Those gaming rig contests..

Post by **StuntDouble** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 5:12 pm

Looking through an old EGM, I came across and ad for one of those ultimate gaming rig contests. You know, the one where you can win a computer, entertainment center, or a bunch of game consoles. I was just wondering, did anyone actually win those things, or were they all a scam? Anybody know anyone at all that won?

Post by **dudex77** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:15 pm

That sounds kind of stupid. " since you already have everything any gamer could ever dream of and apparently enough money to afford more you can have more awesome stuff for free!" I think they should give the prize to whatever poor bastard who only has a 2600 on an old CRT.

Post by **cloudrat7** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:24 pm

I'm not gonna lie, i actually won a contest in an early gamepro issue, i think issue 12 or something, The contest was to give an original name to a character from a game called (moto racer)or something like that, for sega genesis.
I submitted the name (quasimoto) and i actually won. I received a new genesis console and 10 games made by namco. Man that was sweet..Yeah, People do actually win in those contests.

Post by **lordofduct** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:30 pm

He's talking about this contest:

And I have no idea if anyone ever won this stupid thing. It sounded like a scam to even my young 10 year old mind at the time.

[EDIT]

Here is a permalink to a blog where this guy covers ads in game magazines from the 70's until now. In it he talks specifically about this ad and the possibilities of winning.

http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2006/11/col ... 15_y_1.php

the contest actually continues to go on today still. And the guy actually took the time to scan as many of the different ads that who could all the way back to 1991, showing off all the different consoles they offered in the contest.

Post by **cloudrat7** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:50 pm

oooh, you mean this contest?
man, that's a scam...

Post by **GunstarHero** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:41 pm

Newcomer here, hiya!

I actually did this contest back in college (93-94), and got to like the 3rd round, then heard nothing for a few months. I wrote them for the hell of it, not expecting a response, and they had refunded my money back for all the phases. It wasn't very expensive, $5 per phase, and if you add $1 you get something extra (example, Turbographx CD drive addon for the TG-16) added to the grand prize. I don't remember allt he particulars.

Kinda weird for a scam to refund your money LOL, but w/e. Even funnier that the contests still run to this day. I wonder if anyone really has won it.

Post by **lordofduct** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:15 pm

I guess no one read the article I linked too... he talks about all that in it.

It's basically a legal scam. They do the contest, and if you make it to the final round you 'can' win the contest. The thing is in the rules it says you have to get your response in before the due date, and they can't guarantee you'll get the next round of puzzles in time for the due date. If you mail them after that, they will refund your money to you... but you need to contact them... which most people probably wouldn't do.

Post by **GunstarHero** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:19 am

Yeah I read it after I posted DOH! >.<

Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:38 am

My brother did those contests once, he never won, I personaly hate those because they pretty much mock you, its like "hey you can win a Neo Geo! but you got to solve those stupid puzzles and give us $12 bucks"

Post by **ubelaffe** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:20 am

There was an episode of "doug" where he did one of these. I don't think it was for video games, but it was the same sort of do a puzzle and attach cash scheme.