Is it only me or should public profile on steam be mandatory on steamgifts? I mean there is no way to see if person actually activated won games if its private.

11 years ago*

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some people really like privacy, so i can't see this being a rule without alienating a lot of them. you could always add them and give keys in steam chat, no?

11 years ago
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and how exactly will this ensure me that they activated it?

11 years ago
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add, and then request friends-only profile so that you can check their library.

11 years ago
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By what right or law are you operating under when you wish to see if someone activated a game that person won from you?

11 years ago
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What, are SG rules not enough for you?

11 years ago
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Moderators and admins enforce the rules on SteamGifts, so my question stands. This isn't a vigilante rule enforcement group, give your games away and let the admins do what they do. If they create a rule that states, "Those who give away a game MUST enforce the 'Game must be activated' rule" then go wild, otherwise folks need to do a little less mini-modding and a lot more giveaways.

11 years ago
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If you are in a chat with them you can give them a limited amount of time to activate it, then do a key drop in a forum. If they activated it like they were supposed to then any ninja should come up empty-handed.

11 years ago
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If you own the game and you try to use a serial key that is for a game you already own, but the key is also used, would Steam say that the key is used? Or would Steam first tell you that the game has previously been added to your profile?

11 years ago
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If you try to activate a key for a game you already own it will tell you that you already have the game (and what game it is) but it will not tell you whether the key is used or not. There is no way to test a key without attempting to activate it (and thus risk using it up on your account).

11 years ago
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And giver risk a not received...
Think a bit before.

11 years ago
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I already know that and my response is: so be it.

Don't need to think more. If people on here weren't dishonest this wouldn't be an issue.

This gives me an idea though. Since you have to sync once a week anyway, it seems totally possible that a fairly straightforward function could be put in place to have Steamgifts automatically check your library against your wins to insure that you have activated them. It's already checking what games you own so it doesn't seem like it would be too hard.

11 years ago
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Do we have any indication it doesn't do that already? I was sort of under the impression that was one of the main reasons for syncing accounts, considering there're plenty of games that, due to whatever bug in Steam's or SG's system, people can enter for despite owning anyway.

Edit: for the record, if I had to have a public profile to use SteamGifts, I'd just not use SteamGifts. The possibility of winning a free game now and then is not worth compromising my privacy.

11 years ago
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thats what I had assumed too, but I'm new so no idea. apparently not, or if it does they need to tell people it does lol

11 years ago
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Do we have any indication it doesn't do that already?
The fact that I still have to manually report people who trade away the games I give them is a pretty big hint.

Also, what privacy are you protecting here? Why the hell would you put personal information you don't want anyone else to know on your Steam profile? That's just plain stupid.

11 years ago
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To be perfectly honest, it's no one else's business what games I play, when I play them, or how much I play them. It's no one's business what games I have in my inventory, either. That information to me is private, and generally-speaking, I don't want other people to know it: not because it's inherently personal, but simply because it's no one's goddamned business but mine.

Quite frankly, it pisses me off that you think I should have to justify my right to privacy to you or anyone else. It's my information, it relates only to me, and I'll do with it whatever I goddamned please, including hiding it from the prying eyes of the general public.

11 years ago
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Actually, it's not your information. It's Valve's information. By using Steam you give them the right to collect it and use it as they see fit.

They provide you with a privacy option and it certainly is your right to use it, but throwing a bitch fit about MUH PRIVACY is a bit pointless when you're already consenting to strangers using that information. Never mind that they've got far more reason to actually give a shit about what you do than any random guy that happens to look at your profile.

11 years ago
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Correct, I've given some strangers, Valve, the right to use it, subject to their Privacy Policy. Likewise, I've given SteamGifts access to that information, subject to their Privacy Policy. These are some strangers, who make assurances they're not disclosing my information to the world at large.

Before you start using derogatory language towards me, stop and think for a goddamned moment. If Steam didn't give me the option to not protect that information from the public, I'd probably not use Steam, either. There are numerous online games that I would enjoy playing, but which I choose not to because I disagree with their terms regarding use of my private information (often due to anticheat technology, &c.).

If you feel I'm a bitch, to use your word, for putting my privacy ahead of my ability to use certain services or play certain games, you're fully within your rights to do so. But I'm fully within my rights to feel you're an idiot for letting anyone and everyone with an internet connection form a complex profile of you based on your gaming habits. But hey, 'idiot' is just another entry in that profile.

11 years ago
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First of all, I said you were throwing a bitch fit, I didn't say you were a bitch. No need to get all defensive here.

Second, I find the idea that not caring who sees what video games I play makes me an idiot rather laughable. Apparently, everyone is either an idiot or completely paranoid. Bit of a false dichotomy there, I think.

You find it vitally important to hide as much information as possible. I find it pointless and don't see much value in your stance considering the nature of that information and the environment it is collected in. I just find it tiresome when people are treating privacy itself as a goal, regardless of context and even if it serves no purpose. Obviously we're not going to see eye to eye on this and we are both in our right to treat the issue the way we do, but I think calling people idiots because they have a different opinion than you is a bit silly.

So kindly calm your tits and stop your whining.

11 years ago
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Ah yes, my mistake, saying I threw a 'bitch fit' and then telling me to 'calm my tits' isn't sexist and derogatory at all.

11 years ago
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It's an expression, Einstein.

And trying to turn this into a gender thing when I don't even know your gender is... kind of pathetic.

11 years ago
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I came in here to tell you to make it public so you sync then switch it back, haha, totally misunderstood the title.

I agree it would be easier if everyone's profile had to be public, but sadly that's not a reasonable thing to ask. There is a system in place that forces people to sync their account with steamgifts every 7 days, so if someone does get a game and doesn't activate it, they either have to abandon sgifts or face the consequences when they eventually do sync their account again.

11 years ago
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They have to sync every once in a while to use SG, so I guess we should suggest the synced list be released on their profile or something so you could ask them to sync if it doesnt show or something :)

(at least until some sort of auto check has been implemented)

11 years ago
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It'll be really great if there's a tool that bases off the sync data. It will be really handy to check who has activated their wins with the exception of GAR for now.

11 years ago
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As I've said before, it would be good if this could be implemented.

It would give a great deal more confidence to those making giveaways that their game will go to someone who is actually going to use it, rather than a person who only wants to regift the game or trade it away.

11 years ago
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+

11 years ago
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I thought you were talking about me for a second. I was wondering why I was so special that everyone could check my sync list >_>

11 years ago
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Lol.

11 years ago
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Yep, right up to the point where two of my wins have been claimed by me, yet still don't register with SteamGifts. Then people can band together to crucify those folks. Mob justice is fair justice! I'd roll eyes but I'm sure you can tell I'm being sarcastic--keep to yourself and stop worrying about everyone else, life is a lot more fun that way.

11 years ago
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True, the sync list (which comes from Steam's data) isn't perfect from the start, and it glitches out every now and then as well. Some stuff doesn't list at all (like some DLC). It can get messed up around free weekends. Sometimes it can fail to sync for hours, instead just erroring out. I had it sync once and leave out a just registered game, so I had to go back and resync it a second time ten minutes later.

11 years ago
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GAR isn't the only game not showing up on sync, as wll as most dlc, so a whitelist should be implemented by cg. I'm thinking a trial period where we would get a warning bar about a winning not showing up on the account so they can gather data as to what game don't show up based on user reports. (Could probably compile a list real quick by looking at games that no winner has on their account)

11 years ago
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yeah i belive some kind of solution should be applied... we all know most regifters/scammers are complete morons, but there are some with a bit of intelegence and they prolly use private profile as a way to avoid detection

11 years ago
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I keep my profile private for security reasons. Probably just plain paranoia but if someone can't see you're inventory or games list you're less likely to get hacked or scammed.

11 years ago
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If you hide what you own, you're an unknown target. Thieves tend to target places that they can case first. Hiding your profile is a better idea than not hiding your data.

However, it is easier to obtain steam profiles in other ways.

Hack a fan forum for a popular game. These usually have poor security due to using old or cracked software. This will provide you with usernames, passwords, and email addresses.

Most users tend to use a small number of passwords for all of their accounts. Sometimes it's the same password everywhere. Once you have their email and password, you can use the password recovery services that most places offer, which are most often tied to email account alone.

The most powerful things you can easily do to secure your accounts are using complex passwords and use a unique password for every service. Never reuse a password. At the very least, make sure that your email account does not share a password with anything of yours, anywhere.

11 years ago
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yeah, do that, much much better than the op's plan and doesn't require steamgift's site to do anything so nothing to really code or hurt the server or anything.

11 years ago
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I got this issue before

Someone won my giveaway, added him, traded the game.
After a few min he still hasn't activate it so I went to sleep. After I woke up, he removed me from my friend's list.
I tried to add him back but he won't respond so I tried to blackmail him. Found some substantial proof( he was trying to trade my giveaway ) and he finally added me. I saw that he just "recently" activated the gift that I giveaway (you can see it on community history)

I was really annoyed by that. Hopefully it doesn't happen again

11 years ago
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Meh.

Some people just like their privacy.

Ideally any skullduggery should be picked up in the sync process anyway.

Incidentally, I have a single piece of bad feedback on Steamtrades from some ballbag scammer, who downmarked me for not having a public profile minutes before his final battle with the banhammer. Unfortunately it doesn't seem possible to remove this heinous piece of feedback...

11 years ago
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i respect that some people like their privacy, but some sacrifices should be made to prevent nasty people exploiting this thing

11 years ago
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As I said before, a check of games won should really be built into the sync process.

I take your point, but any reasonable user will make their profile viewable if asked to, in order to clear up any uncertainties :)

My profile is private because I was sick to death of being added by random beggars. I like to think I'm a decent guy, and I like to give a bit outside of SG, but I'm certainly not going to encourage the spread of these sort of parasites. Re-reading that last sentence I don't sound like a very decent guy after all.

11 years ago
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Nahh i know you'r decent and hardworking Woodchuck ;)

11 years ago
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Considering the amount of games given away, a system of checks may create unnecessary server load once a week.

11 years ago
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Depending on the overhead required for checking a user's game list it's possible I suppose.

Perhaps the smart way to do it would be to run an incremental check, or a check for games won in the last 2 weeks. That way, only newly won games would be searched for and verified (or not, as the case may be).

EDIT: The system already dynamically checks giveaways against the user's synced game list. Given that this is handled with consummate ease by the server, I'm not sure how much of an overhead such a check would really create if the check was run as and when a user runs a periodic account sync. Bear in mind that users won't all be syncing their accounts simultaneously...

11 years ago
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but it also checks if you can enter for dlc, but can't filter them like it does with owned games so maybe that was a last convenient straw sort of thing? if not then yeah do that.

11 years ago
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If you allow a system when everyone is 'punished' or has to make sacrifices for the 1% of scammers then the community fails.

11 years ago
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You mean every system and every community, ever.

11 years ago
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steamgift's own intrusive drm

11 years ago
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Those with private profiles have to unblock and resync their profiles (including games library(thats kinda the point)) every week or lose the ability to enter giveaways until they do. (all you get is a popup telling you to sync when you go to the site)

You can't really hide whether you redeem a game.
What are you going to do get a week's headstart on trading it away before you get banned? Stay away forever to dodge the sync and may as well be banned?
Win the same game twice(which will show and the snoopers will see on your sg profile) in 10 or more likely fewer days?
whats the big worry here?

11 years ago
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ah, I'm dumb. the sync list doesn't actually show public on steamgifts.

so modify that slightly and show the synced library on the sg profile so the asshats can't hide instead of taking my ability to hide my steam account from weird russian friend bots.

11 years ago
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They fed us that same line after 9/11 - you working in the government sector? :)

11 years ago
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Ask support to remove that feedback, I know it worked that way in the past with feedback given for wrong reasons.

11 years ago
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Thanks. I already raised a ticket a while ago asking whether it could be scrubbed, but unfortunately Support said they weren't able to remove the feedback.

Guess I'll be labelled a "rogue trader" for ever :(

11 years ago
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Try emailing the contact account on SteamTrades (which I think goes directly to cg). He is understandably a bit slow in responding, but about a week after I contacted him for a similar situation (user gave me negative rep as part of a blackmail scheme) he eliminated the negative rep.

11 years ago
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I've asked again, so maybe this will sort things out.

Thanks for the advice :)

11 years ago
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And his steam profile says 'Greatest Man Alive'.

11 years ago
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I prefer a private profile.

I don't think I'd stay if I was forced to make it public.

11 years ago
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What makes you want to have a private profile, personally?
Just out of pure curiosity, nothing accusatory here. What about a public profile makes it undesirable? I mean, beggars can still add you, regardless of what they can see.

11 years ago
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I just prefer privacy. I don't like it when everybody can see what I own and what I play or do. That's also why I don't have a Facebook account or any other social media stuff.

11 years ago
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Same. I don't use facebook, and I only use twitter to keep up with game bundles and such. I don't like the idea that everyone can see what I buy and what I play.

11 years ago
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Why do you think valve gives the option for a private profile?

11 years ago
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because they can still access the data, so they don't care if you hide the info from other people as long as they can access it ;)

11 years ago
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Mind = blown. Because they can't deny users this option.

11 years ago
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I'm seeing a trend in your replies... TheDopefish hit the nail on the head here. Valve can deny you anything and everything that they want within their free service that you sign an agreement to use. The option of a private profile would not exist if they could not still access your data, I guarantee it. Privacy is a privilege, not a right.

11 years ago
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Are you braindead or something? You know, to sell you games and provide support Valve must know what you already own, when you activated the key, whick key it was, all transactions, everything. So that you can't activate already owned games or buy dlcs for games you don't have yet. Or help get a stolen account back. And the private profile exists for me so that I'm not bothered by not so bright kids as both of you and the likes. And they can't deny me that right.

11 years ago
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Let me quote http://www.usconstitution.net:

"The Constitution does not specifically mention a right to privacy. However, Supreme Court decisions over the years have established that the right to privacy is a basic human right, and as such is protected by virtue of the 9th Amendment."

You might not be American. I'm neither. But the statement above is pretty much the same in most European countries too.

11 years ago
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We'd like them to be rights, we call them rights, but not everyone gets them. I use the term privilege because there are a fair number of countries where these 'basic human rights' simply do not exist. The United nations has a Universal Declaration of Human Rights, But even they cannot control what any individual country does with or for its people. A military force may certainly attempt to correct that based on their own belief of what is good for a given people, but in the end there are many people not entitled to these rights. As Steam is a service based in the United States but provided internationally, there are a number of restrictions based on wherever you live. Not everyone gets access to the same content and rights. Mainland China might set an example for how some of these rights don't exist, including internet privacy. I'm a US military veteran myself, so I've seen a lot of what people don't have.

11 years ago
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An entity can provide a service contigent upon the surrendering of your rights. You have the right to refuse said entity's service if you do not wish to surrender your rights.

11 years ago
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I agree with social media stuff but on a site where we need to check if the winner added the games on his account or regifted/traded them or already has the games, I think public profile would be better!

11 years ago
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I don't get why there's no auto-control of activating won gifts. Except for DLC-s afaik, the sync process covers everything on the account. As for me, there's no reason to ignore matching list of synced games with won giveaways.
Because marking the giveaway as "received" means you've already activated the game (at least it should be).

11 years ago
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Public profile is actually mandatory on SG, but people these days...

11 years ago
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It's not and hopefully never will

11 years ago
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If you go on the sync account page, it says:
"Note: We require all registered users to have their Steam game library synced with our site. If your profile is public, this will automatically be done on a regular basis. For those using a private or friends only profile, you'll be able to bring your account up-to-date by briefly switching to a public profile for a few seconds a week. This is done to prevent users from entering giveaways for games which they already own."

11 years ago
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When you typed "actually", you meant "not", right?

11 years ago
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Meh, too many people with delusions of grandeur. :p

11 years ago
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Remember that guy who wanted to take the cap off of the maximum amount of points we could store? What a delusional fool.

11 years ago
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Actually I was replied to the OP. My comment was directed at people who think they need private profiles. :p

11 years ago
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Not that I would do this... what a terrible waste of time and hassle for no good reason; but... I don't see why people shouldn't be allowed to re-gift or trade giveaways.
They won the giveaway fairly, they had the same chance as everybody else, they spend the same amount of points as everybody else... If they've decided that they don't want the game and instead re-gifted for the contributor value; it's their problem and their risk (what if the original contributor decides to try and redeem the key after a couple of weeks and it works... the receiver will giveaway a dud key and receive bad feedback); the community benefited from the game, in the end. If they decided to re-trade; hey, they got a better use for the game.
"Oh but other people on the giveaway wanted to play the game"... again... in the end, somebody ends up redeeming the gift.

11 years ago
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Wow...no, just no...thats so wrong on so many aspects...we give this games to persons who want to play them, not to trade them away for profit...thats not the way its meant to be...

11 years ago
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and then this site becomes playblink with 2000 entries on bad rats. No. You enter for games in order to play them.

11 years ago
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+

11 years ago
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You're not new here, I really don't know how you haven't understood it yet -.-

11 years ago
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Just because he is suggesting, or maybe not even suggesting, just thinking about why things are done the way they are, and other possible ways of doing them, does NOT mean that he does not understand how they are now. In fact he clearly states that he understands the rules and would not break them in his post.

The rules here are an agreed upon standard, not an objectively moral right and wrong that exists outside of our collective assent.

11 years ago
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As ceildric noted above, I do understand the system and the rules, and I only mentioned a potential loophole that people might want to try and abuse; and I said myself in the very same post; is a pretty damn inefficient and wasteful method.

11 years ago
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Yeah I see now.

11 years ago
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Because, guess what, as soon as regifting is allowed, people will just give away 60 Skyrims for 3600$ contribution. What? Winners did not activated them? Oh, they just "traded" the game! Have you stopped to think about what you say for even a second? -.-

11 years ago
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So that means that anyone could just giveaway a key, and if the winner regifts it, the original giver just redeems it instantly. That doesn't sound very fair...

11 years ago
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Although completely unlikely your system opens up a possible crash of the SteamGifts Economy. You're saying people should be allowed to regift and create a giveaway with that key/gift meaning more than one person could get contributor value for one game. Essentially, if that game was passed on and on and on and on and on and on everyone would be receiving contributor value for a game of pass the parcel.
Regifting could allow some selfish group of person out there to make a group of, lets say, twenty people, buy one bundle (serious sam bundle) for example for $20ish and pass it between them in group giveaways without activating it. Then twenty people are boosting themselves.
Sure support could stop it eventually, but at what cost? Angry users? Less support staff for actual issues within the site?

11 years ago
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Well, yes; it could... but then again; most users won't want to do this; since it's really just a big waste of time. The main problem really is that it's impossible to allow people to enter only for games that they really want; and people may change their minds and recide to trade off the key that they won, instead of redeeming it themselves.
In the ideal world; steam would allow keys to be converted into inventory games and then steamgifts could create some sort of "inventory bank" where you'd "gift" the item to steamgifts which would then pass the gift on when the giveaway ends. Upon trade, steam could have a "redeeem immediatelly" flag which would be switched on for steamgifts.

Not sure I explained the "ideal system" too well, but some of you will get the point :-D
Then again... that is NOT how things work, so we really just depend on people's honesty.

11 years ago
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Thats the thing though. When you allow something that 'most people' would not abuse there are always 'some people' who will and those people have the ability to do more damage than they understand. I agree, if Steam made all keys redeemable as gifts it would make the whole of steam trades/giveaways safer. I understand you're point though because it is all based on trust currently.

11 years ago
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It's not a problem unless they refuse to make it public/friends-only private for a few seconds before giving them the game. If they decide they don't want you to see if they already own it, support told me to ask cg to check it out first.

11 years ago
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You could make it mandatory for gift winners to make their profile public after they've won their gift for a day-that way their privacy isn't compromised too much, and the gift giver can rest assured that their gift is being used.
Just a thought.

11 years ago
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No need to, as soon as activated games are checked automatically. Which are not, as far as I know. You are obliged to sync once a week at least, so if you mark "received" and after next sync you haven't got this game activated - suspension. Imo, that's the most reasonable decision.

11 years ago
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Should be

11 years ago
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NO

11 years ago
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There should be something on SteamGifts that can verify someone activated a game, mind you there are some considerations to take (i.e. for games that won't show up publicly like GAR) but even so, it doesn't have to automate suspensions or anything, just show whether something was activated, and it's up to the user to make sense of that (so in the case of something like GAR, you would obviously know it's inaccurate since GAR doesn't show up in libraries)

11 years ago
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Yes!

11 years ago
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But why :)

11 years ago
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I agree.

11 years ago
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Perhaps the site doesn't need to force people to keep their profiles public; they could just require people to sync the profile every week or so. This way people get to keep their privacy and the site becomes a little more... solid.
ALSO! It could (if it doesn't already) keep track of items that you've won and prevent you from entering those giveaways and from creating a giveaway for that item for a week or so.
"but LFLFM; what if the person wins a giveaway that they've entered a few days ago, for a game that they bought that very day.. it would be fair to pass it on" - yeah, and they can do so... after a week!

11 years ago
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"Perhaps the site doesn't need to force people to keep their profiles public; they could just require people to sync the profile every week or so. This way people get to keep their privacy and the site becomes a little more... solid."

it does that.
(and if you fail to sync every so often(i think its between 6 and 10 days not 100% sure the interval haven't paid attention) you lose the abiltiy to enter giveaways until you do.)

unless steamgifts has been unfairly profiling me(or maybe its 2 weeks and I have a poor grasp on time lately which it very well could(probably is) be, or does it stop doing that after awhile and its just that I'm new/haven't made a giveaway?)?


"It could (if it doesn't already) keep track of items that you've won and prevent you from entering those giveaways and from creating a giveaway for that item for a week or so. "

probably doesn't do this yet though(at least doesn't seem it), it should do this.

11 years ago
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It syncs once a week, yes, but it doesn't prevent you from entering giveaways if you don't sync (because your profile is private). It could prevent you from entering giveaways if it fails to sync every two weeks or so...
Also, yes, it should keep track of your winnings; perhaps even give you a "warning" if, say two weeks after winning a giveaway it doesn't show up in your owned games list... two or three warnings and you're out.

11 years ago
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It's not only you. This is far more important than all the endless discussion about contributor value of discounted games: private profiles allow to create CV out of thin air.

Instead of proposing the usual solutions that invariably require coding, I just wish staff allowed "private profile" as a reason for a reroll.

11 years ago
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why is it more important(just seems one pet peeve vs another, wait a week to be sure they redeemed or feel your cv is devalued by somebody spending a 10th of you for the same)

and also "private profiles allow to create CV out of thin air."
really? how? I'm private and have none at all, if I could make some giveaways out of nothing this should be of interest to me

11 years ago
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A malicious user with a private profile can regift the game on SteamGifts straight away, gaining CV value from the gift they have received - that's why.

11 years ago
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for about a day(week tops when the resync shows you) until he gets caught by people who see that he recently won and snoop around, sure.

(besides, for farming contributor value how efficient could it be waiting weeks or a month to win something and regifting for maybe 20 points? how much does that small an amount even help with opening ga with better odds when the same could be done in seconds for $0.99, then again I've waited for a $5 game I knew would be on 25% off sale(i saved a buck and change lol) in a couple weeks so I guess people don't make sense)

edit- ah, the sync inventory doesn't show never knew that; still with the way people react when they see somebody new give something("omg noob giving [game over $20], this is a scam or he thinks sg generates keys. reported" was at least twice in the top 8 comments on the(only 6 or so but still) giveaways I've seen so far where the gifter is a new user despite doing nothing suspicious that I could see to make them think that) away support would get so many reports with "proof(statements that he won and then gave the same thing so it must be the same key)" they'd probably look into it...and bet they can probably see sync data.

11 years ago
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Most users with private profiles will cheerfully let a gifter examine their profile before handing over a gift.

The best solution DOES involve coding, as even with a public profile, most gifters don't check their winners, and scammers still stand a chance of slipping under the radar.

With a built-in activation check, there is nowhere for these people to hide.

I have my reasons for maintaining a private profile, but these don't involve any sort of misdemeanours, whether on Steamgifts or anywhere else.

11 years ago
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I propose that users be able to create giveaways that require that all entrants have synchronized their profiles within the past day.

This would satisfy users who desire privacy, and allow giveaways to be created by people who want to ensurance that their entrants do not already own the game.

Further, it may be a good idea to automatically flag accounts of people who have won games, but an account synchronization since the win shows that they do not own the game.

11 years ago
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why should they be? some people like privacy, don't want their purchases wishlist friends or whatever out there for everybody to see. I don't want spam for instance.(and somehow I managed to get an unsolicited friend request from some random in the minute or so I had mine public for the last sync(yesterday) anyway)

Those with private profiles have to unblock and resync their profiles (including games library(thats kinda the point)) periodically or lose the ability to enter giveaways until they do. (all you get is a popup telling you to sync when you go to the site)** You can't really hide whether you redeem a game, so forcing public would be pointless. what are you going to do get a week's headstart on trading it away before you get banned? stay away forever to dodge the sync and may as well be banned? win the same game twice(which will show and the snoopers will see on your sg profile) in 6 or more likely fewer days? whats the worry here?

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[1]In many cases the gifter will know when their game is redeemed because it'll disappear from their steamgift inventory right?(unless it isn't from steam in which case 3 options still exist)

[2]the gifter(not somebody else) can try messaging(depending on whether the gifter gets access to the email account or merely a form to enter the code into and a click to send button in which case this option doesn't exist..i don't actually know how it works since I have yet to send anything, but I assume its the former(you get to see my email address)) and request he make his profile public so you can peek
<br>(maybe the receiver will refuse or fail to respond entirely, but still 2 other options one definitely(given the mechanics of the website) and possibly both(depending on how much time support is willing to waste/spend) mandatory...)

[3]every 6 or 8 days or so(not entirely sure how often cause I'm new and haven't been paying attention to it) we have to resubmit for syncing our games list so its always less than a week out of date anyway. Besides

[4]support(if they're willing) can email the winner asking to make their profile public for a few minutes to see for themselves if there were an issue.

Beyond that it isn't up to anybody else to go snooping around in profiles and checking up on winners. The gifter will know, support can find out, and worst case they'd only be able to hide it for like 4 days because of mandatory sync, and thats all you really need already.(besides isn't there generally some time given to redeem? I know it takes a week to mark not received, but I don't know how long does the receiver get before getting marked as not redeemed and assumed a trader?)

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so 4(maybe 3 depending on how the site works, and at minimum definitely one)easy reason(s) mandatory public profiles are unnecessary

11 years ago
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that looks like crap and far longer than it actually is so I highlighted the tldr bit, its the only important thing i say so just skip to the bolded part.

11 years ago
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ah, I'm dumb(should actually check my info before posting so much on it lol). the sync list doesn't show(just clicked on somebody else for pretty much the first time).
so instead of the terrible idea to remove privacy options, just make it show the sync list,

or for something you can do yourself: gift through steam, ask him to blip friends only for a minute for you to see he used it. then remove from friends.


or better to allow privacy to be kept they could make sg check anything flagged as received against their next sync data when they sync. it syncs every week and it already checks the sync list to prevent entering giveaways you already own and dlc you can't use anyway.

11 years ago
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I definitely think there should at least be a compiled list that is created when someone has to sync their account each week. This list would compare with games they have won, and after a month or so of having the game 'Marked as received' on SG, and not having it activated on the person's account would have a red flag set up. This would ask the person to activate the game on their account, or e-mail support about whatever situation they may be in. If after another week they do not have it activated or did not deal with the situation by contacting support, then punishment will be given to them. I'm not sure what that would entail, but I think it'd be something to think about. This would of course be difficult to track with giveaways that have a bundle-type style or ones that include more than one game, or DLC that isn't listed in games owned.

11 years ago
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Personally, I find private profiles as annoying.

11 years ago
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As much as private profiles do suck, people are still entitled to their "privacy".

The best way to deal with this would be some automation on SG. 7 days after marking a gift as received, the option to change it back should be grayed out and on the next sync if the game isn't on the winner's account he should be prevented from entering any giveaway until he adds the game to his library or resolve the issue with support.

11 years ago
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+

11 years ago
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I honestly think making public profiles mandatory would be a great thing. People whining about privacy shouldn't be stupid enough to put sensitive information on a fucking video games site to begin with.

In fact, I think I'll just go ahead and blacklist private profiles from all my future giveaways.

11 years ago
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Problem is, you can only do that for private giveaways.

11 years ago
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I don't see a problem there.

11 years ago
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Closed 11 years ago by nerka99.