At a briefing with Microsoft to discuss the future of Xbox Live, it was revealed that you'll be able to purchase full games, without points, using your credit card. Rating games and content, and then sorting using those ratings, will also make shopping easier. Ars explores the digital plans of the Xbox 360.

We were also shown a new marketplace for avatar clothing, so if you'd like to buy a Halo- or Splinter Cell-themed shirt for your avatar, you will be able to do so. If you want to give your avatar an RC mini-Warthog, it will cost you 320 Microsoft points, or $4. Games will also soon have the ability to give you awards, so your avatar can gain items by playing games. That's right: you'll soon have awards to deal with on top of achievements. Microsoft has many ways of making you feel like you're earning things while playing the games.

The Avatar Marketplace notwithstanding, these additions and updates will go a long way to strengthen Xbox Live as a digital distribution platform. The ability to buy full games without having to muck about with a point system simplifies things drastically. Being able to rate content and games will give the community feedback about what's worth buying, as well as show publishers what works and what doesn't. The ability to redownload purchased games or download them to a friend's console is also user-friendly.
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2...er-ratings.ars