Note: Latest update last
First update after couple of minutes after accidental revoke:
Hi there!
The developer here. I am trying to rebrand the game, have a lot of updates ready etc. But a lot of games are being sold illegally. So i just tried the "ban keys options" but it was a mistake that also some activated keys got banned (Just happened). I want to make it up to you guys. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to fix it?
Honest mistake,
Eric
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Update 10 minutes later:
- I have setup the mail: [email protected] where you are able to request a key.
- I have asked Valve for new keys
-- I have asked Valve to undo the ban
- I will contact SG admin if they are able to sent new keys to the winners list,
-- Already in contact with SG
I have developed this game together with one friend and invested nearly all our savings in this game. There is sadly no way that we have the capacity to get near the attention or players that is required for a multiplayer game, unlike the major publishers. With the new updates coming I hope to establish a player base so we are able to play together, which is the intend of the game.
That is also why I did give away 10.000 keys. In order to get a playerbase or people who would love to help an indie to reach some audience and just develop a fun game. It was very sad to see that a major amount was sold illegally. This sucked since our total revenue of our game in all time was never even larger than 100 dollars (Excluding taxes and cuts).
However, it a a quite good game besides there is no player base. That is why I am trying to re-brand the game. The first course of action was to ban the unused games which are being sold illegally. This actually had led to this forum in a couple of seconds. I am deeply sorry that I made a honest mistake and want to fix it immediately. I love the irony that nobody plays the game, however the moment I made a mistake I reach an audience bigger than I have ever got. Thank you all for responding this fast! This gives me the strength to develop further and make even more games, even though I make mistakes.
Love,
Eric
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Update 19:45 GMT 30 September 2018:
Done everything I can for now:
- Contacted Valve and SG about the mistake of the ban of the keys
- I am waiting for a response for a fix. I asked steam to un-ban, made sure that SG knows that it was not your fault and you get un-banned
- In the meantime I work on redundant solves (if needed) such as asking Steam for keys to re-give and asking SG to re-give them
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Update 04:13 GMT 1 October 2018:
- Valve denied my request of new keys without explanation. Requested again with better explanation...
- Evolvation is whitelisted on SG, this should solve the ban i guess?
Update 19:05 GMT 1 October 2018:
- Still waiting on response of Steam. Request are being denied without explanation. I even requested to make the game completely free for a week so the problem can be solved. I am just an indie which is trying hard. In the mean time my company is getting ruined by getting negative reviews, hateful comments, and bad publicity by pressing (non intentionally) on a single button. I have created a lot new content and made a new marketing strategy for the game to start a new campaign in which I really believe it would work and which I communicated with Steam. It's a pity that the game and my company (and myself) is now being destroyed before I can even try. I doing everything I can.
Update 15:55 GMT 2 October 2018:
- In bellevue washington it is nearly 9 o clock (steam HQ). I hope they answer soon on all my requests.
Update: 21:54 GMT 2 October 2018:
- Steam just denied my keys again for redistribution
- I've asked them again to if they are not going to give the keys, that they can make the game for free for the upcoming period so everyone can add it to their library if they want.
Update 19:38 GMT 3 October 2018:
- Waiting on update from Steam.
Update: 8:00 GMT 4 October:
- Update from steam, not possible to undo the ban (as expected) but they are going to help explore other solutions.
Update: 11:17 GMT 5 October:
- Waiting on response of Steam, I expect an answer and solution soon (hope today).
- I am currently setting op my booth at the GameCon Firstlook, hope to have a great weekend and promote the new Evolvation
Update: 20:29 GMT 6 October:
Hi there,
I want to resupply everyone with new keys. But unfortunately, it seems that this is not going to happen since Valve denies the key request. When I did giveaway these 10.000 copies, Steam had a different policy for issuing keys. It now seems that they want to restrict supplying keys. https://www.polygon.com/2017/8/18/16167462/valve-steam-keys-limiting-developers
This is very annoying for me and for you. But within these limits I am trying to find a solution. And the fairest thing I can come up with is making the game temporarily free so people are able to add it to their library. so I've suggested this to Steam.
I am currently (again) waiting on a response of Steam. They are very slow in responding, and if responding, it is mostly not specific. I have now specifically requested to make the game temporarily free the next weekend so you are able to add the game to your library.
Hope this helps you. I am doing everything I can within (and out of) the limits and boundaries given to me.
With the kindest regards,
Eric
Update GMT: 17:56 8 October:
I've had contact with Steam and we decided to make the game temporarily free of now. So you are able to add it to your library. Hopes this helps you guys out and solves the issue. I am losing big time here, but I did this so the issue is being solved. I am sorry for the inconvenience. Feel free to add the game to your library!
