Xbox Live Gets Diamond Loyalty Card

According to information newly available on Microsoft's official website, the company is launching the Xbox Live Diamond Card, a real-life 'perks' card that is available to all gamers who have signed up for at least one year of Xbox Live Gold. The card is personalized with the player's Xbox Live gamertag, and allows for discounts at a number of retailers, including Etnies, Hollywood Video, Quiznos Sub and Sam Goody. Microsoft's website describes this card as "an unprecedented merger of your entertainment activities, online and off", and the loyalty card is obviously intended to further make an Xbox Live purchase 'physical' by providing a credit card-style real-life object to map to your virtual Xbox Live account, and to provide extra value to those who have already signed up to Xbox Live. Though Microsoft had not officially announced the card as of press time, it was already possible to sign up to receive the card via the official Xbox Live Diamond website.