You know what? I'm happy...

Thank you so much, both for prize and appreciation... this event is really a noble gesture and you have all my respect for that.

Thanx again and I wish you all the best - as the word goes: what goes around comes around. ;)

PS.Skystrider you deserve the title - "Member of Honor " here on GoG - you really earned it. ;)

Thanks for the White Wolf award Skystrider! Looking forward to playing the Witcher 2 and reading some of the other entries.

Honourable Mentions, Volume #1:

It goes without saying that not everyone can win. Not because their entries were not good, on the contrary, but because we simply can't afford it, as much as we would like to. Here anyway are the entries that just barely missed that final cut. If you like what you see, remember that you can always show your appreciation with a small gift, something for their trouble. Some of these may already find a little something from me in their inboxes; a personal gift as a thank you for participating. :)
------------------------
pcgfng
This is a poem about why I should win,
starts with a game about the witcher, Geralt, that's him.
It all started when I read about those cards,
knowing nothing about the game or story I ventured in.

Awoken in Kaer Morhen having forgotten my past,
comforted by fellow witchers & a sorceress Triss, a sexy lass.
Things then become a blur and move so fast,
as I stop the enemies from stealing secrets of the past.
I had to choose, at that time, what I believed was right,
with tragedy & sorrow in front of my sight.

Moving on, travelling alone, I wander around the world,
seeking justice, revenge & for the truth to be told.
Familiar faces, Shanni, Zoltan & Dandelion aid me on my quest,
defending the innocent & fighting monsters tis what I do best.

As I progress I realise that I'm always caught in the middle,
of hate and love, never so simple. A lover & an adopted child
at my side, I began to have feelings that's hard to hide.

So rich & deep, my story inevitably turns to the last chapter & page,
wondering about the choices that had to be made. Was this meant to be,
my own fate, something so rare that I can relate.

Not great with words as Dandelion, the bard,
I can assure you that writing this is hard.
I'd rather fight with magic & swords & live more of the Witcher story,
to win this test would be such a glory.
-----------
icepowdah
I am not an artist in pictures and sound, nor poetry .. but I will try to convince you of the fact that a copy of the Witcher 2 is predestined to get installed and played over and over and over again on my PC :) with simple words.

I believe that in a murky and distant time in the past I had an ancestor that was both historian and adventurer and did his fare share of traveling along the might Geralt of Rivia, writing about his feats of strength and great and wondrous adventures. He was there when the White Wolf fought the striga and released Foltest's daughter from that wretched curse, he was there when he courageously stormed the Salamandra base and helped saw to it that the Professor has met his demise, or during the hunt for the Grand Master's head (ow what a thrill that was). He has documented all this episodes of valor in his life's work and all the world was then able to read and hear about the great Geralt of Rivia, minstrels sang about his legendary battles, youngsters only dreamed of exploring the world like the White Wolf .. and his legend still lived until today. The White Wolf asked my ancestor to join him in his future endeavors as he was planning to travel the land and restore the once proud order of the Witchers. He gladly accepted and more adventure and glory was set before them. Alas.. during one of this travels, my ancestor got stranded from the witcher and his companions in the dark corners of the Brokilon forest .. and has soon found himself alone pray to savage bandits and thieves which took him for his every penny and more important .. stole the second part of my manuscript ..detailing the new adventures of Geralt. He was left to die there in the dark forest ... and while he was drawing his last breath ... he cursed those wretched thieves to generations of suffering and demise and prayed that a noble warrior will be able to locate their hideout and salvage the precious manuscript... such that once again all world can rejoice and hear about the mighty Geralt and his conquests.

And here you are noble descendant of that noble warrior .. here you are in possession of a copy of that manuscript and with the power of returning it to its rightful line of owners. Oh joy what a glorious day in which justice can once again come triumphant! I beg you noble warrior ... listen to my story and judge rightfully if I am worthy of my heritage.
------------------------
Phenom_x8
As we all have known, in a 3rd world country like mine (Indonesia in this case) piracy problem are quite rampant since the old days whether its in console or PC game bussiness. The problem is, neither they (Indonesian gamer) like doing something illegal nor there is no legal copy being sold. It is a a matter of lack of knowledge that piracy is an illegal things and lack of affordable legal game software sold here!

When I decided to put an end in this bad habit (yeah, I admitted that I'm a pirate in the past), I met with GOG.com. Cheap and legal, why not then? Although my internet connection are not fast enough to download games in terms of Hundred of MB or GB size, at least I can do something to support this industry while someday make this industry flourish in my homecountry and not just those pesky free to play korean MMORPG's(I just dont like them).

Hey, I dont even know how to download The Witcher 2 when it launched because of my poor internet connection will need a week or two to download it, but I still preorder it through GOG a week ago no matter what will happen just to show (myself especially) that we can if we want it!

So, actually it doesnt matter if I won this contest or not ( I still preordered it though), I still wont be able to download and play it on day one when this game launched (except if you send the prize in its physical form right into my home address in Indonesia)! The most important thing is, The Witcher 2 will be my 1ST BRAND NEW GAME I BUY LEGALLY. I will use it as a one of my most important milestone ever happened in my life!

Thanks GOG.com for giving me a chance to be a real PC gamer!
--------------------
Kuuskutonen
I'd like to start with this: I played DA:O and loved it very much, bought all DLC etc, seriously very good RPG! I hyped alot for DA2 and pre-ordered and such.. Then it came two months ago and the experience was underwhelming.. Seriously I was very disappointed, now I see the curse of games developed for consoles + pc..

Well I was disappointed because I was prepared for super-awesome RPG so I started searching.. And I came up with The Witcher 2. I know I might not win because I haven't been waiting for The Witcher 2 for the whole development time etc, but I can say that TW2 seems like the best game of the year!

I watched a few gameplay videos and I thought "This is the stuff we get when games are developed for PC".. I appreciate CD-Projekt RED very much and when TW2 would come available and I'd get the $16 for GoG I'd definitely pick up Witcher 1!

I really like RPG's very much and haven't played any super-awesome RPG for quite a while and I am definitely looking for TW2.

If I don't win it, I'll buy it from GoG for sure, because I want to support the company, and if I have understood right, they're gonna get the most profit from boughts on GoG.com..

I really hope I'd win TW2, because I'm just a high school student and 45€ isn't a small money for me..

Looking forward to many many hours with the best RPG ever!!
------------------------
Christian11
Why should I deserve to win The Witcher 2?
Because I love RPG games, especially the first Witcher. I remember when I was looking for a video about Gothic 4(6-7 months ago, I am happy I didnt bought it though) when I saw the trailer for the second Witcher. I knew nothing about it, but it was badass. I looked for some info of it. I thought Why not try the first one? I watched some videos of it, and it looked quiet good. I bought it and went trough it twice. I am now in my third playtrough.
The thing is I want to play the second one, but I am out of money now, (because I just bought a new PC) and I dont want to pirate it. Hopefully I will win it here:)
----------------
eCos
42
-------------------
Smannesman
I deserve to win because it's the only way to insure CD Projekt gets the money they deserve.
Because I would otherwise only get the game after it was priced down to around 10 dollars. Partly because I don't have a lot of money and partly because I'm a cheap b'stard.
So if you feel CD Projekt deserves the full price for The Witcher 2, you should give me a copy.
That is my reasoning and it's flawless I tell you, flawless!
-----------------
Ubivis
Why I shall get the Witcher from you:
While I was playing the first part of the witcher, I thought that I am aware of everything that happened there. After my visit with a psychic, I found out, that I was Geralt in a previous life. As I am not anymore like Geralt today, I absolutely need to understand how I am supposed to act. Part 1 gave me the first impressions, but I am 100% sure, that #2 would give me the option to understand my previous life much better.
------------------------
liquidsnakehpks
i deserve to win the witcher 2 cause i found out recently that the bird is the word....
-----------------------
TheEvilAlex
Why should I get The Witcher 2??
Because Geralt told me so, he's in the mirror.
----------------------
mllange

Mistr nys geye,

I wuud lyk 2 ntr ur kontest, butt I m not a bad bum. Try az I du, my bum can onlee du guud, az u c frum my piktur.

-me
---------------------

*End of volume 1*
Volume 2 due Saturday.

By the way, point of interest:
All the winners, both Gold and White Wolf, elected to get the GOG Edition of The Witcher 2 rather than Steam! I'd call that a triumph! :)

*THUMP* I a.. *THUMP* I am spee.. *THUMP* [ stops passing out due to an immense slice of joy that was assimilated in a matter of seconds ]

I am speechless ... I am bedazzled sirs ... I am just blown away by the generosity and awesomeness of Skystrider, this whole contest and all the entries that we got to see on this post...

Thank you again Skystrider for all of this and you guys for making this the best game pre-launch thing I have ever experienced !

In the honor of this week and Skystrider's effort, I would like to extend his generosity and gift out 3 copies of the original Witcher game. I will create a thread on this in the following minutes and I am thinking of basically running a classic pick 3 random "I`m in" posts in 24 h after the initial post (mainly due to lack of time at this moment to prepare some fancy questions). I am open to PM suggestions on this Skystrider .. maybe guys that should make a small list of honorable under-mentions and would deserve this for their effort.

EDIT: Contest thread here

Congrats winning dudes!

Man, sucks that I lost. I am gonna drown myself in sorrow by not cancelling my order in the end.

Oh well, life goes on.

Congrats again!

Congratulations everybody. Even though I didn't win, I can say that I got beat by the best. Thank you for the great contest Skystrider.

I dedicate my gold to my future quantum physicist who'll almost certainly join us all on this world sometime between 18th and 25th of june. Yeah, i know, I made an error in the story, wife wanted to kill me :D
Dodged all her sharp objects thrown my way, lol

Thanks for a great (and very generous!) contest, Skystrider! And congratulations to all the winners.

Did not win a copy of The Witcher 2, but I got The Bronze Award! Thanks a lot, Skystrider! :-D

Skystrider, is there any deadline for us to redeem the gifts?

None at all, you can redeem whenever you wish. I will remind people that there is a major publisher coming next month... ;)

But really, it is entirely up to you. :)

Great. Thanks.

Honourable Mentions, Volume 2:

reaver894

I would like to be one of the winners because to be frank I SOOO want TW2 and I made a screw up, I was meant to sit my driving test on the 4th of April but While stationary another driver hit the car I was in (instructors car) it was too late to cancel the test and I couldnt sit it due to an injury but mainly because my confidence was shot to pieces, suffices to say I lost the £75 for the test and it took me a while to get back in a car, I have had 6 hours driving since then and rebooked my test. (15 & 3/4 hours and counting)
Long story short I have ran out of money that I can use for games either for myself or to add to my collection of codes (just under 20 games IIRC) for a give-away of my own.
--------------------
cheesetruncheon
I'll list the reasons I deserve to win.
1. I'm a pretty nice guy.
2. I Need to was the taste of Dragon Age 2 out of my mouth. It's still there.
3. I like GoG, I've already spent my limit already.
4. This is my first real Gaming Computer, got it earlier in the year, before that was on a crappy Vista laptop.
5. In accordance with 4 I grew up with windows 3.1, this was in the 00's, it wasn't till around 2004 we got win 98. I missed A lot of games and I ain't letting it happen again!
6. Norway is a pretty cool place.
7. I'm a Student
8. Geralt has pretty cool hair. And is all grisly manly.
9. I lost my Girlfreind because I drew a naked picture of her on top of a pokémon card...
10. I need a good rpg.
11. I'll be your friend :D
12.By the time you read this it could very well be Friday, Friday and you've got to get down on a Friday.
13. There is no reason. 13 would be an unlucky Reason.
14. I like video games.
15. I'll give you an internet cookie.
16. If you don't I'll report you Bribery! taking my internet cookies to win! you should be ashamed.
17: ????
18: Profit

so yeah these are my reasons I guess. Not the best but you know.
------------------
CowboyBebop
Fellow Witchers do find
Geralt of Rivia who lost his mind

To Kaer Morhen we go
and meet the fair Triss Merigold

Attacked by Salamandra and Savolla
the mutagens are now in their controlla

The south trail he hath taken
to a view of a jail cell he doth awaken

"Kill a cockatrice? A cinch!"
Only for a knight named Siegfried to help in a pinch

After the fight Siegfried doth say
"My private eye friend can show you the way."

After solving a murder he doth go
into a tower after books of old

"Private eye, my names Javed.
I'll steal the texts and give you a knot on the head!"

When he awakes he doth see
the fair Triss who checks for 'internal injuries'

Whilst searching for bases he hears about quarrels
between the Roses and the Squirrels

Adda hath secrets she doth hide
an alliance with Salamandra, she's on their side

Adda and her guards are on his case
after he destroys Salamandra's base

Triss comes to save the day
teleporting the lucky Geralt away

Returning to Vizima is in order
Against the enemy he must give no quarter

"The leader of Salamandra is the Grand Master!?"
betrayer of the king, yes he's a bastard

Finally the enemy is slain
only for an assassin to attack the king in vain

"Who sent this assassin?" I must learn
to find the answer is what I yearn
---------------------
orija71
An Asian's lament on the retail version being unavailable.

I sit, waiting in vain for the hero to arrive
No matter how great the need, no matter how much the trouble be rife
the witcher won't tread on my land

For more than a winters score, I held out for him
never knowing, he would turn his back on a whim
Now all that I can do is sob and sigh
while the day of his rise comes nigh and nigh

To go about courting whores,
and to jiggle around with some gore
Was all that this poor lad had wanted
seems now, even the gods are against my wish being granted

Ne'er before have I felt so forlorn
from this apathetic world, I wish to begone
No matter how much it hurts, this wilting heart of mine
the witcher won't tread on my land

To know, what he fears here, I demand
we lovable savages shall cover him in garlands
Nothing, more than crowning him king of Arrpeegee
is what I want
But the witcher won't tread on my land.
------------------
macuahuitlgog
I deserve to win the Witcher 2 game because the most powerful machine I have is a gaming laptop and it doesn't meet The Witcher 2's minimum system requirements. If I have a copy of the game, I will be tempted to play it on this gaming laptop. I will eventually give in to the temptation and the result will most likely be a slideshow. The slideshow will motivate me to save more money so I can buy a better computer capable of running the game a lot sooner. And as soon as I have a better computer, I will purchase all the good games that I havent purchased yet because I have no machine right now capable of handling them. This will give the people who make good games more of a reason to keep making good games. The world will became a happier place. :) And in the future, while playing The Witcher 2 smoothly on my new gaming desktop machine that I purchased with the money I saved, I will say, "thank you, Skystrider" for making it all possible. :)
---------------------
ericcamil
My love for the Witcher series obviously first spawned with the original game release. Upon finishing the game, I went and tracked down the man behind the work. Andrzej Sapkowski - who then lead me to his short story and full story novella's about the infamous Geralt of Rivia. To be able to get my hands on The Witcher 2 deluxe digital edition would be an insurmountable gift. I am such a huge fan of the Witcher series that instead of trying to scurry around to find my old cd key, download the original - find my account and re obtain the enhanced edition, I have already plotted and planned to repurchase from GOG on May 10th the Witcher 1 Enhanced Edition. Make my way through the game and then come out seeing red. Only to find myself desiring to continue the story directly with it fresh in my mind a week later. You sir could allow me that chance and connect the second games release to my maddening replay of the first (I enjoy doing all side quests) in just a few days.
---------------------
johnzealot
I deserve to win The Witcher 2! Let me tell you why…
I’m probably the biggest Witcher fan in Bulgaria! And I’m not talking only about the fascinating masterpiece that is the first Witcher game… I’ve read all of Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels and I just can’t get enough of them. I remember a few years ago when they translated and published the first book (with stories) in Bulgarian… it just captivated me with its rich story, unique characters and dark fantasy world filled with adventures, epic action, wars, monsters, magic, conspirations and major badass protagonist with deep motivations, moralities and character progression. I couldn’t wait for the other books to come out. Currently I have all of the Witcher’s books (2 with stories and 8 more being the Witcher Saga [originally the saga books are 7 but they divided the last book into two parts in Bulgarian]) I even have the first volume of the saga in English and intend on collecting them all. When the first game came out I was out of my mind in excitement! The world, the characters, the story… it was all so close to the way Andrzej Sapkowski wrote the books that it was amazing. Now I can’t wait for the second game to come out and once again to dive into monster slaying, politics and so on!
I’ve uploaded pictures of the books if you are interested to see how the look in Bulgarian and all. Hope you enjoy :) (only missing one of the books cause I lend it to a friend to read) The black and white are the two books with stories The Last wish and Sword of Destiny. All others are from the saga.
http://img854.imageshack.us/g/37113292.jpg/
----------------------------
makr3la
I think I should win, because I just finished big drawings in AutoCAD after WHOLE night and I have to rest with some good, good game! thanks! :)
I made funny-picture of me as a witcher, so this may count! http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1046379/makr3la.png
-----------------------------
Sydius
I made soma ASCII pictures from Witcher/Witcher 2 shots, wallpapers i found on the internet. To be honest, i used a program to make them - i have no talent in arts, nor making this kind of pictures (but i wish i could have it).
So, there are the pictures - i send a link when you can download the zip. I don't really sure the messenger can handle 16 "pictures", and i'm sure it can't handle the wide spaces.
http://www.filehosting.org/file/details/227418/witcher.zip
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ZCL4BU11
----------------------------
tommyb653
So
Kind
You
Sir
To
Reward
Idol
Dreams
Eagerly
Receiving Assassins of Kings

Hope it's not too corny =)
----------------------
TVs_Frank
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12ufOR1CiPTKa2IOdBBx9aIczF_DyOTn13pgJTgCoZmw/edit?hl=en&authkey=CK7I1LoM

My entry.
----------------------

*End of volume 2*

Honourable Mentions, Volume #3:

Sonatartic
I think I deserve witcher 2 because it's FKING AWESOME!!

Sorry but I just had to say that lol :D Anyways I truly love this game I have looked all gameplay vids on youtube and I have all my changing wallpapers the witcher 2 ones :p (proof http://aijaa.com/v.php?i=009228011811.png) and I was supposed to order tw 2 CE but they had sold them all out on my retailer :(

It sucks because I can't pay on gog because I have no credit card yet, I turned 19 last year and haven't had time to get 1 yet. And I truly want the artbook (I'd print it from gog if I'd win!) but can't get it coz couldn't buy the CE and I can't buy from GOG by myself :(

Last of all I have run out of good games to play and I need a game to sink my all time on summer holiday (I heard it takes about 50hr on tw2 if u do all the quests and has multiple endings)

Please, I usually don't beg but now I do... PLEASE let me win becoz I need all the collector stuff (specially art book) and can't get it myself :'(

I heard you wanted humor also (I tried to hid some there :P ) so I'm gonna tell you 1 joke here:

A doctor says to his patient, “I have bad news and worse news”.

“Oh dear, what's the bad news?” asks the patient.

The doctor replies, “You only have 24 hours to live.”

“That's terrible”, said the patient. “How can the news possibly be worse?”

The doctor replies, “I've been trying to contact you since yesterday.”

(AND THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO ME IF I DON'T GET TW2)

*joke ;)*
--------------------------
geraltgeralt
This is for you, I hope it helps 'convincing' you =)
http://www.mediafire.com/i/?k326hdjw8iil63m
----------------------
Zchinque
Hmm, I'm no good with these things.

Why do I deserve to win?
Well, frankly, I probably don't. Not more than anyone else, at least. Recently I won Portal 2 from yourself (which was a great game, by the way). I also have never played the original The Witcher (picking up the GOG version tomorrow), so while The Witcher 2 seems like an interesting game that I would probably enjoy, I am not as hyped about the release as many others seem to be.
But I like contests. :)

Thank you for hosting this very generous contest/giveaway.

Now I shall leave you with these inspirational words:
"Vedkløyvar?! Pøh! Her brukes håndemakt! Her brukes håndemakt, det he me alltid gjort."

-Z

{Skystrider comment: I could translate that last bit, but it probably wouldn't be funny in English; it's a dialect thing...}
---------------------------
Skilli
I am very interested in TW2, because I am new to the RPG genre. I asked my friends about what's the best upcoming game this year and they led me to TW2. At the very instant I saw the first gameplay video, I was sold!

It seems interesting to have such an open and persistent world and I want to experience it! I've noticed that all the best games come from little companies such as CD Projekt RED.

I am so excited about this game, it seems so unique! Please, I really want to win the game, because I don't play PC games very much and this is the very first game I've been so excited about!

Also, I think I deserve TW2. I never pirate any games and I really let myself to fall deep into the story of the game.. As I said, I don't play games very often, but when I play, I totally fall into them and I've read that TW2 has the best story ever, I can't wait to just fall into the game and play it for hours and wander in the living world (of which I saw a trailer about).

Last of all, I say please. I really think I'd deserve the game because I wouldn't leave it in the shelf (on the HDD in this case) without playing through it and I'd suck every bit of the game and get all DLC I could, getting everything out of the game I could.

P.S. I think there are just kids entering here to get a free game, who might not appreciate the game as itself
-----------------------------
yo125
I should deserve to win the Witcher 2. Because I WANT IT NOW!!!!!

and if i win. i will go here.

http://www.yeeeeeeeeeeeeeees.com/

and click the button 1000000000000 times.

and if i not win. I will go here.

http://www.nooooooooooooooo.com/

and click the button until my sadness disappears.

So choose me for The Gold Award.

Thanks
----------------------
<name without by participant's request>

Hello
I first played The Witcher in 2008, on a hot summer day, back in Serbia. It was a magical experience at the time. People all around me were living in misery and despair, in some places you could still see the remains of NATO bombing and war, no jobs, gas and electricity restrictions, and all of my friends(including myself) were addicted to heroin.
But every time I entered the game, all would cease to exist, but the enchanting world of Witcher, and I would be Geralt of Rivia instead of...
I would beat game over and over, try and live within it as much as possible. It was a very special time, escapism and denial of reality.
I live in New Zealand now, have a job and a fiancee, we're getting married in June.
I proposed with a silver amethyst ring, similar to one you give to Shani in game, couldn't find a single good looking amber in the shop. I've also taken liberty to add a Merrygold flower around the stone and wines around the ring. She liked it even though she's oblivious to where I got the idea for the design. On the offtopic note, I always find such moments when something from a gaming world shows up in reality cool, makes me giggle on the inside.
And so now, The Witcher 2 is coming out in a really bad time for me. I had to buy a new car, as my old one exploded. I'm having insane expenses for the wedding and we've been robbed last week by a 15 year old who was prospecting for a gang called Black Power. The police caught him but we don't know if we'll get all our stuff back. Also, my brother in law got beaten by some random gang on the street week before that. This last bit didn't really affect my wallet, I'm just thinking maybe we should move from this neighborhood.
I preordered my copy from GoG, but I honestly don't know how will I afford it.
I will admit I'm not seeking to submerge myself completely in the game, like I did with Witcher 1, but the urge to continue is very strong. The game, apart from being great, has a sentimental value for me. Some gamers may understand when I say that some games just transcend the word good, when you spend nights playing it, and many a sunrise finds you still sitting at the computer. Those nights hold a special mysticism about them, the silence, no sounds from the city outside, like a pocket plane of existence.
I do hope to revisit that special place again with The Witcher 2, so I write you.
I don't think I deserve it, but I'm hoping to get it, it would certainly make my gaming soul warm and happy.
Take care.
--------------------
SLP2000
Hi, this is my entry for The Epic Witcher 2 Countdown Competition.

I should get The Witcher 2 because I have this huge exam starting on the 14th of June, and I really should exterminate some monsters before, just to be prepared for what I may expect to happen during the exam. I also need to take some potions that would extent my mental abilities, so I'd like to do some training using Geralt's alchemy skills. I also expect that I will have to do some real magic to pass my exam, so this is the third reason, as I should train my magic skills with Geralt's help.

Thanks,
SLP2000
----------------------------
nazz
My entry into your competition is a simple truth, in the form of the simplest poem.

the release date nears
for employers darkest fears
Witcher 2 is here!
---------------------------
e-ahmet
I'm anxious to play it as seen on the meme I attached. I used the y-u-no guy meme base and edited it a little. It's here http://memegenerator.net/Y-U-NO

I saved the money required to buy the game but it would be nicer if I won one. Then I could buy a 360 controller for my computer. Nowadays too many games come with 360 controller support. I live in Turkey. I'm a student.
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu180/ahmet476/TheWitcher2release.png
-------------------------
Rohan15
Hmm...how to convince you....GOG is awesome and so are you? ;)

There, I entered. Good luck to everyone else.
------------------------
Clutch8
My reason of why I deserve it is because I earned 6 A's and an A- this spring semester, so being a hard working student I could use a bit of an reward. For creativity how's this "Did you guys pay your power bill, because we just got lit up!"
-----------------------

*End of volume #3*