1. What is Road Rage?
Hosted by GameSpot, Road Rage is an online Need for Speed: Carbon tournament for the Xbox 360 platform. The tournament will feature 48 players competing for the top prize.

2. Who can sign up for Road Rage?The tournament is open to GameSpot Total Access subscribers. You must be 13 years of age or older and a resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec) to participate. For further information about GameSpot's residency requirements for this tournament, please go to question 31 of this FAQ.

Because this game is played online on the Xbox 360 platform, you are required to have your own Xbox Live account and be ready to join the tournament with your race within the time limit given. If you do not have an Xbox Live account or cannot confirm your XBL information upon sign-up, you will not be able to sign up for this tournament.

Game Server Note: Because this is played online via Xbox Live game servers, there is no guarantee that each race 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 360 with hard drive
2. Xbox 360 controller
3. Xbox Live account with Gamertag (must be active at time of tournament participation)
4. Internet connection
5. Need for Speed: Carbon (Xbox 360)

3. When is Road Rage?
Below is the complete tournament schedule. If you have registered for the tournament, you can verify the date and time of your next race by visiting GameSpot's My Headquarters.

Day 1 - Monday, December 11th, 2006

Qualifiers. The top three players from each race move on to the Quarterfinal round.
Race 1 - 3:00 p.m. PT - (6 players)
Race 2 - 3:30 p.m. PT - (6 players)
Race 3 - 4:00 p.m. PT - (6 players)
Race 4 - 4:30 p.m. PT - (6 players)
Race 5 - 6:00 p.m. PT - (6 players)
Race 6 - 6:30 p.m. PT - (6 players)
Race 7 - 7:00 p.m. PT - (6 players)
Race 8 - 7:30 p.m. PT - (6 players)

Day 2 - Wednesday, December 13th, 2006

Quarterfinal Round. The top three players from each race move on to the Semifinal round.
Race 1 - 3:00 p.m. PT - (6 players)
Race 2 - 3:30 p.m. PT - (6 players)
Race 3 - 4:00 p.m. PT - (6 players)
Race 4 - 4:30 p.m. PT - (6 players)

Semifinal Round. The top three players from each race move on to the Final round.
Race 1 - 6:00 p.m. PT - (6 players)
Race 2 - 6:30 p.m. PT - (6 players)

Day 3 - Friday, December 15th, 2006

Race Finale - 4:00 p.m. PT - (6 players)

* During the Race Finale, we plan to start promptly at 4:00 p.m. PT, and we expect the race 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?
Here is some helpful information you may want to consider prior to registration:

a) Each race will include six players competing against each other. Players will also be joined by a GameSpot Admin, who will be present within the game in order to verify race results. This player will move out of the way as soon as possible to avoid collisions or any other disruptions. While every effort will be made to avoid disruption, minor contact between a player vehicle and the GameSpot Admin vehicle is not sufficient reason to replay the race. Disputes arising over minor contact between player vehicles and the GameSpot Admin vehicle within the Qualifying, Quarterfinal, and Semifinal rounds will be ignored. Disputes arising over any contact between player vehicles and GameSpot Admin vehicles in the Race Finale will be ignored. All racers should make every reasonable effort to avoid contact with the Admin vehicle. Replays based on any major disruption or for any other reason are purely at the discretion of the GameSpot Admin. Unless communicated otherwise by the Admin, race results are final.

b) Vehicle collisions will be turned on. Purposely colliding with other players is acceptable within the tournament rules and part of the race strategy.

c) To join a race, players will receive a game invite from a GameSpot Admin. Players should load up Need for Speed: Carbon, be connected to Xbox Live, and be available to accept the game invite no later than 15 minutes before the race is scheduled to begin. In order for the GameSpot Admin to invite you to the race, the Admin must add you to his XBL friends list, and you must accept the friend invitation. Be sure you have at least one available slot on your friends list prior to the race.

d) 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 before relinquishing your spot.

e) If you do not show up to participate in any race for which you are scheduled, you forfeit your place within the tournament and cannot compete in any other races.

5. What is the race format?

- The Qualifiers, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals will take place in Circuit mode.

There will be a day of Qualifiers, featuring eight races of six players each. The three racers with the best times from each race move on to the Quarterfinal round. There will be four Quarterfinal races of six players each. Similarly, the three racers with the best times from each race move on to the Semifinal round. The Semifinals will feature six players each in two total races. The three players from the 2 races for the Semifinal round with the best times will participate in the Race Finale.

- The format for the Race Finale is different from the prior rounds. The Finale race is in Pursuit Knockout mode.

In Pursuit Knockout, the last racer to cross the finish line in each lap is eliminated and returns as a cop. As a cop, each player then attempts to interfere in the progress of the remaining racers.

Racers will be joined by two GameSpot celebrities. During the first two laps, the GameSpot Admin vehicles should be the last ones to cross the finish line. For the remainder of the race, the finalists will continue to complete. Each player to cross the finish line will in turn return as a cop, and will then seek to impede the progress of the remaining racers. The winner of the race will be the last non-cop player remaining. The second place winner will be the last contestant eliminated within the race format. The third place winner will be the next to last contestant eliminated within the race format.

- Pursuit Knockout mode encourages collisions, and the two GameSpot celebrities will be joining the race as participants. As cops, they may actively seek to pursue the non-cop contestants, just as the eliminated contestants will do. This is the nature of the Race Finale. Any disputes arising from issues of collisions with other racers in the Race Finale, including the GameSpot Admin players, will be disregarded.

- There are no vehicle limitations within the races. You may choose any vehicle the game makes available to you, including those unlocked in career mode and other modes.

- If you do not agree with the race format as described, you should not sign up for a slot, and leave space for other interested players. While legitimate disputes will be researched and handled on a case-by-case basis, disputes resulting from the nature of the published format will be immediately dismissed.

6. What are the tournament settings?

Qualifiers, Quarterfinal, and Semifinal races:
Match Type: Unranked
Game Mode: Circuit
Laps: 4
Car Tier: Any
NOS: Off
Collision Detection: On

Race Finale:
Match Type: Unranked
Game Mode: Pursuit Knockout
Car Tier: Any
Collision Detection: On

7. Will there be a seeding process?
Yes. The seeding process will automatically assign racers to the next round based on their performance in the prior race.

8. How are you scoring the tournament?
In the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Race Finale, first, second, and third place are determined by the order in which the players cross the finish line. In the Race Finale, the first-place winner will be the non-eliminated player remaining at the end of the race. The second place winner will be the last contestant eliminated within the race format. The third place winner will be the next to last contestant eliminated within the race format.

9. What tracks will be played?
Qualifiers: Main Street
Quarterfinal round: Lucky Towers
Semifinal round: Skyline Avenue
Race Finale: Fortuna

10. What if there is a tie?
In the unlikely event of a tie for first, second, or third place within the Qualifier, Quarterfinal, or Semifinal rounds, the race will be forfeited, and another one will be immediately created. The results of the forfeit race will not be considered. In the Race Finale, there cannot be a tie due to the nature of the race format.

11. 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 f.

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.

12. What are the prizes for the winners?

1st Place - The 1st place winner of the Finale will receive a $600 gift card to Best Buy

2nd Place - The 2nd place player from the Finale will receive a $300 gift card to Best Buy

3rd Place - The 3rd place player from the Finale will receive a $100 gift card to Best Buy

General Rules
- - - - - - - - - - -

13. 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.

14. 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 race. Note: You must check in to My Headquarters at least 15 minutes prior to scheduled time slot. Read on for more details about the check-in process.

15. How do I check in for my next race?
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 chat room 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.

16. Will each player get a chance to warm up before their race?
No, it is recommended that you practice prior to your scheduled race. You must be in test-drive mode and prepared to accept the game invite no sooner than 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start

17. What are the steps to join the race?
1) Load up Need for Speed: Carbon
2) You will receive a friend invite (if this is your first race in the tournament) and a game invite from GSAdmin1. Note that you may receive the friend invite up to a day in advance of the Qualifier race.
3) To accept the invites, access your messages by pressing the center controller button and selecting the messages button. Here, you may accept the friend and game invites.
4) After accepting the game invite, you will enter the race instance. At the designated time, the GameSpot Admin will start the race.

Xbox Live Note: Please ensure that your friends list (which will hold a maximum of 100 Gamertags) has at least one open slot before each race, the GameSpot Admin will need to add you as a "friend". This will avoid possible delays in the start time for each race.

18. What happens if drivers don't show up for the race?
No shows may be replaced by waitlisted players. In the event that fewer than six players are available, the race will still continue as scheduled, and the top three players will advance. Should only three players be available to race, they will need to participate in the race for scoring purposes but they will automatically advance. In the unlikely occurrence that fewer than three racers are available for a race, they will automatically advance, and a waitlist player from another match with a low time score may be assigned a spot in the next round.

19. What is a waitlisted player or a substitute?
In this tournament, GameSpot is treating wait-listed players and substitutes as the same. At any time during the Qualifier through Semifinal races, a current player can be replaced with the one from the waitlist.

20. What if I get disconnected during my scheduled race?
If you are disconnected from the match due to technical difficulties on behalf of the GameSpot Admin, the race will be restarted without negative consequence for the players. If you are disconnected due to any other reason, such as internet difficulties or player-side technical problems, and can then not participate in the race, you will be disqualified from the tournament. You cannot rejoin a race if you are disconnected from it.

21. 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 online system. GameSpot is not responsible for lag, connectivity issues, or anything else related to your online experience during this tournament.

22. Can I use voice chat during the race?
As this is not a team event, voice chat is not a requirement. You may speak with the other racers using Xbox Live voice chat, but all chat must meet the guidelines described in this FAQ. GameSpot Admins may not be available through voice chat through Xbox live; you MUST be in GameSpot’s chatroom to discuss any concerns to the Admin at any time.

23. 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 Gamertag into your profile on the Tournament page. Your Gamertag in Need for Speed: Carbon must match the Gamertag you registered with in the tournament, or you will be removed from the tournament.

24. 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 races, 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 AFK or unavailable. If you want to participate, the best thing for you to do is be available.

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

26. 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 race, you will be disqualified and ineligible to win any prizes. Many substitute players will be eager and ready to take your time slot, so if you want to play, you must show up.

27. How are you preventing players from cheating?
Because this is an Xbox 360 tournament, there is very little room for cheating from programs or 3rd-party helpers. GameSpot Admins will be in the game instance, ensuring that players are conducting themselves with honor.

28. What if I have a dispute about the race?
Should you have any dispute with the results of the race, the way it was handled, or any administration issue with the method in which the race was carried out, the rules or the actual event itself, you have 48 hours from the end of the final race to submit your query. Your inquiry should include why you are disputing the race, other drivers involved in the dispute, the performance you have a problem with and any accompanying video or demo recording, and any other pertinent data or proof to corroborate your claim. Any dispute requests must be sent to gameadmin@gamespot.com. Dispute requests received 48 hours or more after a final event has closed will be disregarded.

Disputes arising over minor contact between player vehicles and the GameSpot Admin vehicle within the Qualifying, Quarterfinal, and Semifinal rounds will be ignored. Disputes arising over any contact between player vehicles and Admin vehicles in the Race Finale will be ignored. All racers should make every reasonable effort to avoid contact with the Admin vehicle. Replays based on any major disruption or for any other reason are purely at the discretion of the GameSpot Admin. Unless communicated otherwise by the Admin, race results are final.

29. 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.

30. Will this tournament affect my online ranking?
No. The server setting for this online tournament does not involve ranked races.

31. Why is this tournament for U.S. & Canadian (excluding Quebec) 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 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 future events.