In These Tough Times, Thank You GMT
Bob Hansen
United States
Menomonee Falls
Wisconsin
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As many of you may already know, GMT is once again doing their Tough Economy Special again. From the email I got from them...
"The "Tough Economy" Special Offer is Back!!: Many in the gaming community turn to games as a welcome respite from their day jobs, using money from those day jobs to buy the games. In these difficult times, some of our loyal customers have lost their day jobs. No jobs and no cash to buy games is a morale buster. Now, we can’t help in the new job department, but one thing we can do is at least help you continue to enjoy the games while you are job hunting. It was our pleasure to help several hundred out of work gamers last fall to have new games to play over the holidays, and given the continued economic difficulties in America and abroad, we have decided to offer the special again to anyone who has since become unemployed.
So, if you did not participate in our Tough Economy Special offer last Christmas and have lost your job since November 30, 2008 and remain unemployed, if you will provide verification of such status to Tony (a_curtis@sbcglobal.net) or the office folks by mail or phone or e-mail, we will send you TWO FREE IN-STOCK GAMES of your choice. Play them, Enjoy them, and know that we will keep this information private and wish you only the best for a quick recovery."
This is being run in conjunction with their inventory clearance sale. So, I wanted to start this list to say thank you to GMT Games for their generosity. For those taking part in this, please post the games you asked for, and provide some details about your plight. You never know, someone reading this list may be able to help you out!
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Bob Hansen
United States
Menomonee Falls
Wisconsin
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I have had my eyes on this game for a long time. The chit pull mechanism has intrigued me. This is also one of the games that is on special right now, so if you want this game, now is the time to get it!
As for my story, I am a software developer, developing mostly using Microsoft tools like .NET and SQL Server. I was laid off from my job about three months ago, but was lucky to catch a short term project the same day I was laid off. That project ended four weeks ago.
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Bob Hansen
United States
Menomonee Falls
Wisconsin
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This was a tough choice between this game, Blackbeard, and For the People. I honestly got out a six sided die and used it to pick the game I would ask for.
I have been looking for work for the past three months and sent out a ton of resumes to not get a single interview. I have found out that every position for a developer typically has about 300-400 others applying for it. On top of that, many companies have been opening positions only to close them days later when they realize they don't have the finances to take on another software developer.
I worked with Tony over at GMT. The email exchange with him was very easy and free of embarrassment. I wish I was not in the position to take advantage of this awesome offer, but I am really happy that GMT games has done this twice now. I have two games that are still on P500 that I was considering removing because our finances suck. I will find a way, come hell or high water, to pay for those games. Thank you GMT! You are the best!
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Gordon Watson
United Kingdom
Banstead
Surrey
Beneath this mask there is an idea.....and ideas are bulletproof.
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Times are tough in the UK too but I assumed GMT's offer would apply to the US only, due to postage etc - however I emailed GMT and they replied by return saying "nope, it was open to all their customers including international". That makes this offer even more generous and commendable.
I work in IT, but although there are still some jobs around, so many people in the industry are out of work it has become ridiculously competitive with employers and agencies looking for increasingly exact skills matches to shortlist people for interview. That and the fact that the UK continues to haemorrhage IT jobs eastwards in an ever increasing 'outsourcing' trend, means the outlook is somewhat bleak.
Financially I'm pretty sound for some while, but it is hard to justify spending on expensive wargames at present, so GMT's offer is particularly appreciated - I've been interested at having a look at the Combat Commander series for a while but was slightly put off by some reviewers mentioning the randomness of the event cards. Reading through some of the other comments prior to placing my tough times order I think I'll be OK with this. Reassured about the latter and liking the look of the relatively short playing time for a scenario, and the fact that I love tactical combat games, pushed me into asking for this and it's Mediteranean cousin. Barbarossa: Kiev to Rostov was also tempting but realisticaly it probably wouldn't get much time on the table (well several tables really).
Having formerly been a big supporter of GMT's P500 I have been shying away from it recently due to the weakness in the pound and the increasing likelihood of HM's customs htting me with import/handling charges. The generosity of this offer has however convinced me otherwise and , on the basis that I will be back in work by the time I'm charged, I've P500'd Washington's War and Case Yellow, 1940: The German Blitzkrieg in the West.
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Christopher Dodge
United States
Highland
Utah
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I'm not sure if I am posting this correctly or not but here goes.
I have owned my own woodworking shop for the past few years and it has done pretty well until the last few months. I am now looking for a job in Operations Management or Quality Control Management, which is what I did before I started my own business. I have had a couple of interviews but there are so many people applying for these positions and it always seems like there is someone out there with a little more experience than I have.
I emailed Tony and explained my situation, because I wasn't sure if I qualified for the promotional. Tony told me I did so I requested Battle Line and Unhappy King Charles! .
I can't tell you how happy this makes me! I am very grateful to GMT for their generosity and kindness!
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Joe Baptist
United States
California
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Also
Blue vs. Gray
No charge for the games, and they covered the postage, too.
Amazingly cool move.
 for GMT.
While I own about 10 of their products that I purchased from various retailers over the years, they have no way of knowing that. This is now a company I really want to have prosper.
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Patrick McInally
Canada
Toronto (Bloor/Lansdowne)
Ontario
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I was laid off from my manager position at the game store for a variety of reasons... will be back in the fall, but 'till then things are very tight. I've dealt with Tony many times over the last four years, as well as Laetitia at the warehouse, and the people at GMT really are first rate.
Anyway, Successors 3 and the C3i issue #21 with the China Card variant for Twilight Struggle are coming my way.
I don't like talking about the layoff, but I felt GMT really deserves the props for being an awesome company that's for gamers, by gamers.
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Jim P
United States
Sterling Heights
Michigan
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As I describe my situation under The Kaiser's Pirates entry, I'll just talk about my second Game choice.
With the purchase of B-29 Superfortress early last year I created an interest to learn more about the war in the Pacific. So I purchased GMT's Combat Commander: Pacific game late last year. I have yet to play this one (i need to find a ftf player) but I would like to soon. As Combat Commander: Pacific is a company level game I looked at Empire of the Sun as my second game pick from the generous offer that GMT made. I'm glad I did this as this looks to be a good game to get the flavor of the whole war in the Pacific in a manageable time frame (game wise.) It looks to cover the whole effort in the Pacific. Looking forward to playing this and my older boys friend is interested.
I just want to say Thank You ever so much for this gracious offer, it has lifted my heart and given me hope that more good will can come out of this economic downturn. I have always been a BIG fan of GMT games, this just proves how GREAT this company really is.
Wishing Gods Blessings for the people of GMT and their future!!
Jim P 
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Ed Holzman
United States
Seffner
Florida
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Just got laid off from my position as an electrical control systems design engineer (after 10 years with my previous employer). This wasn't the first round of layoffs and the staff has reduced from over 50 to less than 20. Personally, I think they may be "circling the bowl" since I found out that they have also closed the branch office in Miami and laid off some of the administrative assistants. At any rate, 2 weeks (only 2 weeks after 10 years?!?!?) severance doesn't go far. Anyone know of an opening for an electrical engineer with 22 years of experience in industrial automation located in central Florida?
Along with Successors mentioned above, I will be getting a copy of Blackbeard.
Arrrgh! 
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Spacegras
Canada
St. John's
NL
HooDoo Operator
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This was My second selection for this promotion. First was The Kaiser's Pirates.
New to their products and this facet of gaming, and I'm totally excited. I stumbled across their games when I saw info about Kaiser's Pirates on P500, thought about ordering it, then some things came up. I was getting ready to order it from them after the P500 went through at reg price, but I got word about the layoff.
Well I'm totally pleased with my picks. Well, Tony decided on UKC for me, I couldn't decide between it or PQ-17 so he did it for me.
All I can say is this company and their business philosophy is so refreshing And they will see business from me in the future.
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Clark D. Rodeffer
United States
Ann Arbor
Michigan
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along with Winds Of Plunder. My wife helped me pick these. Big thanks to the folks at GMT for easing the unemployment pain.
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Camas
Washington
Leiden
Unspecified
For those who don't know GMT over the years, they have always been a company that thinks more about the people than the bottom line.
Pullman
Washington
Sterling Heights
Michigan
CDR, you are writing my story except the liqidation part. When the Bankruptcy forced my company to layoff 75% of our group and I was one of the unlucky ones. I to worked for a tier 1 supplier (interiors) and I'm currently looking for CAD Design work. Like the other 20+% unemployed in Michigan that are hunting for jobs, we have heavy compitition for what few jobs of this type avalible. Hopefuly as the economy turns around we ALL will be able to find work and recover our carrers
So true so true!!!
Jim
GMT:
Economy:
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