In celebration of our newly launched Video Games Hub, we are holding a contest this week where you can win free copies of Need for Speed: Shift, Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny, Batman: Arkham Asylum, and Guitar Hero 5! The contest starts today, September 22 and ends on Friday, September 25.  US residents only.

The contest is super simple to enter – just follow these simple steps:

1. Follow Metacafe’s Twitter account.
2. Each day, we will tweet out a question about the Video Games Hub.  Send a reply using Twitter with the correct answer  and make sure to tag your answer with #metacafegiveaway. That’s it! You’ll be automatically entered into a drawing for the game we are giving out that day.
3. Check back at the end of each day to see if you’ve won.

A big shout out to the folks at Namco Bandai for hooking us up with free copies of Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny.

Ok, now to the legal terms and conditions you all know and love:

Metacafe Video Game Sweepstakes Official Rules

No Purchase Necessary

Void Where Restricted or Prohibited by Law

____________________________

Thank you for your interest in the Metacafe Video Game Sweepstakes (“Sweepstakes”).  The Sweepstakes offers participants an opportunity to win a video game.  By participating in the Sweepstakes you agree to these Official Rules.

Please read these Official Rules carefully before entering the Sweepstakes.

1.  Eligibility. The Sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the fifty states of the United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry.  Employees of Metacafe, LLC (“Metacafe”) and its respective subsidiaries, affiliates, parent companies, distributors, divisions, agencies and third party fulfillment agencies (the “Sponsors”), as well as the immediate family members (spouse, parents, siblings and children) of those persons, are not eligible to enter the Sweepstakes.  If you have not reached the legal age of majority in your jurisdiction of residence at time of entry, you must have your parent’s or legal guardian’s consent to enter the Sweepstakes. The Sweepstakes are subject to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited by law.

3.  How to Enter. No purchase is necessary to enter the Sweepstakes and making a purchase will not increase your chances of winning.

Each day between September 22, 2009 and September 25, 2009 (the “Submission Period”) Metacafe will tweet a question on Twitter. To enter the Sweepstakes, send a tweet to the Metacafe Twitter account (@Metacafe) with the correct answer to the question by the deadline set forth in the Metacafe tweet. The tweet must be tagged with #metacafegiveaway.  Users are limited to one answer per question.

4.  Winner Selection. Winners will be randomly selected from all of the entries with the correct answer.  You chance of winning depends on the number of times you enter and the total number of entries by all participants.

5.  Prizes. Each winner will receive a video game as described in each daily tweet from Metacafe. The approximate retail value “ARV” of the prize is $60. The ARV of the prize is subject to change based on current market conditions at the time of prize fulfillment. Any difference between the ARV and the actual value, if any, will not be rewarded.  The winner is responsible for any state or federal taxes due as a result of receiving the prize.

6.  Winner Notification. The winners will be notified via Twitter by the end of each day of the contest.  A winner will be disqualified if (a) the winner does not respond within ten (10) business days to the Twitter message sent by Metacafe, (b) he/she is found to be ineligible, (c) he/she cannot or does not comply with these Official Rules, (d) he/she does not return the Affidavit/Release described in Section 7 below, or (e) the prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable.  If the Winner is disqualified, another winner will be randomly selected from the entries.

7.  Affidavit of Eligibility. The potential winner will be required to complete, sign and return to the Sponsors an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release (together, the “Affidavit/Release)” which will include, among other matters reasonably required by Sponsors:

(a) representations regarding your eligibility to participate in the Sweepstakes and your acceptance of and adherence to these Official Rules;

(b) a release of Sponsors’ and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, members, affiliated companies and subsidiaries, from any and all liability, loss, claims, demands, and causes of action for personal injury and/or damage, theft, loss, or any other harm suffered in connection with this Sweepstakes or your redemption of use of the Prize and for any claim based on publicity rights, defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright infringement, trademark infringement or any other personal or property rights of any party or any other intellectual property related cause of action, or the use/misuse or acceptance of the Prize;

(c) an attestation that you are of the age of majority in your jurisdiction of residence and that you are at least 18 years of age or, if you are under 18, a signature of your parent or guardian;

(d) permission of the Sponsors to use your name, likeness, image and other attributes for promotional purposes as described in Section 9.

The Affidavit/Release will be sent by email with the winner notification and must be signed by the potential winner and returned to the address indicated by the company within ten (10) the business days following the date on which it was sent, or else the potential winner may be disqualified and an alternate potential winner may be selected.

8.  Integrity of Sweepstakes. Use of any device to automate a vote is prohibited, including but not limited to software-generated, robotic, programmed, script, macro or other automated votes.   The Sponsors reserve the right at their sole discretion to disqualify any individual they suspect or find: (i) to have used a software-generated, robotic, programmed, script, macro or other automated online or text message entry; (ii) to have tampered with the voting process; (iii) to be acting in violation of these Official Rules; or (iv) to be acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person.  Any person attempting to defraud the Sponsors or tamper with this Sweepstakes in any way will not be eligible for the prize and may be prosecuted to the full extent permitted by law.

If, for any reason, any aspect of this Sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical or system failures or disruption, ‘Acts of God’ or terrorist attacks, or any other causes beyond the control of the Sponsors which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes, or if, for any reason, the Sponsors deem it necessary in their reasonable opinion, the Sponsors reserve the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes and/or determine the winner using an alternative method that the Sponsors determine to be appropriate and fair.

9.  Publicity. Except where prohibited by law, a Winner’s acceptance of a Prize constitutes permission for the Sponsors to use such Winner’s name, location (city and state), photo, likeness, biographical information, statement and voice for promotional purposes worldwide and in all forms of media (including posting on any web site), in perpetuity, without further notice or compensation.

10.  Compliance with Rules; Disclaimers; Limitations on Liability of Sweepstakes Sponsors. This Sweepstakes is subject to these Official Rules and all applicable federal, state and local laws (collectively “Rules and Laws”). By entering the Sweepstakes, you agree to all of the following:

1. to be bound by these Rules and Laws, as well as the decisions of the Sponsors, which are final and binding in all respects;
2. to indemnify and hold harmless the Sponsors from any and all liability resulting or arising from your participation in this Sweepstakes and acceptance of any Prize;
3. to release all rights to bring any claim, action or proceedings against the Sponsors; and
4. to waive any right to claim any ambiguity or error in the Official Rules.

The Sponsors are not responsible for and shall not be liable for: (i) difficulty accessing the Internet; (ii) errors in transmission; (iii) service outage or delays or for any problems or technical malfunctions of any telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of email or players on account of any technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any web site or combination thereof: (iv) injury or damage to you or to any other person’s computer or mobile phone related to or resulting from participating in, or downloading materials or software, or attempts to participate in or download materials or software related to this Sweepstakes or (v) failures or malfunctions of phones (including wireless phones/handsets), phone lines or telephone systems, cellular equipment towers, telephone systems or wireless services or other communications malfunctions.  The Sponsors are not responsible for and shall not be liable for typographical or other errors in the printing, the offering or the administration of the Official Voting Rules or any errors in the announcement of a potential winner.

Participants assume all liability for any injury or damages caused or claimed to be caused by his or her participation in the Sweepstakes or by his or her receipt, use or misuse of any prize and release the Sponsors from any such claim or liability.

11.  Dispute Resolution. Any dispute regarding the Sweepstakes or these Official Rules shall be governed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to any conflict of interest principles.  By entering this Sweepstakes, you agree to waive your right to a trial by jury and you agree instead to submit any dispute to the federal or state courts in Santa Clara County, California.  The prevailing party shall be entitled to actual damages only and shall not be entitled to any consequential damages or attorneys’ fees.

12.  Official Sweepstakes Rules/Winners’ Names. For an additional copy of these Official Rules or the name of the winners, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Metacafe, Inc., 537 Hamilton Avenue, 94301.  All requests must be received by December 31, 2009. Vermont and Washington residents may omit postage if requesting a set of Official Rules.