NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER. 

THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL 2K9 TOURNAMENT (“TOURNAMENT”) IS OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (EXCEPT RESIDENTS OF VERMONT) WHO: 1) ARE 13 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AT TIME OF ENTRY; 2) HAVE AN XBOX LIVE SUBSCRIPTION PRIOR TO APRIL 25, 2009. VOID IN VERMONT AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

ELIGIBILITY:

Employees of: GameStop, Inc. (hereinafter, “Sponsor”), 2K Sports, a.k.a. Take 2, MLB, and their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, parent companies, representatives, promotional partner(s), 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 and regulations applies.

This Tournament consists of four (4) rounds of competition. Round 1 and 4 of the Tournament will be conducted live and attendance in Round 1 is mandatory in order to advance to the next round, if applicable. Round 2 and 3 of the Tournament will be played on Xbox live and eligible Contestants will need to log-in during the competition periods to qualify to compete.

ROUND 1:

The onsite GameStop Tournament Director (“GTD”) will present play instructions, any mandatory game play settings, and Game Controller directions during the introduction prior to commencement of each Round. 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 may be eliminated from the Tournament at the GTD’s sole discretion. Pairing of Contestants is at the sole discretion of the GTD. The GTD will signal to initiate all play. Contestants must use Game Controllers provided at the participating GameStop location or Tournament location.  A Contestant cannot use his or her own Game Controllers.  Each Contestant will have limited time to eliminate his/her opponent (refer to each Round for time limitations). At the sole discretion of the GTD, Contestants who employ unfair playing practices will be automatically disqualified.

To enter Round 1 of the Tournament, visit a participating GameStop location by 1:59 PM local time on April 25, 2009.  The tournament will be capped at thirty two (32) Contestants for the first round per location. 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 in Round 1.  To obtain the address for a particular Tournament location, visit www.gamestop.com/mlb2k9.  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. On the day of Round 1, complete an official sign up sheet (if you have not signed up prior to the Tournament date), or if you are a minor (defined as under 19 years of age in Alabama and Nebraska, under 21 years of age 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 and sign the official sign up sheet. After signing-in, 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 single elimination match until one (1) Contestant is eliminated. The winner of each Round 1 match will then compete against another winner until only one (1) Round 1 Contestant has survived the in-game elimination rounds.  The surviving Round 1 winner at each participating GameStop location will be declared the Store Winner and will have the opportunity to compete online in Round 2 of the Tournament.

All Store Winners will be determined on April 25, 2009 and will be responsible for registering in order to participate in Round 2.  Store Winners will be provided with a winner’s certificate which will have a unique code. Unique code can only be used once and should not be shared with other people. Sponsor will have no further obligation to any Contestant who fails to adhere to such stipulation. Store Winners will need to visit gamestop.com/winnersMLB2k9 by 12:01 am Eastern Time (ET) on Monday, May 4, 2009 to register their contact information and the unique code to participate in Round 2.

ROUND 2:

On or before May 7, 2009, all Store Winners will be contacted at the email s/he provided during the registration process with entry details needed to participate in Round 2, including creating a username (If applicable).  All Contestants that have a username prior to the Tournament can use his or her existing username to compete in Round 2. Upon creating a username, if applicable, or using your existing username, each Store Winner will receive an invitation to compete in Round 2 in a ladder style competition. Round 2 is subject to all policies located at www.gamestop.com/winnersmlb2k9.
Round 2 will commence at approximately 12:01 am ET on May 8, 2009 and conclude at 12:01 am ET on June 8, 2009. 

The top sixty four (64) Round 2 Contestants based on accumulative scoring (subject to Sponsor’s verification), as of 12:01 am EST on June 9, 2009 will automatically advance to Round 3 of the Tournament.   

ROUND 3:

Round 3 will commence at approximately 12:01 am Eastern Time (“ET”) on June 10, 2009 and conclude at 12:01 am ET on June 25, 2009. 

To compete in Round 3, each Round 2 Winner will receive an invitation to compete in Round 3 in a bracket style single elimination competition. Round 3 is subject to all policies located at www.gamestop.com/winnersmlb2k9

The top eight (8) Round 3 Contestants as of 12:01am ET on June 30, 2009 will be declared as the eight Finalists and will automatically advance to Round 4 of the Tournament.  

ROUND 4:

On or about July 14, 2009, eight (8) Finalists  will compete against each other in a single elimination Tournament match until one Contestant remains and is declared the Grand Prize winner.

TIES:

In case of a tie in Round 1, the tied Contestants will have a rematch to determine the winner.  In case of a further tie, the winner will be determined based on the Contestant that achieved the longest distance for a single home run. In case of a further tie, the winner will be determined based on the Contestant that achieved the most consecutive home runs.

In case of a tie in Rounds 2, 3, and 4, the tied contestants will play extra innings to determine the winner.  The game will continue in extra innings until a winner can be determined.

SCORING/TRACKING:

All scores for Rounds 1 and 4 will be tracked by the Game; which will be deemed the official scorer for all purposes.  All scores for Rounds 2 and 3 will be tracked by Xbox Live and/or GameStop’s promotional partner(s).

PRIZES & APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUES (“ARV”):

One Grand Prize: A Sports Memorabilia Package (ARV: $500.00). Items include in Grand Prize are at the Sponsor’s sole discretion.  8 Finalists  Prizes:  A trip for each Finalist and one (1) guest to the All-Star Weekend at Fan Fest (“Event”) in St. Louis, MO plus two (2) tickets to attend the 2009 MLB All-Star Game (“Game”). Each Finalist and his/her guest must travel on dates specified by Sponsor or forfeit all rights to the trip Prize. Trip includes: round-trip coach airfare to/from each Finalist’s primary residence or ground transportation if a Finalist  resides in or within 150 miles radius of St. Louis, MO; three (3) nights double occupancy hotel accommodation; plus two tickets to Game (ARV: $5,450.00 each). All meals, ground transportation, gratuities and all other expenses and incidentals not mentioned herein are the Winner’s responsibility. Selection of seats for the Game will be at the Sponsor’s sole discretion. Actual value of trip depends on point of departure and fares at time of booking. If actual value of the trip is lower than the stated ARV, the difference will not be awarded. If a trip prize is forfeited by a Finalist for any reason whatsoever, and there is ample time to determine an alternate Round 3 Winner, the next highest scoring Round 3 Contestant will be notified and will be required to meet all requirements per these Official Rules. If there is not sufficient time to fly Winner to the Game, or if the Game and/or Event are canceled, postponed or rescheduled for any reason whatsoever, the Sponsor shall have no further obligation to Finalist other than to supply remaining portion of the trip Prize minus the tickets to the Game and/or Event and such trip must be taken within twelve (12) months from the date of prize notification. Travel arrangements must be made through Sponsor’s agent. If, for any reason whatsoever, a Finalist  (or guest) cannot travel after all travel arrangements are made and paid, then the Sponsor shall have no further obligation to the Finalist and/or his/her guest. Winner and guest are solely responsible for obtaining the proper travel documentation (e.g., valid photo ID) prior to travel. Each Finalist’s guests must meet the age of majority within his/her state of primary residence unless Finalist is a parent or legal guardian of a traveling minor. Each guest must complete and return a Liability/Publicity/Travel Release prior to travel. A parent or legal guardian must execute any required travel documents on behalf of any traveling minor. Blackout dates and restrictions may apply.  64 Round 2 Prizes: a Free Fat Head Gift Certificate, (ARV: $100.00 each). Usage of Gift Certificate is subject to its terms and conditions and must be redeemed/used during the allowable redemption period. Certain restriction may apply when using the Gift Certificate. 1,936 Round 1 Prizes: MLB Front Office Manager – Xbox 360 (ARV: $39.99 each).  1,936 Round 1 Consolation Prizes (awarded to each second place Contestant in each Round 1 competition):  Major League Baseball Lanyards (ARV: $2.99 each). . ARV of all prizes: $133,709.28.

Winners acknowledge that the Sponsor, Take 2, MLB, 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. 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:

Trip winners (“Winner”) 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 Contestant with the next highest Round 3 score may be determined the alternate. If any Winner is less than the age of majority in his or her state of residence, all required documents must be signed by the Winner’s parent/legal guardian and will be required to accompany Winner on the trip as his/her guest. If a Winner cannot be contacted, or is contacted and does not respond as directed within five (5) days of attempted contact, or refuses the prize within five (5) days of notification or is ineligible to accept the prize, or does not complied with these Official Rules, or has made false statements or if prize notification is returned as undeliverable, trip prize will be forfeited and an alternate may be determined. Winning constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) to use each Winner’s name, entry, hometown, likeness, prize won, statements and photograph (all at Sponsors’ discretion) for future advertising, publicity in any and all media (including online posting) now or hereafter devised throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification or permission.

GENERAL:

The Sponsor, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any Contestant who violates these Official Rules. By entering, all Contestants accept and agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules, the decisions of the Sponsor and/or GTD and to be contacted by Sponsor or its agents by email, mail and/or telephone regarding this Tournament.

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 my participation due to any non-compliance with any instruction, security procedure or inappropriate behavior or misconduct.

Contestants, (or if a Contestant is a minor, his/her parent or legal guardian), further understand that neither the Sponsor nor its agents will be responsible for any lateness and/or “no shows” and no further opportunity will be permitted. Contestants (and/or their parents or legal guardians) understand that neither the Sponsor nor its agents has arranged for or carry any insurance of any kind for Contestants’ benefit (or that of their  heirs, executors and administrators) in connection with this Tournament, including, without limitation, insurance relating to their traveling to and participating in any related activity, and that Contestants (or their parents or legal guardians) are solely responsible for obtaining and paying for any life, travel, accident, property or other insurance.

The Sponsor, Take 2, MLB, and their agents and promotional partner(s) 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, Contestant assumes sole liability for 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. Sponsors have 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 and/or its promotional partner(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. Sponsor is not responsible should a Contestant’s computer crashes during any time of play or if a Contestant is unable to continue game play (for any reason whatsoever).

The Sponsor and/or its promotional partner(s) and/or their agents may film, record and/or take photographs during any Tournament Round, and may use the resulting footage, recordings or photographs for a range of purposes, including, without limitation, for marketing and promoting Sponsor, its promotional partner(s) and/or their agents and their respective products and services. By participating in the Tournament, each Contestant authorizes Sponsor and/or its promotional partner(s) to film, record and/or photograph his or her voice and likeness ("Image"), and also grants the Sponsor and its promotional partner(s) and their 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 promotional partner(s) and their agents may put the Recordings, and releases Sponsor, its promotional partner(s) and their agents from any and all claims arising out of or in connection with the Recordings, the Contestant's Image or Sponsor, its promotional partner(s) and/or their 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, Texas.

WINNERS LIST:

For a list of major Winners, available after July 17, 2009, send a stamped, self addressed envelope to: MLB 2K8 Tournament Winners, P.O. Box 9296, Medford, NY 11763-9296.

SPONSOR:

This Tournament is sponsored by: GameStop Inc. (625 Westport Parkway, Grapevine, TX 76051).