Jonolche, do you think there are higher powers at work here? I sense a definate push by microsoft to shift their poor IP by bundling it with something of much higher interest: Halo3 obviously. I too hope I get a chance to play and feedback on this beta, I myself am an avid game developer. I just feel slightly pushed out by the bias towards north american gamers. Even the way this was anounced left me with a bitter feeling: It was as if they were saying that if we wanted a second chance to try and get a place then there were another 2 copout methods... well being in europe I had no chance in the first place!! How unfair. [Edited on 1/3/2007]