Epic and Microsoft Game Studios let fans go behind the scenes to play "Gears of War�� on the Xbox 360 and meet its creators before the game hits store shelves in November. 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:

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.