OK, so some of us are new to SteamGifts, or perhaps we haven't had the time to read the thousands of forum postings, or maybe we're just plain dumb. Whatever your affliction might be, you've been in this situation, before--try as you might, you can't find the hidden link or code someone stashed in their forum posting. The following information is for you, brought to you by the kind folks here at SG, and collected in this posting by me.


Here are some of the ways you can find hidden information in the various postings on SteamGifts:

1) Check the Avatar -- Some people hide bits of information in their avatar. As long as SteamGifts has updated their avatar (which usually takes about a day), you can simply look at it and see if it's "odd." Failing that, you can pull up their profile to get a better look, or you can pull up their Steam profile, right-click on their avatar and select "View Image." Saving the picture and manipulating it within Paint is useful, as is using the Windows "Ease of Access" Magnifier tool.

2) The same trick used in #1 can be used in an online picture. Look carefully.

3) Sometimes, people will hide URL's or text within their posting. I don't know how they accomplish this, but you can see the hidden text or URL by selecting the body of text, right-clicking on it, and then selecting "View selection source." A shortcut is <Ctrl+U>, then <Ctrl+F> to search for specific text (e.g. "/giveaway/") if you know it.

There are many other things people can do, but these are the only ones I am aware of at this time. I will try to update this original list if/when some kind person provides us additional information. That way, you don't have to scan through the responses.

THANKS TO:

frozened
kangarooster
Peroxide

11 years ago*

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11 years ago
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If you four actually want to be helpful, you'll have to make it useful to the average person who knows nothing about SteamGifts.

11 years ago
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11 years ago
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^^

11 years ago
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fixed ;)

11 years ago
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11 years ago
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Lies!

11 years ago
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View Source -> Ctrl + F -> "/giveaway/"

Any more effort is too much.

11 years ago
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Ctrl + U -> Ctrl + F -> "/giveaway/"

:P

11 years ago
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11 years ago
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And + Restore Previous Session

11 years ago
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-> "http://", they're not always that obvious

11 years ago
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You just saved me a couple more seconds!

I always right clicked and they don't show the shortcut in that context menu.

11 years ago
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+1

11 years ago
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goodluck trying that on my puzzles

11 years ago
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on mine it works! sorf of... ;p

11 years ago
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You should've added a hidden one in this one :(

11 years ago
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that's exactly what i was thinking

11 years ago
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thanks for snuggle truck.

11 years ago
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I would have, but I'm poor. Besides, the idea was to help those new to SG.

11 years ago
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11 years ago
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But, but it's supposed to be a secret to everybody! Now we'll have more entries in hidden giveaways or people will try to hide their giveaways even more obscurely than before. What have you done?? D:

11 years ago
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What's better 7han an example?

11 years ago
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OK, you provide the giveaway, I'll provide a link to it.

And my avatar is already an example, albeit that particular giveaway is already over.

11 years ago
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Deal, I will contact (add on steam) you soonTM for this purpose. For a celebratory gw. This month.

Note soon is a trademark from Ubilol to refer to periods between 6 and 18 months wich won't be updated with better messages as using the same word again. Generally related to release date of a new game or a patch that fixes an unusable game

11 years ago
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Plot twist: Super secret giveaway hidden in this thread.

11 years ago
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Hehe, it's time to put those newly acquired skills to a test, everyone!! ;)

11 years ago
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Thanks for the GA!

11 years ago
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Not many people use #1. And if it's used, extremely rare.

11 years ago
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True, but it's a technique I know about.

I was hoping that other people on SG might have a similar desire to be helpful, but few responses have been. Perhaps I misjudged the culture here?

11 years ago
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Or grossly overestimated the decrypting ability of forum posters.

11 years ago
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You're saying they couldn't comprehend my clearly-stated intention? Hmm... That's a possibility.

11 years ago
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Online puzzle games gave me enough practice, like Abscondita Sapientia (there are similar in english), where the solution to each puzzle is sometimes outside of the site itself, or in the body of the text as well.

11 years ago
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I request a decision from the Constitutional Court of SteamGifts! Does this abstract unrelated help overview violate the rule "Do not suggest hints" or not?

It would be nice for a puzzler to have a nice overview, but not for puzzle creators, although the current "hints" here are not that specific and helpful yet.

11 years ago
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You seem to be confusing "puzzle" with "encryption."

11 years ago
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I'm not accusing you of anything or voting for or against it. I was just wondering.

And I'm pretty sure I know the difference. But the idea behind some puzzles is to break some kind of "encryption" to reach the next part in the puzzle or the giveaway link eventually. (I don't really like the word encryption here [there is no key], it's more like a code.)

11 years ago
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what's the point of a hidden giveaway if you're trying to get everyone to learn how to find them

11 years ago
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What's the point of a hidden giveaway if it's always confined to the same, select group of entrants (those who know how to find hidden code)? You may as well just make a Steam group, call it "Mental Masturbation," and limit the giveaway to them.

"Yes," you might argue, "but anyone can figure out how to find the hidden giveaway." Rubbish. This is one of those areas where those who are "in the know" acquire practice and additional tricks while those who are not are shut out from learning anything about it. Having a "secret giveaway society" wouldn't even be a problem except that more and more giveaways are going this route.

Do I think it's wrong to make secret giveaways? No. I believe a person has the right to give their gift to whomever they please, with or without restriction. However, I also believe it's healthier for SteamGifts if we try to avoid segregation of our members into exclusive "cliques."

11 years ago
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"make a Steam group, call it "Mental Masturbation,""

I'm in...?

11 years ago
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You'll need to find the hidden link, first. D

11 years ago
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Closed 11 years ago by Khalaq.