Konami has just announced a World Championship tournament for Metal Gear Online in collaboration with Major League Gaming. Gamers can now register their teams through MLG's gamebattles.com site.

The top two teams from North America will get a free ticket to this year's Tokyo Game Show to compete in the Metal Gear Online World Championship 2008 finals.

Gamers from North America, Europe, Japan, and Korea/Great Asia are eligible to participate.

Hit the break for the full press release.

METAL GEAR ONLINE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATION

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. in collaboration with Major League Gaming (MLG) is excited to share with you all today that the Metal Gear Online World Championship 2008 is now open for registration and play, on MLG's gamebattles.com site ( http://www.gamebattles.com/konami ), for the North American Qualifier tournament. The top two teams from the North American Qualifier will participate in the Metal Gear Online World Championship 2008 finals in Tokyo, Japan at the Tokyo Game Show, along with an $8,000 cash prize pool, and other prizes. Please go to GameBattles.com/Konami to register for the Metal Gear Online World Championship 2008, but hurry, the North American Qualifier will conclude on September 8, 2008. 

Taking place at Tokyo Game Show this October, the Metal Gear Online World Championship 2008 pits the best teams from around the world against each other for the chance to win worldwide recognition at one of the videogame industry's most prestigious events.

The Metal Gear Online World Championship 2008 will consist of the best players in North America, Europe, Japan, and Korea/Greater Asia. The top teams from the regional qualifiers in the territories will win trips to the Metal Gear Online World Championship 2008 finals at the Tokyo Game Show.

Additionally, Konami announced the first Metal Gear Online expansion packs - Gene Expansion and Gene Expansion Plus -- were available for download beginning July 17. Available for $11.99, Gene Expansion will contain a vast amount of new content including new maps, special characters, reward points, online shopping, the ability to play as a female character, and more. Available for $14.99, Gene Expansion Plus includes everything in the Gene Expansion pack with the addition of an extra character slot.