Long read: The beauty and drama of video games and their clouds

"It's a little bit hard to work out without knowing the altitude of that dragon..."

If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Invite friends into Gears of War 3 beta

"Buddy tokens" being handed out this week.

Been enjoying the Gears of War 3 beta? Got jealous chums who want in? Well, Microsoft has just announced a scheme that will let beta key holders invite friends to share the fun.

Everyone who has played at least one game in the beta will receive a "buddy token" which will grant an Xbox Live friend access to the trial run.

US users will then be offered further opportunities to rope in friends. Performing any one of the following actions will net you a further token:

  • Purchase any "Gears of War" content from Xbox Live Marketplace (including a "Gears of War" game add-on, a "Gears of War" Games on Demand title, or a "Gears of War" Avatar item)
  • Play 20 or more hours of the "Gears of War 3" beta (any time already spent in the beta will count toward this challenge)
  • Add a 12-month Xbox Live Gold subscription to your existing account (purchased from retail or online)
  • Play more than 100 hours of any "Gears of War" title, lifetime to date

You have until 4th May to complete any of the challenges, with tokens distributed by email from 8th May. That gives you a week to get stuck in together before the beta goes offline on 15th May.

Microsoft is automatically tracking everyone's progress, so you won't need to take any additional action to claim your tokens.

Take a look at Eurogamer's recent hands-on impressions for more on what to expect from the beta.