Promotional Codes: Members Only

[Christopher]

Title says it all... Anyone who has spent any amount of time browsing these forums knows unregistered lurkers often snatch up promotional codes offered by developers without so much as posting which code they redeemed or even a thank you.

Maybe I'm making a generalization here, but if lurkers don't have time to register for an account here, they probably won't make the time to post a review of the application they just received at a 100% discount.

How do developers offer promotional codes to registered members only? Make them attachments. This also affords the opportunity for developers to indirectly screen for members who are genuinely interested in an application to receive promo codes; by making the codes an image requiring to be retyped rather than a text document. Although, maybe I shouldn't mention that because I'm not fond of typing in long strings of alphanumeric characters. Guess that means more promo codes for those who will...

[Stykman]

not even attatchements there should be a seperate forum

members and up

i propose we raise the post needed for member status to 70 to avoid any guy just doing random posts to get codes

and the person has to be an active member

[ibelongintheforums]

no
listen to the original idea
i love it
get rid of post counts all together

[Christopher]

i propose we raise the post needed for member status to 70 to avoid any guy just doing random posts to get codes

Raising the post count to 70 is going to INCITE random posts...

[Big Albie]

I like the thumbnail and txt idea. I think it has some legs because you have to be registered and logged in to see them so why not. I'm not a fan of post counts in general because I dont' think they add much to what is contributed to the forum in the first place. Plus, you open the door to spam. I see enough of these one word posts to irk me. Grrr...

[Zincous]

I like the idea of attaching a text document. So lurkers can't get it, and we can still copy and paste the codes if we get it. Although people with slow internet will download slower...

I hope devs post text documents!

[Coldar]

I like the thumbnail and txt idea. I think it has some legs because you have to be registered and logged in to see them so why not. I'm not a fan of post counts in general because I dont' think they add much to what is contributed to the forum in the first place. Plus, you open the door to spam. I see enough of these one word posts to irk me. Grrr...


Not a bad idea usng a text doc. Although dev's are getting savvy to putting them into their threads without advertising it and those that are really interested will find them......and also agree on those one word posts!! +1 on the Grrr....!

[Vester]

well, i have never recived a promo code but i agree 100%, people would not even review the app and just get it for free! that is the complete opposite than what the devs want

[schooze]

I don't know one would be able to proove just because someone is not a member and takes a code that means they won't post a review on itunes, how can you know that the members here are leaving a review in the first place. I also don't like the idea that getting a promo code means giving a good review on itunes.

[spmwinkel]

I like those ideas, Christopher!

[don_k]

Is Cristopher banned for suggesting this idea?
Lucky I didn't suggest mine :D

[spmwinkel]

I don't know, his latest posts don't seem to be breaking the rules. (Maybe that post got deleted?)

[1337brian]

Just wanted to chime in and say that it's not a bad idea really, but why is he banned all of a sudden? I don't think this quite counts as asking/begging for promos.... So...?

[Zincous]

I don't know, his latest posts don't seem to be breaking the rules. (Maybe that post got deleted?)

Just wanted to chime in and say that it's not a bad idea really, but why is he banned all of a sudden? I don't think this quite counts as asking/begging for promos.... So...?

Yes he was banned! I don't know for how long though. But he was posting a bunch of links that were rick rolling everyone. He even posted a thread in upcoming games with links to "pictures" that ended up rick rolling people. And then his signature had fake links in it too rick rolling people.

They were all deleted, so that's why it looks like this is his last post.

I think he was doing it for april fools day, but still....

[spmwinkel]

Hehehe I posted one link on Twitter that RickRolled at least one person. It may be a bad joke but me and the other person both laughed about it. But there's a difference between posting a link once or a lot. Especially with the TA policy on fake announcements.

[dashzed]

i think it works better for the dev to say: I'll pm promo codes to the first 50 people to post here.

that usually works, and rewards the faithful, PLUS it is only for members.

[No Hero]

i think it works better for the dev to say: I'll pm promo codes to the first 50 people to post here.

that usually works, and rewards the faithful, PLUS it is only for members.

Yea, but I heard about the 30 sec or 1 min. wait between pm. so, 50 pms will take a while to get too

[CDubby94]

I don't know one would be able to proove just because someone is not a member and takes a code that means they won't post a review on itunes, how can you know that the members here are leaving a review in the first place. I also don't like the idea that getting a promo code means giving a good review on itunes.

I completely agree, the whole idea of promo codes seems a little like bribery. Forgive me if I'm being ignorant here but doesn't the concept of giving a product absolutely free to someone so they can tell other people about it sound a little biased? Of course they're going to give a good review if they ever want any more free apps from the dev... And that defeats the purpose of writing fair reviews in the first place.

[Big Albie]

I completely agree, the whole idea of promo codes seems a little like bribery. Forgive me if I'm being ignorant here but doesn't the concept of giving a product absolutely free to someone so they can tell other people about it sound a little biased? Of course they're going to give a good review if they ever want any more free apps from the dev... And that defeats the purpose of writing fair reviews in the first place.

I don't necessarily agree with this. The idea behind promo codes is to generate awareness for a game that people may not initially buy on their own. Hopefully after trying it, they will tell others (viral marketing). Inherently, there's nothing wrong with it, and most devs who provide codes ask that people provide objective reviews and I think more importantly, feedback that they wouldn't be able to get otherwise.

Think about it, most if not all people are set in their ways and have their biases. That's one reason they may not voluntarily try or buy something. Secondly, from a budgetary standpoint, people may not be able to afford to buy a game they're uncertain about. Promo codes can address both of these issues by getting product out to a wider audience and potentially a bigger one if the product is actually good via word of mouth.

[supg328911]

i didnt know none members couldn't download attachments, if thats true that would be a great idea

[Big Albie]

i didnt know none members couldn't download attachments, if thats true that would be a great idea

It's true. Non-members and people who don't sign it can't view or d/l attachments or thumbnails.

[CDubby94]

I don't necessarily agree with this. The idea behind promo codes is to generate awareness for a game that people may not initially buy on their own. Hopefully after trying it, they will tell others (viral marketing). Inherently, there's nothing wrong with it, and most devs who provide codes ask that people provide objective reviews and I think more importantly, feedback that they wouldn't be able to get otherwise.

Think about it, most if not all people are set in their ways and have their biases. That's one reason they may not voluntarily try or buy something. Secondly, from a budgetary standpoint, people may not be able to afford to buy a game they're uncertain about. Promo codes can address both of these issues by getting product out to a wider audience and potentially a bigger one if the product is actually good via word of mouth.

I think if people were angels everything you just said would be 100% accurate. But I think there's too many people that would either not post a review at all or post a biased review, which contributes nothing.

However, I do agree with you from a marketing standpoint. Promo codes are really helpful in spreading your game around via word of mouth, but again an an objective review has to be made for this to work.

In all reality, I'm not against promo codes. I actually think the potential good of them outweighs the potential bad of them. I'm just hopefully getting people to see there is a potential downside to promo codes for a dev.

[Big Albie]

I think if people were angels everything you just said would be 100% accurate. But I think there's too many people that would either not post a review at all or post a biased review, which contributes nothing.

However, I do agree with you from a marketing standpoint. Promo codes are really helpful in spreading your game around via word of mouth, but again an an objective review has to be made for this to work.

In all reality, I'm not against promo codes. I actually think the potential good of them outweighs the potential bad of them. I'm just hopefully getting people to see there is a potential downside to promo codes for a dev.

As with anything, there is a downside which you brought up. But, promo codes are just one tool, and you can only give people the benefit of the doubt.

[Galaxius]

I don't think a "high" post count is the right way to go about things (for example I have less than 50 posts but I've been lurking since this site started), but the attachment thing is an awesome idea. Though in theory that would add more people just making accounts to get codes. So honestly maybe a 10 LEGIT post count would add the incentive to be able to get access to a certain forum to read the attachment (or something like that) just so there are people who would be more likely to write a review (devs don't ask for rave reviews, just honest ones to fix their apps/market them). I haven't seen a high occurrence of non-TA members nabbing codes, but maybe I'm not on when codes are posted :P

[doctor rickso]

Just thought Id say that im relatively new to the forums, although I have checked out the new games section of touch Arcade for about a month now...

I've just recently starting visiting the forums to see what people's takes were on specific new games (as paying $1 over and over for games can add up quick- especially if you dont like them)...

Anyways- I'm not one for posting topics although I would leave feedback if I was to take a code. I say this because the suggestion for having a minimum amount of posts wouldnt be fair to everyone either. Besides people like me, why should a newbee get shafted for being new member? For that matter, someone could flood each topic just to get to said minimum anyway, and no one wants to sift thru crap posts.

Long story short- there will always be bad apples who find ways around rules and etiquite... and my only suggestion would be asking for PM's for codes so that you have user names to hold accountable.