What do you think of SGtools giveaways?

an unfortunate necessary evil

I rarelly enter forum giveaways. Since i can't be arsed to look fot them so i guess this problem does not apply to me. It WOULD be a problem if sgtools would be allowed in public ga (and we all know it will not be).

Honestly though it is getting out of hands with all the silly gating some people incorporate in their GA.
Would not suprise me if we already had forum only-> hidden link to cryptic puzzle-> containing SGtools GA link... because some people think that others should work thier ass off for their amazing bundled giveaway :P

I don't create much invite-only giveaways myself, and even from then only a part are sgtools ones, as i'm most of the time not dedicated enough to create thread or even trains for it. I think it's a necessary tool to check for non-activations and multiple wins (even though not all multiples can be removed). It's certainly not perfect when it comes to banning people from entering them at all, but i hope it will be in decent future. I don't see a CV requirement that necessary for a typical bundled game, but a good way for special gifts to find the, in my eyes, more deserving audience. That beeing said, i'm not against sgtools giveaways, as long as the filters for them are not beeing abused to set ridiculous requirement, that most people couldn't even dream to fulfill.

I've always seen SGtools as a simple tool with the pure motive of not letting people who break the rules enter giveaways. Most of the SGtools portals I go through just as that you've activated all games or you haven't won duplicates, pretty basic. Stuff like no vac-bans can still be reasonable if the people didn't want those people joining.
Not sure why there's been so much drama over it.

Apart for everything else (in sgtools) that is slowly but steadily making this site something else than it had started from (leaning more towards a "trade" system than a "giveaway") I refuse to even log into it sole for the fact that I have to do exactly that.. to log into another site, just to use this one. This alone would be enough and however it's been sugarcoated with "basic activation checks/rules" it just doesn't do it for me.

I do appreciate SGtools, there's a big work behind it and keeping it up with all the false positives, flaws of the messy SteamAPI and a constant report from users is something that drains a huge amount of time.
Said so, I admit I mostly use it for a fast check on my winners. Negative results are always manually double checked. Don't even use it anymore for my real CV since it never returns a correct value.
I think I used the entry filter just a couple of times. Then I thought that forbidding for users with issues to 100thwordisSpaceCat'causenobodylikespotatoesanymore! enter isn't really fair. VAC bans might happen because of mods, as many reported, false positives unactivations also cause troubles untill knsys has the time to add them to the whitelist.
I also think that SG works good as it is. User reports are dealt by an efficient Support team.
Yes, you can't be 100% sure for GAs leaks but c'mon, we're all giving away games to strangers and making super restrictions shouldn't be our main goal.
I'm totally against the fact that SGtools reports might be used for a re-roll, suspension or ban. It's nothing official and anything it states is merely a proof to start further investigations.

I like and use SGTools a lot. It gives me lots of functionality to weed out the worst of the SG infractions one can do here like re-gifting, re-selling or re-trading won gifts, not activating gifts while also weeding out (VAc, Game and trade)cheaters, leakers or otherwise toxic people. Also those minority of users that think they can cheat the system by getting the link from a buddy or that post/leak the links in forums are not getting away with it. Or those like I recently had: users with a VAC ban and non activated gifts while some of my requirements were all games activated and no VAC ban. I wonder how these managed to take part in my giveaways! :-)

Also the purpose of SGTools is putting up a gate for requirements of the wishes of the giveaway creators and is as such not different like other such giveaways on SG like (cryptic) puzzles, ITH, private giveaways, high level CV giveaways.

Some people that have problems with SGTools are those that think that they are entitled to enter each and every giveaway there is on Steamgifts and those that click and enter on SGTools giveaways with links they got from anywhere but not the original SGTools gate link in the main post of the giveaway creator. Entering through links posted everywhere and anywhere except the original link in the original main post is like modding a VAC protected multiplayer game. You're playing with fire an you will eventually be burned.

Always enter a SGTools giveaways through the original link in the original post.

The few problems that SGTools has are few and far between and SGTools is getting added features and fixes on a fast pace thanks to Knsys.

Much of the drama concerning SGTools is no more than gossip, things that are being pulled out of context and lies by some users that either have been banned from SGTools for cheating and leaking themselves or some of their buddies, those that think they are entitled to enter any and all giveaways on Steamgifts, those that just like trolling and pitchforking and those that have a hidden agenda if it comes to SGTools.

I'll be using SGTools for most of my giveaways except some groups, blue hearts and high level public ones and I'll also will keep reporting those that think or don't care were they get the links from or think that they can enter it disregarding the entry requirements, by leaking.

Also I'm amused that some people here on SG dislike SGTools or aren't happy with SGTools but at the very same time are entering as much SGTools giveaways as they possibly can! ^^

I like SGTools, even I haven't met requirements of many-many giveaways made with SGTools :-)
And who might doesn't like it? Violators, leechers of different sorts, who like entering everything free with big green button on it.
And so, Steamgifts is divided on 2 halfs now: contributors, who needed it badly for massive filtering of violators/leechers and violators/leechers on the other side.
But, SGT had some unpleasant bugs in it, so it would be pretty necessarily to fix them, before more haters of SGT is born here. I hope Knsys can fix them operatively.
And I can suggest to remove VAC ban options like not related to Steamgifts - maybe it were mistakes of youth in some Dota/CS:GO 5 or 8 years ago?

SGTool filter annoys me because I like my profile private and if I want to get into a giveaway, I have to make my account public, wait 15 minutes, check the rules, get the link, get my profile private again. They have a sync function, why can't they just save the info so you don't have to do these steps if you like to have your profile not-public?
Another thing, which cannot be solved is the fact that private giveaway links can be leaked.

I really hate using the word should when it can be avoided. The only things I think you should do are really important things, vital things, not just things that are preferable, desirable or good. So with that in mind, I'm cool with whatever people do here and it doesn't really matter.

Myself, well I used SG tools once or twice but not for it's stated purpose. Used it to link to old, long finished giveaways and hid a key in the dsescription so it would act as a gateway for keydrops, ensuring that the people taking the keys were members here/met some very basic requirements. Haven't used it to make giveaways I don't think, not for any ethical or moral reason - it's just more work/more effort and I'm a lazy person.

Haven't been entering many giveways since it really took off, but I often don't enter when I see an SGToos GA because I'm too lazy for a couple of extra clicks too.

SGtools has some flaws, as everything else coded on internet. The number of people afflicted by bugs is so low confronted to the active community that it becames irrelevant.
Even SG had some bugs (not detecting DLCs or so) but nobody stopped using SG because of that. It's user's money so he has the right to throw them as he prefers (with or without SGTools)

SGTool is awesome cos of the ability to filter groups despite of level. For example, those who gave more can enter this giveaway or with level limit which make it fun.(You can make VAC ban giveaway before certain time)
However, the downside will be there's alot of complain about the requirements and many people are asking why they are banned from SGTool as the reason was not stated.(If you check on the forum, you actually can find that its neither the creator reported he/she for exposing/leaking the SGTool or entering with other source)
Overall, theres pros and cons but its an enjoyment to use SGTool :)

I use SGTools to check winners of my GAs with regards to rule breaking, so I can request a new winner should there be a problem.

My public GAs are mostly for higher levels and on those I don't use SGTools to protect the GA. BUT I create SGTools protected GAs for lower level GAs, to minimize re-rolls and such. If there wasn't the possibility to protect GAs with SGTools, I would most likely again stop making low or lower level GAs altogether. The filters I pick for those GAs are are meant to exclude rulebreakers, for example "not activated wins".
So I voted Yes in the poll, but more in a "do I use it" way, than as a statement to if others should use SGTools.

Well, let me just write a summary of my opinion for the whitelist opportunity (thanks in advance by the way). I am not looking to start an argument.
At first I thought it was quite a controversial tool because it enabled people to mass-enforce custom rules giveaways, which had until that point been limited to carefully managed threads, groups and the like. After some discussions with support, I eventually realized that custom rules had always been allowed and encouraged at SG, and the only reason they had been limited before was that support didn't have enough time to bother with all the re-rolls. I'm generally against the idea of having custom rules on a site like this but if it's part of the site's policy then okay.
As a tool I think SGTools is a good way for the giveaway creators to appeal to exactly those people that they want to allow to be eligible for giveaways. This should cut down on some causes of blacklisting, though it sadly seems that people still use that option as much as ever. The main issue with SGTools is that it's only as powerful as the users make it, that is to say, some people make very strange rules that do not make sense, and also it allows for potential abuse in terms of witch-hunting, such as most SGTools giveaways at the very least blocking people who have had rule violations in the past, regardless of their current standing, thus creating eternal punishment for these people (unless they manage to rectify all their mistakes manually, which is not only hard, but also debatable whether they should be forced to do this).
SGTools is basically a huge weapon that has been distributed to everyone just like the blacklist can be used and abused by everyone, once again solidifying SG as being governed by the users rather than support. If the users can handle this responsibility it's fine, but I personally doubt that people can manage it, especially considering the current state of the tools and the eternal history of blacklisting.

I totally absolutelly don't mind. And if I cannot enter I don't mind anyway. Why? Because in the end it's GA creator who apid his own hard-earned cash to buy a game and to create GA for it. Then whoi has the bigger right to decide who can and who cannot enter this GA? Creator investing his own monies or some random butthurt user who feels entitled to enter it because he spent 5 seconds opening forum topic? Even if you don't meet SGT criteria you have hundreds of other games you can enter for posted everyday. So any "it's exclusion from the community" arguments are bullshit. GA Creator doesn't want you in his GA, and you think you deserve chance to win anyway? Let's play assumption game. Let's imagine that noone is able to decide who can and who cannot win their games. Not only based on SGT but in general. No - you cannot make this GA group, contributor, puzzle, sgt, whatever restricted. You have to give it to everyone. Do you think that suddenly all GAs that are behind any form of barrier end up as lvl 0 Public GAs you can win? Think again. First time any contributor would find out that a person who he'd never want his GA to go to wins it and he's forced to deliver - it would be his last GA. how long before no contributor create no GAs anymore? So once again - person who buys the game has much bigger rights to decide what to do with it than person who wants the game. Simple as that.

So much rage and hate in some of these postings.... There is no benefit in that.

The idea behind SteamGifts was to make it easy for people to give away Steam games to others. A forum was included so people could socialize. A few rules were imposed to protect privacy and civility among the Community. Sure, the site is simple, but simple is better. The more complicated something is, the greater the chance that something can go wrong or be exploited.

So, you keep it simple, and let individuals decide to whom they wish to give their gifts.

SGTools offers a way for people to gain (and manipulate) additional information on top of what SG provides. Some people use it to satisfy their curiosity. Others use it to restrict access to their giveaways. Still others enjoy the feeling of power and control it gives them. The question of how and when people choose to use SGT is an SGT question, not an SG question. What can be learned from the "SG experience," however, is that, sometimes, less is more.

Anyone who posted a qualifying post before now is now whitelisted (or should be). Giveaway is up, SGtools rules are ONLY no rules violations and the level requirement is 1. You can also get there through the whitelist giveaway. Don't leak the link please.

Bump :D

I'm a simple person to please. My general opinion is that the person giving away the game can do whatever they want, whether that's sgtools or whatever else. If they have special rules that forbid me from entering I'm not going to get upset about it. There are thousands more giveaways to enter on the site; I'll find a way to spend my points. :)

I like some parts of SGTools, as it helps screen rule breakers before they enter the GAs. Also, it helps protect the GA creator on some levels. It does have some flaws and bugs, but I doubt that anybody can absolutely say that it doesn’t have any benefits. It gives people more options and functionality. If I cannot enter a GA because of some filter, then fine. It is the creator’s choice to determine who they want to be eligible to enter their GA. Yeah, sometimes it does help in creating drama (aka leaks and unmet requirements) and it can also be potential for abuse, but I think the advantages it gives far outweigh the negatives. People who want to use it will, and people who don’t will not. Simple as that.

SGTools can just (by nature) exclude users that the creator does not seem fit. And those are (opposed) to whitelist GAs / group ones pretty much visible. Exclusion from visible GAs = basic recipe for drama. There were already levels to exclude ppl (but thats ok ppl prob use the level filter anyways) now there are a multitude of factors that easily can go off the expected level. In a sense its the GA creators liability now not go overboard with expectations if (s)he uses SGT. With power comes the need of responsibility.

[edit] I'll for myselves still haven't used SGT but i'm looking for to use it for having a minor wall vs powerleechers and group-only SG users. Will give it more thinks however.

I'm not a cheater like TheLuckyShamrock , so, i don't have a problem with it!
Just kidding :PP
Seriously now : I agree with what stlpaul said

I haven't been here long - but from what I've seen they're emblematic of a larger overarching problem with this website. There's a general sense of everybody needing to "earn" giveaways, and deserve the game they are being given be that through how many giveaways they are providing, qualifying for someone's white list, joining a group, or passing a SG tools check.

As the person giving away the game, what difference does it make who won a copy? You have passed the game off, you no longer have it and it no longer has bearing in your life. If you truly want to make sure it goes to the "right" person, why not just send it directly to an individual on steam, or start a small group of "deserving" members? Leave off on the extra filtering options, use the level caps if that's what you are looking for, the micromanaging of these giveaways is pretty absurd.

I think SGT should be only additional GA entry conditions.

I'm somewhat neutral too, I've personnally never used it, but I thought it was great for people who want to add more filter for their GA.
Althought now with all the drama surrounding it, I admit I'm not so sure anymore, it seems like some people are getting permabanned
for getting the link after the GAs are finished... I think that the idea of having a choice to include or not people who have been banned would be a great addition to the tool.

Also I think permabanned should be reserved for repeat offender, after all everybody should be aloud at least one mistake. For some people I'm sure it wasn't malicious, they might have gotten the link from someone else or didn't know the rule. As long as the learn from they mistake, I think they should be given at least one chance to make it right, how else are they going to prove they won't repeat their mistake if they are permabanned right away? And like someone pointed out before me, people who entered with leaked link aren't going to win anyway since the reroll would be accepted by SG.