Steam and Preowned Games

[Porksta]

I just bought Skyrim at a yard sale and didn't see the box where Steam was required. When I came to install it I noticed it and yes - the key was in use. Now, if I could remember where I bought it I could walk over and knock on his door, but I have since forgotten. Is there nothing Steam can do? I doubt they could give me his name, but can they activate my code? Or am I just stuck with a paperweight?

[Clownzilla]

Paperweight unfortunately. The exact thing happened to me with a used copy of Half Life Orange Box. Steam will do nothing for you in this matter. I LOVE Steam but they really need to cut the consumer some slack when it comes to these issues. For example, I purchased a used copy of Real Flight RC simulator with the controller at Goodwill for around $20 (great deal and hard to find in the wild). Great Planes (which is the developer) has a policy similar to Steam when it comes to their software licensing which I wasn't aware of. HOWEVER, I called their tech support and the guy on the line put me on hold and actually called the previous owner's house to confirm that this guy indeed got rid of his copy. The owner confirmed this and the tech support guy transferred the licensing to me. I was stunned because I would NEVER of expected this from a game company when it comes to licensing customer service. I'm not expecting Steam to go all-out like this for their customer that purchased a used game (even though I think it would help Steam in the long run) but I just wish Steam would realize that instead of blanketing the customers with the same canned response they should look at these issues on a case to case basis.

[Collector_Gaming]

since i can't remember my old steam account from years ago (back when steam first booted up their service) and actually I think they took the account off as its been inactive for x amount of years basically my copy of half life 2 and episode 1 are paper weights so i had to buy everything all over again :/

like said above.. I love steam and valves games and such but come on guys

[Kitsune Sniper]

I just bought Skyrim at a yard sale and didn't see the box where Steam was required. When I came to install it I noticed it and yes - the key was in use. Now, if I could remember where I bought it I could walk over and knock on his door, but I have since forgotten. Is there nothing Steam can do? I doubt they could give me his name, but can they activate my code? Or am I just stuck with a paperweight?

Nope. Paperweight. Sorry. They won't let you activate games with used CD keys on your account unless you prove that you bought it new from a store with a receipt.

[Porksta]

Could I just go buy it new and use that receipt and return it?

[Cloud121]

I was stupid in doing the same with Half-Life 2 Collector's Edition a few months back. Paid $15 for it, and got the guide and everything that was included plus Episode 1. Didn't work at all. I felt like a dumbass, as I was still buying so many CD key games from 1998 and later that the Steam thing completely slipped my mind.

The interesting thing though is that I bought Orange Box a few weeks later on sale, and just for fun decided to try and install HL2 again via the Collector's Edition. Half-Life 2 installed fine off the DVD, as I had already purchase it via Orange Box. Half-Life: Source and Counter-Strike: Source however wouldn't install, as I had no purchase history of them. Same with Episode 1, which I thought was a little odd, as it was in my purchase of Orange Box.

Just tried it again for the hell of it. All installed fine. However, if I choose to play Counter-Strike or Half-Life: Source, I get prompted to purchase them via Steam as they aren't in my account. Half-Life 2 then just starts updating itself with the 8 years of patches since launch.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Could I just go buy it new and use that receipt and return it?

You could, but that would be more than a little sleazy.

[j_factor]

You could, but that would be more than a little sleazy.

Irrevocably linking physical copies of games to an online account is more than a little sleazy.

[kai123]

Irrevocably linking physical copies of games to an online account is more than a little sleazy.

It is written clearly on the back of the box that a steam account is required. That should let you know the key is used. Sorry people can't read. How is it sleazy that they want to get paid but it's ok for someone to break the rules and get the game anyway? IDK it's always been clear to me to not buy used games that say steam is required.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Irrevocably linking physical copies of games to an online account is more than a little sleazy.

You don't use the disc to play the game. You're basically buying a voucher with a disc.

[Porksta]

It is written clearly on the back of the box that a steam account is required. That should let you know the key is used. Sorry people can't read. How is it sleazy that they want to get paid but it's ok for someone to break the rules and get the game anyway? IDK it's always been clear to me to not buy used games that say steam is required.

If it had been a Valve game I absolutely would not have bought it. It was a Game for Windows Live and on a cursory glance I did not see the small box where Steam was required.

[VACRMH]

since i can't remember my old steam account from years ago (back when steam first booted up their service) and actually I think they took the account off as its been inactive for x amount of years basically my copy of half life 2 and episode 1 are paper weights so i had to buy everything all over again :/

like said above.. I love steam and valves games and such but come on guys

I didn't really start using steam until this past winter, but my account was actually created back in 2005 when I bought Half Life 2. Six years of no activity and they didn't delete my account.

[Cloud121]

You don't use the disc to play the game. You're basically buying a voucher with a disc.

Signed,
Homefront

Back of the case says it wants 10 GB of HDD space. I install the game, Steam boots up to authenticate it, and then proceeds to download a 12GB (?!!?!!!?!) update.

[j_factor]

It is written clearly on the back of the box that a steam account is required. That should let you know the key is used. Sorry people can't read. How is it sleazy that they want to get paid but it's ok for someone to break the rules and get the game anyway? IDK it's always been clear to me to not buy used games that say steam is required.

I know it's written on the box. It's still bad practice.

[kai123]

I know it's written on the box. It's still bad practice.

How is it bad practice when they tell you it is required? Even games for windows live doesn't let you use the same code as far as I know.

[j_factor]

How is it bad practice when they tell you it is required?

Seriously? Go back and read past threads about various attempts to, and rumors of, eliminating used games sales. There was the PS4 rumor thread, a couple of gaming-is-going-digital-only threads, a couple of threads in response to industry people bitching about used games, and so on. We have had these discussions time and time again here, not to mention being played out virtually everywhere gaming is discussed. Making a note on the box doesn't change any of the other arguments.


Even games for windows live doesn't let you use the same code as far as I know.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but with Games for Windows Live, isn't the code only required for online multiplayer?

[WCP]

Could I just go buy it new and use that receipt and return it?

Unfortunately, that is considered return fraud, which I think is a misdemeanor. There have been many times, when I've been tempted to do a little bit of return fraud, but I haven't tried such things since my early 20's. The store that I'm doing the "okey doke" had nothing to do with the original sin. Yet they suffer because I figured out a way to buy and return and get a new key. bad karma...

[Kitsune Sniper]

How is it bad practice when they tell you it is required? Even games for windows live doesn't let you use the same code as far as I know.


Correct me if I'm wrong, but with Games for Windows Live, isn't the code only required for online multiplayer?

It... depends on the game.

In some of the earlier games, like Kane & Lynch: Dead Men, the key is used only to authenticate that it's a legit game. I don't believe the actual key is used for multiplayer purposes - that's what your GFWL / XBL tag is for. In theory, you can sell the game to someone else since the key is not tied to your account. However, most games these days tie the key to your account permanently. This is also the case with DLC packs. You can even bind two or more different keys for one game to your account (which is idiotic - Steam doesn't let you do that, unless the extra key contains something you don't own.)

[The 1 2 P]

This is why I no longer buy used PC games at Goodwill, especially nothing thats come out from 2009 till present.

[Kitsune Sniper]

This is why I no longer buy used PC games at Goodwill, espcially nothing thats come out from 2009 till present.

I still take a gamble once in a while. You'd be surprised how often Diablo II / Warcraft III / Half-Life 1 keys are left unregistered...

[furcointalk]

after the court battle in the euro zone, used software can be sold, and used second hand software sales cannot be restricted by licensing limitations. the licensing is now transferable according to the EU court battle.

will this ever happen in the US?
with congress still trying to find a new way to pass sopa pipa- probably not.

also- there is a lot of chatter that the ps4 and xbox 720 will not allow used games...

[The 1 2 P]

I still take a gamble once in a while. You'd be surprised how often Diablo II / Warcraft III / Half-Life 1 keys are left unregistered...

Those all came out before 2009 though. I had copies of Left 4 Dead 2 and The Orange Box for the PC and neither of them worked for the people I sold them too(same thing with some older EA Battlefield compilation disc). Then again, you found a used copy of Portal 2 that still worked but I think you just got extremely lucky with that one. I won't even take a chance on older software anymore unless it's something rare.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Those all came out before 2009 though. I had copies of Left 4 Dead 2 and The Orange Box for the PC and neither of them worked for the people I sold them too(same thing with some older EA Battlefield compilation disc). Then again, you found a used copy of Portal 2 that still worked but I think you just got extremely lucky with that one. I won't even take a chance on older software anymore unless it's something rare.

Ha, you still remember. :) Technically it wasn't used, it was just a store return - or a case that someone tried to open to get to the disc inside.

But you're absolutely right; it really depends on the game. I grab these for trading purposes, if they don't work then nothing is lost. And nobody gets pissed. :P

[G-Boobie]

after the court battle in the euro zone, used software can be sold, and used second hand software sales cannot be restricted by licensing limitations. the licensing is now transferable according to the EU court battle.

will this ever happen in the US?
with congress still trying to find a new way to pass sopa pipa- probably not.

To be fair, while the court ruling makes selling used software licenses legal in the Euro Zone, the decision does not include any provision that demands that companies make it easy. Valve is under no obligation to do anything at all. If you want to sell your Steam account, and you live in the Euro Zone, you legally can, but if you want to sell your digital copy of Half Life 2? That's going to be trickier for you.

Of course, that's another benefit of the Steam sales: single games end up so cheap, and the community gets so into the related achievements and events, not to mention the ability to trade games, that its unlikely that Valve will run into that problem too often.

[Griking]

Could I just go buy it new and use that receipt and return it?

So you got screwed so you want to turn around and screw some store in return?

I wouldn't, its bad karma.

How much much could you really have spent for it at a tag sale? $5-$10? Consider it a lesson learned and just pay better attention to the system requirement part of the box from now on.

[G-Boobie]

So you got screwed so you want to turn around and screw some store in return?

I wouldn't, its bad karma.

How much much could you really have spent for it at a tag sale? $5-$10? Consider it a lesson learned and just pay better attention to the system requirement part of the box from now on.

Also, this.

[Porksta]

But really though, would it be screwing a store? I would just buy the game to have the receipt, call Valve and show them the used one I bought. Is that really return fraud?

[Griking]

Yes, you would have bought the game. From a store. For the price that you paid for the game at the tag sale.

You don't see what's wrong there?

[Porksta]

I don't doubt there is something wrong, I'm just trying to figure out what it is. I buy a game and return the same game to the same store. It isn't like I am buying a game, found it cheaper elsewhere and take that cheaper game back to the store and get the full price back. Is that still considered return fraud though? I wouldn't be giving Wal Mart back a game I bought at Target. I would be giving Wal Mart back a game I bought at Wal Mart.

[Gameguy]

Usually with return fraud you buy something, later come back and take the exact same item off the shelf and bring it straight to the return section and get a full refund with the receipt you already have from your purchase. Or I've heard of people returning the product boxes for items filled with wood or other junk to pass off the correct weight, yet keeping the item that was sold in the box.

It's not return fraud to return that new copy to the store after purchasing it as you're buying that game from that store, but using that receipt to get around paying steam to use that preowned copy of Skyrim is a bit unethical. I think it sounded like you were going to buy a new copy and return the used one from that yard sale, that would be return fraud. It might work to use that receipt in getting them to activate that used game, but with most unethical activities it's probably best not to discuss it publically as it would be looked down on.

[The 1 2 P]

Or I've heard of people returning the product boxes for items filled with wood or other junk to pass off the correct weight, yet keeping the item that was sold in the box.

This is why most places now open the return as soon as you bring it to customer service to verify the item is still there. And from personal experience I can tell you that Target and Sears will even open up factory sealed video games and dvds to make sure they are still in the case. And I really don't blame them. Back when I was a cashier many years ago people would try to pull the same thing with rolls of change that was filled with maybe 70% of what it was suppose to have(quarters, dimes, etc) and a bunch of screws or something else to make it seem weight proportionate.

[Kitsune Sniper]

If he does this then the guy who sold him the game may have it removed from his account.

...

Wal-Mart wouldn't really be losing money since he'd return a brand new game. I don't agree with him doing this, but...

[Gameguy]

If he does this then the guy who sold him the game may have it removed from his account.
So there's really no problem then? If the guy wanted to keep playing the game, he shouldn't have sold it at a yard sale. I wouldn't expect that I could keep playing a console game if I sold it to someone else.

If the previous user isn't able to play the game anymore I wouldn't have a problem with this, it's just like a license transfer which really should be allowed in the first place.

[Kitsune Sniper]

So there's really no problem then? If the guy wanted to keep playing the game, he shouldn't have sold it at a yard sale. I wouldn't expect that I could keep playing a console game if I sold it to someone else.

If the previous user isn't able to play the game anymore I wouldn't have a problem with this, it's just like a license transfer which really should be allowed in the first place.

Unless the person who sold it wasn't the guy who owned the game to begin with.

I'm also not sure if this will impact the player's account in any way. Such as having the account restricted. Steam Support can also see when the key was originally registered, and if that was a while back, they might flag Porksta's account for weird activity...