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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To win this game about daggers and the devil, you should
(a) sacrifice a kitten
(b) remove 6,6,6 from the three first letters
(c) ???
(d) profit

https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/QHx5t/666-the-number-of-the-beast

7 years ago
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This looks easier than it is...

7 years ago
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damn, it wasn't supposed to be hard :)

If you remove 6 from Q you obtain K, do the same for the two next letters.

7 years ago*
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I used "guess what" to solve this... But still no entries!
Is it harder than it seems?!

7 years ago
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without the flavor text, this is basically "take QHx5t and subtract 6 from the first three letters"

You actually don't need to sacrifice any kitten!
(Please don't)

7 years ago
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sorry, too late

7 years ago
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don't get it, maybe cause language barrier ;_;
EDIT got it ๐Ÿ˜†

7 years ago
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Thanks to the internet for having EVERY kind of calculator available... would have taken me more than a minute to solve this! (scary times)

7 years ago
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2 giveaways for the game Morphine:

View attached image.
View attached image.
7 years ago*
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:)

7 years ago
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Are they here?
DAMN SYNTHS!

7 years ago
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only 1 bot

7 years ago
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Not even that. 92 entries in both. Makes me think that obfuscation may not be needed in most cases, though I'd still use it as an extra safety precaution if the game is expensive.

7 years ago
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i entered only the second one :)

7 years ago
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Why not enter the first one too and double your chances?

7 years ago
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cuz

  1. I will not win lol ended already
  2. Even if I win I will never play it.
7 years ago
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to be fair, I woulda only clicked the one that didnt require editing...not because I am a bot, but because I am lazy.

7 years ago
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This is for "Celebrate Yirg Day" on March 25th!

https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/Yirg/mrKqU/papers-please

Remove Yirg from the link, read GA description and maybe participate too.... if you want :-)

7 years ago
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thump! I was browsing that wishlist the other day and thinking about what might be a good choice. I am still debating if I should join in on the fun, but I like the idea :)

7 years ago
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It was too good to pass up and I was lucky I had such a good gift in my Humble key list :-)

7 years ago
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Reserved for I will be lvl 6 soon!

7 years ago
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Congrats!!

7 years ago
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What's wrong with bots? ASF is a bot :)

7 years ago
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Autobot make from a bump!

7 years ago
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7 years ago
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Nothing special here, it's just ZIdoz against honor ร–_รณ

https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/honor/rush-for-glory

7 years ago
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Bump!

7 years ago
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ZIdoz could make a pretty good nickname actually :-)

7 years ago
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Agree!

7 years ago
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Yep, I also thought 'bout it.
Have a nice day (:

7 years ago
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This is a nice idea, bump! :)

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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New kind of adventure, level 0+ ENDED

View attached image.
7 years ago*
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Thanks!

7 years ago
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nice

7 years ago
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This isn't just an AAA game, it's an aAaAa game! Much better! :-)

7 years ago
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Beep Bump

7 years ago
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Bumpy!
i ain't no robot :c

7 years ago
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Bump-a-dump!

7 years ago
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mump

7 years ago
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Bumping with this. https://steamgifts.com/giveaway/iq300

Just click the link.

View attached image.
7 years ago
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You don't need to add a / at the end ;)
(edited)

7 years ago*
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Shh, don't tell the robots ๐Ÿค–๐Ÿ‘€

7 years ago
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This is an amazing idea!

7 years ago
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bump

7 years ago
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Bump-Bot Activated! Command: execute(bump_thread)

7 years ago
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bump.Activate(1);

7 years ago
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Bump!

7 years ago
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Finally there is an use of ExtendedSG's Signature generator features :D

7 years ago
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Bot test
Two GAs for the same game:

  1. https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/37zJn/wheres-my-what (just click)
  2. https://www.steamgifts.com/givePOSITRONICBRAINaway/SPAREPARTSInEUyMACHINEOIL/wheres-my-what (click and delete all robot stuff from the link)

View attached image.
View attached image.
7 years ago*
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Lazy human test
Two GAs for the same game:

  1. https://www.steamgifts.com/giveaway/rNA7U/abc-coloring-town (just click)
  2. https://www.jigidi.com/solve.php?id=3RH5ZN2Z (solve this easy jigsaw puzzle about robots)

View attached image.
View attached image.
7 years ago
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It seems the bots are lazy too today ;-)

7 years ago
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This bot isn't :p

7 years ago
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perfect idea, thanks for the chance.

7 years ago
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Ah yes, = != ==.

7 years ago
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View attached image.
7 years ago
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