Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

NCsoft will be kicking off a new contest for their upcoming MMORPG, Aion to coincide with this weekend's beta test. The contest begins today, July 2, 2009, and will run through this weekend and end on July 6, 2009. Anyone who participates in the event and reaches level 3 will have a chance to win a trip to Seattle for themselves and a friend to participate in the Aion Launch Party in the Seattle Space Needle and attend the PAX Gaming Festival.

Players who want to get into the Aion beta this weekend but do not have a beta key can preorder the game and get access to all Aion beta events. You can learn more about preorder benefits and exclusive in-game items here.

Play in the Aion closed beta event from July 2, 2009–July 6, 2009, reach level 3, and you and a friend could win a trip to Seattle to enjoy the Aion Launch Party in the Seattle Space Needle! Meet with the developers and visionaries behind Aion and enjoy the themed festivities atop Seattle's most famous landmark. In addition, get two passes to the PAX Gaming Festival to enjoy a whole weekend of gaming goodness.

Aion Launch Party Sweepstakes Grand Prize

The grand prize is a trip to Seattle for you and a friend to attend the Aion Launch Party. Only (1) grand prize will be awarded. Total approximate retail value USD$5,000.

This trip is a 4 day/3 night trip from 9/3/09 to 9/6/09 for the winner and one guest is to Seattle, Washington to attend the Aion Launch Party on 9/4/09. The trip includes:

• Roundtrip economy class air transportation to Seattle.
• Three nights of double occupancy standard hotel accommodations.
• Roundtrip car service to the airport and the hotel accommodations.
• Two tickets to attend the launch party event.
• A 3-day attendee pass to the PAX Gaming Festival at the Washington State Trade and Convention Center for the winner and one guest. (PAX occurs between 9/4/09 and 9/6/09.)

Aion Launch Party Sweepstakes

• Obtain closed beta access to Aion and install the Aion beta client. You must have received a closed beta serial code, have preordered or prepurchased Aion, or have obtained beta access through other valid means.
• Log in to http://us.ncsoft.com. Create a new account if you have not done so before.
• Log in to Aion and play the beta version of Aion during 7/2/09 to 7/6/09. You must play between 7/2/09 at 12:00:00 noon Pacific Time (PT) and 7/6/09 at 12:00:00 noon PT.
• Level a character to at least level 3. If you play the beta within the listed period of time, and level a character to at least level 3, you will be automatically entered into the sweepstakes.
• End Date: Sweepstakes ends on 7/6/09 at 12:00:00 noon PT.
• Sponsor: NC Interactive, Inc., 1501 4th Ave. Floor 20, Seattle, WA 98101
• Official Rules: Aion Launch Party Sweepstakes Official Rules
• Prize Winner Names: The name of the prize winner, available 30 days after the end of the promotion, will be posted here for 90 days after the prize is awarded.
• No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Open to legal residents of the United States and Canada (excluding Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, military installations and commonwealths, and Québec), 18 or older (except residents of AL and NE, who must be 19 or older).

NCsoft Aion™ Launch Party Sweepstakes Official Rules

No purchase or payment necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not increase your chance of winning. Open only to legal residents of the United States and Canada who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Void in Québec, Guam, Puerto Rico, United States territories, military installations and commonwealths and where restricted or prohibited by law.

DESCRIPTION/ENTRY PERIOD: The NCsoft "The Aion Launch Party" Sweepstakes ("Sweepstakes") begins on 7/2/09 at 12:00:00 PM Pacific Standard Time (PST) and ends on 7/6/09 at 12:00:00 PM PST ("Sweepstakes Period").

HOW TO ENTER: During the Sweepstakes Period, play the Beta Version of the Aion Game. You must first register online at us.ncsoft.com. If you are an Existing Customer you must enter your log in information. If you are a New Customer you must create an NCsoft Account which will include an account name, password, and entering your email address. You will also be asked for Personal Information including first name, last name, date of birth, country, address, city, state, and postal code. You will then be prompted to enter the unique game code so you can play the Beta Version Aion Game. Once you start playing the game and achieve Level 3 or higher, you will receive an entry into the Sweepstakes. The use of scripts, bots or any automated system to participate in the Sweepstakes is strictly prohibited. Each unique game code is good for one entry into the Sweepstakes. Alternate Means of Entry: To enter without purchasing the game, clearly hand print the following on a 3" x 5" piece of plain paper: first name, last name, date of birth, country, address, city, state/province, postal code and email. Mail in a #10 business size envelope via First Class mail to: NCsoft The Aion Launch Party Sweepstakes, PO Box 4313, Dept B, Manhasset NY 11030-4313. Facsimiles or photocopies of entry/entry forms are void. Limit one entry per person, all mail-in entries must be postmarked by 7/6/09 and received by 7/13/09. All entries become the Sponsor's property and will not be acknowledged or returned. Neither Sponsor nor its agents assume any responsibility for lost, mutilated, or misdirected entries. Sweepstakes Entities are not responsible for late, incomplete, void, corrupted, garbled, misdirected, or otherwise unintelligible entries or for any problems, bugs or malfunctions you may encounter when submitting your entry. Incomplete, garbled, corrupted or otherwise illegible entries are void and will not be accepted. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of a winner based on an e-mail address, the winning entry will be the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at time of entry. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization (e.g., business, educational, institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.

ELIGIBILITY: SWEEPSTAKES IS OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA (EXCLUDING QUEBEC, GUAM, PUERTO RICO, UNITED STATES TERRITORIES, MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AND COMMONWEALTHS) WHO ARE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AT THE TIME OF ENTRY. Employees of NCsoft and its Affiliates, or/and their respective subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies and members of the immediate families (defined as parents, children, siblings and spouse, regardless of where they reside) are not eligible to win. Sweepstakes void where prohibited and is subject to all federal, state, local, and provincial laws and regulations. In addition entrants grant Sponsor the right to use their information for advertising, publicity and promotional purposes or photo databases without compensation or permission (unless prohibited by law). Sponsor reserves the right to add to or change these rules without prior notification. All changes will be noted on this page and be available at any time. If the judges determine, in their sole discretion, that there is any suspected or actual electronic tampering with the sweepstakes or if technical difficulties compromise the integrity of the sweepstakes, the judges reserve the right to void the entries at issue and/or terminate the sweepstakes and award the prize using all eligible entries received as of the termination date. If the sweepstakes is terminated due to tampering or technical difficulties prior to the expiration date, notice will be posted on at www.aiononline.com/aionparty. Any attempt to deliberately damage the content or operation of this sweepstakes is unlawful and subject to legal action by the Sponsors and their agents. Sponsor is not responsible for printing or typographical errors or problems in connection with any related materials.

PRIZES: (1) Grand Prize: A 4 day/3 night trip from 9/3/09 to 9/6/09 for winner and 1 guest to Seattle, Washington to attend "The Aion Launch Party" on 9/4/09. Trip includes roundtrip economy class air transportation to Seattle, 3 night's double occupancy standard hotel accommodations, round trip car service to/from the airport/hotel, and tickets to attend the event. Winner and guest will also receive a 3-Day attendee pass to Penny Arcade Expo at the Washington State Trade and Convention Center. The event occurs between 9/4/09 and 9/6/09. Total Approximate Retail Value $5,000. Any additional expenses incurred by winner, not specified herein are the winner's sole responsibility. Air transportation to be provided by airline/airport servicing Seattle, Washington which is the closest to winner's home, and at Sponsor's sole discretion. Winner and guest must travel on the same itinerary and coordinate travel arrangements with Sponsor. Guest must be 18 years of age or older unless the minor child of the winner. If winner is not able to travel on dates specified by the Sponsor they will be disqualified and an alternate winner will be selected, time permitting. Odds of winning depend on the total number of eligible entries received. Sponsor will not award a greater number of prizes than are stated herein. Prize is nontransferable; no substitutions or cash equivalents allowed except by Sponsor who reserves the right to award a prize of comparable or greater value if advertised prize is unavailable. Taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner or parent/legal guardian of a "minor" prize winner. By accepting the prize, winner and/or parent/guardian of minor winner agree to the use of their names and/or likenesses for advertising and promotional purposes, worldwide, and in perpetuity in any media, now known and hereafter devised (including and without limitation, the internet) without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law, and upon request provide consent to such use in writing unless prohibited by law.

DRAWING AND NOTIFICATION: A random drawings will be conducted from all eligible entries received, under the supervision of Marden-Kane, Inc., an independent judging organization whose decisions are final and binding on all matters relating to this Sweepstakes. The Sweepstakes Drawing will be held on or about 7/15/09 from all eligible online and mail in entries. The potential Prize winner will be notified by first class mail or email and may be required to complete and execute an affidavit of eligibility and, where legal, a publicity and travel release, all of which must be completed, signed and returned within 10 days from the date which documents were sent to the potential winner. Failure to comply within the time period and/or conditions outlined above may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. If winner is a minor in their state of residence, the prize will be awarded in the name of their parent or legal guardian. Return of any prize/prize notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner.

GENERAL CONDITIONS: Entrants also agree (i) to be bound by all applicable U.S. and Canadian laws and regulations and abide by the terms of these Official Rules and the decision of the Sponsor and judges, (ii) to waive any right to claim ambiguity in the rules, and (iii) to release, indemnify and hold harmless NCsoft and its Affiliates, including directors, officers, shareholders, owners, employees and agents, including Marden-Kane, Inc. (collectively, the "Releasees") from all liability, damages or causes of action arising from participation in this Sweepstakes and/or acceptance, possession, use, misuse or nonuse of any prize that may be awarded. Releasees shall not be liable to winner or any other person for failure to supply the prize or any part thereof, by reason of any acts of God. Except where prohibited, entrants agree that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this contest or any prize awarded shall be resolved under the laws of the State of Washington, without respect to any conflict of law issues, and entrant agrees that such shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the U.S. Federal and State Courts of King County, Washington, U.S.A.

PRIVACY: By entering this Sweepstakes, entrant agrees to have the information submitted on their entry form to become part of a NCsoft mailing list/database and is willing to accept future marketing information from NCsoft via mail and/or email. Such information shall be maintained in accordance with NCsoft's Privacy Policy, which is available at http://us.ncsoft.com/en/legal/privacy-policy.html. You will have the right, upon receipt of such email/mail from NCsoft "opt-out" (be deleted from) the database and not receive any subsequent correspondence from NCsoft. If you do not wish to receive subsequent correspondence from NCsoft, write to the Sponsor at the address found below.

WINNERS LIST: For names of the prize winners, available 30 days after the end of the promotion, please log on to www.aiononline.com/aionparty. Winners will be posted for 90 days following awarding of prizes. A list of winners can also be obtained by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to NCsoft The Aion Launch Party Sweepstakes, Marden-Kane, Inc., 36 Maple Place, Manhasset, NY 11030. Residents of Canada may omit return postage.

SPONSOR: NC Interactive Inc., 1501 4th Ave. Floor 20, Seattle, WA 98101

SWEEPSTAKES ADMINISTRATOR: Marden-Kane, Inc., 36 Maple Place, Manhasset, NY 11030.

Canadian winners are required to successfully answer a time limited mathematical skill testing question, administered by mail in order to receive their prize.

• Discuss this and more on our forums.