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*

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Bump!!

7 years ago
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Deleted

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7 years ago
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I think enough time has passed, so you're welcome again to my giveaways. Good luck! :-)

7 years ago
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Deleted

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7 years ago
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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
7 years ago*
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Results are not so definitive for a conclusion, right?

7 years ago
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They're not. It could be that this thread is not monitored by bots or scripts (yet).

7 years ago
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That game is also pretty common with 16 times bundled. Meridian4 games are usually underperforming even for me, this is why I tend to avoid them.

7 years ago
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Good point. I think I'll repeat this test with a game that wasn't bundled many times (or at all). There should be something suitable on the DIG store.

7 years ago
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Try something 0 times bundled and with cards. There are a few games like that there.

7 years ago
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Noted.

View attached image.
7 years ago
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I think that the recent giveaway of HB monthly might cause the point shortage for the bots. Maybe you could wait until the giveaway stabilizes. By the way, I also observe that there are more bots in a group giveaway than public giveaway with the same condition.

7 years ago
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Giveaway # 5 "Winner's Sent:Won" should be 162:86

7 years ago
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Thanks for pointing it out! That's what happens when I change the header of the table mid-way... Fixed now! :-)

7 years ago
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No worries, glad to help. But gotta applaud you really for all the effort & hard work put into testing this out :)

7 years ago
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that fourth ratio tho

7 years ago
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Bump!

7 years ago
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https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/BUMP/or

Please ThpRD BUMP the thread ;)

7 years ago
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Bumped for science!

7 years ago
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View attached image.
7 years ago
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Bump!

7 years ago
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I pass! but I already own the game and the GA ends one week too early for me, so will stay out ;-)

7 years ago
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Bump!

7 years ago
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Bump

7 years ago
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have another bump ^^.

7 years ago
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I like this thread.:)

Bump!:)

7 years ago
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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
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7 years ago*
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puzzle?

7 years ago
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Not really, but there is maybe a clue to enter in my previous message :-)

7 years ago
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Lol I finally understood, thank you.

7 years ago
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Thanks

7 years ago
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Thank you for the Dark Witch GA.

7 years ago
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Another bump for Legend of Dark Witch :)

7 years ago
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Thanks

7 years ago
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Bump

7 years ago
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Very good thread, bump! Thank you!

7 years ago
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Valhalla Hills
Legends of Eisenwald

View attached image.
View attached image.
7 years ago
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thanks for Legends of Eisenwald

7 years ago
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Bump!

7 years ago
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Bump!

7 years ago
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pmub

7 years ago
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Bump!

7 years ago
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bump!

7 years ago
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Bump!

7 years ago
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Bumpo.

7 years ago
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