The initial qualifying rounds will take place at iGames centers nationwide on August 10 and 11, 2002. Regional qualifying rounds will be on August 17, 2002 at 16 select iGames centers. The finals will be held on August 30, 2002 on the Microsoft campus in Redmond, WA.

To participate, gamers must register online in advance at http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/ads/promos/halotournament/. Once successfully registered, players will be emailed the date and time they've been assigned to compete at the designated iGames center in their area.

Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the PC, Xbox video game system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse game portfolios for PC (http://www.microsoft.com/games/), including such franchises as "Age of Empires," "Flight Simulatorä" and "Zoo Tycoon"; Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/), including such franchises as "Halo," "Project Gotham Racingä" and "NFL Fever"; and Zone.com (http://zone.msn.com/), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as "Bejeweled" and "Outsmartä."

Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/) is Microsoft’s future-generation video game system that delivers the most powerful games experiences ever. Xbox empowers game artists by giving them the technology to fulfill their creative visions as never before, creating games that blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Xbox is now available in North America, Japan, Europe and Australia.