The following guide is for those having issues with getting a global Steam key giveaway, where there are usually several thousand to 20 000 keys being given away. I've used the Forge of Gods giveaway as the example because Panoramix have given us 9 different dlc packs for that particular game, though we've seen at least two or three repeats as well since April 2016. In total Panoramix have given away an amazing 200 000 keys (worth over £1.4 million/$2 million) over the 16 month period since we got the first dlc pack; plus they have also given away keys for another of their free to Play game dlc packs. The guide is not restricted to Forge of gods, basically any global giveaway will follow the same format. Limited giveaways differ from the steps below. I will post a step by step guide when I have time. I hope this is of some use to those who have had issues getting keys.
Please remember there is NO download for this game today, if you follow the steps below you should receive a key for the Forge of Gods: Forge of Thrones pack.
1. Select the game being given away, in this example it was the 'Forge of Gods: Forge of Thrones Pack', then click on the Green button that says ''Proceed to download page'' - (see image 1)
Image 1
2. Then click on the Green 'Download Now name of the game' button to the left of the countdown timer - (see image 2)
Image 2
3. This opens up a new page near the top that says ''To get the game key, please authorize through Steam''. Click on the orange coloured word 'Steam' - (see image 3)
Image 3
4. Your browser will then redirect to a browser version of your Steam client 'sign in' page, where you'll need to fill in your Steam user name and password, then click on the green 'Sign in' button. - (see image 4)
Image 4
5. You MAY need to authorize the Steam - Gamegiveawayoftheday link by inputting a special Steam guard access code that is sent to the email linked to your Steam account. The Steam guard access code is sent as soon as you've clicked on the green 'sign in' button mentioned in step 4, This step is not always necessary; and is usually dependent on how long ago you last signed into your Steam account via an internet browser such as Chrome/Firefox or I.E. If you're using a different browser to sign in to one you recently used, you'll still need to authorize. This linking authorization is not associated with the last time you signed into your Steam account via your installed Steam client. If you've never signed into your Steam account via an internet browser such as Firefox, Chrome or I.E. then this step will be mandatory; also, if this is the first time you are activating a game on Steam you will need to get a Steam guard access code. If you are a new Steam user, please read the instructions I've posted in the Installation section of my review, thank you. - (see image 5)
Image 5
6. The 15 digit code {in the format XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX) is sent to the email linked to your Steam account. - (see image 13 below)
7. If you do have to authorize your account via email; copy the 'Steam guard code' (as seen in image 5) that was sent to your email immediately after clicking on the green Sign in button (from image 4) and input it into the empty 'enter your code here' field then click on the large blue 'Submit (my special access code)' button. - (see image 7a & 7b)
Image 7a
mage 7b
8. This opens up a new window in your browser Steam account saying Success! Click on the large dark blue 'Proceed to Steam!' button. - (see image 8)
Image 8
9. Your browser is then redirected back to the Gamegiveawayoftheday page where it will say ''Thank you for your authorization'' - Fill out the form below that message to get your Steam key for the game and instructions on how to download and activate it via the email you input in the second field. The information will be sent by email. Under that message there are two fields, one that says 'enter your name' and below that 'Enter email address'. The 15 digit Steam code for the ‘Forge of Thrones pack’ should be sent to the email you enter in this field; however, if you've used a different email previously with the same name and IP address, the code may be sent to that email rather than the one you've just input. This is because the game giveaway servers keep a record of your emails (this is partly to do with stopping community members from farming keys to then sell on for profit - not only is that very selfish, it stops genuine community members from getting a key). - (see images 9)
Image 9
10. Check the 'I'm not a robot check-box' (see image 9 above); then complete the reCAPTCHA - (see image 11)
Image 11
11. You'll then get a message (initially in green type) saying ''Successfully submitted'' (then the rest is in black type) saying ''The Steam key was sent to the given email address. Check your in box and spam folders''. - (see image 12)
Image 12
12. ''Giveaway of the Day license key for the name of the game in this example it was 'Forge of Gods: Forge of Thrones Pack' - Dear {The name you used when filling in the 'Enter your name field (see image number 9), and then continues with...... here is your personal Steam activation key for Name of the game being given away in this example it was 'Forge of Gods: Forge of Thrones Pack':
XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
Installation instructions:
Please note that you require a Steam account to activate the software. If you don't ..... etc etc. - (see image 13)
Image 13
13. Copy the 15 digit code from your email that's in the format XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX by the copy/paste method
14. Left click on the Steam button along the top of your Steam client (this can also be done via your internet browser, but you will need to be signed into your Steam account; however, to play your Steam games you must have the steam client installed, you cannot play your Steam games via an internet browser. If you don't have a Steam account yet, see my review for instructions on how to create a Steam account and download the Steam client). - (see image 14)
15. From the 'Game' drop down menu select 'Activate a Product on Steam'. - (see image 14)
Image 14
16. This opens up a Product Activation window. Click on the 'NEXT' button. - (see image 15)
Image 15
17. Agree to the Steam subscriber Agreement by clicking the 'I AGREE' . button. - (see image 16)
Image 16
18. A new ‘Product Activation’ window opens with an empty field. Until you've input the 15 digit activation code the 'NEXT' button is deactivated (indicated by being greyed out). - (see image 17)
Image 17
19. Paste the 15 digit activation code you received via email into the 'Product code field' then click on 'NEXT'. - (see image 18)
Image 18
20. After several seconds you'll get a new Product Activation window opening that says ''Activation Successful! ' Your product activation code has successfully been activated. This product or products listed below are now permanently associated with your Steam account. You must login to this account to have access to the items you've just activated on Steam. Print a receipt of this transaction in order to remember your account for future use'' - (personally I never bother with printing a receipt, but do keep email records of all Steam transactions) - Then in the darker field (above the PRINT RECEIPT button) it says ''Forge of Gods: Forge of Thrones Pack''. - (see image 19)
Image 19
21. Click on the 'FINISH' button (seen in image 19), then click on the Steam library button/tab (located between the Store and Community tabs) and find Forge of Gods, (if like me you have a lot of Steam games you can easily find the game using the search facility, though I categorise all of my games and easily find Forge of Gods by opening up the Free to Play category I created. (To create categories right click on the game and from the drop down menu select 'Set Categories'. This opens up a small window where you can add different categories to place your game. for example I have hundreds of categories, such as open world, free to play, first Person, Third person, physics based games etc. The game will be listed in all categories you create for that game. With thousands of games it makes it easier to find games. Once you've found 'Forge of God's, click on it to open up the information panel related to the game that's located to the right of the library listings. Scroll down till you can see the DLC section to confirm that the DLC has been added to your account - (see image 20)
Image 20
22. That's it. Assuming you've followed all of the above steps you should now have the Forge of Thrones Pack tied to your account. Please remember to first install the Forge of Gods 'free to play' base game first. The activation code will not be accepted until you have clicked on the Play now button. You'll find the main game HERE but you'll need to add it via your Steam client, so just find the game via the Store by using the search field and input Forge of Gods as the search phrase. Once navigated to the page, click on the green 'Play Game' button and it will automatically be added to your account, then you can activate the Forge of Thrones pack.
23. If you have any problems after following the above steps, or you are unable to follow the steps at any point, or If you have any other issues please first read through the comments here to see if anyone else has had the same issue and whether the issue has been solved. If there are no comments then check out the FAQ's thread over in the Game Discussion forums HERE, finally, if the issue still hasn't been resolved contact the giveaway team via the contact form HERE