So you want to create public GAs, but you don't want bots and auto-join scripts to enter? Good. Just post a comment in this thread with a link to an invite-only giveaway. The idea is very simple and is really not different from many (most?) of the other threads in the forum, except that you don't need to invest much time or thought into it. Just post the link in a comment, and you're done :-)

A few additional guidelines:

  • Feel free to obfuscate the link to make it more difficult for bots/scripts to enter. This is completely optional and may not make much of a difference, because the forums are probably not as infested with bots and auto-join scripts as public giveaways (see example).
  • You may use itstoohard.com, sgtools.info or other sites as filters to the link, but do try to keep things easy (for humans) to enter.
  • Don't feel obligated to write anything to accompany the giveaway link. If you have stuff to share beyond just the link, you probably should create a dedicated thread for it. Needless to say, you can also write it here, but it's not required.
  • Cross-posting giveaways your posted in other threads is fine, as long as they are your giveaways.
  • If you want to add a dynamic signature showing the game name, giveaway end date and current number of entries, but without revealing the URL to bots, you can use this tool created by Reforced. It takes the signature created by SG and provides you with a new URL that hides the original giveaway address. Just add it to your comment using the regular format for posting images: ![](URL)
  • Just like public GAs typically have a lot of entries, there's no need to maintain a low number of entries in GAs posted here. If you want to give especially good odds to people who enter and still get CV, you may want to instead consider posting the link here (and then remove it when you have your 5 entries). This is not needed here in this thread. The more (humans) the merrier :-)
  • The best way to bump this thread is by posting a link to your own invite-only giveaway. With that said, if the thread drops from the first page a regular "Bump" would also be appreciated.

I'm trying to find how serious the issue with bots really is. So far the results don't really prove things one way or another. Here are some stats from my latest experiment:

Game: Space Trader: Merchant Marine
Number of giveaways: 5
Period: 3 days

Giveaway # Level Type Number of entries Winner's Sent:Won Reroll needed?
1 Level 0+ Public 891 0:82 No
2 Level 0+ Invite only, direct link 55 4:47 No
3 Level 0+ Invite only, SGTools (no restrictions) 48 6:71 No
4 Level 0+ Invite only, shortened URL, captcha-free 50 1:205 No
5 Level 0+ Invite only, shortened URL with "I'm not a robot" captcha 54 162:86 No

Yet some more stats:

Giveaway game Period Level Type Number of entries Winner's Sent:Won Reroll needed?
Tales from the Void 5 days Level 0+ Public 755 0:37 No
Tales from the Void 5 days Level 0+ Invite only, obfuscated link 183 42:514 No
Hyper Box 4 days Level 0+ Public 554 0:32 No
Hyper Box 4 days Level 0+ Invite only, obfuscated link 193 178:188 No
Ace Combat Assault Horizon 3 days Level 0+ Public 1596 0:28 Yes
Ace Combat Assault Horizon 3 days Level 0+ Invite only, obfuscated link 234 88:107 No
7 years ago*

Comment has been collapsed.

Bump!

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

bamp.

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Bump!

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Chuck Norris apparently ^^

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

7 years ago*
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

G w c j q

You know what to do.

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Bump.

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

The giveback ended (sadly ;_;), but we may still find a few goodies if we know how the forum search field works in the name of peace and positive thinking! ^_^

View attached image.
View attached image.
View attached image.
View attached image.
7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Deleted

This comment was deleted 5 years ago.

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Bump and free keys in the comments:
https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/AYZWo/one-day-for-ched
Edit: all gone already :/

7 years ago*
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

BUMP!

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

First 3 letters are from name of good VN, without vowels. http://store.steampowered.com/app/421670
It's visual novel aka VN. 2nd letter of abbreviation needs to be put on 2nd place, from right. But not as Capital.
https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/xxxxh/last-days-of-spring-visual-novel
Replace xxxx according to hints above.

Duration: about one week.

7 years ago*
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

3 days remaining and only 14 entries!

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

1+U+z+M+b = Mahjong Destiny 2+

Ends: 10.05, 10:10PM

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I really hate bots.

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Bumpidy

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I took this picture a couple of days ago...

View attached image.
7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

7 years ago*
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Nice photos!
what DSLR did you use for these pics?

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thanks! I used Sony A77 and A6000 (neither of which is a DSLR, but the sensor size is the same as most DSLRs).

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

lovely photos, also how much post process?

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Very little, mostly cropping and histogram stretching.

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

i like that, good set up then, what was the lens?
Its such a colorful place, was it just travel or work?

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

A77 pictures are with Tamron 17-50/2.8, A6000 are with Sony 55-210 (the last one was with the 16-50). I also used a Samyang 8mm fisheye during this trip, but haven't posted pictures with it (yet).

I'm traveling in Myanmar between two work trips - one to Vietnam, the another to China. It made more sense to travel in the area than to fly all the way back to Israel only to fly to China a week later. It also saved my company quite a bit of money, so win win :-)

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Nice, so you are a hitman I guess. There has been a talk this week about a job in China.
You are happy with Tamron then. Do you post your photos somewhere else with exif values?

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Haha, I only shoot with my camera ;-)

The Tamron is an excellent lens. Sharp wide open and never had any compatibility issues with it (unlike with some Sigma lenses). I also own two other Tamron lenses - a 60/2.0 macro and an 18-270, and I'm happy with both, but decided not to bring them (or other lenses) to this trip. I'm already carrying too much gear (definitely shouldn't have brought my tripod, though I did use it for the first two pictures in the gallery).

I'm actually looking for a hosting service. I used Flickr in the past but hated some of the changes they made later on, then I tried to move to Zenfolio and had nothing but bad experience with their support and money grabbing attitude.

7 years ago*
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Hehe I know what you mean about too much gear, my tripod has been at so many nice places, he must be so happy. Yet I rather left him in the boot of the car then to carry it in 40 degrees around with me, its bloody heavy.

Give me a shout pls when you find a good hosting service, thats a challenge for me as well.

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Really gorgeous!!

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thank you! :-)

Also, if you look more closely you'll see that you missed a wishlisted GA...

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I must be blind, I missed it as well, gave it a go though ;)

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

You already own the game, so you're not missing much...

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

no worries I was just wondering how come I missed it and didnt see the link there.

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Deleted

This comment was deleted 3 years ago.

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Deleted

This comment was deleted 6 years ago.

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Don't know if I mentioned it to you previously, but I would recommend a tiny little tweak to that rule... :-)

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

GoNNER - Press Jump To Die Edition
Super Rude Bear Resurrection
Metrico+

also posted elsewhere if you are a lazy human :P

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

thanks for the chance c:

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

good luck!

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

bump

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

bump!

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Omega one key (lvl 1+)
https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/1CuSy/omega-one
Sorry if I do some wrong, Im newbie :)

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

SGtool gateway limit entries 6

Legends of Persia (6 Copies) (20P)

http://www.sgtools.info/giveaways/bf0afb7f-34fc-11e7-9500-fa163ee2f826

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Deleted

This comment was deleted 7 years ago.

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

this was removed

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Invention (6 Copies) (1P) LVL6 SGtool Gateway

http://www.sgtools.info/giveaways/f14bfdb5-355e-11e7-9500-fa163ee2f826

7 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Sign in through Steam to add a comment.