Microsoft and The United States Army are working together to start the first Halo 3 tournament to be held over Xbox Live(XBL). The tournament – which is interestingly limited to U.S. gamers only – begins in April, and will feature prizes for top players. If you want a chance at the winner’s circle, registration starts in March – So if you think you’ve got game, prove it, and you could be the lucky winner of an all-expenses paid trip to a land of sun and sand (and oil). Or maybe just some exclusive Halo stuff to mount on your walls.

For those who want to get some practice, the Army is also sponsoring a series of “Basic Combat Training” mini-contests through Xbox Live. Here players will register and play Halo 3 on certain days in order to win. Registration has already begun for the first contest, entitled “Sniper School,” and gameplay will begin on January 19. See the full schedule below.

Registration for the first of three training sessions begins on Jan. 7, with gameplay beginning exclusively on Xbox LIVE on Jan. 19. Winners of these Basic Combat Training sessions will receive prizes, including Microsoft Points, exclusive “Halo 3” art, and more.

The Basic Combat Training schedule is as follows:

- Registration begins: 1/7, Training begins: 1/19 – Sniper School
- Registration begins: 1/28, Training begins: 2/9 – Heavy Weapons
- Registration begins: 2/18, Training begins: 3/1– Vehicles

Basic Training has begun, so enlist now you useless ape, and earn the name “Spartan.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 17th, 2008 at 11:21 am and is filed under Halo News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.