XBox 360 Rally

Old Spice and Microsoft are teaming up to make those gamerscores we all are addicted to inflating actually matter. Starting February 12th (or “Next Monday”), Microsoft will hold a contest in which, after registering for the contest, you have 60 days to bump up your gamerscore by 1,500 points. Upon achieving this goal, you will receive a slew of pretty nifty crap.

Let me give you a run down of how this will work: There are three different tiers for the contest. Tier 1 will consist of absolute noobs (0 points) to the slightly experienced (4,999). Tier 2 will consist of those who game, but aren’t driven solely by those damn achievements (5,000 - 9,999; I fall in this group). Tier 3 will consist of people who either play games for a living, or live in their mothers basement (10,000+). The prizes for each tier break down like so:

Tier 1: One Game Picture, One Dashboard Theme and the full version of Contra from the XBL Marketplace. (Note: I would like to see you be able to pick a different game, should you already own Contra like I do)
Tier 2: The Tier 1 package, along with 100 Microsoft Points and a T-Shirt.
Tier 3: You guys, for all your hard work and dedication to your games… or lack of a social life, whichever, you will be rewarded with the Tier 2 package (which, incidentally, includes the Tier 1 package), along with 100 extra Microsoft Points, and a copy of Fusion Frenzy 2. So it’s like getting 200 MSPoints, a t-shirt, a free XBLA game and $10 at Gamestop.

Ok, all cynicism aside, I’m glad to see Microsoft turning this pretty cool feature into something that is more than just bragging rights. Who knows, it may even push those achievement whores to buy more 360 titles so they can try and jump up in tiers. A few games I suggest to help you rake in those achievement points:

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Godfather
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Dead Rising
Star Trek Legacy
MLB 2K6
NCAA Football 07

Remember, now — you need to get 1,500 points in 60 days. AND you’ll need to register. I suggest the registering first. Outside that… happy hunting.

Click that link right under this sentence to read the official statement.

Since launching in November 2005, Achievements and gamerscore have taken the gaming world by surprise. The “Achievement Unlocked” alert makes not firing once in the first 60-seconds of “Geometry Wars Retro Evolved” appear perfectly normal. Looking for hours on end for the 50th survivor in “Dead Rising” – just another day’s work. In fact, since the Xbox 360 launched, more than 200 Million Achievements have been unlocked.

Achievements and gamerscore allow gamers to compare success, attempt unique in-game challenges and find value in playing games over and over. The reward for Achievements is an exciting and challenging way to play games, and only Xbox 360 offers it.

Since Xbox 360 gamers love to be rewarded, we are happy to announce the Old Spice Experience Challenge.

Xbox 360 is teaming up with Old Spice to bring the first Rewards Challenge to Xbox Live. Gamers will be charged with increasing their gamerscore by 1,500 between February 12 and April 12, 2007. That’s 60 days to bring your overall gamerscore up by 1,500 for the chance to earn a bounty of rewards. In order to participate, you need to have a valid Windows Live™ ID with your Xbox LIVE® gamercard linked, be a legal resident of the 50 United States and District of Columbia (expect future challenges to be global in scope) and at least thirteen years-old.

Reward Package Qualifications
Level 1 (Gamers who have a gamerscore between 0-4,999 at time of entry): Game Picture, Dashboard theme, Contra for Xbox LIVE Arcade
Level 2 (5,000-9,999 gamerscore at time of entry): Level 1 Package, 100 Microsoft Points and a contest T-shirt
Level 3 (10,000+ gamerscore at time of entry): Level 1 Package, 200 Microsoft Points, contest T-shirt and Fusion Frenzy 2
In addition, Old Spice will give Level 1 and 2 the gift of experience by upgrading their Rewards Level for 2007.

Think you can do it? With more than $500,000 in total rewards, such as Microsoft Points and Xbox 360 games, it is time to tackle those unbeaten games and start unlocking Achievements, because this Spring the rewards go beyond just having an impressive gamerscore.

Be sure to log on to www.xbox.com/rewards on February 12 to sign up for participation. Reward quantities are limited so gamers who reach the set goal will be awarded on a first come, first served basis only.

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