Halo 2 Beta Dataset (v1.1)
Release Date: 10th June 2006

Downloadable at
http://www.research.microsoft.com/mlp/apg/downloads/Halo2BetaDataset.zip


Detailed Information for the Dataset
====================================
This distribution contains 4 datasets of game outcomes gathered during
the Beta testing period for the Xbox game Halo 2 (see
http://www.bungie.net/Games/Halo2/). The beta testing started on the
8th July 2004 and finished on the 1st September 2004. A total of 6465
employees from Microsoft (across all time zones) participated in this
Beta test.

The fields in each line of the dataset files are seperated by commata.
Each line of the 4 files contains the following fields:
     * Date and Time when the game finsihed (PST time zone)
     * Unique game ID (valid across all 4 game modes)
     * Variant of the game (3 different values)
         1 = Capture the Flag
         2 = Slayer 
         9 = Assault
     * Map ID on which the game was played (5 different values)
     * Unique player ID (valid across all 4 game modes)
     * Team association 
     * Score

In order to determine the winning team, team scores are defined as the
sum of the individual member scores (all members with the same team
association).

The four files contain data from 4 different game types
     * FreeForAll (60022 games/5943 players)
         [up to 8 players playing against each other] 
     * HeadToHead (6227 games/1672 players)
         [1 players playing against 1 other player]
     * SmallTeam (27539 games/4992 players)
         [up to 4 players in 2 teams]
     * LargeTeam (1199 games/2576 players)   
         [up to 8 players in 2 teams]

A detailed analysis of the dataset together with baseline results are given in 
"R. Herbrich & T. Graepel. TrueSkill(TM): A Bayesian Skill Rating System. Microsoft 
Research Technical Report MSR-TR-2006-80. 2006." available at 
ftp://ftp.research.microsoft.com/pub/tr/TR-2006-80.ps

Terms and Conditions of Usage for the Dataset
=============================================
The users of the Halo 2 Beta Dataset must agree that
    1. The use of the data set is restricted to research purpose only.
    2. No redistribution of the dataset is allowed.
    3. In any resultant publications of research that uses the
       dataset, due credits will be provided to Microsoft Research
       Ltd. and Bungie.
       
Acknowledgements for the use of Dataset
=======================================
For any work that makes use of the dataset, please include the
following line in the acknowledgements section or the footnote of any
resultant publications.

"Credits for the use of the Halo 2 Beta Dataset are given to Microsoft
Research Ltd. and Bungie."

Questions and Comments
======================
Please forward any questions and comments to Ralf Herbrich
(rherb@microsoft.com).