mondo84: Adding an extra step or two usually helps to make sure a poster gets the code, but I guess the forum wasn't busy so a silent ninja or lurker may have gotten it.
Not sure how. Nothing says lurkers can't figure things out just as well as a poster.
For myself, I would simply say, "first responder gets code by PM." This has several benefits:
*) Guarantees a poster gets it instead of lurkers. Who's to say how many non-GOG-members know of this thread?
*) Guarantees everybody knows the game was taken, instead of people wasting their time on a used code.
*) Guarantees everybody knows who got the game. This can be useful if a certain poster keeps getting all the games.
*) Increases the chance the ninja will be appreciative (please and thank you). Honestly, you snag a game that somebody gave out for free, and you can't even be bothered to say thank you?? That's the way it is now. That's rude in my book. By forcing them into the open, you kinda force them to be thankful.