Getting a new Gamertag? Get Catan for free

by Terrence Stasse on Feb 27th 2008 8:45PM

Microsoft has a new promotion for those gamers who are just getting into the the Xbox Live scene. Those gamers who have just created a Gamertag can register via a .NET site to receive a download code for the XBLA version of the classic tabletop game Settlers of Catan. The article is formally for recommending friends, but any user who has created a Gamertag since the twenty-fifth of this month can sign up. The offer ends exactly one month from inception, and so you new Live users have until the twenty-fifth of March to get in on the action. A word to the wise though, the site decrees that (even though the whole thing involves not a single sheet of paper) it will take between six and eight weeks for your "gift" to arrive. Jeez Microsoft, speed it up bit would ya?

[Thanks, Chris Freiburg]

Source

Tags: arcade, catan, xbl, xblm

Reader Comments (25)

nice. I've been playing the game since the summer and I still do.

Ive had my gamertag for years now and i went through the whole process.. i dunno if their gonna check me before they send it but i figured it wouldve said something before saying its going to send it.

not that i posted this 3 hours ago and emailed you guys :(, xbox.com/sm3 also works for me

Sorry man, we actually had the story before you emailed us. That kind actually happens more often than you'd think, so if you email us with a tip and you see the story appear without the [Thanks, XXXX] then we already had the story (our stories are found and written long before you guys get to see them)

Got H3 for free, got the arcade free, why not try this.

Yeah, I got the e-mail for this today, but my gamertag isn't new at all. I'll be happy to add this to my collection of free arcade games that I never play.

It is probably a good idea just to get a gamerid just for this game, because when you don't finish a game for whatever reason... All the other players will neg rate you right down to zero stars, and you will have to make a new gamerid all over again... Which would really suck if you had substantial chivos

Um, this just in, but people who quit games in the middle of them (especially when they drop when it's apparent they're not going to win) are annoying, particularly in Catan. Having an AI take over ruins the game because there's no time limit on their turns and they often do stupid things (like trading with someone with 8 victory points and a bunch of cards in their hand).

That said, I usually give people the benefit of the doubt if they bail just once because Catan is notorious for booting people. But if someone quits on the last round of the game, right before someone is going to win, just because they don't want a loss on their record, they get negative feedback. Who likes playing with a bunch of quitters?

In other news, they recently patched this game. Supposedly, the online performance is much better now. I sent it in as a tip, but I can't remember if it made it on the site or not.

Here's a thought:- Don't quit in the middle of games just because you're not winning.

its all good, love this site :)

Takes them 6 - 8 weeks because they send the code out by boat, and no one's willing to trade them the wool they need.

Nice

Is it confirmed that its only for people who make a new account? The way i read it was that it (at least COULD be) for people who grab a 12 month card. I was just gonna grab one any day now cause my gold expires in a week or so.

Quite honestly in my top 5 games of 2007 (along with such heavy hitters as Portal and Mario: Galaxy). I have played over 250 games and I still go back a couple of times a month. The game also has some superb AI, the kind you lose against most of the time, but that feels so great to finally defeat.

C'mon microsoft. First you give away Carcasonne for free at the 5 year anniversary. Now you're giving away Catan for no good reason? How bout a little loyalty to those who buy your low selling games?!?!?

I got the email earlier today, and it says it's giving me the game free and to tell friends about it so they can get it free with an xbox live subscription. Mine is old, but they gave it to me. Although I'd rather they just gave me codes to play all the arcade games I bought on my first 360, that I can't play now, cause I'm not connected to Live when I'm at home. Bullshit really.

This game is one of those games with a short learning curve but a long mastery curve.

I expended my obsession with this game and have not played it in a few months, but, at one point, it was the game I looked forward to playing upon waking and upon the workday's conclusion.

I am off now to fetch some soymilk and almond butter...or similars. :O)

Peter J. Lupo Esq.
antiaging4geeks.com