Full Official Rules and Conditions

Halo 3 $10K 2v2 Launch Ladder (“Competition”)

Competition registration accepted between October 10, 2007 at 12:01 AM PST and December 2, 2007 at 11:59 PM PST. THERE IS NO ENTRY FEE TO PARTICIPATE IN OR WIN THIS COMPETITION.

How to Register to Play: Registration begins at 12:01 AM (PST) on October 10, 2007 and ends at 11:59 PM (PST) on December 2, 2007. You must be a registered member of http://www.ggl.com (“GGL”) in order to participate. Once you are a registered member of GGL, you must Join the Competition ladder at http://www.ggl.com/index.php?controller=MatchManager&method=view&id=93. Each participant MUST register individually and must accurately complete all required registration information. Once registered, individuals must form teams of two (2) players before they can begin competing with other teams. NOTE – due to the “ladder” format of the Competition, players and teams may register and join the Competition after the Competition has begun, up to the end of the ladder stage of the Competition. Each team must select a team captain prior to joining the Competition who will be the primary point of contact for Competition logistics. LIMIT: One (1) registration per person. Players may only participate on one (1) team in the Competition, and once a player’s team has completed a match in the Competition, that player may not switch to another team. All registration information submitted becomes the property of GGL and will not be returned. GGL’s computer will be the official time clock for registration, and the official time zone for the Competition will be Pacific Standard Time.

How to Play/Rules: The competition will begin on October 24, 2007 at 12:01 AM PST. Only valid registered participants with full two-person teams will be eligible to compete. Tournament Producer’s decisions are final and legally binding as they pertain to this Competition.

Game and Platform: Players will compete by playing the videogame Halo® 3 on the Microsoft Xbox 360™ platform in an online match via the Microsoft Xbox Live® Gold service.

Roster Size: 3. Any of the three players on a team may participate in an official match. A substitute player from the team’s roster may replace a teammate before the start of a map. Teams may take a 5-minute break between maps to substitute players.

Match Format: Best of 3 maps. In the event a map ends in a tie, restart the same map with the same settings (correct the game settings to match the event settings if necessary) and continue to replay the map until a winner is determined.

Gamertags: Each player MUST use a valid Xbox Live Gamertag (no guest accounts), and you must include your Xbox Live Gamertag in your GGL profile. DO NOT change your Gamertag during the tournament without consulting an admin first. We require at least 48 hour notice. If you change your Gamertag without admin permission, you may be suspended or banned from the Competition.

Stage 1 (Ladder Stage): On Wednesday, October 24, 2007, valid registered teams will be able to begin joining the Competition Ladder, and will be able to begin challenging opponents and playing practice matches immediately. Teams will be able to join the ladder at any point up to the end of the Ladder Stage, though teams that join earlier will have a better chance to advance to the next stage. Teams will start with 1000 points and will gain points for playing and winning matches. At the end of the Stage 1 Ladder competition on Sunday, December 2, 2007, the top teams will advance to the Stage 2 Bracket. The number of teams that advance to the Stage 2 Bracket will be determined by the number of teams participating in the ladder, according to the following breakdown:

·         Up to 32 teams – all teams advance to Bracket

·         33 – 128 teams – top 32 teams advance to Bracket

·         129 – 512 teams – top 64 teams advance to Bracket

·         513 – 2048 teams – top 128 teams advance to Bracket

·         2049 – 8192 teams – top 256 teams advance to Bracket

·         8193+ teams – top 512 teams advance to Bracket

Teams must participate in at least one legitimate Competition match to be eligible to advance to the Stage 2 Bracket (see below, under “Prizes”, for the definition of a legitimate match).

Stage 2 (Bracket Stage): At the conclusion of the Stage 1 Ladder Competition, the top teams will be placed in a single elimination Stage 2 Bracket, seeded by the order of finish in the Stage 1 Ladder. Teams will compete in the bracket until only one team remains.

Match Scheduling (Ladders): During the Stage 1 Ladder Competition, competitors schedule matches themselves through GGL’s ladder challenge tools. First, one team challenges another team in the ladder, proposing three dates/times for the match. The team that receives the challenge then has the option of either accepting one of the proposed times, in which case the match is officially scheduled, or responding with three alternate times. If the original challenger does not agree to any of the alternate times, they may drop the challenge with no penalty, but if they accept one of the alternate times then the match is officially scheduled. Matches once scheduled can not be altered without the agreement of both teams and without notifying the Tournament Producer. Failure to show up to compete within 10 minutes of a scheduled match time will result in a forfeit loss (with point penalty) for the team that does not show up, and a forfeit win for the team that does. Declining a challenge without proposing alternate times will also result in a point penalty. Teams can challenge and play as often as they wish, within the guidelines of the ladder rules.

Match Scheduling (Brackets): Tournament game matches during the Stage 2 Brackets will be scheduled as follows. Each match will be assigned a time and date to be completed (“Completion Time”), which will be listed in the tournament brackets at http://www.ggl.com/index.php?controller=MatchManager&method=view&id=93. The two (2) opponents can complete their match at any time up to the Completion Time, or if they can’t agree on a time of their own, the Completion Time becomes the default time at which they must play their match. The teams can negotiate on the match time using the comments section of the “Match Details” page for their particular match at http://www.ggl.com/index.php?controller=MatchManager&method=view&id=93. GGL tournament admins will facilitate scheduling of all game matches as needed. Tournament game matches once scheduled will be FINAL and matches may only be rescheduled or delayed as allowed by the GGL in its sole discretion.

Players will forfeit their scheduled match if they are not present and ready to compete within ten (10) minutes of the scheduled time. GGL will be the timekeeper, and the official time zone for the tournament will be Pacific Standard Time.

Match Reporting: At the conclusion of the match, the winning team captain must return to the GGL “Match Details” page and report the scores and results. Failure to report scores and results within 48 hours of match completion may result in the match results being nullified by GGL. If either team disagrees with the reported results, or feels that the opposing team failed to abide by tournament rules, that team may choose to “Dispute Match” from the “Match Details” page. A team filing a dispute should include as much evidence as possible, including screenshots and/or replays of the match.

Match Interruption: If any player loses his/her connection before the map starts (during map load time for example) or before any kills are recorded, restart the map once the player has returned to the game lobby or a substitute from the team’s official roster has joined. If a player loses his/her connection mid game, continue playing as normal. Due to the nature of Halo 3, if the host drops teams should continue to play with the newly selected host.

Match Hosting: A host must be agreed on by all 4 players. You may test all four hosts until the best one has been determined. The host must be one of the players participating in the match.

·         Default: The team who is in the higher position on the ladder/ bracket will host first map. Team ranked lower on the ladder/ bracket will then host the next map. The team with the highest accumulative points scored after both maps will host the 3rd map if needed.

·         Optional: If 1 of the players has an excellent connection that all 4 players ping fairly to, they may agree to use that host for the duration of the match.

Sides: The team who does not host chooses which side they would like to play. If the optional hosting rule is used so that one team hosts the entire match (“Team 1” for instance), then Team 2 chooses sides on the first map, Team 1 chooses sides on the second map, and the team with the lowest accumulative points after the first and second map chooses sides for the third map (if necessary).

Glitches/Exploits: Players are forbidden from using any game or hardware glitches or exploits to gain or attempt to gain an advantage. If an area within the game is accessible due to an exploit or bug in the map, then that location is off limits. If a player uses such an area to hide, the game admin may incur a suitable penalty which may include a forfeit of the match or a disqualification from the tournament. If you are unsure whether an area is considered off limits, ask an Admin before your match. Use of any glitch or exploit will result in a forfeit loss and potential suspension or banning (for the player and/or the entire team) from the Competition, at GGL’s discretion.

Models: Players must use the default models included with the game. Any player caught using anything but default models will forfeit the match and possibly be removed from the Competition for multiple offenses. This also includes weapon models. (Note: Any customization options in the appearance menu are allowed.)

Replays: Players MUST save match replays in case an issue may arise. Replays must be provided to GGL tournament admins upon request.

Spectators: Only GGL tournament admins and shoutcasters are allowed to spectate. If you find yourself in a server while an official match is taking place, please leave. Failure to do so may result in a ban from the Competition.

Any setting not listed below should be left at default

Map Selection: During the Stage 1 Ladders, the GGL Competition system will randomly assign a map from the Map Pool below to each officially scheduled match. During the Stage 2 Brackets, the Tournament Producer will pre-determine the maps from the Map Pool below for each round of the bracket. Maps will be posted on the “Match Details” page for each match.

Map Pool:Construct, Epitaph, Guardian, High Ground, Isolation, Narrows, Snowbound, The Pit

*** Tournament Producer may change the Game Settings & Specifications as needed. 

Shoutcasting/Game TV: The GGL reserves the right to provide live or delayed public shoutcasts and/or broadcasts via the game specific TV client as well as any other video and/or audio production method either during or after any match. Failure to comply with a GGL request to cover your match may result in a forfeit loss.

Contacts: In case of questions or disputes within the Competition, please contact one of the following GGL Tournament Admins:

Contact: (via GGL.com messaging) GGL Alien

ALL GAME MATCHES MAY BE MONITORED BY THE TOURNAMENT PRODUCER. IN ADDITION, THE TOURNAMENT PRODUCER MAY VERIFY AND/OR CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION INTO ANY AND ALL ASPECTS OF THE TOURNAMENT TO VERIFY ELIGIBILITY AND/OR FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES.

IN THE EVENT OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING, ANY PLAYER (AND THE PLAYER’S ENTIRE TEAM) MAY HAVE THEIR REGISTRATION(S) DELETED, MAY BE DISQUALIFIED AND/OR MAY FORFEIT THEIR ELIGIBILITY, PRIZES AND/OR TOURNAMENT STATUS IN THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE TOURNAMENT PRODUCER WITH OR WITHOUT WARNING:

• Providing inaccurate, improper, and/or incomplete information in connection with the process(es) of registration, logging in, game setup, issuing or receiving challenges, match scheduling, gameplay, statistical reporting, normal operation of software and/or hardware, score reporting, rankings, brackets, any tournament logistics and/or other aspects of the Tournament (the “Processes”).
• Duplicate registrations and/or other abuse of the Processes.
• Players selecting USERNAMES and/or providing any information, text, and/or other content that the Tournament Producer, in its sole discretion, determines are offensive and/or otherwise inappropriate.
• Any successful and/or unsuccessful attempt to cheat, tamper, gain an unfair advantage, manipulate, hack, stall, delay, expedite, bypass, modify or make any unauthorized and/or improper modifications to the Processes and/or the gameplay. This includes but is not limited to any attempt to manipulate or exploit the ladder point system.
• Any intentional or unintentional disconnecting of an internet connection, power source or other electronic malfunction, power outage or other natural or unnatural act which causes the Processes and/or gameplay to be interrupted, delayed or otherwise adversely affected.
• Any utilization of 3rd party hardware peripherals to gain an unfair advantage, or acting in an unsportsmanlike and/or disruptive manner, as determined in the sole discretion of the Tournament Producer.
• Any player’s inability, failure and/or refusal to provide verification of full compliance with the Rules and the Processes.
• Any player’s inability, failure and/or refusal to fully participate in and/or cooperate in connection with any investigation or inquiry into compliance with the Rules and Processes which may be undertaken by the Tournament Producer in its unrestricted and sole discretion. The foregoing shall include, without limitation, any request by the Tournament Producer that any player provide a written, notarized declaration under penalty of perjury of the laws of the State of California and the United States of America.
• The existence, adoption, modification, legislation, amendment, and/or enforcement of any applicable statute, ordinance, regulation, administrative and/or judicial ruling and/or determination by any government entity that the Tournament, any of the Rules herein, or any of the Processes, are unlawful, restricted by applicable law and/or contrary to the public policy of any applicable governing body. In event of the foregoing, the Tournament Producer shall have the option of disqualifying any and/or all players, and terminating the Tournament and not awarding Prizes with or without notice in the Tournament Producer’s absolute and sole discretion.

Eligibility: Competition is open to legal residents of the United States of America including the District of Columbia (“U.S.”), Canada, Mexico, and the countries and territories of Central America and the Caribbean, who are 13 years of age or older at the time of registration. GGL supports the ESRB rating system for video games. Halo 3 is rated “M” for Mature audiences aged 17 and older, so all participants under the age of 17 must have the permission of a parent or legal guardian to participate in the Competition. The following are NOT eligible to win prizes: Employees of Professional Interactive Entertainment, Inc. dba GGL (“GGL”), and its respective parent companies, affiliates and subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, licensors, and employees, individuals engaged in the development, production or distribution of materials for this Competition, persons who are immediate family of, dependents of (as defined by IRS regulations), or who live in the same household as any person in any of the above categories. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited by law or regulation.

Prizes: Prizes will be awarded depending on the total number of participants in the competition. GGL will put up a minimum prize pool of $3,000, and then increase the prize pool by $1 for every valid registered participant above 3,000, up to a maximum prize pool of $10,000. The prize pool will be distributed to the top eight (8) teams in the Stage 2 Bracket according to the following percentages:

• 1^st place team: 40% (maximum of $4,000)
• 2^nd place team: 20% (maximum of $2,000)
• 3^rd place team: 10% (maximum of $1,000)
• 4^th place team: 10% (maximum of $1,000)
• 5^th through 8^th place teams: 2.5% per team (maximum of $250 per team)

In addition, the final 10% of the prize pool (maximum of $1,000) will be awarded to a randomly selected team. All teams who participate in at least 10 legitimate matches during the Stage 1 Ladder will receive one entry in the drawing for the random prize. Teams who do not participate in at least 10 legitimate matches during the Stage 1 Ladder will not be eligible for the drawing. A legitimate match is one that abides by the rules of the Stage 1 Ladder of the Competition, is scheduled and reported via the GGL competition website, does not have an irresolvable dispute connected with the match, and is either played to completion or results in a forfeit win. Forfeit losses will not be counted as legitimate matches. GGL will have sole and final discretion in determining what counts as a legitimate match.

For the purposes of determining the final prize pool, valid registered participants will be defined as GGL members who meet ALL of the following criteria:

• Have a verifiable email addresses
• Joined the Stage 1 Ladder of the Competition between Wednesday, October 24, 2007 and Sunday, December 2, 2007
• Are on a team that participated in at least one legitimate match (as defined above) during the Stage 1 Ladder of the Competition
• Joined the Competition with one and ONLY one account
• Abided by the Official Rules of the Competition

GGL will have sole and final discretion in determining whether a Competition participant is a valid registered participant.

Winner Releases: Each prize winner will be required to complete and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, any proof of eligibility requested by GGL, Liability Release and, where lawful, Publicity Release forms and W-9 request for tax payer’s identification number. All executed documents must be received by GGL or its designated agent within ten (10) days of notification or an alternate winner may be selected. If this is the case, the player who was eliminated last prior to the prize winner will be declared the alternate winner. If a prize winner fails to comply with these Official Rules, cannot be located or reached, has provided an incorrect email or mailing address, is determined to be ineligible or not in compliance with these Official Rules, declines or fails to claim the prize for any reason, or if the prize notification is returned as undeliverable, such entrant will forfeit his or her opportunity to collect the prize and an alternate winner will be selected. Acceptance of a prize constitutes permission for GGL and its respective advertising and promotion agencies to use winner’s name, voice and likeness, along with his or her address (limited solely to city and state) and the right to use and publish their scores, proper name and any statements made or attributed to such winner (collectively, the "Attributes") in any and all media, unless prohibited by law. This will include but is not limited to media now known or hereafter devised, without notice, review or approval, in perpetuity and throughout the universe for advertising and promotional purposes in connection with the Competition without further compensation, and releases GGL from all claims arising out of the use of such Attributes.

By entering this Competition, entrants release and hold harmless GGL and its respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, franchisees, directors, officers, share holders, employees, agents and advertising and promotional agencies from any and all liability or any injuries, loss or damage of any kind arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from or in connection with this Competition or any related activity, or the use, misuse of any prize received, or for any typographical or other error in the printing, offering or announcement of any prize. Entrants agree to abide by these official rules and GGL’s decisions, which are final.

Online General Rules & Miscellaneous: Verification of all game matches and conduct of all matches are under supervision of GGL. GGL is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers, or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any email or registration to be received or sent by GGL as a result of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website or by human error which may occur in the ability to enter a participant’s entry, or any combination thereof, or otherwise, including any injury or damage to entrant’s or any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in the Competition. Persons found tampering with or abusing any aspect of this Competition, as solely determined by GGL, will be disqualified. If disqualified for any of the above abuses, GGL reserves the right to terminate entrant’s eligibility and entrant’s team’s eligibility to participate in the Competition. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE COMPETITION MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, GGL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. In the event any portion of the Competition is compromised by virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, fraud, technical failure or other causes beyond the control of GGL which, in the sole opinion of GGL, corrupts or impairs the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper play of the Competition, GGL reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel, modify, suspend or terminate the Competition and not award Prizes.

Taxes: All taxes on prizes are solely the responsibility of the winner.

Winners List/Official Rules: For a Winners List or a copy of these Official Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope in a separate first-class stamped envelope to: Winners List or Official Rules (designate which), Halo® 3 $10K 2v2 Launch Ladder, c/o GGL, 1522 Cloverfield Blvd., Suite C., Santa Monica, CA 90404. Requests must be received by January 31, 2008. Official Rules will also be available online at http://www.ggl.com/index.php?controller=MatchManager&method=view&id=93.

English Language: This Competition is conducted in English (which will be given its everyday ordinary meaning) and any and all disputes will be resolved subject to the laws of California.

1522 Cloverfield Blvd., Suite C

Santa Monica, CA 90404

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