I just bought HL2 used from an Amazon seller. It has the original box, ref. card and 5 cds. The only problem is it doesn't include a cd key anywhere. I found this out after installing it and trying to activate it on STEAM. I than read the seller's disclaimer, a little late unfortunately, which gives no guarantee on legitimate cd key being included with any of the games he sells. I don't think that is right or legal but it's too late for that now, buyer beware and all that. The question is: is this key stored somewhere on my computer during the install process? Or would STEAM give me a legit. key, highly doubtful? Or am I just s**t out of luck and out of the purchase price, which fortunately was under 10 bucks?
My guess is you're out of luck. You could try contacting Steam for another key but I'll bet they'll charge you for it so you might be better off just buying the game straight from Steam.
Thanks for the replies fellas. I figured I was out of luck. No way to prove to STEAM that my game is originally mine, which it isn't. It is a STEAM game and not EAs or whoever. I found this out after a 30 minute install process and when I clicked on the game icon I was directed to STEAM for activation. I then looked on the box and found the VALVE logo. So, I guess that even if the cd key had been included it has been already activated and I would have got such a message from STEAM.
I already bought a bunch of games from STEAM and I guess I'm going to buy another. The seller on Amazon is definitely going to getting some negative feedback. He shouldn't be selling this kind of stuff. It was not my intent to buy warez. I was just looking for a bargain. Guess I'm going to have to be more careful in the future.
Just a tip, In the US it is never legal to play a used pc game. When you buy a pc game you aren't really buying the disk but are in effect buying the right to use it. It spells this out in the EULA. The only time its ok to buy a used pc game is if you have a legit cd key but damaged the disk somehow. Then you can buy a used copy for the disk but you must still own a legal cd key.
I don't really trust second hand sellers on internet only from friends(which I mostly borrow from them) Steam uses technology which when the game is activated to the account your cdkey cannot help you anymore A worth buying package is the orange box which got : portal , hf 2 , hf 2 episode 1 , episode 2 , and the amazing team fortress 2 ;)
Just a tip, In the US it is never legal to play a used pc game. When you buy a pc game you aren't really buying the disk but are in effect buying the right to use it. It spells this out in the EULA. The only time its ok to buy a used pc game is if you have a legit cd key but damaged the disk somehow. Then you can buy a used copy for the disk but you must still own a legal cd key.adrake4183
Well that's interesting. But if it's illegal to buy used games (and the way the laws are written in today's intellectual property insane environment I wouldn't doubt it. Look how securom 7 restricts you on the newer games.) than why is Amazon allowed to host sellers who sell tons of used games? Same question applies to retail stores that sell used games. I don't really want to ignite a flame war on this topic. It's already been covered in countless other forums by countless other people. I'm just annoyed that, due to carelessness, I bought a useless game.
No I agree with you. Its ridiculous. And a lot of pc gamers look at a ps3 or xbox dvd that can be sold used and ask whats the difference. Frankly I think EB games and amazon selling used pc games is a scam. They say that they don't guarantee a cd key knowing full well that people are 99% of the time buying a game as a first purchase and not to replace a damaged dvd. They skirt the law and don't care if the end user gets screwed.
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