How to make promo code/gift code system?

Solar2D General Questions/Discussion
#1

Here is the situation:

Lets say a player loses maybe 420 gold somehow, and reports it to support.

Usually in these case, the player would get 420 gold back by support changing their balance through an online database (using firebase or something).

However, I am not storing any of my user’s data on some online server.

(because I don’t want to be responsible for any security mishaps)

(plus GPDR or whatever)

I was thinking of having a table storing a bunch of gift/reward codes, and a user enters the code to get their 420 gold.

ex.

local giftcodes={ {code="420blazeit",action=function() bank=bank+420 end}, --etc }

but most users would have different issues, (ex. lost 2000 gold, highscore missing),

so probably I will have to make an online table, where I can add in new codes without updating the entire app.

But i am not sure how to do it.

I have little to no knowledge on online databases and what have you.

Anyone have any ideas on how to d0 it?

#2

if something is not clear please ask

#3

So here is the problem I have with your question: If you don’t want to use a server because of security concerns then where exactly are you going to place these “updated files”.

I use Gamesparks to keep track of virtual currency. So when somebody sends me an e-mail stating blah, blah blah I lost 400 gold, I go into game sparks UI and adjust the amount by clicking on an up arrow or by typing in the new total amount.

Now if I would want to just to update a file when some codes, I would use https://marketplace.coronalabs.com/corona-plugins/patcher and then put the files on some random server and pull them down when there is an update. In my case, I would use Gamesparks to store the updated files.

#4

I don’t want to store any files online that contain user data (username, virtual currency amounts, location, etc.) on any server.

But I want to have a lua table that contains a bunch of gift/promo codes in which I can update online without updating the app on the appstore everytime.

I looked at Gamesparks but seems to be not what I am looking for. I don’t umderstand the patcher plugin.

I could store the table file on a google drive or something and do: network.download() to download the file.

But i have no idea how to do that.

Any idea how to do that?

#5

Sorry, no idea how to connect to google drive from an app.

#6

Well fine not Google Drive but something that works.

#7

I think you are set on this idea of downloading some shared static file from somewhere and reading it. Then deal with the fact that if you get popular you will have 100s and 1000s of connected users downloading this file. Also you don’t want to store any credentials so somehow this file would have to be open and readable to everybody. But these codes will also have to be secure because they allow users to refund coins. So no I don’t have a solution for all these conflicting ideas, but luckily there are smarter people than me on this board that hopefully will be able to help you.

This sound awfully more complicated than sending a random id to Playfab, Gamesparks or GameAnalytics and let them deal with the virtual currency. and then use something like Zendesk or Doorbell to allow users to contact you with the random Id. No credentials, no security risk to you and no data to lose.

#8

Well now that you say it like that, maybe using GameAnalytics would be better.

But I am concerned with this GPDR thing though.

#9

if something is not clear please ask

#10

So here is the problem I have with your question: If you don’t want to use a server because of security concerns then where exactly are you going to place these “updated files”.

I use Gamesparks to keep track of virtual currency. So when somebody sends me an e-mail stating blah, blah blah I lost 400 gold, I go into game sparks UI and adjust the amount by clicking on an up arrow or by typing in the new total amount.

Now if I would want to just to update a file when some codes, I would use https://marketplace.coronalabs.com/corona-plugins/patcher and then put the files on some random server and pull them down when there is an update. In my case, I would use Gamesparks to store the updated files.

#11

I don’t want to store any files online that contain user data (username, virtual currency amounts, location, etc.) on any server.

But I want to have a lua table that contains a bunch of gift/promo codes in which I can update online without updating the app on the appstore everytime.

I looked at Gamesparks but seems to be not what I am looking for. I don’t umderstand the patcher plugin.

I could store the table file on a google drive or something and do: network.download() to download the file.

But i have no idea how to do that.

Any idea how to do that?

#12

Sorry, no idea how to connect to google drive from an app.

#13

Well fine not Google Drive but something that works.

#14

I think you are set on this idea of downloading some shared static file from somewhere and reading it. Then deal with the fact that if you get popular you will have 100s and 1000s of connected users downloading this file. Also you don’t want to store any credentials so somehow this file would have to be open and readable to everybody. But these codes will also have to be secure because they allow users to refund coins. So no I don’t have a solution for all these conflicting ideas, but luckily there are smarter people than me on this board that hopefully will be able to help you.

This sound awfully more complicated than sending a random id to Playfab, Gamesparks or GameAnalytics and let them deal with the virtual currency. and then use something like Zendesk or Doorbell to allow users to contact you with the random Id. No credentials, no security risk to you and no data to lose.

#15

Well now that you say it like that, maybe using GameAnalytics would be better.

But I am concerned with this GPDR thing though.