Getting achievements and boosting your Gamerscore are finally about to pay off! The achievement system is inarguably one of the coolest innovations featured in a video game console. Although there are a few out there who consider it to be pointless. They chalk players simply hooked on it for e-penis bragging rights. Others wish that it played a bigger significance towards unlocking new content within the game itself. Or even better, to have the opportunity to redeem their points for unique prizes.

Well, those criticisms haven’t gone in vain. Microsoft has team up with Old Spice to introduce a new Xbox 360 event called the Old Spice Experience Challenge. Gamers will be charged with increasing their gamerscore by 1,500 between February 12 and April 12, 2007. In other words, you’ve got 2 months to get your high score up to 1,500 in order to earn a bounty of rewards (yay, I just boosted mine just the other day).

In order to participate, you must have a valid Windows Live ID with your Xbox Live, a linked gamercard, be a legal resident of the United States or District of Columbia (additional challenges will be announced for the rest of the world soon), and at least thirteen years-old. What Can I Win?

Reward Package Qualifications

* Level 1 (Gamers who have an annual gamerscore between 0-4,999 at time of entry): Game Picture, Dashboard theme, Contra for Xbox LIVE Arcade
* Level 2 (5,000-9,999 annual gamerscore): Level 1 Package, 100 Microsoft Points and a contest T-shirt
* Level 3 (10,000+ annual gamerscore): Level 1 Package, 200 Microsoft Points, contest T-shirt and Fusion Frenzy 2

Old Spice is also planning to give Leve 1 and Level 2 “the gift of experience” by upgrade the Rewards Level later this year. (Hopefully they’ll start giving away DVD players or something… or a lifetime supply of Old Spice?)

Be sure to log on to www.xbox.com/rewards on February 12 to sign up for participation. Reward quantities are limited so gamers who reach the set goal will be awarded on a first come, first served basis only.