Caution needed buying used Steam activated games.

[Beta-brain]

I have not seen much about this issue with second hand PC games that need activation via Steam but I know I can't be the only person that's had this problem.

I bought a second hand genuine copy of CoD Modern Warfare 2 on ebay but when I try to install the game it connects to Steam but they won't accept the CD key reg code that's on the manual and I get a duplicate CD key error, this is because the game has been activated on another Steam account by a previous owner and Steam now assumes I am trying to activate a copy/pirated game.

I contacted Steam and sent pictures of the manual with the CD key printed on it and a screen shot of the paypal transaction when I paid for the game but they are adamant that they will not reset the CD key to my Steam account, So, I am left with a completely useless game that can't be activated and therefore will not install and can't be played, great
Now I understand why so many people hate Infinity Ward and Activision and it's also a good way of killing the second hand game market.

The moral is, when buying used games make sure they don't need Steam activation, I have also sent the suggestion to ebay that sellers listing games must state if the game needs Steam activation this is a catch 22 situation because if a used game needs Steam activation it is essentially useless and worthless and not worth listing as it is not fit for purpose and you should get your money back if the seller does not declare the game needs Steam activation
I'm sure ebay will agree with my suggestion and sort out this problem straight away

[Airbozo]

Yes they are trying to kill the used PC game market and this is one way to do it. There was an online petition a while back to try and convince Steam to allow used game sales. They basically came out and said, no amount of signatures will change the policy and either get used to it or stop buying Steam games. EA is doing the same thing now with their online store.

Ebay Will refund your money since you got a useless game. Just contact them asap and explain what the situation is.

[x88x]

/\ What he said.

You're absolutely right that Valve, IW, Activision, etc are trying to kill the used game market. Developers make zero money on used game sales, so they have zero incentive to even look like they care whether their game can be resold. It's not just IW and Activision, it's pretty much every developer I know of. On the down side, yeah, you can't buy used games. But on the positive side, with more people buying the game new and ever decreasing distribution costs (especially those companies that do primarily or only online distribution), there's the possibility that new prices will drop. Hell, that's one reason why new games have always been so expensive; because the developers had to recoup all of their costs from new sales...all used sales are essentially money lost.

[crenn]

Trust me, I know the industry, they're all greedy f***ers. This includes Valve, but that said, I love/hate it when they do a steam sale. Low return? No problem! Just put it on sale and move massive volumes to increase your return.
The prices of games are unlikely to drop, I say this because of the pattern in Australia. You pay USD$50 or so for a game, we have to pay AUD$100 (currently USD$103.55 based on today's exchange rate) for essentially the same product. It's why a lot of Australian gamers get their games off steam or from over seas. And even then, some publishers insist that their price for Australians on the steam store is similar to their AU retail price, which pisses me off!

[Twigsoffury]

Lol i don't think i've ever seen a used PC game outside of a thrift store or pawn shop.

and its a hell of a lot easier to buy just the product key alone on the bay and not the whole boxed package, you'll usually get screwed over less to



i still love steam though No way i'd still have my HL1 install discs or my other really old steam games.

[x88x]

i still love steam though No way i'd still have my HL1 install discs or my other really old steam games.

/\ That.

Hell, I re-bought Morrowind, Oblivion, and I think a few other BethSoft games (granted for ~$7 for the pack on a huge sale) just so I could have them accessible on Steam and not have to dig out the discs when I want to play.

[CorsePerVita]

I have not seen much about this issue with second hand PC games that need activation via Steam but I know I can't be the only person that's had this problem.

I bought a second hand genuine copy of CoD Modern Warfare 2 on ebay but when I try to install the game it connects to Steam but they won't accept the CD key reg code that's on the manual and I get a duplicate CD key error, this is because the game has been activated on another Steam account by a previous owner and Steam now assumes I am trying to activate a copy/pirated game.

I contacted Steam and sent pictures of the manual with the CD key printed on it and a screen shot of the paypal transaction when I paid for the game but they are adamant that they will not reset the CD key to my Steam account, So, I am left with a completely useless game that can't be activated and therefore will not install and can't be played, great
Now I understand why so many people hate Infinity Ward and Activision and it's also a good way of killing the second hand game market.

The moral is, when buying used games make sure they don't need Steam activation, I have also sent the suggestion to ebay that sellers listing games must state if the game needs Steam activation this is a catch 22 situation because if a used game needs Steam activation it is essentially useless and worthless and not worth listing as it is not fit for purpose and you should get your money back if the seller does not declare the game needs Steam activation
I'm sure ebay will agree with my suggestion and sort out this problem straight away

I HATE steam.

I tried to activate my ORIGINAL COPY of halflife that I bought WHEN IT CAME OUT so I could play multiplayer. It said duplicate key. I sent them a picture of the box, the cd in the case and the cd key label and they told me too bad so sad we don't believe you, buy a new key. Over principal of the matter I told them to F off because I bought the game, why should I buy ANOTHER key for something I bought because some tard with a keygen snagged MY game key?

[Beta-brain]

Well as I bought the game on ebay I checked and you have 45 days after buying to complain and I did have a few days left so I contacted the seller and he was a bit grumpy and had the cheek to say that I should have asked him if the game needed steam activation, CHEEKY B*****D

Anyway he has grudgingly refunded me saying and rather contradicting himself that he only does ebay for a bit of spare cash and is not a business but then goes on to say that as ebay takes up a lot of his time he can't be doing with an ebay complaint, he also said that he was unaware of the problem with steam activation with used games but as all he lists is 100's of games I find that hard to believe, I think he just tries his luck and hopes no one will complain within the 45 day limit, well his luck ran out this time

I still want to play CoD MW2 but not with steam but I don't know if there is a non-steam edition available, anyone know?

[Twigsoffury]

I HATE steam.

I tried to activate my ORIGINAL COPY of halflife that I bought WHEN IT CAME OUT so I could play multiplayer. It said duplicate key. I sent them a picture of the box, the cd in the case and the cd key label and they told me too bad so sad we don't believe you, buy a new key. Over principal of the matter I told them to F off because I bought the game, why should I buy ANOTHER key for something I bought because some tard with a keygen snagged MY game key?

you probably registered it to a forgotten account. I've never ever once had a valve game i couldn't register that i had bought brand new my self at some point in time.

[CorsePerVita]

you probably registered it to a forgotten account. I've never ever once had a valve game i couldn't register that i had bought brand new my self at some point in time.

Nope, I had never registered steam. I had gotten halflife 2 and decided to create an account and consolidate my games. I was not a happy camper.