Xbox Canada just threw down an open challenge that will see one lucky canuck and a pal catching the freeloader express down to LA for this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).

Dubbed "Jade's Informer Competition" (Jade is the virtual cheerleader/scribe found in Xbox Canada's community channel), the contest invites Survivor-style audition submissions in the form of a journalistic essay (250 words or less), video (5 minutes or less in .wmv format, of course, because you love Windows Media, not Apple QuickTime, right?), or graphic/photo imagery (2MBs or less .jpg or .gif), with the winner selected by a mysterious but apparently "distinguished" panel of judges (basically, some Microsoft employees, which is, in fact, quite a distinction, all things considered).

Entries are to be judged on several factors of varying weight. According to the official rules and regulations, this includes "appropriateness to theme (25%); essay creativity (25%); Interest to other Xbox fans (20%); accompanying picture / video supports the essay (5%)."

The astute will note that leaves 25% of criteria unaccounted for, so we'll presume they're basing a quarter of the decision on the entrant's cache in the Banque du Karma. Or maybe they'll let Marvin the Magical Mule weigh in. Or maybe some distinguished copywriter will fix the glaring oversight on the rules page by the time you read this. Fun while it lasted.

Also according the rules and regulations, the Grand Prize Winner will receive a trip for two to Los Angeles to attend the E3 as a VIP guest of Microsoft. Trip includes round trip coach airfare from major airport closest to winner's home, 3 nights standard hotel accommodations, a 3 day pass to E3, and a $500 cash travel allowance, which might be the only time you'll ever see coach, standard hotel, $83 a day and VIP all in the same sentence.

And, depending on who's press you read, winners "will be required" or "may have the opportunity" to post journalist reports on official Xbox.com portals (which includes Xbox Canada's version at Xbox.com/ca) (or anywhere else Microsoft deems fit, for that matter), so it's not all fun and games. Wait, yes it is -- to be Jade's Informer is the testifiably fun version of work that includes some serious access to games no one else has seen (yet) and then writing about it. As a bonus: total bragging rights for years to come.

The contest runs until April 24, with the winner notified by e-mail or phone call on or about April 28th, 2006 and posted on Xbox.com/ca on or around May 1st, 2006.

One final catch: though you can get more info and sign up/enter at xbox.com/en-ca/e3informer/, you'll be required to have or sign up for an Xbox Live membership, which is free, but somewhat pigeon-holes you into registered "fanboy" status. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Fanboy.
 
 

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