Browse
Category
DiscussionsGeneral

Game i won from giveaway is region locked.

Open
Ashgamer

This is the giveaway.
http://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/7yw8h/frozen-synapse-prime
The game is Frozen synapse Prime.
This game when purchased actually gives an extra copy. But the extra copy you get can only be gifted to someone on the same country.
Basically, he gave this region locked gift copy as the giveaway.
I am from India, he is not from India.
So, even though i won this giveaway, i am stuck with this on my inventory and cannot add it to my steam library. If you want proof, i can give screenshots.
Thus was a frustrating experience as this is the first giveaway i actually won here and it was useless.
He did not specify that this giftable copy was region locked in the giveaway. I did contact him on steam and he had no idea this was region locked. He said accept or give back the copy and didn't provide a fair solution.
This is what it shows when i try to add this to my library.
"You are about to add this item to your library:

Frozen Synapse Prime"
Then after selecting Add to my Library option, this is what it shows
"Sorry, an error has occurred:

This item cannot be added to your library because it is restricted from your country."
He speaks Russian, he must be from there.

8 years ago*

Comment has been collapsed.

10 Comments
EvilBudgie
  1. Better to remove all the links. Why post them on public forums anyway?
  2. Give back the region locked copy (you are not obligated to do so, as far as I know, but might be fair, unless the creator wants you to keep it as an apology for the mess or simply doesn't want it back).
  3. If he doesn't give you a copy you can activate within 7 days mark as not received (don't mark it as received unless you get it and activate it, don't mark as received if you get something else instead, even if you are fine with it).
  4. If you feel like it (you are not obligated to do so, but would be nice), post in the giveaway that you are fine with the giveaway being deleted, so if the creator decides to ask support to do it, they would allow it.
8 years ago*
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.
Ashgamer

I tried to give it back to him via steam, but that was not possible since he owned a copy of that game on his account. Then i contacted him and then sent this to his email. Looks like he unfriended me afterwards. I don't think he is going to give me a new copy though

8 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.
BahDerb

He's almost assuredly not going to give you a new copy and its overly presumptuous of you to expect it considering the circumstances. He may not even be able to b/c of the regional restrictions in acquiring one outside of trading. Its very likely he was unsure of the specific region locking especially since you're both in areas that have completely separate regional rules. Its doubtful he did this on purpose or anything like that. The fact he delivered it alone is a positive. He's also not obligated to do so. Its not against the rules to take a "not received" mark unless the person is creating fake giveaways and there's clear cut abuse.

Even if he does own it, he should still be able to take it back as a gift copy and ask for a reroll. IMO at worst, he neglected to mark the gift locked to a specific region when he created the giveaway which would have prevented your entry in the first place. Its been in place and possible to do so for a while now, but its entirely possible he just neglected to or wasnt 100% about the specific locking rules in place for this particular game espc if the game is not marked in any way, as usually locked games will have red writing when seen inside an inventory. If that writing is not there, games can still be locked but its much harder to be sure of what regions cannot activate it unless you're diligent and double check it from top to bottom. If its bundle sourced, its even more murky.

My advice goes along with some others. I would keep attempting to give it back either by re-adding him or seeing if you have any mutual friends or ask someone who hes been in contact with to act as an intermediary. If you're not willing to or he continues to ignore it, mark it as not received and move on. You can't force him to take it back.

8 years ago*
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.
EvilBudgie

sent this to his email

This? Do you mean the gift? You can send him the gift by mail even if he does own it. If he can't provide you another copy, there is not much to do: mark as not received and be nice and post in the giveaway you are fine with it being deleted. If he doesn't take the gift back, you can do with it as you please.

8 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.
Csontzuzo

well, ask for regionfree copy from giveaway creator else dont mark it received.

and dont panic

first game i won here was fake giveaway, since that i won 120 legit game, first wins never works:-)

8 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.
darveshpreet

I don't agree with that :-)
My first win was Blackguard, that got me hooked to SG.

8 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.
EsE

This happened to me too with Overlord DLC, the GA creator is from Argentina, and i couldnt activate (im from Spain), HB support didnt help so we agreed to delete it :(

8 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.
chairmankao

Sounds like a harmless mistake on his part. Let it go and allow him to delete the giveaway.

8 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.
darveshpreet

+1

8 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.
Redjevel

write him "suka blyat"

8 years ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Sign in through Steam to add a comment.