NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE OR WIN. 

THE GAMESTOP HALO 3: ODST MELEE IN MANHATTAN TOURNAMENT (“TOURNAMENT”) IS OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHO ARE 17 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER AT TIME OF ENTRY.  VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

By entering, all Contestants accept and agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules, the decisions of the Sponsor and/or GTD which are final and binding and to be contacted by Sponsor or its agents by email, mail and/or telephone regarding this Tournament.

ELIGIBILITY:

Employees of: GameStop, Inc. (the “Sponsor”) and its respective affiliates, subsidiaries, parent companies, representatives, Microsoft (“prize provider”), advertising, promotion and publicity agencies ("Sponsor and its agents") and the immediate family members and persons living in the same household of each are not eligible to play or win. Void where prohibited, restricted or taxed by law. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.

THIS TOURNAMENT CONSISTS OF FOUR (4) ROUNDS OF COMPETITION.

Contestants will compete against each other playing Halo 3: ODST. All rounds in this Tournament will be played on Xbox 360 interactive or a used Xbox 360 system.

The onsite GameStop Tournament Director (“GTD”) will present game play instructions, any mandatory game play settings, and Game Controller directions during the introduction prior to commencement of each Round. Regardless of any Round, Contestants must use Game Controllers provided at the participating GameStop location or Tournament location. A Contestant cannot use his or her own Game Controllers. Participating entrants (referred herein as “Contestant") are responsible for understanding the Game Controllers and instructions.  All Contestants must check-in with the onsite GTD at least thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of play. Contestants who are not checked-in at least thirty (30) minutes prior to play or who are not present at the Tournament location when his or her name is called to compete against another Contestant, may be eliminated from the Tournament in the GTD’s sole discretion. Pairing of Contestants is at the sole discretion of the GTD. The GTD will signal to initiate all play. Both Contestants must press start to begin the match. In each Round, each Contestant will have limited time to eliminate his/her opponent (refer to each Round for time limitations). Also, the following Tournament Game Play practices apply: Single elimination – bracket style; no memory cards or personal controllers.

The Sponsor and/or GTD, in their sole discretion, reserve the right to disqualify any Contestant who engages in any conduct Sponsor and/or GTD deems to be improper, unfair or otherwise adverse to the operation of the Tournament or detrimental to other Contestants. Such improper conduct includes, but is not limited to, falsifying personal information required during Tournament registration or prize claim, violating any Official Rules stated herein, accumulating points or prize(s) through illegal methods or unfair tactics. Shaking, jiggling (looking left and right in rapid succession to shake the screen) is prohibited.  If a game is interrupted intentionally by any Contestant, such Contestant will immediately be disqualified. Contestant further acknowledges that the forfeiture of a prize and/or return of a prize shall in no way prevent Sponsor from pursuing other avenues of recourse such as criminal or civil proceedings in connection with such conduct.

Contestants must comply with any security procedures, measures and instructions imposed by the Sponsor and/or the onsite GTD who reserves the right in their sole discretion to suspend or cancel Contestant’s participation due to any non-compliance with instructions, security procedure or inappropriate behavior or misconduct.
Each Contestant, or his or her parent or legal guardian if Contestant is a minor, further understands that neither the Sponsor nor its agents will be responsible for any lateness and/or “no shows” and no further opportunity will be permitted. Contestant (and/or parent or legal guardian) understands that neither the Sponsor nor its agents has arranged for or carry any insurance of any kind for  benefit (or that of his or her heirs, executors and administrators) in connection with this Tournament, including, without limitation, insurance relating to my traveling to and participating in any related activity, and that Contestant (or his or her parent or legal guardian) is solely responsible for obtaining and paying for any life, travel, accident, property or other insurance.

For each Round of this Tournament, each Contestant will be required to complete and submit proper documentation at Sponsor’s/GTD’s sole discretion prior to participating. If you are a minor (defined as under 19 years of age in Alabama and Nebraska, under 21 in Mississippi and under 18 years of age in all other states and the District of Columbia), a parent or legal guardian will be required to complete,  sign and submit all document on behalf of any participating minor. Failure to complete and/or submit any required documentation, including but not limited to a Release of Liability, as required by Sponsor or the onsite GTD may result in disqualification.

ROUND 1 STORE COMPETITION:

To enter Round 1 of the Tournament, visit a participating GameStop location on or before October 2, 2009.  To obtain the address for a particular Tournament location, visit www.gamestop.com/halo. The tournament will be capped at thirty two (32) Contestants per location for the first round. If more than thirty two (32) Contestants show up to compete at a particular location, only the first thirty two (32) Contestants will be allowed to compete.  All Contestants must sign-in with the onsite GTD at least thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of Tournament. Contestants who are not signed-in at least thirty (30) minutes prior to play may be eliminated from the Tournament in the GTD’s sole discretion. , If you have not signed up prior to the Tournament date and space is still available with the onsite GTD’s approval, Contestant (or his/her parent or legal guardian, if a minor) will have the opportunity to complete and submit the required document needed to participate. After the GTD at each location has reached the thirty two (32) Contestants, no further Contestants will be accepted. 

If you are among the eligible thirty two (32) Contestants, the GTD will call your name when it is your time to compete in Round 1. When your name is called, you will be given one (1) opportunity to compete against another Contestant at that location. Each Round 1 Contestant will be paired with another Round 1 Contestant in a five (5) minute match. The Contestant at the end of each match with the most kills will advance to the next round of the bracket. The winner of each Round 1 match will then compete against another Contestant until the top scoring four (4) Round 1 Contestants remain who will compete against each other to determine the top scoring Round 1 Contestant who will be declared the Store Winner. The Store Winner and the remaining three (3) top scoring Contestants (“Round 1 Contestants”) will all have the opportunity to compete in Round 2 of the Tournament.

All top scoring Round 1 Contestants will be determined on October 2, 2009 and will be presented with a certificate of winning which will allow him (or her) to compete in Round 2, and will be responsible for getting to the one of two hundred and ninety three (293) Round 2 locations where Round 2 of the Tournament will take place. If you are a minor, please consult with your parent or legal guardian before traveling to the location for Round 2. The Sponsor is not responsible for any expense the winner and/or his/her parent (or legal guardian) incurs while traveling to/from the location where Round 2 will be held

ROUND 2 DISTRICT COMPETITION:

Round 2 will be conducted on or about October 9, 2009.  In Round 2, all Round 1 Contestants will be required to present his or her certificate of winning Round 1. The GTD will call your name when it is your time to compete in Round 2. When your name is called, you will be given one (1) opportunity to compete against another Round 1 Contestant to determine the top Round 2 Contestants. Each Round 2 Contestant will be paired with another Contestant in a five (5) minute match. The Contestant at the end of each match with the most kills will advance to the next round of the bracket. The winner of each Round 2 match will then compete against another Contestant until the two (2) top scoring Contestants remain who will compete against each other in a final match to determine the top scoring Round 2 Contestant who will be declared the District Winner. The District Winner and the remaining top scoring Contestant (“Round 2 Contestants”) will all have the opportunity to compete in Round 3 of the Tournament.

All top scoring Round 2 Contestants will be determined on October 9, 2009 and will be presented with a certificate of winning which will allow him or her to compete in Round 3. Each Round 2 Contestant will be responsible for getting to one of the sixteen (16) separate regional locations where Round 3 of the Tournament will take place. The Sponsor is not responsible for any expense the winner and/or his/her parent (or legal guardian) incurs while traveling to/from the location where Round 3 will be held.

ROUND 3 REGIONAL FINALISTS:

Round 3 will be conducted on or about October 23, 2009. In Round 3, all Round 2 Contestants will be required to present his or her certificate of winning Round 2.  The GTD will call your name when it is your time to compete in Round 3. When your name is called, you will be given one (1) opportunity to compete against another Round 2 Contestant. Each Round 2 Contestant will be paired with another Contestant in a five (5) minute match. The Contestant at the end of each match with the most kills will advance to the next round of the bracket until one (1) Contestant remains and declared the Finalist for that Region and will advance in Round 4 of the Tournament.

All Finalists will be determined on October 23, 2009.

ROUND 4 (FINALS):

Approximately sixteen (16) Finalists will advance to Round 4 of the Tournament which will be held on or about December 5, 2009 at a venue determined by the Sponsor in New York City, NY. Each Finalist will be required to travel on specified dates as determined by Sponsor (or he/she will be disqualified) and will be required to present a valid photo ID (or any legal document if necessary) to compete in Round 4. If a Finalist is a minor, a parent or legal guardian will need to accompany such Finalist. Each Finalist may be required to present his or her certificate of winning Round 4 before competing.

In Round 4 of the Tournament, all sixteen (16) Finalists will be given the opportunity to compete against other Finalists, as determined by the Sponsor. Finalists will be paired into individual groups whereby the goal is to score the most point during the match.  The winning Finalist per group will then have the opportunity to play the winning Finalists from other groups until one (1) sole Finalist (subject to verification) remains and declared the Grand Prize Winner of the Tournament.

If a Finalist withdraws or fails to attend the Finals for any reason whatsoever, at the Sponsor’s sole discretion, an alternate Finalist may be determined.

TIES:

If the game is tied after the time limit for a given match, the game will go into a two (2) minute overtime tie-breaker where the player with the first kill will win. In the event of a further tie, the game will be extended for additional two (2) minute overtime tie-breaker until a winner is determined.

SCORING/TRACKING:

All scores will be tracked by the game’s system. The Sponsor will have the final ruling regarding any mediation of the Tournament.

PRIZES & APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUES (“ARV”):

1 Grand Prize consisting of: $5,000 cash (awarded in form of a check) (ARV: $5,000.00).  16 Finalist Prizes: A 3day/2 night trip for Finalist only (unless Finalist is a minor in which case a parent or legal guardian will need to accompany traveling minor) to the GameStop Tournament Finals in New York City, NY (“Event”) plus $200 spending money (ARV: $1,600.00 each). Actual ARV of each Finalist’s prize may vary based on location of Finalist’s primary residence and fares at time of departure. If actual value of Finalist prize turns out to be less than the stated ARV, then the difference will not be awarded. 16 Round 3 Prizes: Halo 3: ODST Solar Mobile Charger (ARV: $49.99 each). 293 Round 2 Prizes: Halo 3: lantern Radio (ARV: $29.99 each). 2,264 Round 1 Prizes: Halo 3: ODST Prize Pack (ARV: $12.99 each). Each Round 1 Prize Packs consists of: a License Plate Frame and a 7-in-1 Survival Tool.  ARV of all prizes to be awarded: $69,596.27.

Each Finalist trip prize consists of: round-trip coach-class airfare for winner only (unless winner is a minor) from a major commercial airport nearest winner’s primary residence (to be determined by Sponsor) or ground transportation if winner resides within 150 miles radius of New York City, NY (“Event City”), hotel accommodations for two (2) nights (one room, single or double occupancy), and $200.00 spending money, which will be awarded in the form of a check. All meals, ground transportation (other than as noted), taxes (including but not limited to federal and state, income and sales tax), gratuities, incidentals, service charges, upgrades or other expenses not specified herein are not included and are the  sole responsibility of each Finalist. If Round 4 is cancelled or postponed for any reason, awarding of the remaining elements of Finalist trip shall constitute full satisfaction of Sponsor’s prize obligation and no substitute or additional compensation will be awarded. All travel arrangements will be made by Sponsor or its designated agent. No travel date substitutions allowed. If a Finalist is unable to travel on dates specified by Sponsor, prize will be forfeited and the Contestant who was eliminated last prior to the Finalist prize winner may be declared the alternate Finalist, provided there is sufficient time to verify alternate Finalist and make travel arrangement, otherwise such Finalist prize will not be awarded. If, for any reason whatsoever, the Finalist cannot travel after all travel arrangements are made and paid, then the Sponsor shall have no further obligation to the Finalist. Travel and accommodations are subject to change and availability and restrictions may apply.

Winners acknowledge that the Sponsor, prize provider and all other businesses concerned with this Tournament and their agents do not make, nor are in any manner are responsible for any warranty, representations, expressed or implied, in fact or in law, relative the quality, conditions, fitness or merchantability of any aspect of any prize except that each merchandise prize shall be subject to its manufacturer’s standard warranty. All travel and merchandise prizes are not redeemable for cash. Prizes are non-assignable or transferable. No substitution by any winner is permitted. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any prize (or portion thereof) with a prize (or portion thereof) of equal or greater value in the event offered prize is unavailable. Winners will be responsible for payment of all federal, state, local and income taxes associated with the awarding of their respective prizes. Any other incidental expenses on prize not specified herein are the sole responsibility of each winner.

WINNER NOTIFICATION:

The top scoring sixteen (16) Finalists (prior to travel) will be required to complete and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, W-9 and, except where prohibited, Liability/Publicity Release, within five (5) days of notification or he/she may be disqualified and the next highest scoring Contestant in that region may be determined the alternate. If a Finalist is less than the age of majority in his or her state of residence, all required documents must be signed by the Finalist’s parent/legal guardian on his/her behalf. If the Finalist cannot be contacted, or is contacted and does not respond as directed within five (5) days of attempted contact, or refuses the prize or is ineligible to accept the prize, or has not complied with these Official Rules, or has made false statements or if prize notification is returned as undeliverable, prize will be forfeited and an alternate may be determined. Finalists are not considered winners and are not recipients of any prize until all required documentation are received and have been verified by Sponsor or its judge(s).

Winning constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) to use – each Contestant’s name, entry, hometown, likeness, prize won, statements, photograph, video (all at Sponsor’s discretion) for future promotion, advertising, publicity in any and all media (including online posting on GameStop’s and/or it’s prize provider’s website) now or hereafter devised throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification, attribution or permission.

GENERAL:

The Sponsor, its prize provider and its agents are not in any way responsible or liable for damages, losses or injury resulting from participation in or travel to or from this Tournament by any Contestant or from the acceptance, possession, shipping and handling, loss, use or misuse of any prize awarded in this Tournament. By entering, Contestants assume sole liability for all injuries, including, without limitation, personal injuries and/or damage to property, caused or claimed to be caused by, related to, or arising out of participating in or traveling to or from this Tournament or the acceptance, possession, shipping and handling, loss, use or misuse of any prize awarded. Sponsor has the right to cancel, terminate or modify this Tournament if it cannot be completed as planned due to computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, technical failures, or other conditions beyond Sponsor's control. Sponsor is not responsible for any software or hardware failure, or failure to contact Contestants, whether due to technical or human error. If a game is interrupted intentionally by any Contestant, such Contestant will immediately be disqualified.

In the event of an outage of power, accidental unplugging, system freeze or some other event not in either Contestant’s control that would not allow the Contestant to finish the game, the game will be restarted using the "situational setup" to exactly match the score, settings, and time so the game can continue.  

Sponsor, its prize provider and/or its agents may film, record and/or take photographs during the Tournament, and may use the resulting footage, recordings or photographs for a range of purposes, including, without limitation, for marketing and promoting Sponsor, its prize provider and/or its promotion partners/agents and their respective products and services. By participating in the Tournament, each Contestant authorizes Sponsor to film, record and/or photograph his or her voice and likeness ("Image"), and also grants the Sponsor and its agents the irrevocable right to use any footage, recordings or photographs of him or her recorded or taken during the Tournament, or any reproduction or modification thereof (collectively, the "Recordings") in any manner and medium throughout the world in perpetuity for advertising, trade, promotion, exhibition or any other lawful purpose, except where prohibited by law. By participating in the Tournament, except where prohibited by law, each Contestant further waives any right of inspection or approval of the uses to which Sponsor, its prize provider and/or its agents may put the Recordings, and releases Sponsor and its agents from any and all claims arising out of or in connection with the Recordings, the Contestant's image or Sponsor's and/or its agents use thereof. The Tournament is governed by the laws of the State of Texas and all claims must be resolved in courts sitting in Tarrant County.

WINNERS LIST:

For a list of the sixteen (16) top scoring Finalists, including the Grand Prize Winner, available after November 30, 2009, send a stamped, self addressed envelope to: GameStop Halo 3: ODST Melee in Manhattan Tournament Finalists/Winner, 625 Westport Parkway, Grapevine, TX, 76051.

SPONSOR:

Sponsored by GameStop, Inc., 625 Westport Parkway, Grapevine, TX, 76051