All Time Greatest Game Hero FAQ

Contest

  • What is All Time Greatest Game Hero?

    The All Time Greatest Game Hero is an opportunity for our users, our editorial staff, game publishers, and every part of the gaming community to come together and settle the question: Who is the single greatest hero ever to star in a video game? No, this isn't a quick poll that you vote in once and walk away from. This one's for all the marbles. The winning hero will receive a special honor that eventually come to live on GameSpot, permanently, and the winning voters who correctly pick the winning brackets and the greatest heroes will win all the glory in the form of bragging rights and fabulous prizes, while the losers suffer the agony of defeat. (And maybe an embarrassing forum emblem. We're just saying.)
  • What are forum emblems?

    Read about them in GameSpot's emblems guide.
  • How does the qualifying round work?

    All registered users get one vote for one of the characters.
  • How many characters from this group will make it into the contest from the qualifying round?

    Ten characters will make it into the contest from the qualifying round.
  • Who is already in?

    The GameSpot editors selected the first 54 heroes. You can learn who was chosen here.
  • My favorite hero wasn't included. Why not?

    GameSpot's editors chose the full list of heroes in a series of long, but civilized, debates that may or may not have involved threats of physical violence and/or actual physical violence. The selection of heroes is intended to reflect a good cross-section of characters that have appeared in video games from the very beginning--from arcades to early home consoles to handhelds to early computer games to the platforms of today. Want to debate who should be in and who shouldn't? Talk about it the forum.
  • What happens next?

    Once we have defined all the characters in the running for the contest, you will have a chance to fill out a bracket, similar to the ones you fill out for the NCAA Basketball "March Madness" tournament. In this bracket you'll pick winners for each game, eliminating characters each round until you pick an ultimate winner. Users who score the most points with their bracket will win prizes.
  • How will the voting work?

    Heroes will meet in head-to-head matchups, and users will vote who is the better of the two. The winner of each round will progress to a new opponent in the next round.
  • Will GameSpot's editors be participating, too?

    Yep, several GameSpot editors and staffers will pick their own brackets for all the world to see, and laugh at should they be wrong. You can follow their progress by checking their brackets, as well as through any updates they make in the All-Time Greatest Game Hero blog.
  • When will we know the winner?

    The results will be in this Fall after the final rounds of voting are tallied. If you know other fans who can vote in your favorite game heroes, we strongly encourage you to get them involved so that your picks can take it all. They won't get this chance again.
  • I have other questions about All-Time Greatest Game Hero.

    Please post them in the forum. And remember, there can be only one.
  • If I live outside the U.S. and Canada, can I win the bracket challenge contest?

    You can score the most points for your bracket and win bragging rights, but unfortunately, our non U.S./Canada users are not eligible for contest prizes. (We know that's a bummer - but hey, it takes enough time to get this through our legal department, if we had to get this approved by lawyers in every country, we'd be on the PS10 before this thing went up!) (Unfortunately, residents of Quebec are also not eligible for prizes.)
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Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. THIS CONTEST IS OPEN TO PERSONS WHO ARE: (A) REGISTERED USERS; (B) LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ONE (1) OF THE FIFTY (50) UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON D.C., OR CANADA (EXCLUDING QUEBEC) (FOR PURPOSES OF CLARITY, PUERTO RICO IS EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED); AND (C) AT LEAST THIRTEEN (13) YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER IN THEIR STATE OF RESIDENCE AT THE DATE OF ENTRY IN THE CONTEST. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Sponsor, Prize Provider and Administrator:
CBS Interactive Inc. ("CBSI"), 235 Second Street, San Francisco 94109. CBS Interactive Inc. ("CBSI"), as the Administrator of the Contest (as define below) and will be responsible for resolving any disputes that arise regarding violations of the rules.
Eligibility:
To be eligible to participate in the Contest, you must be: (a) a Registered User; (b) a legal resident of one (1) of the fifty (50) United States, Washington D.C., or Canada (excluding Quebec) (for purposes of clarity, Puerto Rico is expressly excluded); and (c) at least thirteen (13) years of age or older at the date of entry in this Contest.

For purposes of these Official Rules, "Registered User" means a person who has successfully completed the registration form and has obtained a User Identification ("ID") and associated password ("Password") on one of the following websites: gamespot.com, gamefaqs.com, tv.com and/or mp3.com

If you are not a Registered User you may become a Registered User and obtain an ID and a Password by completing the registration form at www.gamespot.com (the "GameSpot Service"). There is no fee or charge to you to become a Registered User.

Employees of CBS Interactive Inc. and each of their parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion and fulfillment agencies and members of the immediate family or household of each (collectively, the "Contest Entities") are not eligible to win. Immediate family member is defined as a parent, sibling or any person residing in the same household as an employee of the Contest Entities. Void where prohibited by law. Such excluded employees and/or family members may play, but WILL NOT be eligible to receive any prizes.
Contest Description:
The All-time Greatest Game Hero Bracket Challenge (the "Contest") is a competition based on results of the gamespot.com's All-time Greatest Game Hero online voting results (the "Tournament"). On August 25, 2009, the selection committee will seed the All Time Greatest Game Hero characters of the Tournament based on editorial decision (54 characters) and past audience vote (10 characters). Participants will attempt to select the winners of all the match-ups (each match-up consists of 2 game characters competing against each other, winner decided by public vote) in the Tournament. Participants will earn points by correctly predicting the winning character in each match-up in the Tournament. The number of points awarded for each correct pick of a winning match-up of the Tournament will increase with each round of the Tournament. The exact number of points awarded in this Contest is set forth in the Making Picks section below. Participants will have the opportunity to fill in a Tournament bracket to participate in the Contest and compete for the Grand Prize. The grand prize (the "Grand Prize") will be awarded to the top point scorer in the Contest, as described in the Prize section of these Official Rules.

The Contest begins on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 and will run through the final match-up of the Tournament scheduled for October 15, 2009 (the "Contest Period"). Participants may create their brackets starting on August 25, 2009 and ending at 11:59:59 PM ET on August 31, 2009 (the "Entry Period").
Signing Up:
Registered Users can sign up by visiting the Gamespot.com Service during the Entry Period and follow the onscreen instructions (the "Onscreen Instructions") in order to enter. Onscreen Instructions are incorporated by reference in these Official Rules.
Selection Deadline:
Brackets will be filled in during the Entry Period and posted on-line at gamespot.com. Picks must be submitted by 11:59:59 PM ET on August 31, 2009. The Administrator may send a reminder e-mail on August 29, 2009 to participants who have visited the contest but haven't yet submitted picks.
Making Picks:
After you sign up, you will have access to an on-line brackets page listing 64 of the All-Time Greatest Game Heroes and their round one match-ups.

Participants must enter their projected winners of all 63 match-ups of the Tournament, round by round. Beginning with round two, the Administrator will weigh predictions for each successive round more heavily than the previous round in accordance with the table below. Points will be awarded by multiplying your number of correct predictions of winning match-ups in each round of the Contest by the weight assigned to each applicable round. For example, you would receive five (5) points for five correct predictions of winning teams in round one, and ten (10) points for five correct predictions of winning match-up in round two. You will receive an individual score for each of the six Tournament rounds and an overall score, which is the combined total of your individual round scores.
Tie-breakers:
The first tie-breaker will be contestant's prediction of the correct voting percentage of the character winner, closest to the correct percentage. If tie still remains, the second tie-breaker will be guessing the total votes cast for the character winner in the final round, closest without going over. In the event a tie remains, winner(s) will be the participant(s) with the earliest time-stamp for their bracket submission.
Full Bracket Scoring:
Round Coliseum of 64 Arena of 32 Storied 16 Great 8 Fabled 4 Final Showdown
Weight per each correct pick 1pt 2pts 4pts 6pts 10pts 15pts
Prizes:
Grand prize: $3000 Best Buy Gift Card (ARV) of $3000
First runner up (25): 1 free year of GameFly (ARV: $275.40)
Second runner up (50): 1 free year of GameSpot Total Access (ARV $39.95)
Third runner up (100): 1 free year of GameSpot Plus (ARV: $19.95)
Total ARV of all prizes to be awarded in the promotion $13,852.50
Certain Prize Restrictions:
Best Buy Gift Cards are subject to terms and restrictions and will be furnished upon receipt of Gift Card.

No substitution or transfer of a Prize is permitted except by CBSI. CBSI reserves the right to substitute a Prize for one of equal or greater value in the event that an advertised Prize is unavailable.

Limit one prize per person, household and email address.
Winner Notification: On or around October 16, 2009, Potential Prize Winner(s) will be notified by email and/or phone.
Legal Disclaimers: All participants agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules and the Legal Disclaimers below, and by the decisions of CBSI, which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to the game.
General Conditions:
By entering, each entrant accepts and agrees to be bound by these rules and by the decisions of CBSI, which shall be final and binding in all respects. Further, each entrant also acknowledges and agrees to the CBS Interactive Inc. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Taxes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the Prize Winners. No substitution or transfer of a Prize is permitted except by CBSI.

Potential Prize winner may be required to sign and return, within ten (10) days of issuance, the Affidavit of Eligibility and Publicity/Liability Release, except where prohibited by law. If a Prize winner is a minor, parent or legal guardian must execute an Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability Release and Publicity Release in the same time-frame. Failure to return such documents within the specified time period, noncompliance with these Official Rules, the return of any prize or prize notification or if any potential winner declines a Prize for any reason, such person may be disqualified, with an alternate Prize Winner selected in accordance with these Official Rules (as applicable).

Except where prohibited by law, a Prize Winner's acceptance of a Prize constitutes permission for the Contest Entities to use Prize Winner's name, photograph, likeness, statements, biographical information, voice, and address (city and state) worldwide and in all forms of media, in perpetuity, without further compensation. All federal, state, local, and provincial laws and regulations apply.

CBSI is not responsible for lost, late or misdirected on-line entries or transactions, for incorrect, inaccurate or incomplete entry information whether caused by a contestant, equipment, or technical malfunction or for any human error, technical error or malfunctions. CBSI reserves the right to halt or modify the Contest at any time during the Contest period if events beyond their control compromise the Contest fairness or integrity. CBSI is not responsible for typographical or other human or technical errors in the offer or administration of this Contest, including but not limited to errors in advertising, the Official Rules, the selection and announcement of a Prize Winner or the distribution of a Prize.

CBSI, in its sole discretion, may disqualify any entrant from participating in the Contest, refuse to award points or a Prize, and require the return of a Prize, if entrant engages in any conduct CBSI deems to be improper, unfair or otherwise adverse to the operation of the Contest or detrimental to other entrants. Such improper conduct includes, but is not limited to, falsifying personal information required during Contest registration or Prize claim, violating any term or condition stated herein, accumulating points or a Prize through methods such as automated computer scripts or other programming techniques, allowing others to use the entrant's personal information for the purpose of accumulating points or a Prize, tampering with CBSI's administration of this promotion, or intentionally trying to defraud, reverse engineer, disassemble, decompile or otherwise tamper with the computer programs on this Web site. Entrant further acknowledges that the forfeiture of the a Prize and/or return of a Prize shall in no way prevent CBSI from pursuing other avenues of recourse such as criminal or civil proceedings in connection with such conduct.

CBSI reserves the right to modify these rules for clarification purposes without materially affecting the terms and conditions of the Contest. This Contest is not affiliated with or endorsed by Electronic Arts, PlayStation, or any Electronic Game Provider. This is a skill game designed to increase consumer awareness of and interest in the Gamespot.com Service.

This Contest may not be used for any form of gambling.
Rules/Winner Information :
For the name of the Prize Winners send a self addressed stamped envelope for receipt by November 30, 2009 to "Winner's list: All-time Greatest Game Hero Bracket Challenge," c/o CBS Interactive Inc., 2200 W. Cypress Creek Rd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309.

For a copy of the Official Rules send a self addressed stamped envelope to the above address marked "Official Rules: All-time Greatest Game Hero Bracket Challenge," for receipt by October 31, 2009. Residents from VT may omit postage on the self addressed envelope.
Internet:
If for any reason the Internet portion of the program is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of CBSI which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, CBSI reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. In such event, CBSII further reserves the right to award a prize to the eligible participant with the next highest score in accordance with these Official Rules.

CBSI assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries or transactions. CBSI is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers, or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail entry or transaction to be received on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to participant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in this Contest.
Lost or Corrupted Entries:
The Contest Entities, and their parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies and advertising and promotion agencies, assume no liability and are not responsible for, and you hereby forever waive any rights to any claim in connection with, lost, late, incomplete, corrupted, stolen, misdirected, illegible or postage due entries or mail if applicable; or for any computer, telephone, cable, network, satellite, electronic or Internet hardware or software malfunctions, unauthorized human intervention, or the incorrect or inaccurate capture of entry or other information, or the failure to capture any such information. The Contest Entities, and their parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies, advertising and promotion agencies, are not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by registration information submitted by end users or tampering, hacking, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this Contest, and assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to the Contest.
Damaged Property:
Contest Entities, and their parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies and advertising and promotion agencies, assume no liability and are not responsible for, and you hereby forever waive any rights to any claim in connection with, injury or damage to any entrants or to any other person's computer or property related to or resulting from participating in this Contest or downloading materials from this Contest.

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY A CONTESTANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE GAME IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, CBSI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH CONTESTANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

In the event of a dispute, entries made by Internet will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at time of entry. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, on-line service provider or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. Any entry that is incomplete, late, or does not include a validly issued User ID will be disqualified.

In the event that the Contest is challenged by any legal or regulatory authority, CBSI reserves the right to discontinue or modify the Contest, or to disqualify participants residing in the affected geographic areas. In such event, CBSI shall have no liability to any participants who are disqualified due to such an action.
Contest Errors:
The Contest Entities, and their parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies and advertising and promotion agencies, assume no liability and are not responsible for, and you hereby forever waive any rights to any claim in connection with, errors and/or ambiguity: (a) in the Contest; (b) in any related advertising or promotions of this Contest; and/or (c) in these Official Rules including but not limited to errors in advertising, the Official Rules, the selection and announcement of a Prize Winner or the distribution of a Prize. In the event of any ambiguity(s) or error(s) in these Official Rules, Administrators reserve the right to modify these Official Rules for clarification purposes or to correct any such ambiguity or error(s) without materially affecting the terms and conditions of the Contest.
Prize Winners and Prizes:
The Contest Entities, and their parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies and advertising and promotion agencies, assume no liability and are not responsible for, and you hereby forever waive any rights to any claim in connection with, the selection and announcement of a Prize Winner, the distribution of a Prize, the acceptance/possession and/or use/misuse of any part of a Prize and/or any injury or damage to any entrant's or third person's property related to or resulting from any part of a Prize or any part of this Contest.

Each entrant in the Contest, including, without limitation, the Prize Winners, hereby releases and agrees to hold harmless the Contest Entities and their parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies and their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents from any and all liability for any injuries, loss or damage of any kind to person, including death, and property, arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, use or misuse of a Prize, participation in this Contest and participation in any activity related to this Contest.
Limitation of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranties:
IN NO EVENT WILL THE CONTEST ENTITIES AND/OR THEIR PARENTS, AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES AND RELATED COMPANIES, THEIR ADVERTISING OR PROMOTION AGENCIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES AND AGENTS, BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR ACCESS TO AND USE OF THE SERVICE AND/OR THE CONTEST, DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM THE SERVICE AND/OR THE CONTEST. IN NO EVENT SHALL CBSI'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMAGES, LOSSES, OR CAUSES OF ACTION EXCEED $100. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, EVERYTHING ON THE CONTEST AND THE SERVICE INCLUDING A PRIZE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES SO SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS REGARDING THESE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.
Binding Arbitration:
The parties waive all rights to trial in any action or proceeding instituted in connection with these Official Rules, including, without limitation, the Contest. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to these Official Rules and/or the Contest shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. Any such controversy or claim shall be arbitrated on an individual basis, and shall not be consolidated in any arbitration with any claim or controversy of any other party. The arbitration shall be conducted in the State of California, in the City of San Francisco.
Governing Law and Jurisdiction:
THESE OFFICIAL RULES AND THE INTERPRETATION OF ITS TERMS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CONFLICTS OF LAWS RULES. For any matters which are not subject to arbitration as set forth in these Official Rules and/or in connection with the entering of any judgment on an arbitration award in connection with these Official Rules and/or the Contest, the parties irrevocably submit and consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the California state and federal courts located in the City of San Francisco and State of California. The parties agree not to raise the defense of forum non conveniens.
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