TORONTO, ON — Feb. 7, 2008 — Microsoft Corp. announced a special Xbox LIVE online entertainment network weekend coinciding with The Recording Academy’s 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Beginning Feb. 8, 2008, fans of the popular game “Rock Band” on Xbox 360 will be able to participate in online activities including the opportunity to create their own rock band with friends, participate in a three-day Play & Win sweepstakes for a chance to win special prize packages, and join a virtual celebrity band.

To kick off the weekend, Xbox LIVE will host Game with Fame sessions allowing Xbox LIVE Gold members to sign onto Xbox LIVE on Feb. 6, 7 and 8 from noon to 6 p.m. PST to score an opportunity to chat and play “Rock Band” with some of the biggest artists in music. Artists such as T-Pain who participate in the Game with Fame will be doing so live from the fifth annual GRAMMY Style Studio, The Recording Academy’s official styling suite where nominees, performers and presenters are invited to select one-of-a-kind pieces from leading international lifestyle brands to wear to the awards show on Feb. 10 and various GRAMMY Week events. Other surprise guests will be dropping in all week to game against fans via Xbox LIVE. Guests confirmed to attend the Style Studio include Snoop Dogg, will.i.am, Akon, John Legend, Ali Hewson, Solange Knowles, Daughtry, Dave Koz, No Doubt, The Pussycat Dolls, Natasha Bedingfield, The Roots, Emerson Drive, Tank, Emily King, Miranda Lambert, Buckcherry, Fat Joe, Ryan Shaw, Lang Lang and Lil Mama, with many more to follow. Those interested in jamming out can send a friend request to the Xbox LIVE Gamertag GrammyGwF.

Throughout the weekend “Rock Band” gamers can participate in the Play & Win sweepstakes. To enter, players must register at http://www.xbox.com/en-CA/ for the Play & Win sweepstakes and then play a “Rock Band” multiplayer session. There will be one winner per hour during the 72-hour period (12:01 a.m. EST, Feb. 8, to 11:59 p.m. EST, Feb. 10). All hourly winners will then be placed in a second drawing for a chance to win the Grand Prize — a trip with a guest to New York City to tour MTV Studios, a Fender Stratocaster Guitar, an Xbox 360 “Rock Band” game with guitar and drum set, and a 12-month subscription to Xbox LIVE. In addition, three first-prize winners will be chosen to receive a Fender Stratocaster guitar, an Xbox 360 “Rock Band” game guitar and drum set, and a 12-month subscription to Xbox LIVE. Six second-prize winners will receive a copy of “Rock Band” with guitar and drum set and a 12-month subscription to Xbox LIVE. More registration details and official rules are available through the official event Web page, http://www.xbox.com/en-CA/games/r/rockband/rockyourweekend/.

“Rock Band” fans will also get the opportunity that weekend to game over Xbox LIVE against “Rock Band” developers. They should be on the lookout for the following development team Gamertags starting Friday, Feb. 8, from 7 to 10 p.m. EST and throughout the weekend:

RBDevDan
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RBDevColby
RBDevJeremy
RBDevMatt
RBDevCaleb
RBDevEmily
RBDevRyan
RBDevJustin
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