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| Author | Message |
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John
  
 
| #1 posted November 4, 2009 at 4:04pm (EST)
edited November 13, 2009 at 9:37pm (EST) |
Let It Begin!
Signups are CLOSED!
Secret Santas have been assigned!!
Well folks, it is time for the GameTZ Secret Santa! CygnusTM used to organize this event years ago, but starting last year I volunteered to run it and people seemed to be cool with that, so that's the way it is. Thanks to Cygnus, I have been able to take his old code and modify it a bit for us to continue to use on my own server -- so we can keep signups very similar to what people are used to. (For those of you doing this for the first time, just follow the instructions below).
Once again, we will be using a subtime "bond" (10-20 weeks of subtime) to encourage people to follow through on sending. If someone gets stiffed on a gift, at least they will get something. Any subscriber without a BTR is eligible to sign up. If you don't have at least a Silver Star ( ), you will have to put up double the bond.
This year, we are allowing people anywhere in the world to participate! If you are in from outside the USA, you mark the "Outside USA" checkbox when you sign up. Anyone from outside the USA must be willing to ship anywhere in the world. Users in the USA that are willing to ship anywhere in the world should mark the "Ship Anywhere" checkbox in your account settings and you may be partnered with someone outside the USA.
Everyone must put up 10 weeks subtime as a bond (20 weeks if less than a Silver Star ()). If you don't have that much, then you can buy subtime from the site or make your own arrangements with another user. Bonds will ONLY be returned directly to you. If someone else puts up your bond for your account, it does not matter to me and I won't get involved -- the bond will still be returned to you (or kept if you do not provide your gift). Participants will get their bond back in full when your partner marks their gift as received. Bonds should be sent to me (John) and I will hold them until your partner receives their gift. You can use this link to transfer Subtime to me.
Signups are open now and will continue until Friday, November 13th at 1pm Eastern. Partners will then be assigned and mailed out. Items must be received by Friday, December 18. At that time, anyone who hasn't received will receive one-fifth of his/her Santa's subtime bond. If a gift still isn't received after one week (December 25), then another one-fifth will be awarded. If yet another week passes (January 1), then the remaining subtime bond will be sent. Sending and receiving will be tracked through the signup site. It is very important that you update the site as soon as you send and receive so the subtime bond can be handled appropriately.
The target gift value is $10-20 US. Gifts MUST be worth at least $10 US not including shipping. Every effort should be made to send a complete item. If you are sending something used, it should be complete and in at least "very good" condition. This is not a way to unload your unwanted crap.
Tips:
 Look at your partner's wants and check his/her lists and posts. Put the same effort into selecting a gift for your partner that you would want someone else to put into yours.
If your partner has inadequate "wants", don't just give up and stiff him/her. Just get a gift card to Walmart or something like that.
Make sure you provide adequate "wants" for your Santa. There should be at least 4-5 things on your list that fit in the target range.
When you get assigned a partner, go out right away, get something and send it. Immediately.
If, before signing up, you already have something picked out to send to your partner, don't bother signing up. You just don't get it.
You can't re-use your account from last year -- you need to create a new one.
WARNING
People suck. Despite our best efforts, people might still get stiffed. If you don't intend to follow through on your commitment here, please do not sign up.
Please keep discussions in this thread about the SS only, so things get don't out of hand like in the past. Off-topic posts may be removed!
Signup at http://gtzss.thegypsy.com and send your subtime bond to me. Just posting here will not get you in. If you just post here and say "I'm in!", that really doesn't mean a thing! You must go to the Secret Santa site and sign up! Please use your GameTZ username when you signup. (You can use whatever password you want, of course, it doesn't have to be the same as here.) This makes it easier for your Santa to find your list.
When you get your gift, post here and log in to http://gtzss.thegypsy.com and indicate that you have received.
This graphic will track who has signed up:
- John...
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John
| | #2 posted November 4, 2009 at 4:16pm (EST) |
I picked the dates to end the signup and for gifts to be received by fairly arbitrarily based on last year (we started earlier this year, so I just adjusted a bit from there). But, if anyone thinks that we should change those dates, let me know now so that we can do it right away. Once we go a few days, I won't be changing them to be fair to those signing up.
- John...
John says "Hi." Tell your friends. |
oldskoolandy
  
| | #3 posted November 4, 2009 at 4:20pm (EST) |
Signed up , sent bond 
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John
| | #4 posted November 4, 2009 at 4:24pm (EST) |
oldskoolandy wrote:
> Signed up , sent bond
Got it.
- John...
John says "Hi." Tell your friends. |
HoHoHo290
| | #5 posted November 4, 2009 at 4:31pm (EST) |
Signed up and sent bond. |
wrege
| | #6 posted November 4, 2009 at 4:32pm (EST) |
I'm also signed up, and bond has been sent |
shadoz19
| | #7 posted November 4, 2009 at 4:35pm (EST) |
Signed up and sent bond
 |
Outinthedark
| | #8 posted November 4, 2009 at 4:44pm (EST) |
I keep getting an error saying my password is wrong...
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John
| | #9 posted November 4, 2009 at 4:45pm (EST) |
Sorry, you can't use your accounts from last year -- you have to create a new one. I'll mention that in the first post.
- John...
John says "Hi." Tell your friends. |
Outinthedark
| | #10 posted November 4, 2009 at 4:48pm (EST) |
John wrote:
> Sorry, you can't use your accounts from last year -- you have to create
> a new one. I'll mention that in the first post.
>
Was that directed at me? I wasn't here last year :D
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emoryarts
 
| | #11 posted November 4, 2009 at 4:49pm (EST) |
Just created a new account, John, and it says password is incorrect as well. |
emoryarts
| | #12 posted November 4, 2009 at 4:50pm (EST) |
Regardless, I signed up and just sent the bond. |
John
| | #13 posted November 4, 2009 at 4:52pm (EST) |
So -- I'm confused. You're trying to create a new account and during the creation process it tells you that your password is invalid?
Or do you mean that you create a new account and then get told it is invalid when you try to log in?
I don't show accounts for either of you in the database -- so it doesn't look like they were created.
Can you clear your cache and try again? Thanks.
- John...
John says "Hi." Tell your friends. |
John
| | #14 posted November 4, 2009 at 4:53pm (EST) |
To be clear, make sure you go to the "sign up" page, of course.
- John...
John says "Hi." Tell your friends. |
millenium_dare
| | #15 posted November 4, 2009 at 4:56pm (EST) |
I'm in, sending bond now
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Outinthedark
| | #16 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:02pm (EST) |
John wrote:
> To be clear, make sure you go to the "sign up" page, of course.
>
Just tried again still telling me my password is wrong after I signed up again.
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Domathoin
| | #17 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:07pm (EST) |
Signed up, will send bond later. |
emoryarts
| | #18 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:08pm (EST) |
John wrote:
> Or do you mean that you create a new account and then get told it
> is invalid when you try to log in?
That one
> I don't show accounts for either of you in the database -- so it doesn't
> look like they were created.
You sure?
 [full] |
Visc
| | #19 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:08pm (EST) |
signed up, sent you subtime. |
John
| | #20 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:11pm (EST) |
emoryarts wrote:
> You sure?
>
> [full]
Weird. You still don't exist.
There are a few odd cookie issues with the way Cygnus did it. I fixed some last year, but some issues probably remain.
Can you try it with another browser just to see? I don't have time to fix anything right now, but will take a look as soon as I can.
- John...
Secret Santa 2009 has begun! |
guncrazy90
| | #21 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:13pm (EST) |
Going to sign up now, thanks for hosting this again John 
 |
jaric
| #22 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:13pm (EST)
edited November 4, 2009 at 5:13pm (EST) |
Domathoin wrote:
> Signed up, will send bond later.
And thanks, John
 |
Outinthedark
| | #23 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:15pm (EST) |
John wrote:
> emoryarts wrote:
>> You sure?
>>
>> [full]
>
> Weird. You still don't exist.
>
> There are a few odd cookie issues with the way Cygnus did it. I fixed
> some last year, but some issues probably remain.
>
> Can you try it with another browser just to see? I don't have time
> to fix anything right now, but will take a look as soon as I can.
>
Just tried with IE same deal.
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guncrazy90
| | #24 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:21pm (EST) |
Subtime sent!
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John
| | #25 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:25pm (EST) |
I added some code to report an error on account creation -- can you two try again and let me know if it still says that your account was added or gives an error message? Thanks!
- John...
Secret Santa 2009 has begun! |
emoryarts
| | #26 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:31pm (EST) |
"Account creation error: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near...." |
Outinthedark
| | #27 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:39pm (EST) |
emoryarts wrote:
> "Account creation error: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check
> the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right
> syntax to use near...."
Same then it lists some text I wrote in the "Christmas Wants" box... ends in "line 16"
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emoryarts
| | #28 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:40pm (EST) |
Yeah, I just added the "..." cause it just merely re-quoted me. |
John
| | #29 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:44pm (EST) |
Ok -- we're making progress then. Thanks. Clearly, something isn't be escaped properly and the DB doesn't like it. Can you two send me a PM with what you may have listed in your Wants or any other place that maybe has special characters of any kind?
- John...
Secret Santa 2009 has begun! |
Outinthedark
| | #30 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:50pm (EST) |
PM'ed you the list. I took out all special characters and it still gave me the same error.
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visco2009
| | #31 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:56pm (EST) |
I may sound like a noob for this but.....whats a bond? |
John
| | #32 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:57pm (EST) |
Outinthedark (and maybe emoryarts):
I think it is the single quotes (') that are in your text. I'll try to fix it later to handle those, but you can just not use them for now if you want to create your account. Let me know if that works. Thanks!
- John...
Secret Santa 2009 has begun! |
John
| | #33 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:58pm (EST) |
visco2009 wrote:
> I may sound like a noob for this but.....whats a bond?
It is an amount of GameTZ Subtime that you "pay" so that if you don't come through with your gift sending, it will be kept to at least give something to the person that you were supposed to provide a gift for. As long as your partner gets his/her gift, you get your bond returned to you.
- John...
Secret Santa 2009 has begun! |
visco2009
| | #34 posted November 4, 2009 at 5:59pm (EST) |
How much does subtime cost? |
Outinthedark
| | #35 posted November 4, 2009 at 6:01pm (EST) |
John wrote:
> Outinthedark (and maybe emoryarts):
>
> I think it is the single quotes (') that are in your text. I'll try
> to fix it later to handle those, but you can just not use them for
> now if you want to create your account. Let me know if that works.
> Thanks!
>
Removed the ' from "it's" and still no dice. Same error. Removed everything and hit enter on accident and it went though and let me log-in. Trying to edit the account now but still getting the same error.
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wrege
| | #36 posted November 4, 2009 at 6:02pm (EST) |
visco2009 wrote:
> How much does subtime cost?
http://gametz.com/Subscribe.html |
John
| | #37 posted November 4, 2009 at 6:04pm (EST) |
Outinthedark: Ok -- try again now -- I just edited it to allow funny characters all you want.
- John...
Secret Santa 2009 has begun! |
John
| | #38 posted November 4, 2009 at 6:06pm (EST) |
PengWIN: I've removed your stupid/fake/wrong account. Please don't do it again.
- John...
Secret Santa 2009 has begun! |
Grimlock
| | #39 posted November 4, 2009 at 6:21pm (EST) |
There was nothing fake about it. I was going to use it. |
Assasin417
| | #40 posted November 4, 2009 at 6:27pm (EST) |
Signed up, Bond sent. 
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