It doesn't say 4 hours EXACTLY, though, on that post.

People will always whine. No exceptions.

not everyone uses facebook or twitter out of (privacy) principles . and you dont have to sign up for facebook but its the same giveaway codes as here. with twitter you do have to sign up to participate.

when you look at the facebook comments there are alot of people pissed because of this method, while did you hear anyone complain about the contests some week ago? no
it was open for anyone to join, it gave you a day to participate so no messing with timezones. and just as random of a chance to win.

and yes, perhaps gog will come with more different ways this weekend, we will see.

i really dont mind if i dont get a code or whatever, i just trying to raise a question and a discussion. just as people bicker about certain new releases not being good or not enough extra's or whatever, wherein people say gog can learn from people's comments. if the majority finds this giveaway totally fair and good, then so be it. i dont mind either way.

still not as random as not knowing when new codes will come, if it was unknown some might not care at all now alot will hold the f5 button ready around that time.

It's whining no matter how you spin it. One method is just more polite than another.
Or in simpler terms "Gog do what it wants, y'all digg?"

Look I don't use twitter or facebook either (well technically I have a facebook account but if there was such thing as digital dust, mine would be caked in it), but GOG is trying to reach different users with different methods. Different users will be more apt to get the codes offered depending on the method used. GOG is absolutely correct in using lots of different methods to appeal to to different areas of their customer base. The previous competitions were for a very small number of codes they were giving out on a very small number of games. They are giving out hundreds of codes over the course of the weekend over many games in their catalog. Expect different competitions. Some will not appeal to you by virtue of what they are. Some will.
but it's still fair ... unless you happen to be asleep ... which I will be (hopefully) ... but that's okay

1. Gog is hosting other contests as well so one doesn't have to use Twitter/Facebook if they don't want to and can enter those instead if they lose out on this contest or don't want to partake in it. It's not like this is the only contest they're planning to host this Holiday season.

2. People are pissed because they didn't win.....tough titties, as they say. Sad as it is, we can't all be winners.

3. They said they would already.

Thing is, as I said before, anything can be seen an unfair to anyone...and people will always find complaint in such. For example: What about those without internet connections? To them all gog contests would be unfair to them because they can't access them. People should just be happy Gog is offering anything at all, and not worry if they can't get a cheap free game now and then.

Honestly, i thought GR raised some good points and back it with rather solid reason too.

its not really all comments about not winning, its about the way.

Carlos Block Wouldn't it be better to...you know...randomly hand these out or something so that those that aren't F5 warriors have a remote chance of taking part of this "friendly spirit"?

Ryu Johan Theunissen bit silly if you have the code, but someone can still use it till you have checked out with it. I mean that's just fail, why then in the first place say redeem was successful.

Kouen Techmonk i hate these sorta events where its like a mass grab 99% of people dont even have a chance

Marek Krakowski If you don't even make an effort to put an ? or two in the codes, let alone make it a link, a clickable mind you, then don't expect people to be happy about these giveaways. Bots got most of them.

Carlos Block Marcin, I think that no one here complains about the generosity of GOG, but rather the very inappropriate (and rather unfair) method that it was delivered on. So let's say everyone in the GOG community wants to participate: is it really realistic that 100% of these participants should sit in front of the computer and spam F5 for as long as this event is ongoing just to "maybe" get a code? As I said before, it would be so much better if random names were just drawn, cause that is actually a system that works for everyone.

Jens Heitzmann Everything was used up in the very first second you posted. Such stuff is so pointless

I think there would have been better ways to hand out the codes, but I'm not going to complain about it. I'm simply happy that GOG _does_ spread free games among us.

The way they're doing it was probably chosen to make a minimum of work, which is fine by me; as far as I can see, the PR department isn't exactly overstaffed. ;)

In what universe is a lottery better than a handout?

I dunno there were previous GOG contests I felt were unfair to me - especially the ones based RPG screenshot knowledge, a genre I don't play. There are a lot of different competitions going on and will go on today - join one that suits you.

But we all know that, deep down, it's really about not winning for the most part. People don't like the method because it didn't benefit them and allow THEM to win, so of course they get upset over it and complain.

Also this method may be unfair to you but fair to others, and vice versa......as in the contests you like might be unfair to others for some reason. As I said, nothing is 100% fair to everyone, and instead of complaining about what method is best or if the current method is fair/unfair we should be happy Gog does it at all.

well this is a lottery wherein you both have a chance to win something.

and the people who won crazy millions might say a lotery is better :p

I like the Robin Hood method better. Throw money on the ground for the peasants to fight for. Film and sell the rights on pay-per-view. Have more money to throw at peasants. Repeat until everyone is rich.

While I do agree this kind of delivery is not a particularly good one for most people (myself included), it does have a nice competition spin to it, and anything that might attract newcomers (even if they just get their freebies and never come back) to this awesome site is great in my book.

Even if this giveaway had actually aggravated me, I would simply shrug it off.GOG has given me enough as it is, and not just in the game offering/purchase part. They deserve at least that much.