From business intelligence analysts, to big data junkies, and Excel ninjas alike, if you think you know Excel, we’ve got a challenge for you! Join Microsoft Business Intelligence on Facebook and show us how you ‘excel’ by answering a series of 15 questions about one of the most powerful BI tools out there, Microsoft Excel 2013!
How to Play and Enter the Sweepstakes
To enter the Sweepstakes you must be logged into your Facebook account. If you do not have a Facebook account you may register for one for free at www.facebook.com.
Once logged in to Facebook, visit the So You Think You Know Excel app and “like” the page to access the Sweepstakes entry form. Once you’re there, you’ll be asked to complete the registration form, and take the Challenge by answering trivia questions about the MicrosoftExcel2013 software product.
Remember, you don’t need to answer all the questions correctly to enter the sweepstakes, but a high score may get you on the leaderboard! Each question answered correctly is worth 130 points, while a wrong answer subtracts 60 points. When you’ve completed the Challenge, you can play again for a higher score, or you can share this game with your friends and colleagues on Facebook or Twitter.
The sweepstakes will be open through 11:59 pm on Tuesday, March 26th so spread the word! At the end of the Challenge period, we will select 2 participants at random to receive a Kinect for Xbox 360 prize pack.
So what are you waiting for? Get started now and test your knowledge around Excel 2013 and the many new self-service capabilities it offers for business intelligence professionals, including:
- xVelocity in-memory analytics
- Quick Explore, Trend Charts, Quick Analysis and Flash Fill
- PowerPivot in Excel 2013 (a long-time business intelligence favorite)
- Power View (formerly known as Project Crescent)
- Governance and compliance control when paired with SharePoint Server 2013
You can preview Excel 2013 today, or see the full contest rules below, and invite your friends to play and enter!
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MICROSOFT “SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW EXCEL?” SWEEPSTAKES OFFICIAL RULES
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
PLEASE NOTE: It is your sole responsibility to review and understand your employer’s policies regarding your eligibility to participate in trade promotions. If you are participating in violation of your employer’s policies, you may be disqualified from entering or receiving prizes. Microsoft disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for disputes arising between an employee and their employer related to this matter, and prizes will only be awarded in compliance with the employer’s policies.
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES: Microsoft is committed to complying with government gift and ethics rules and therefore government employees are not eligible to enter the Sweepstakes or receive prizes.
This Sweepstakes is hosted in the United States, and entry information is collected on computers in the United States. This Sweepstakes will be governed by the laws of the State of Washington, and you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the State of Washington for any disputes arising out of this Sweepstakes. If you do not agree with this provision and these Official Rules, please do not enter this Sweepstakes.
COMMON TERMS USED IN THESE RULES:
These are the official rules that govern how the Microsoft “So You Think You Know Excel?” Sweepstakes
will operate. This will be simply referred to as the “Sweepstakes” throughout the rest of these rules.
In these rules, “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Microsoft Corporation, the sponsor of the Sweepstakes. “You” refers to an eligible Sweepstakes entrant.
This Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
WHAT ARE THE START AND END DATES?
This Sweepstakes starts at 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time (PT) on March 6, 2013, and ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on March 26, 2013 (“Entry Period”). Entries must be received within the Entry Period to be eligible.
Please visit http://www.worldtimeserver.com/ or other world time database to determine your local time.
CAN I ENTER?
You are eligible to enter this Sweepstakes if you meet the following requirements at time of entry:
- You are professional or enthusiast with expertise in Business Intelligence and are 18 years of age or older; and
- You are NOT a resident of any of the following countries: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria.
PLEASE NOTE: U.S. export regulations prohibit the export of goods and services to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria. Therefore residents of these countries / regions are not eligible to participate.
- You are NOT an employee of Microsoft Corporation or an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary; and
- You are NOT involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Sweepstakes; and
- You are NOT an immediate family (parent, sibling, spouse, child) or household member of a Microsoft employee, an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary, or a person involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Sweepstakes.
This Sweepstakes is void within the geographic area described above and wherever else prohibited by law.
HOW DO I ENTER?
To enter the Sweepstakes you must be logged into your Facebook account. If you do not have a Facebook account you may register for one for free at www.facebook.com.
Once logged in to Facebook, visit https://apps.facebook.com/121119674711053/ and “like” the page to access the Sweepstakes entry form. You will be asked to complete the registration form, including submitting answers to trivia questions about the MicrosoftExcel 2013 software product. You do not have to submit the correct answers to receive an entry.
You understand that you are providing your information to the Sponsor and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for administering the Sweepstakes and to contact you if you are a winner.
Limit one entry per person and Facebook account. You may not compete under multiple identities to fraudulently enter this Sweepstakes. You may not use any mechanical or other methods to automatically and fraudulently enter this Sweepstakes. We reserve the right in our sole discretion to disqualify any person we believe has violated these Official Rules.
We are not responsible for entries that we do not receive for any reason, or for entries that we receive but are not decipherable for any reason.
We will automatically disqualify:
- Any incomplete or illegible entry; and
- Any entries that we receive from you that are in excess of the entry limit described above.
WINNER SELECTION AND PRIZES
On or around March 29, 2013, we, or a company acting on our behalf, will select one potential (pending confirmation of eligibility) Grand Prize Winner at random from among all eligible entries received.
Grand Prize: An Xbox 360 250GB Kinect Bundle including Carnival Games, Kinect Adventures, and a 3-month gold membership to XboxLIVE. Approximate Retail Value US$349.99
If you are a potential winner, we will notify you by sending a message to the e-mail address, the phone number, or mailing address (if any) provided at time of entry within seven days following the random drawing. If the notification that we send is returned as undeliverable, or you are otherwise unreachable for any reason, we may award the prize to an alternate, randomly selected winner. Only three alternate drawings will be held after which the applicable prize will remain un-awarded.
If there is a dispute as to who is the potential winner, we will consider the potential winner to be the authorized account holder of the e-mail address used to enter the Sweepstakes. If you are a potential winner, we may require you to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability/Publicity Release and a W-9 tax form or W-8 BEN tax form within 10 days of notification. If you are a potential winner and you are 18 or older, but are considered a minor in your place of legal residence, we may require your parent or legal guardian to sign all required forms on your behalf. If you do not complete the required forms as instructed and/or return the required forms within the time period listed on the winner notification message, we may disqualify you and select an alternate, randomly selected winner.
If you are confirmed as a winner of this Sweepstakes:
- You may not exchange your prize for cash or any other merchandise or services. However, if for any reason an advertised prize is unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value; and
- You may not designate someone else as the winner. If you are unable or unwilling to accept your prize, we will award it to an alternate potential winner; and
- If you accept a prize, you will be solely responsible for all applicable taxes related to accepting the prize; and
- If you are otherwise eligible for this Sweepstakes, but are considered a minor in your place of residence, we may award the prize to your parent/legal guardian on your behalf; and
- Unless otherwise noted, all prizes are subject to their manufacturer’s warranty and / or terms and conditions.
WHAT ARE YOUR ODDS OF WINNING?
Your odds of winning this Sweepstakes depend on the number of eligible entries we receive.
WHAT OTHER CONDITIONS ARE YOU AGREEING TO BY ENTERING THIS SWEEPSTAKES?
- By entering this Sweepstakes you agree:
- To abide by these Official Rules; and
- To release and hold harmless Microsoft, and its respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees and agents from any and all liability or any injury, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this Sweepstakes or any prize won; and
- That Microsoft’s decisions will be final and binding on all matters related to this Sweepstakes; and
- That by accepting a prize, Microsoft may use of your proper name and state of residence online and in print, or in any other media, in connection with this Sweepstakes, without payment or compensation to you, except where prohibited by law.
WHAT LAWS GOVERN THE WAY THIS SWEEPSTAKES IS EXECUTED AND ADMINISTRATED?
This Sweepstakes will be governed by the laws of the State of Washington, and you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the State of Washington for any disputes arising out of this Sweepstakes.
WHAT IF SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS AND THE SWEEPSTAKES CAN’T RUN AS PLANNED?
If cheating, a virus, bug, catastrophic event, or any other unforeseen or unexpected event that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled, (also referred to as force majeure)affects the fairness and / or integrity of this Sweepstakes, we reserve the right to cancel, change or suspend this Sweepstakes. This right is reserved whether the event is due to human or technical error. If a solution cannot be found to restore the integrity of the Sweepstakes, we reserve the right randomly to select winners from among all eligible entries received before we had to cancel, change or suspend the Sweepstakes.
If you attempt to compromise the integrity or the legitimate operation of this Sweepstakes by hacking or by cheating or committing fraud in ANY way, we may seek damages from you to the fullest extent permitted by law. Further, we may ban you from participating in any of our future Sweepstakes, so please play fairly.
HOW CAN YOU FIND OUT WHO WON?
Please email v-kamuns@microsoft.com before March 15, 2013 for a list of winners.
WHO IS SPONSORING THIS SWEEPSTAKES?
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052