Microsoft and Warner Bros. 13 Days Of Gears
Sweepstakes Official Rules
January 29 Update: In the interest of clarity, we have updated the Official Rules to correctly state that, in order to earn an entry into the Sweepstakes via the Xbox LIVE service, you must register and then log-in to the Xbox LIVE service and play a PUBLIC Gears of War 2 multiplayer session in the designated gameplay mode. Players who register, but fail to play a PUBLIC Gears of War 2 multiplayer session will not receive an entry. For full details, please see Section 3 "How to Enter," which has been updated to clarify the entry requirements.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.
COMMON TERMS USED IN THESE RULES:
These are the Official Rules that govern how the Microsoft and Warner Bros. 13 Days of Gears Sweepstakes will operate. This promotion will be simply referred to as the "Sweepstakes" throughout the rest of these rules.
In these rules, "we," "our," and "us" refer to Microsoft Corporation ("Microsoft"), the sponsor of the Sweepstakest. "You," and "yourself" refers to an eligible Sweepstakes participant.
1. WHAT ARE THE START AND END DATES?
This Sweepstakes starts at 12:01 A.M. Pacific Time (PT) on February 1, 2009, and ends at 11:59 P.M. PT on February 13, 2009 ("Entry Period"). Entries must be received within the Entry Period to be eligible.
The Entry Period consists of thirteen (13) separate Daily Prize Periods, defined in the table below In addition, if you earn a valid entry into all of thirteen (13) of the Daily Prize Periods (i.e., one (1) valid entry per day during the Entry Period), you will automatically receive one (1) entry into the Grand Prize Drawing. Otherwise, each of your entries will only be eligible for the Daily Prize Period Drawing that corresponds to the Daily Prize Period during which it was received.
| DAILY PRIZE PERIOD | GOW 2 MULTIPLAYER GAME MODE | START DATE (all times 12:01 AM PT) | END DATE all times 11:59 PM PT) | MAIL-IN ENTRY DEADLINE |
| 1 | Annex | February 1, 2009 | February 1, 2009 | February 9, 2009 |
| 2 | Submission | February 2, 2009 | February 2, 2009 | Feburary 9, 2009 |
| 3 | Execution | February 3, 2009 | February 3, 2009 | February 10, 2009 |
| 4 | Horde | February 4, 2009 | February 4, 2009 | February 11, 2009 |
| 5 | King of the Hill | February 5, 2009 | February 5, 2009 | February 12, 2009 |
| 6 | Guardian | February 6, 2009 | February 6, 2009 | February 13, 2009 |
| 7 | Warzone | February 7, 2009 | February 7, 2009 | February 14, 2009 |
| 8 | Wingman | February 8, 2009 | February 8, 2009 | Feburary 16, 2009 |
| 9 | King of the Hill | February 9, 2009 | February 9, 2009 | February 16, 2009 |
| 10 | Wingman | February 10, 2009 | February 10, 2009 | February 17, 2009 |
| 11 | Wingman | February 11, 2009 | February 11, 2009 | February 18, 2009 |
| 12 | Horde | February 12, 2009 | February 12, 2009 | February 19, 2009 |
| 13 | Horde | February 13, 2009 | February 13, 2009 | February 20, 2009 |
2. CAN I ENTER?
You are eligible to enter this Sweepstakes if you meet the following requirements at time of entry:
- You are a legal resident of the 50 United States (includes District of Columbia) and you are 18 years or older at the time of entry (NOTE: If you are 18 years of age or older, but are considered a minor in your state of residence, we may require your parent or legal guardian to sign and return all required documentation, and award the prize to your parent or legal guardian on your behalf.); and
- You are NOT an employee of Microsoft Corporation, or any of their subsidiary companies; and
- You are NOT involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Sweepstakes; and
- You are NOT an immediate family (defined as parent, sibling, spouse, child regardless of where they live) or household member of a Microsoft employee, an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary, or a person involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Sweeptakes.
- This Sweeptakes is void outside the geographic area identified above and wherever else prohibited by law.
3. HOW DO I ENTER?
There are two ways to enter: online via the Xbox LIVE service, or offline via U.S. mail.
You can enter online if you have access to an Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, the Gears of War® 2 Xbox 360 video game, and you are an Xbox LIVE® Gold member in good standing. Once you have verified that you meet these system requirements, in order to earn entries, you must register for the Sweepstakes and earn entries as follows:
Register
There are two (2) ways to register: via Xbox.com and via the Xbox LIVE Marketplace as follows:
1. To register via Xbox.com , simply navigate to http://xbox.com/wbgow and register as instructed before the close of the Entry Period on February 13, 2009, at 11:59:59 P.M. PT.
OR,
2. To register via the Xbox LIVE Marketplace , simply download the free Warner Brother's 13 Days of Gears Registration Gamer Picture ("Gamer Picture") before the close of the Entry Period on February 13, 2009, at 11:59 PM PT. To download the Gamer Picture:
- Sign in to Xbox LIVE and access the Game Marketplace,
- Select "Explore Game Content",
- Select "All Games",
- Select "Browse",
- Under Title, Select "W",
- Select "Warner Bros",
- Select " '13 Days of Gears' brought to you by 'Friday the 13th' Registration Gamer Picture" from the list of available content and select "Confirm Download".
- Upon the successful completion of the Gamer Picture download, Players will see a " '13 Days of Gears' brought to you by 'Friday the 13th' Registration Gamer Picture downloaded" message.
(NOTE: Users may also access the free Warner Brothers 13 Days of Gears Registration Gamer Picture via the banner ads running on the Xbox LIVE dashboard.)
You must register for this Sweepstakes using the same Xbox LIVE gamertag that you will use to play Gears of War 2 multiplayer sessions on the Xbox LIVE service during a Daily Prize Period. Please be sure that your Xbox LIVE gamer profile information including e-mail address, mailing address and phone is correct and current. You can update your gamer profile information as described below
Updating Account Information (example for e-mail):
You can verify/update your profile information via your account profile on Xbox.com or through the Xbox Dashboard:
- From the Xbox Dashboard:
- From the Xbox Dashboard, select "My Xbox Channel".
- Select "Profile in Slot 2".
- Select "Manage Account".
- Select "Contact Information".
- Via Xbox.com:
- Go to http://live.xbox.com/en-US/default.aspx.
- Sign in to Xbox using your Windows Live ID account email and password.
- Select "Manage Profile" on your "My Xbox" Home Page.
- Select "Billing and Contact Information".
- Update your Profile Information and then select "Save".
Earn Entries
Provided you have registered for the Sweepstakes as described above, you will automatically receive one (1) entry into a Daily Prize Period Drawing when you log in to the Xbox LIVE service on an Xbox 360 system and play a PUBLIC Gears of War 2 multiplayer session in the Gears of War 2 multiplayer mode for that Daily Prize Period. For example, if you are a registered player, to earn one (1) entry during Daily Prize Period 1, you must log in to the Xbox LIVE service on an Xbox 360 system and play a PUBLIC Gears of War 2 multiplayer session in "Annex" mode. Limit one (1) entry per person per Daily Prize Period Drawing.
To enter by mail, without playing Gears of War 2 on the Xbox LIVE service, hand-print your first and last name, address, city, state/province, ZIP/postal code, phone number, e-mail address (if any) and the Daily Prize Period (i.e., Prize Period 1, 2, or 3) on a 3x5 piece of paper and mail it to:
13 Days of Gears Sweepstakes
PO Box 4112
Grand Rapids MN 55730-4112
To be eligible for a Daily Prize Period Drawing, the mail-in entry(ies) must be received by the corresponding AMOE deadline for the Daily Prize Period, as set forth in the table in Section 1 above. Limit one (1) entry per outer mailing envelope.
We will only accept one (1) entry per person per Daily Prize Period, regardless of entry method. We are not responsible for entries that we do not receive for any reason, or for entries that we receive, but are not decipherable for any reason.
We will automatically disqualify:
- Any incomplete or illegible entry; OR
- Any entries that we receive from you that are in excess of the entry limit described above.
4. WHAT IS/ARE THE PRIZE(S)?
Thirteen (13) Grand Prizes. A prize package that consists of the following:
- A Samsung 40" 1080p flat panel LCD HDTV (Approximate Retail Value (ARV), $1000)
- A Locust Bust (ARV, $650)
- A red Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (ARV, $64.95)
- A Marcus Fenix bronze statue (ARV, $200)
- Gears of War 2 video game soundtrack (ARV, $12)
- Gears of War Aspho Fields novel (ARV $10),
- A 12" x 18" Gears of War 2 promotional poster autographed by members of the Epic development team
- An in-game Golden Hammerburst and Lancer weapon
Total ARV of each Grand Prize: [$1,936.95]
Sixty-Five (65) Daily Prizes Available (five (5) Daily Prize Winners Per Daily Prize Period). A prize package that consists of the following items:
- Gears of War 2 video game soundtrack (ARV, $12)
- Gears of War Aspho Fields novel (ARV, $10)
- A 12" x 18" Gears of War 2 promotional poster autographed by members of the Epic development team
- An in-game Golden Hammerburst and Lancer weapon
Total ARV of each Daily Prize: $22
Approximate Retail Value of all prizes combined: $26,610.35
If for any reason the advertised prize is unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. We will only award one (1) Daily Prize Package per person during the entire Entry Period.
If you are selected as a potential winner:
- You may not exchange your prize for cash or any other merchandise or services.
- You may not designate someone else as the winner. If you are unable or unwilling to accept your prize, we will award it to an alternate potential winner.
- If you accept a prize, you will be responsible for all applicable taxes related to accepting the prize, if any.
- And you are 18 years of age or older, but are considered a minor (being under the age of majority) in your place of residence we may, at our sole discretion, require your parent or legal guardian to sign all required documentation on your behalf or award the prize to your parent or legal guardian on your behalf.
5. HOW ARE WINNERS SELECTED AND NOTIFIED?
Daily Prize Period Drawings:On or around March 1, 2009, we, or a company acting under our authorization, will conduct thirteen (13) separate drawings; one for each Daily Prize Period. In each Daily Prize Period drawing, we, or a company acting under our authorization, will select five (5) potential winners of the Daily Prize from among all eligible entries received during the applicable Daily Prize Period. Non-winning entries will not carry over to any subsequent Daily Prize Period Drawings.
Grand Prize Drawing
After the Daily Prize Drawings, we, or a company acting under our authorization, will conduct a Grand Prize Drawing. If you earn a valid entry into all of the Daily Prize Periods (i.e., one (1) valid entry per day during the Entry Period), you will automatically receive one (1) entry into the Grand Prize Drawing. In the Grand Prize Drawing, we, or a company acting under our authorization, will randomly select thirteen (13) Grand Prize Winners from among all eligible entries received.
If you are a potential winner, we will notify you by sending a message to the e-mail address, the phone number, or mailing address (if any) provided at time of entry within seven (7) days following the random drawing. If our notification is returned as undeliverable, or we are unable to reach you for any reason, we may randomly select an alternate winner.
If there is a dispute as to who is the potential winner, we will consider the potential winner to be the authorized account holder of the e-mail address used to enter the Sweepstakes.
If you are a potential winner, we may require you to sign a declaration of eligibility and liability/publicity release. If you are a potential winner and if you are 18 years of age or older, but are considered a minor in your place of residence, and we require that the prize be awarded to your parent or legal guardian on your behalf pursuant to clause 4(4) above, we may require that they sign a declaration of eligibility and liability/publicity release. If you, (or your parent/legal guardian if applicable), do not sign and return these required forms within the time period listed on the winner notification message, we may disqualify you (or the designated parent/legal guardian) and randomly select an alternate winner.
6. WHAT ARE YOUR ODDS OF WINNING?
Your odds of winning a Daily Prize depend on the number of eligible entries we receive during each day of the Entry Period. Your odds of winning a Grand Prize depend on the number of eligible entries received in the Grand Prize Drawing.
7. WHAT OTHER CONDITIONS ARE YOU ARE AGREEING TO BY ENTERING THIS CONTEST?
By entering this Sweepstakes you agree:
- To abide by these Official Rules;
- To the extent allowable under applicable law, to release and hold harmless Microsoft and its espective advertising and promotional agencies and the parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, representatives, successors, assigns and agents of each from any and all liability or any injury, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this Sweepstakes or any prize won.
- That Microsoft's decisions will be final and binding on all matters related to this Sweepstakes; and
- That by accepting a prize, Microsoft may use your name and place of residence online and in print, or in any other media, in connection with this Sweepstakes, without payment or compensation to you.
8. WHAT LAWS GOVERN THE WAY THIS CONTEST IS EXECUTED AND ADMINISTRATED?
This Sweepstakes will be governed by the laws of the United States .
9. WHAT IF SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS AND THE CONTEST CAN'T RUN AS PLANNED?
If cheating, a virus, bug, catastrophic event, or any other unforeseen or unexpected event that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled, (also referred to as force majeure)affects the fairness and / or integrity of this Sweepstakes, we reserve the right to cancel, change or suspend this Sweepstakes. This right is reserved whether the event is due to human or technical error. If a solution cannot be found to restore the integrity of the Sweepstakes, we reserve the right to select winners from among all eligible entries received before we had to cancel, change or suspend the Sweepstakes.
If you attempt to compromise the integrity or the legitimate operation of this Sweepstakes by hacking or by cheating or committing fraud in ANY way, we may seek damages from you to the fullest extent permitted by law. Further, we may ban you from participating in any of our future promotions, so please play fairly.
10. HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHO WON?
We will post the names of confirmed winners online after March 31, 2008, at xbox.com/winners and this list will remain posted for at least thirty (30) days.
11. WHO IS SPONSORING THIS SWEEPSTAKES
Microsoft Corporation is the sponsor of this Sweepstakes.
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052 USA
