The GreenManGaming XCOM/GOTY scam

I can't believe it. Yes, this post is right. I downloaded TOR just to check out it this is true. In my first try, got it. And just because i live in Brazil. Omg.

Lol it never said that for me and I activated my key just an hour ago. Probably your region or something something.

Thanks a lot, worked like a charm! For those who are wondering, I got a IP from Amsterdam.

That may work like there was some different amount keys for each country.

I DEMAND MY FREE GAME!! OTHERWISE I WANT A FULL REFU.... oh, right

confirm, when i use VPN to change IP address, i got key 1 minute ago

After 12 hours all I got after the initial instructions and verification is a message confirming that, but no key. If I repeat the steps all it says is that I have already been verified, but nothing else. I have nothing like "no more keys" in my e-mail after that, just nothing... :(

This is really weird, many have already been getting keys after me instantly or in seconds... (>_<)

i just got mine

I don't think it's a scam in the slightest. I just think the whole thing was put together rather shoddily. They are incredibly understaffed.

I'm only making a guess here, and am probably lacking in many facts, but I would assume that behavior like this—the exploitation of proxy/address hiding—is exactly the reason people are having problems getting keys, when in all likelihood GMG had a set number of keys for each region. Now, before you attack me, I want you to seriously think about it for a second. We've all seen how greedy folks get when a company starts a promotion involving free keys; they want to hoard the keys so that they can trade them and effectively get something for nothing. The only way to do this is to 'trick' the system by creating/using a bunch of throwaway emails and possibly requesting a new IP from an ISP if they have a dynamic IP. Even as this thread progresses, there are plenty of EU giveaways popping up, and with the promotion going on, it seems too convenient for it to be coincidental that someone who actually paid has made their giveaway coincide with this whole business. So while these sorts of folks hoard the keys, individuals actually interested in the promotion for the game are getting shafted because the supply of keys reserved for X-region is depleted. So they in turn resort to lying to the system in order to get a key, thus depleting another region's keys, all the while the hoarders are also doing this.

Instead of getting mad at Green Man Gaming for something that's probably not entirely in their control, get mad at the people contributing to the mess. This is, of course, simply my take on the whole affair. Already having the game, I took no interest in the promotion, so I'm probably lacking the facts.

i'll admit that i didn't get the "out of keys" at all; i also voted weeks ago, though. When i did the data-entry part on the joysticks/GMG page, i had to put my info in again, but got my key immediately.

i got mine just fine

Just got one using TOR. Not cool, GMG.

To say this a scam is completely wrong. If anything, GMG should be more forthcoming instead of giving a generic "Out of keys" message instead put up a "You're not eligible" sort of message with the reason why, but that could also push people to do what you did, which is exploit the system. Whether free or not, its still an exploit.

Also, it's cleared up in the T&C a little bit here

The "Golden Joysticks Free Game" promotion ("Promotion") is open to people aged 18 years and over who are resident in a Green Man Gaming trading country ("Applicable Countries") except employees and immediate families of the Promoter, or anyone else professionally connected with the Promotion ("Participants").

The key here being APPLICABLE COUNTRIES, which isn't made clear here (probably is on the Awards page T&C but I dont know), but obviously some countries are left out. Whatever countries are not getting the game are clearly not in a "GMG trading country" or in another words, a country they do business in. They didn't cherry pick your countries, they have to follow their own countries' trade laws.

I do think GMG should've been more forthcoming with the reasoning for denying, but this sort of moaning is silly.

I got a key like an hour ago no hassle and it was sent to me very quickly

QQ i no getz free gaem i no am eligible to getz.
"7. The Participant should note that Regional restrictions may apply to the Free Game and the Promotion."
For those that exploit the system because you want free stuffs and complain because you do not read and so on, I am sure you all know who you are, the above restriction is why you are needing to spoof your ip address.

I think if you voted late you get the "sorry" message. Really though, you are using illegal/shady manners to get the keys....

THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS!

great, now go and sue them. sue them right in the face. if you don't sue them now, this is just a rant.

didn't know about this till i saw this post. just voted and got a key. thanks.

It's unfair business practice because:

1. They gained new accounts with legit emails, for GMG site, Playfire and CVG. Many pre-voters even linked their Steam account to Playfire and of course voted in GJoystick awards.

2. Restricted countries were never disclosed.

3. Terms of promotion were not available at the day of announcement.

4. Participants voting from restricted countries were still able to finish giveaway web form, thus creating new GMG account in process (+CVG acc ofc.).

5. Even while they've finished point (4), there was message that there are no more keys left, even though there have never been spare keys in first place.

never had any problem with GMG.
i already vote long time ago, so i got the key easily :D
it first come first serve, if you late to vote, maybe they're just out of stock for your region.
that's why when you use Tor or VPN, you still get the key.

Yeah! I think they scammed me, so I'm gonna scam them! And while I'm doing that, I'll take keys from people in other countries so they can taste my pain! MUWAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAAAAAHAAAAAAHAAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA!

Im still getting the error in the credentials thing, even if im able to log into GMG normally, anyone had that problem?

GMG lied about the starter pack aswell.

i just refused to buy anything from them in future cause of this.. simply put don't fuck with me.

the Xcom thing aswell i cant seem to log in.. why not just give me the fucking key through facebook log in..

im not going through these hoopes to find out i missed out on keys.

Discussing problems with this promotion is fine, but posting exploits isn't.