Prizes!

[confusio]

This is a separate marketing firm. Maybe 42 Entertainment is checking this from time to time, but I doubt the folks at Marden-Kane even care about this game aside from verifying people and giving prizes.

Anyways, like I said, I highly doubt these forums can be used as evidence. They can't verify my identity on here, but they can with the affidavit and W9 forms.

Trust me, they are, as well the sponsors and even folks from Rocketplane. Didn't you(your dad) have to sign also a

publicity release ?

As you may know you have some info about you out there such as how old you really are, your birthday, where you study,

and even what test you have coming at school !!! so keep a low profile until you open the box with the goodies ...

Anyway congratulations and I hope you can get it

[asdfoi83wyrl]

I'm still confused as to why Vanishing Point sponsors would be reading this forum. I can understand why they'd read it before the game and during the game, but after? What's the value in reading this? It was their job to do this game, not necessarily something they just did for fun. They got paid for this.

[confusio]

I'm still confused as to why Vanishing Point sponsors would be reading this forum. I can understand why they'd read it before the game and during the game, but after? What's the value in reading this? It was their job to do this game, not necessarily something they just did for fun. They got paid for this.

As one of my favorite baseball coaches says "Is not over until is over" ....

[asdfoi83wyrl]

Heh. Within a month or so when all the prizes are awarded, it WILL be over.

[disillusioned]

Okay, so the way it'd work is pretty simple:

The MK people are *administering* the sweepstakes portion of this. This means that they either received or already had a giant Excel spreadsheet or database file, put it into a random number generator and had it spit out winners. Those with complete enough information at the top of the list got packages.

They won't necessarily care about the forum or anything, and the MS/42 people might not even care/be able to contact the MK people so directly.

The age thing *is* a big deal, but only if they figure out that the name of the person on the affidavit and the name the letter was addressed to is different. You black out the "To:" portion, but I'm guessing you used your name, since you mentioned same last name.

It could cause a serious problem for them, since your dad wasn't the one who registered and wasn't the one who won. You were. And since you're not 18, you did not fulfill their letter's main point: "To insure (should be ensure, heh) that you have complied with the rules and regulations of this sweepstakes...affidavit of eligibility...etc."

Now, they may not notice. They may notice and not care. But they're legally bound by the rules in the sweepstakes, and here's why:

Marden-Kane could be *sued* if someone decided to because the winner selection was not bound by their own rules, and thus, by certain state laws they're abiding by. They don't dig on this liability--that's why you're signing an affidavit. Also, not a brilliant idea to lie about eligibility on one of those, but again, it very well will end up inconsequential. I don't think I would've called attention to it on this here internet now, since you're not particularly playing by the rules and thus, you're not the one who should've won.

Understand, I'm just glad to hear that *someone* has been contacted, and I'd love to say you deserve it, and I know that it's awesome and everything, but you're not 18. You were picked. Rules require you to be 18. Not to know someone who's 18. Or have a legal guardian who's 18.

I say this as someone who administers sweepstakes for a large corporation (though not the legal end of it) but just be prepared for it potentially being unfortunate news. And be careful when signing legal documents that are notarized about stuff like that.

Good luck!

[asdfoi83wyrl]

Thanks for the explanation.

There is definitely nothing false in the affidavit or W9 form. It asks you, "being duly sworn," about your age--and my dad signed his name and his age. The name on that affidavit and the name on the letter is obviously different, but during the game registration, it never asked for the LEGAL name--meaning that nicknames, aliases, and such should have been accepted.

I'm not a lawyer, but there's absolutely no real evidence anyone could use to sue MK about the eligibility. Also, it would be very silly for someone to sue for something like this--but as you may know, there are quite a few silly people out there.

[disillusioned]

Oh, we definitely know. The sweepstakes I administer are usually for tires. (Heh, seriously.) And yet, they have to make sure legal is air-tight (hah.) because of crazy people who think they're entitled.

It sucks, but it might be a problem for them, because you registered under a different name, even though you might not think it was binding. (I think you had to select a "I have read the rules and regulations" when you registered.)

You say that it could have been a moniker or nickname, but I disagree. Just like it couldn't be a fake address if you expected to win, or be notified of having won.

It's an interesting legal question, and we'll have to see where MK comes down on it. Without seeing any of this or knowing about it outright, they very well might catch that your names *are* different. It's all about how lenient they want to be, and if they want to follow the letter of the law here.

[asdfoi83wyrl]

People have nicknames, but not nickaddresses. At any rate, I agree with you that it's basically up to MK whether they want to send me the prize or not.

If they really wanted to control the user base to just 18+ people, they could've asked for some sort of basic verification, like perhaps a credit card number (though I guess there are credit cards for teenagers too).

[agentleman]

People have nicknames, but not nickaddresses. At any rate, I agree with you that it's basically up to MK whether they want to send me the prize or not.

If they really wanted to control the user base to just 18+ people, they could've asked for some sort of basic verification, like perhaps a credit card number (though I guess there are credit cards for teenagers too).

Jason, I think that you would have been better off not saying anything here about your plans to circumvent the rules...or your justification.

At 1st I was concerned for you because of the 18+ thing and hoped that you still got the prize.

Now, the more that you casually disregard the rules, flaunt that you think Marden-Kane will never find out about this, etc., you are becoming less of a sympathetic figure.

Just a thought.

[akitakoi]

And there you have it, the meta prize winner is the "wife" of a guy that played and now a non elegible (under 18) has his father claiming a prize for him.

Oh well, maybe my dog will win something. :whistle:

Edited February 7, 2007 by akitakoi

[N0L4]

Wow, I can see the changes coming for the other winners, Marden Kane gets wind of this as does Microsoft, AMD & 42 Entertainment and then you will find that all potential winners must send a notarized copy of their legal ID with the same name they registered with. OF course, they should already be requesting that information to verify Identity and age.

We already know that 42 is watching the forums, and obviously Rocketplane has a rep here.

What bothers me even more is the close to home aspect. By having your father fill out the forms for you, he also has to get them notarized and that puts the Notary Public in jeopardy of losing their certification too. Having someone certify a lie. And no conscience about it at all.

I am absolutely positive that Microsoft & AMD do not want bad publicity to come from this contest, that would defeat the purpose of the entire venture, wouldn't it? A few jealous or disgruntled people, blog writers, media reps reading this thread & you can guarantee that bad publicity will fly!

I hope that all the hurt that may be caused by your willingness to ignore the rules, Jason, is worth the new computer & toys.

[peakusedcars.ca]

Jason's winning (or not winning) aside...it did not indicate that he had to keep things quiet, so again I am hoping that the other notifications are still in transit.

The 16th is one week from Friday, so I am assuming that the official winners will not be announced until after that date sometime (just in case there is someone who was selected, that is ineligible...)

Hopefully we will see more postings from others who have won. Like previous posts, I also find it odd that more people from this forum have not won (and we know they are not sworn to secrecy)...

Good luck everyone!

[akitakoi]

looks legit to me and I have seen another winner's letter

You have seen another winners letter?

[agentleman]

You have seen another winners letter?

Brilo211 is the husband of autter211, aka Audrey Murphy, the winner of the Meta Prize of having her name (or whatever else she can get on there) on an AMD chip. So that is why he knows if it looks legit or not...because he has seen one!

If you refresh the AMD website you'll see the following box which congratulates her on winning the Meta contest:

[confusio]

...

I am absolutely positive that Microsoft & AMD do not want bad publicity to come from this contest, that would defeat the purpose of the entire venture, wouldn't it? A few jealous or disgruntled people, blog writers, media reps reading this thread & you can guarantee that bad publicity will fly!

...

That's the whole point, besides the legal aspects around the eligibility, remember that after all this is a marketing campaign

to creative a positive spin about the Vista launch and the last thing the sponsors and other companies involved

in it want is an international angry mob of geeks complaining that somebody that was not supposed to be elegible for a prize got one.

On the other hand what's the probability that somebody else from your area got lucky to win a first prize ? I bet it's very

low, so it won't be too difficult for them to find out who they have to disqualify.

So Jason take a little bit of advice from somebody that is three times your age, by posting it here you blew it, so lay low, stop

creating more buzz about it and now wait for the outcome.

My .02

[kackles]

well,, all I can say is congrats to Jason (of course already sent those to Autter). I am excited to see someone else actually got a letter. Would like to say I have gotten one Myself but I haven't lost hope (yet)<grin>

I hope I see more people here (myself included) start posting their great luck...

[SuperRob]

I just can't beleive that Jason is being so stupid as to openly post his intent to defraud the sweepstakes admins. Learn to keep your mouth shut, geez. Kids today ...

Seriously, I don't think Jason fully comprehends exactly what it is he's risking by blabbing about it in here.

[GF3]

These walls have eyes........................... :shiftyninja:

You are all correct I am not the only person watching forums.

[Ices_Eyes]

These walls have eyes........................... :shiftyninja:

You are all correct I am not the only person watching forums.

lol :D

[akitakoi]

:| just kidding around about my dog winning. :D

Edited February 7, 2007 by akitakoi

[matthewlefflercomputer]

I just can't beleive that Jason is being so stupid as to openly post his intent to defraud the sweepstakes admins. Learn to keep your mouth shut, geez. Kids today ...

Seriously, I don't think Jason fully comprehends exactly what it is he's risking by blabbing about it in here.

Hey, what's the fuss? That's more chances for the rest of us legitimate players! :devil:

Edited February 7, 2007 by matthewlefflercomputer

[Stukaus]

Hey. what's the fuss? That's more chances for the rest of us legitimate players! :devil:

...and now we will have to wait even longer for the affidavids to come back and be verified and so-on and so-on...

[akitakoi]

He will be mad when he gets home from school and finds out he goofed up and his buddies here sent off emails "narking" him out.

[Stukaus]

He will be mad when he gets home from school and finds out he goofed up and his buddies here sent off emails "narking" him out.

Instead of sending back the affidavid he should frame it and hang it up on his wall, that will be the closest

thing for him to winning.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

These walls have eyes........................... :shiftyninja:

You are all correct I am not the only person watching forums.

WOOT! ROFLMAO! :rofl: Good one! :D