Eligibility. The Gateway to Azeroth Challenge ("Challenge") is open to any regular Microsoft employee or intern in the Puget Sound region; however, any person directly involved in the development or execution of this Challenge is not eligible to enter.
Challenge Period. This Challenge starts at 12:00 A.M. on September 5, 2006, and ends at 11:59 P.M. on September 22, 2006 ("Challenge Period").
Challenge Overview/How to Enter.
This Challenge consists of a Campus Quest and an Online Quest (described below). You can follow one or both of these Quests to successfully complete the Challenge; however, subject to the opportunity to earn bonus entries as more fully described below, this Challenge is limited to (1) entry per person.
Campus Quest
The Campus Quest begins on September 5, when a character will arrive on campus with a question for those who seek to find her. The next weekday (September 6), another character will appear and new characters will continue to appear each weekday thereafter until September 18. (NOTE: A total of ten (10) characters will visit.) To get started with the Campus Quest, go to www.enterazeroth.com, enter your Microsoft alias, and step inside the digital locker. Once inside the digital locker, you'll find ten (10) character locater clues. (NOTE: The character locater clues will also appear on posters around campus.) When solved, each character locater clue will lead you to a specific character physically located somewhere on the Microsoft Redmond Campus for that day only. If you miss a character's appearance on campus, you can find him/her in the digital locker at www.enterazeroth.com two days following his/her on campus appearance. When you solve the character locater clue and find a character on campus, you will find a question. (Hint: you can find the answer to each character's question on Windows Marketplace at www.windowsmarketplace.com.) Once you have the answer to the question, go to www.enterazeroth.com, enter the digital locker, and submit your answer. To complete the Campus Quest successfully, you must enter the digital locker and submit correct answers to all ten (10) character questions.
If you complete the Campus Quest successfully by 11:59 P.M. on September 22, 2006, you'll receive one (1) entry into the grand prize drawing.
If you complete the Campus Quest successfully by 11:59 P.M. on September 20, 2006, you'll receive four (4) bonus entries for a total of five (5) entries into the grand prize drawing.
Online Quest
The Online Quest starts on September 7 (two days after the Campus Quest) when the first character will appear in the digital locker at www.enterazeroth.com. The next weekday (September 8), another character will appear and new characters will continue to appear until September 20. (NOTE: At total of ten (10) characters will visit.) To get started with the Online Quest, go to www.enterazeroth.com, enter your Microsoft alias, and step inside the digital locker to find a character. Each character will present you with a question. (Hint: You can find the answer to each character's question on Windows Marketplace at www.windowsmarketplace.com.) Once you have the answer to the question, re-enter the digital locker and submit your answer. To complete the Online Quest successfully, you must enter the digital locker and submit correct answers to all ten (10) character questions.
If you complete the Online Quest by 11:59 P.M. on September 22, 2006, you'll receive one (1) entry into the Grand Prize Drawing.
Winner Selection and Notification. On September 23, 2006, two (2) names will be drawn to win prizes. One prize per person.
Winners will be notified by e-mail within seven (7) days following the drawing with instructions to claim their prize.
Prizes.
- Grand Prize. An Alienware PC with a bundle of games and gaming accessories ($5,000 approximate retail value); detailed description of Alienware PC: Area 51 7500 Core Duo x6800 2.93 GHz, Win MCE, Conspiracy Blue, Alien Ice 3.0, 650W Mutli GPU, nForce 4 SLI, 2 GB of RAM, 500 GB (2x250 GB) Raid 0 HD, DVD+/-RW, SyncMaster 204B, Sound Blaster X-Fi, Klipsh Pro Media, Keyboard (red), G5 Laser Mouse, 3 YR AlienCare.
- Great Prize. Plasma TV with a bundle of games and gaming accessories ($5,000 approximate retail value); detailed description of Plasma TV: Sony 46" BRAVIA LCD HDTV, Widescreen (16:9), HDMI and PC compatible.
If the actual value of any prize turns out to be less than the stated ARV, the difference will not be awarded in cash.
General Conditions.
Taxes on the prize, if any, will be paid by Microsoft in the form of a tax gross up reflected in the winner's W-2 statement.
Microsoft reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if the offered prize is unavailable. If a selected winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, is no longer a Microsoft employee at the time of drawing, or fails to claim a prize within a reasonable amount of time, they will forfeit the prize and an alternate winner will be selected. In the event of a dispute the decisions of Microsoft are final. By entering, participants release and hold harmless Microsoft, their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, and agents from any and all liability or injuries, loss, or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this drawing or the use of any prize won.
Acceptance of the prize constitutes permission for Microsoft to use the winners' names and likenesses for advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation unless prohibited by law. By entering this Challenge, you signify your acceptance of these Official Rules. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited by law.