1. What is Fatal Face-Off?
Hosted by GameSpot, Fatal Face-Off is an online single-elimination Mortal Kombat: Armageddon Tournament for the Xbox. The Tournament will have 64 players competing in 1 vs. 1 fights. The winning players will compete live for $1000 worth of prizes, and the winner will play our top secret celebrities in our exclusive Motor Kombat race event, live on Tournament TV.

2. Who can sign up for Fatal Face-Off?
The Tournament is open to GameSpot Total Access subscribers. You must be 17 years of age or older and a resident of the 50 United States (including the District of Columbia) or Canada (excluding the province of Quebec). For further information about GameSpot's residency requirements for this Tournament, please go to question 32 of this FAQ.

Game Server Note: Because this is played online via Xbox Live game servers, there is no guarantee that each match will be able to start at the specific time they are listed. All rescheduled matches are at the discretion of the GameSpot Admins.

Summary of technical requirements to participate: 1. Xbox console 2. Xbox controller 3. Xbox Live account with Gamertag (must be active at time of tournament participation) 4. At least one available slot on your XBL friends list. 5. Internet connection 6. Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (Xbox)

3. When is Fatal Face-Off?
Registration for Fatal Face-Off begins November 1, 2006 and closes on November 6, 2006. All participants must sign up for a player slot during the sign-up period. Participants cannot not be added at any time outside of the registration window. Below is the complete Tournament schedule. If you have registered for the Tournament, you can verify the date and time of your next match by visiting My Headquarters.

Kikkoff Round

Monday - November 6, 2006
Matches 1 & 2: 12:00 p.m. PT
Matches 3 & 4: 1:00 p.m. PT
Matches 5 & 6: 2:00 p.m. PT
Matches 7 & 8: 3:00 p.m. PT
Matches 9 & 10: 4:00 p.m. PT
Matches 11 & 12: 5:00 p.m. PT
Matches 13 & 14: 6:00 p.m. PT
Matches 15 & 16: 7:00 p.m. PT

Tuesday - November 7, 2006
Matches 17 & 18: 12:00 p.m. PT
Matches 19 & 20: 1:00 p.m. PT
Matches 21 & 22: 2:00 p.m. PT
Matches 23 & 24: 3:00 p.m. PT
Matches 25 & 26: 4:00 p.m. PT
Matches 27 & 28: 5:00 p.m. PT
Matches 29 & 30: 6:00 p.m. PT
Matches 31 & 32: 7:00 p.m. PT

Kwalifying Round

Wednesday - November 8, 2006
Matches 1 & 2: 12:00 p.m. PT
Matches 3 & 4: 1:00 p.m. PT
Matches 5 & 6: 2:00 p.m. PT
Matches 7 & 8: 3:00 p.m. PT
Matches 9 & 10: 4:00 p.m. PT
Matches 11 & 12: 5:00 p.m. PT
Matches 13 & 14: 6:00 p.m. PT
Matches 15 & 16: 7:00 p.m. PT

Sekondary Round

Thursday - November 9, 2006
Matches 1 & 2: 1:00 p.m. PT
Matches 3 & 4: 2:00 p.m. PT
Matches 5 & 6: 3:00 p.m. PT
Matches 7 & 8: 4:00 p.m. PT

Kwarterfinal Round

Thursday - November 9, 2006
Matches 1 & 2: 5:00 p.m. PT
Matches 3 & 4: 6:00 p.m. PT

Semifinal Round

Thursday - November 9, 2006
Matches 1 & 2: 7:00 p.m. PT

Final Round

Thursday - November 9, 2006
8:00 p.m. PT

Tournament TV Exclusive Bonus Match
Friday - November 3, 2006
4:00 p.m. PT (TBD*)
* During the match, we plan to start promptly at 4:00 p.m. PT, and we expect the match to be played within a reasonable schedule. However, exact start times may vary based on the needs of the live GameSpot Tournament TV broadcast.

4. What should I know before I sign-up?
There are no reserved sign-ups; it is a first-come, first-served situation. GameSpot will not be responsible for players who give up their spots voluntarily due to promises made by other non-GameSpot Admins. If you have questions about losing your spot in the tournament, please contact GameSpot Admins at gameadmin@gamespot.com.

5. What is the tournament match format?
a. Matches are 1 vs. 1 fights. Each fight consists of three rounds. In turn, players will fight three times, and the match winner is determined by best out of three. Once the first fight is complete, players should choose to fight again. If the winner of fight #1 wins the second fight, he is considered the winner. If the players have both earned victories after the second fight, the players must fight one more time. The winner is the player that earns victory twice.

b. There is no method for GameSpot Admins to view the match or its results. Accordingly, we must rely on the players to communicate the outcome. When your fights are over, both players must email the match result to gameadmin@gamespot.com within one hour of the match’s end. Players may send photos of the fight results screens as well, if they so desire. In this email, provide: - Your GS username and Xbox Live gamertag - The round in which you played (Kikkoff, Kwalifying, etc.) - The number of your match (Match 11, Match 12, etc.) - The GS username or Xbox Live gamertag of the winning player

If only one match participant provides this information within the time allotted, that information will be used to determine the match winner.

If the players disagree on the outcome, the match is automatically considered disputed and the results will be void. At a time appointed by a GameSpot Admin, the players will then play a single 3-round fight. Both players should take a digital photograph of the results screen and email the photo and results to gameadmin@gamespot.com. If both players dispute the results of the replacement match, and neither can produce a photograph verifying the match results, both players are disqualified from the tournament, and may also be disqualified from future tournament participation.

c. Participants MUST join the GameSpot Tournament Chat at least 15 minutes before your match is to begin. If any participant does not appear for roll call at least 15 minutes before the scheduled match time, they may be disqualified with no recourse for themselves. Disqualification for being late is at the sole discretion of the GameSpot Admins.

d. Your scheduled match time is when your match should start. It is important that all players be ready and prepared before their match begins. GameSpot cannot make exceptions for participants who are unprepared. e. GameSpot Admins will be available in the Tournament Chat to ensure everything is proceeding as planned before each match.

6. What are the Tournament TV match formats?
a. The Tournament TV bonus match will feature the tournament winner playing our special guest live. The format is as follows: The bonus match is a 1 vs. 1 fight. The fight consists of three rounds. In turn, players will fight three times, and the match winner is determined by best out of three. Once the first fight is complete, players should choose to fight again. If the winner of fight #1 wins the second fight, he is considered the winner. If the players are tied after the second fight, the players must choose to fight one more time. The winner is the player that earns victory twice. Should the winner of our tournament finals win the bonus match against our special guest, he will win an additional $200 Best Buy gift certificate.

b. The tournament winner will also have the opportunity to play Motor Kombat versus our special celebrity and GameSpot editors. The track for this special event is to be determined.

7. What are the Kombat match settings for the Tournament?
Game Mode: Kombat
Game Type: Friends Only
Violence: Max
Death Traps: On
Kreated Fighters: Not Allowed

8. What are the Motor Kombat match settings for the Tournament TV Exclusive?
Game Mode: Motor Kombat
Game Type: Friends Only
Violence: Max
Death Traps: On
Max Players: TBD, based on the number of participating editors
The track is TBD, based on the number of participating editors

9. How do I join the match?
The player listed first on the Fatal Face-Off schedule and results page is responsible for creating the game and issuing an invitation. Both players must add each other to their respective Xbox Live friends lists in advance of the match. Your opponent’s gamertag will be shown under My Headquarters on the main Fatal Face-Off page. To begin the match, the host should do as follows: a. Log into Xbox Live from within the game by choosing "Xbox Live" from the main menu.
b. Choose "Create A Match."
c. Create a match using the settings described in question 6 of this FAQ.
d. Press X to invite your opponent to the match.
e. Begin the match once your opponent has joined. If you are not the creator of the match, you should accept the invite and join the match. See question #5 of this FAQ for more information regarding the match format.
10. How do I join the Tournament TV bonus match?
You will receive a game invite from the special guest hosting the match. See question #9 of this FAQ for more information on joining a match.

For the Motor Kombat portion of the event, you will receive an invite from the player hosting the match. The winner of the tournament finals will receive more information via email once the winner has been determined.

11. Will there be a seeding process?
No. Winners will be randomly assigned an opponent for the next round.

12. How are you scoring the tournament?
There is no scoring involved. The winner of the match automatically advances to the next round.

13. What other restrictions are there?
a. Any disorderly behavior, disputes, or harassment against any GameSpot Admins will disqualify a contestant from participation, finals, or prizes. GameSpot Admins are the final arbiters in all situations, and they have the final say in every situation; this includes Tournament Chat or changes to the rules as stated below in section e.
b. Please refrain from using harassing, negative, or profane language in either the Tournament Chat or the game instance.
c. No cheats or hacks of any kind are to be used. Players will be disqualified if they are caught using any cheat or 3rd-party "helper" applications.
d. Taking advantage of known exploits in the game is also considered cheating. Exploits in the game could be a variety of things. If GameSpot Admins find that you are cheating, you will be disqualified from the tournament immediately with no recourse for yourself.
e. These rules are subject to change at any time. If any changes to the rules occur, you will be notified through the Tournament news page and a Tournament forum post; a time stamp will be on any Tournament Web pages that have been revised. It is required that all participants review either the GameSpot Tournament forum or Tournament announcement page for such notices. GameSpot will not be responsible for players who do not review and make themselves aware of updates that are posted publicly and related to any changes to the official rules.

14. What are the prizes for the winners?
Only the top four fighters will walk home with a cut of the $1,000 prize package! 1st Place - The 1st place winner will receive a gift certificate from Best Buy worth $400. BONUS: If you win the bonus round on Tournament TV versus our special Mortal Kombat guest player, you will receive an additional $200 Best Buy gift certificate! 2nd Place - The 2nd place player will receive a gift certificate from Best Buy worth $200. 3rd Place - The two 3rd place players will receive a gift certificate from Best Buy worth $100.

15. What do I need to do during roll call?
We have an automated roll-call system that will let you sign in to notify us of your arrival. The earliest you can check in is 60 minutes before your time slot. If you are on the waiting list, you will also need to sign in to let us know you are available to participate immediately.

16. I've registered for the tournament. What do I do next?
You will receive an e-mail message from us confirming your registration and time slot. It will also contain instructions for your next match. Note: You must check in at the Tournament site at least 15 minutes before your time slot. Read on for more details about the check-in process.

17. How do I check in for my next match?
To participate, you must check in for roll call at least 15 minutes before your assigned time slot. To check in, make sure you are logged in to GameSpot.com, then simply visit the My Headquarters page in the Tournament area and click on the "Check in" button to let us know that you're ready to play. You'll then see instructions on how to enter the GameSpot chatroom for roll call. Late arrivals and no-shows will give up their time slots to those on the waiting list. NO EXCEPTIONS! Official GameSpot Admins will be identified with their name listed in green in Tournament Chat.

18. Will each player get a chance to warm up before their match?
No, it is recommended that you practice prior to your scheduled match. You should prepare 15 minutes before your deadline to appear in game.

19. How do I communicate with my opponent before or during my scheduled match?
You can utilize GameSpot’s Tournament chatroom and Xbox Live’s chat functions. After the game match begins, you are allowed to talk to your opponent just as long as you are courteous and respectful. We reserve the right to disqualify any players using profane or inappropriate language.

20. What happens if my opponent does not show up for a match?
The player who does not have his opponent available should contact the GameSpot Admins through the chatroom immediately at his scheduled match time. No-shows are not tolerated. If your opponent does not show, notify the GameSpot Admins and they will see if they can find a waitlist player. This will be determined by the GameSpot Admins at the time of the occurrence.

21. What is a waitlisted player or a substitute?
When a person registers for a tournament and picks a time slot, he is considered to be an original player. If all time slots in the tournament are filled up, you have the option to sign-up as a waitlist player. If an original player does not show up for his scheduled match, the GameSpot Admins will allow a waitlist player to replace the original player and join the tournament as the "new" original player. If your opponent does not show up for the scheduled match, the GameSpot Admins may allow substitutes to join the tournament. All substitutions are at the discretion of the GameSpot Admins.

22. Is a no-show during the final matches still eligible for the prize?
No. If you do not show up and participate in the Final Round, you will not be eligible for any prizes. You also will not be eligible for the bonus round prize should you win the tournament and not appear for the live Tournament TV Exclusive event.

23. What if I get disconnected during my scheduled match?
GameSpot is not responsible for connection difficulties resulting from internet or Xbox Live performance. Should challenges with Xbox Live prevent a player from creating or starting a match, the match will be rescheduled at the Admin’s discretion. If you are unable to connect to the game due to ISP difficulties or any other reason outside of the Admin’s control, you will be removed from the tournament, and may be replaced with a waitlisted player.

24. What type of servers will I play on?
GameSpot will not provide any server functionality during this tournament, as it is played through the Xbox Live matchmaking service. GameSpot is not responsible for lag, connectivity issues, or anything else related to your online experience during this tournament.

25. Can I use a name other than my GameSpot profile user name?
The name you register under on the Tournament page is your GameSpot user name. This is tied to your GameSpot Total Access subscription, and you must have this to register. Once you register, you will have a chance to insert your Xbox Live gamertag into your profile on the Tournament page. Your gamertag must match the one you add to your profile, or you will be removed from the tournament.

26. If I am put on the waiting list, how will I know if I am able to get in the tournament?
You will receive an e-mail stating that you are able to participate. Because players may not show up for their matches, you should always show up and sign in during roll call for the time slot requested, even if you are only on the waiting list. This will ensure you maximum visibility to GameSpot Admins and players who may be seeking a replacement for your time slot. Note: When you check in, make sure to join chat and let the GameSpot Admins and live players know you are there. There are situations when GameSpot Admins are looking for replacements who are in Tournament Chat but are unavailable. If you want to participate, the best thing for you to do is be available.

27. Do I have the option to choose my scheduled match for rounds after the preliminary round?
To keep the tournament process consistent, you will not be able to pick a time slot after your confirmed match in the preliminary round.

28. What happens if I make it into the later rounds but don't show up on time?
If you want to be a part of this competition, attendance and timeliness are required. If you do not show up on time for a scheduled match, you will be disqualified and ineligible to win any prizes. An opponent scheduled to face a disqualified contestant (one who did not show up or was in some other way disqualified) will be granted a win for the match. Many substitute players will be eager and ready to take your time slot, so if you want to play, you must show up.

If you do not show up and participate in the Final Round, you will not be eligible for any prizes. You also will not be eligible for the bonus round prize should you win the tournament and not appear for the live Tournament TV event.

29. How are you preventing players from cheating?
It is very difficult to cheat in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. Players are expected to fight and communicate with honor.

30. How do I report someone breaking the rules?
You can send an e-mail to gameadmin@gamespot.com explaining your situation, the nature of your complaint, and any pertinent information that would help the GameSpot Admins of this tournament make a decision on your complaint.

31. Will this tournament affect my online ranking?
Yes. Your performance in the match will affect your standings on the Mortal Kombat: Armageddon leaderboard.

32. Why is this tournament for U.S. and Canadian residents only?
Because each country has its own laws regarding sweepstakes, tournaments and contests, we're only able to include U.S. and Canadian residents (other than residents of Quebec) for this specific event. Regarding Quebec residents in particular, this province has very stringent rules governing the types of tournaments, contests and sweepstakes that occur in Quebec (or which residents of Quebec can participate). These include required filing fees, French-translated documents and certain documentation, which would be overly burdensome for CNET Networks to provide for our events. However, we're always looking for new benefits that all of our subscribers can enjoy. Each tournament may have different requirements so stay tuned for