I have had this game idea, which basically gives clues to a real world puzzle which must be solved. But I was thinking that if this was put through peer review people may solve it without having to buy the game. Is it possible to put the game through peer review without the clues? Or maybe be able to detect in game if its actually in peer review or has been bought?

Hope you know what I mean...

No. The point of peer review is for them to see and review your entire game. You cannot hide things from the reviewers. Even if technically possible, doing so most certainly will violate some term of use or EULA clause and is just bound to get you in trouble. You'll just have to live with the fact that creators will be able to play your game, essentially, for free. Just remember that the number of people with creator's club subscriptions who will get your game in review is going to be small most likely (I'd guess < 20 before it gets passed and put to the market), so you really aren't losing much.

No problem. Thanks for the reply Nick, I suppose that makes sense, and I could probably put in the T&C something about proving they paid for it?!

Chin VPL:

gives clues to a real world puzzle which must be solved

Frankly speaking, any quiz or puzzle game with a fixed solution (eg multiple choice) loses replay value once you have solved most puzzles. You shouldn't worry about the peer reviewers knowing and probably not buying your game, they probably won't. You should worry about the thousands of people who might want to download your game and don't know it yet. Very few will go looking for the answers before playing (or buying) the game.

Nick Gravelyn:

No. The point of peer review is for them to see and review your entire game.

What he said. As long as your game dosent contain any inappropriate content, and actually works (the community is not your debugger), then there should be a guarentee for your game to pass.