and some rewards are only available on a first come, first serve basis, while supplies last.

Again, thank you for your incredible response to this program. We’ve been working hard to make sure that your experience will be easy and seamless. Please make sure you check back at with www.xbox.com/rewards regularly for new information and challenges. The future of Xbox Rewards will be heavily shaped by community response. We hope that you enjoy it.

To get your free Xbox LIVE Arcade games, follow the instructions below:

1. Turn on your Xbox 360™ and sign in to Xbox Live
2. Highlight and select “Xbox Live Marketplace.”
3. Select “Redeem Code.”
4. Enter the code and download the game.
5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 to download the second game.

Joust (ESRB Rating: E)
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Robotron (ESRB Rating: E)
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Get gaming and get rewards!

* Offer good only to named recipient of this e-mail. Limit one (1) set of game codes per person. Game codes are non-transferable and not-redeemable for cash. Taxes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the recipient. Game codes expire on June 15, 2007, or after a single use, whichever happens first. Additional terms and conditions may apply.

**The Old Spice Experience Challenge is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States (includes D.C.) age 13+ who are Xbox Rewards members. Limit one (1) Rewards Package per person. This offer expires on April 22, 2007, while supplies last. Click here for Xbox Program Terms & Conditions and Challenge Rules.