Microsoft details Xbox Unleashed

The marketing campaign for Microsoft's Xbox console takes another step forward as the company has announced Xbox Unleashed, a 48-hour continuous gameplay competition featuring a variety of launch games. Two Xbox Unleashed events will be held in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, November 2, and Saturday, November 3. The games featured in the competition are Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding, Fuzion Frenzy, Halo, Project Gotham Racing, DOA3, Cel Damage, NASCAR Heat 2002, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2X. Points for each competitor will be cumulated, and at the end of the event, participants with the most points in each location will be crowned the Ultimate Xbox Gamer.

"Xbox Unleashed will capture the true spirit of what it means to be a gamer: fierce competition, loads of intensity, and lack of sleep,'' said John O'Rourke, director of Xbox sales and marketing at Microsoft. "We're very excited to bring gamers together for 48 hours to unleash the Xbox difference and preview some of the most highly anticipated games of all time before they are available at retail.''

Three separate prize packages will be available. The grand prize is a custom Ford Explorer Sport Trac with Pioneer audio/video systems and an integrated Xbox console. The second-place prize is a stand-alone Xbox console, games, and a spring break trip for four to San Felipe in Baja California, Mexico. The third-place prize is an Xbox console, games, and food for a year from Taco Bell and beverages for a year from SoBe. Along with the competitive area, Xbox Unleashed will also feature a free-playzone where interested parties can sample a variety of Xbox games, including the ones featured in the competition.

In terms of entertainment, a variety of music acts will perform at the two events. In Los Angeles, DJ Hurricane from Sugar Ray, DJ Lethal from Limp Bizkit, DJ C-Minus from Korn, Adema will perform on Friday night, while Saliva and Save the Day will perform on Saturday. At the New York venue, Bush will play an acoustic set at 8PM on Friday, November 2 and Sevendust will perform on Saturday afternoon.