This is a problem: guests taking promos! Not trying to complain, but they aren't members. Not that we members are entitled to these codes, but those of us that want to leave honest feedback are unable to, which in that case I'll just buy the game.
I think you are sort of there. For now since only the devs can give out codes I think that THEY should have an option to make a thread open to public or only to members. If it's about codes then lock it for members only.
I believe the forums are also open to see, to non-members. So this would also imply that the forums should be made private (= register to see anything). Which would decrease the ad-revenue I believe. Not sure how Arn thinks about that, but it needs to be considered.
I think the forums should not be locked in general, but what could be done is that one of the Admins might consider making another forum just for promo codes (which could be locked for members only). I think that would benefit everybody. Leechers can't get codes, the site does not lose it's appeal to non-members and Devs actually can get all their feedback they were looking for because only members can grab those codes.
Yeah, but only 'kinda'. If i don't understand this wrong, you're proposing that Devs could lock their own threads to the public. What i'm proposing is to make a whole forum just visible/unlocked to members in which Devs could open up threads.
Haha. Come on, guys, this is not an "enormous" problem. Let's face it. Some people are inconsiderate jerks. They exist in the real world, and they exist on the Internet. What is keeping someone who doesn't want to participate in discussion from just becoming a member and still lurking around for codes? I know, then someone will suggest making a post count minimum or some kind of pretentious haven for "senior members." OK, so let's encourage spamming and "chat room" type behavior. There's no real solution here, and frankly, this isn't really that big of a problem. This is a great place for developers to forge relationships with their consumers. It's a great place to basically market for free. If developers want certain people to get codes, they can make up their own rules. If they want to drop a few codes in a post and let the masses fight it out, that's their prerogative. Maybe they would actually benefit from circulating their games into a wider audience, and not just the same 20 "senior members" who camp out in the Games forum. I've noticed that there are certain posters here who consistently give really great feedback. However, you never know who's out there, and maybe a lurker will show a game to a friend or someone who has never even been to Touch Arcade will see it and try it out. All I'm saying is that (A) this is in no way an "enormous" problem. You may consider not getting free stuff for yourself an enormous problem, but in general, it's not; (B) post counts and the little title under our names don't really mean all that much when you break it down. It doesn't take much to sign up for a legitimate account, and I don't care if you have 1,000 posts in the last 3 months. Post counts can only determine quantity, not quality; (C) developers can decide for themselves in whose hands they want their games to be. Maybe they want constructive reviews and critique. Maybe all they want is to get the game "out there" so it can get exposure. That some of us sit on this website all day long does not really make any of us "more deserving" of anything. It all depends on the situation, and it's not our decision to make. There will always be people who ruin good things for everyone else. Best to take it in stride. Let the developers set their own rules based on their own needs, and realize that as far as "problems" go, this is a frivolous one. I do think that there should be a distinct Promo Code forum though. As you might guess, I am not in favor of making it "private" or restricted. But I do think it would clear up a lot of clutter.
@HJJ: Those are pretty good points you state and as far as i am concerned it really is no big problem. That's why i don't like the idea of making the forums private in general. But i also don't like that anti-social behavior many put up. 'Oh looky looky, free, wanna have, fark others... Devs? Who cares...' You get the idea... (And yes, if somebody acts like that in real life, i openly confront that person.) That means if somebody gets a code, they should at least be so 'generous' to provide feedback on the App. You can't regulate peoples behavior and nobody should try to, but i think you can give provoking impulses and that's what really is needed. *omg i sound like some sort of stuck hippy* So on second thought i do not like the idea of making anything private/locked anymore, but as you also said, another forum would at least clear out the other one a little...
I agree with you. I'm not saying that this behavior doesn't aggravate me. Being inconsiderate is one of my major pet peeves (in real life). But what also irritates me is this sense of entitlement that some members here have, and that is why I decided to post. One simple way to avoid the "lurker problem" is to have members post replies asking for a code. But then we have people complaining about new members who "only signed up to get codes." People complain about lurkers, but when the lurkers actually make accounts, they complain about that. When does the complaining stop? Oh, when only "senior members" get what they want, it seems. I have scored a total of 2 promo codes (actually, one was via MacRumors), and both times I just happened to check in at the right time (late in the evening). Usually, developers post promo codes during the day when I'm away from iTunes. Should I suggest that developers post codes in the evenings in U.S. Eastern Standard time because it's more fair to me? That would be ridiculous. I don't like seeing codes for games I'd really like to try get taken during the daytime, but hey, that's the ropes. Basically, I think a lot of the complaining around here has to do with a misplaced sense of entitlement and a bad case of sour grapes.
Its common sense people... Why would someone sign in without first being able to see what is he signing in for!?!?! I'll take my example: I was browsing this forums for fair few weeks before I decided to become a member. Open forums is the best advert for itself... As for "guests" pinching promo codes - well, how about making locked Promo section!?! I vote for "leave open" anyway...
I hate it when devs post the codes in the thread itself. They're immediately snatched up, half of them being guests... I much prefer when you're asked to pm them. I also think pm code contests is the short term solution to this problem. Devs shouldn't post them directly.
It seems like you're just upset because the codes get snatched up quickly. I don't see the big difference between guests taking codes and members taking codes. If they're gone, they're gone. Whether they took the time to post "I took X-code" or not, you would have missed them either way. Yes, it's rude. And yes, it's annoying having to blindly plug in a bunch of codes that have already been used. But realize that none of us are owed anything. Being given free games is not part of the Touch Arcade TOS, as far as I know. This is like getting up in arms because there are no brownies left at the sample stand at Costco. "Devs should do this. Devs should do that." Developers should do whatever they want to do. If they want to drop a bunch of codes in a single post, then so be it. Maybe they realize that this website has a much larger audience than the selection of people who choose to participate in the forum. Stick around the forums for a day, and you'll notice exactly who the regulars are. They're easy to keep track of because, relatively speaking, there's not that many. Their post counts are high because they spend a lot of time posting. That's cool. But it doesn't mean that these people are inherently more "deserving" of anything. It just means they like to chat about games and have the time to do so. If a developer wants to "reward" "senior members" (for posting a lot, I guess?) he or she can and will. If a developer just wants to get his game out there for exposure, I don't see the problem with letting anyone, member or not, grab a code. Remember that Touch Arcade forum members are not the only consumers here. Touch Arcade is a great marketing tool, and it can be used in a variety of ways.
I'm not really sure how to respond to this. I was trying to be thoughtful in my previous comments, but I'm not sure how else to get a pretty simple point across. I realize that not all people like to spend money. I don't "like" spending money. However, if I want something badly enough, and I believe in its value, then I'll buy it. If I can't afford it, then I'll forgo it. And if I happen upon an opportunity to receive it for free, then all the better. Being frugal can be a virtue, but it does not entitle you to free goods any more so than someone who excessively spends. I understand your frustration. I see codes come and go in seconds all the time. But I wouldn't be so arrogant as to suggest changing the infrastructure of the site just because I'm not getting as much free stuff as someone else.
