I've been coming to TA for about 3 months now. I joined in the beginning of February and soon started my newest addiction involving my iPhone, the TA forums. In the 3 months I've been regularly visiting the site I've paid particular attention to what promo codes are being offered. So far during my regular visits I've only ever managed to get my hands on 1 working promo code for Zombie Parade. I honestly believe the only reason I got the code is because of the method the dev used to distribute them. That was to send a pm and ask. I can't count how many times I've gone to a promo code thread minutes after it was posted to find every code gone with no "I took this one" notice, no follow-up game impressions or reviews, no anything but the lurkers snagging them...and that's it. IMO this defeats the purpose of what the devs are trying to accomplish and what the ones who get a code should do out of appreciation...spread info about the apps for those of us who are curious, but unsure. So my question is this. Is it at all possible to make the promo code section available to members only who are actually interested in contributing to the site and efforts of the devs? If so, what are the odds of this possibility becoming a reality? And yes, I realize that a person could just open an account with the sole purpose of getting access to the codes, but still I think it might keep some of the lurkers at bay. Thoughts anyone?
this has been discussed many times...but devs really dont want to send out 50 PM's...its easy just to post them
Maybe have the people who want the code that badly leave a simple post about why they want that game? That way we can make sure it isn't just an "Ah, it's a code... I'll grab it" decision or a lurker stealing it YET AGAIN. Then the top 5 or so can be selected for promo codes. Otherwise contests, such as reviews of other apps by the dev, work well too.
devs could also just copy and paste the codes into a text file and have it as a downloadable in the promo posting -only TA members can download the file -the dev doesn't have to send out or receive a billion PMs
I did find it hard to believe this wouldn't have been discussed before so I apologize if I started a thread if one already exists. I'm still a learnin' boy. Didn't think of it being easier for the devs to just post codes for the taking so point taken there. What about making it so only those who have passed junior member status can have access to the promo code section? It might eliminate people who are only looking for something for free without having to give anything back. Believe it or not this is the first site whose forums I've both followed and posted to so I'm still a little naive as to what is and isn't possible.
People who want to give honest feedback don't go looking for codes. They are offered them by devs. They take the time to feedback and then devs take notice and they reward them or asks them to give their game feedback. They also get private beta builds, etc. Not that I would know
I would to an extent be one of those people who was offered a promo code in exchange for a review and I find it an honor.
There's also an annoying little 'feature' that prevents you from sending more than 1 PM per minute. So if you had 50 requests for promo codes, it would take you at least 50 minutes to send them all out =)
you could also make the promo code forum invisible to the guests so only member can see the codes and the threads
That IMO is an excellent idea, but don't make it invisible, just when they click it tell them they have to register to view. That would completely fix it.
This. Its an easy fix to the lurkers problem, but is rarely utilized, I've only seen ~3 devs use this technique.
Funny, I was just thinking about this (when I somehow followed a link to an old promo code giveaway and saw that the first poster said that they were all taken by lurkers. I also thought that they should somehow make it only for members and so continued browsing and came across this thread! What a coincidence.
have any of you guys ever thought that maybe developers want to give the codes to a wider range of people than the members of the TA forums? why do we have to be the elite? and anyway, pm for codes can also go really quickly, and they aren't neccesarily better for the dev. firstly, it's annoying to send out 50 pms consecutively (as mentionde before) also, not neccesarily all people who pm will review!
