Microsoft Reveals True Nature of "Hex 168" Online Contest

The Beginning is Nigh—Microsoft Reveals True
Nature of "Hex 168" Online Contest and Secret Xbox 360 Launch Event

360 Lucky Winners Will Get VIP Trip to the
Not-Yet-Unveiled Xbox 360 Launch Event and Xbox 360 Console Package 6 Days
before the World

"Some of These Things are Not Like The Others.
Some of You People Are Not Like the Others." –Dr. Jason Q. Lutz, "The Principles
of Hex"

Xbox confirmed today the true nature of the
mysterious online competition that has grabbed the imagination of web surfers
and game enthusiasts across the Internet and spawned a flurry of message board
activity. "The Sign of the Hex" was created by Microsoft and 42 Entertainment to
be a fun, tongue-in-cheek contest to engage the gaming community in the weeks
leading up to the launch of Xbox 360.

Visitors to the site www.hex168.com are
introduced to the fictional character "Dr. Jason Q. Lutz" (a specialist who has
dedicated his career to analyzing the phenomenon known as "Hex 168") and are
enlisted as "fellow truth-seekers" in the quest to research and catalog this
anomalous global occurrence. In the spirit of the outlandish stories and
farcical photos appearing in supermarket tabloid the "Weekly World News,"
entrants are asked to submit photos or short videos capturing "manifestations of
the power of hex" which are posted on the site for public voting. Entrants have
until November 4th to submit entrees and voters have until November 7 to rate
each individual evidence submissions as "Hexed or Not" and determine the
semi-finalists. A panel of pre-qualified judges will then determine the grand
prize winners in each category.

A total of 360 grand prize winners will be chosen
from the competition. The prizes are a veritable gamer’s dream come true:

• Hex 168 Grand Prize
• A three day/two night VIP trip to the
  not-yet-unveiled Xbox 360 Launch Event in November
• Microsoft Xbox 360 gaming console— received
  six full days before launch!
• Copies of three top Xbox 360 games – "Perfect
  Dark Zero," "Project Gotham Racing 3," and "Kameo: Elements of Power"
• (1) year Gold membership to Xbox LIVE

The Xbox 360 launch event will take place in a
yet-unnamed, secret location shortly before the North American launch. Xbox fans
from around the world will have the opportunity to join this invitation-only
festival and be among the first in the world to experience Xbox 360. Gamers will
have the opportunity to play the complete launch lineup for the first time and
get "sneak peeks" on several never-before-seen games. In addition, all attendees
at this exclusive event get a chance to celebrate the final hours leading into
launch with musical performances, participate in special event entertainment and
get a one-of-a kind Xbox 360 gift. Participants have until November 4, 2005 to
post their Hex submissions and become a part of pop culture and video game
history.

For more information, or to enter the
competition, visit
www.hex168.com .

About Xbox 360 Xbox 360 is the most powerful
video game and entertainment system, delivering the best games, the next
generation of the premier Xbox Live online gaming service, and unique digital
entertainment experiences that revolve around you. The system will launch this
holiday season in Europe, Japan and North America, to be followed by
availability in Australia, Colombia, Hong Kong, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand,
Singapore and Taiwan in 2006.