No ticket gets the same level of access as a backstage pass, and no contest will take gamers closer to the “Gears of War” action like Xbox Live Backstage Pass. On October 27, 2006, two lucky winners from the U.S. will join other winners from around the world at Epic Games in Raleigh, North Carolina for a day of exclusive fun, including:

• A tour of the studio for a behind the scenes look at the creation of “Gears of War” for Xbox 360
• The chance to meet the game's creators, including Lead Designer Cliff "CliffyB" Bleszinski
• An opportunity to play multi-player “Gears of War” prior to its official release

Prize packages include round trip airfare and hotel accommodations for 4 days and 3 nights for each winner and their guest. “Gears of War” fans can log on to http://xblgearsofwar.onlinepromo.com to register for a chance to win. Registration runs through 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, October 14.

“Gears of War” thrusts gamers into humankind’s epic battle for survival against the Locust Horde, a nightmarish race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the planet. Blending the best of tactical action games with the best of survival horror titles, “Gears of War” features cinematic, beautifully rendered interactive environments with high-definition visuals.