steam and half life question

Efaws · 19 Jun 2011 at 15:28

hi guys, just a quick one, never really used steam before so i have no idea how it works, anyway

i bought the orange box today for the pc from a car boot sale, for the princely sum of £1

!!!! only problem is, ive just thought is the game linked to your account somehow? i.e. if its been activated will the serial number it come with not let me install/play it?

thanks!

Antar Bolaeisk · 19 Jun 2011 at 15:31

If it's second hand, which most likely it is, then you won't be able to play it since it links into Steam and requires activation before you can play.

Efaws · 19 Jun 2011 at 15:32

doh! ive been done

is there no games in the orange box you can play offline / without steam?

anuraj · 19 Jun 2011 at 15:33

Efaws said:
hi guys, just a quick one, never really used steam before so i have no idea how it works, anyway

i bought the orange box today for the pc from a car boot sale, for the princely sum of £1 !!!! only problem is, ive just thought is the game linked to your account somehow? i.e. if its been activated will the serial number it come with not let me install/play it?

thanks!

Well if he's installed it already before, (which he probably has) it will probably be like the serial has been used.

TheCenturion · 19 Jun 2011 at 15:33

Efaws said:
doh! ive been done is there no games in the orange box you can play offline / without steam?

Fraid not

Who did you buy it from? Don't worry about it, only a pound

Moothead2 · 19 Jun 2011 at 15:34

Never buy opened/used PC games. 99.9% of the time the code will have been used and you won't be able to activate it. Luckily for you it's only a pound but don't get caught spending a tenner for Portal 2 used for example.

You can always try to activate it but expect it not to work.

FIXED

.

Antar Bolaeisk · 19 Jun 2011 at 15:35

On the plus side the Steam Summer Sale will be coming shortly and I would be shocked if the Valve games didn't make a heavily discounted appearance.

Moothead2 said:
Never buy opened/used PC games

Fixed!

Second hand PC games are nearly always guaranteed not to work nowadays considering the generally very restrictive DRM and account tie-ins.

orderoftheflame · 19 Jun 2011 at 15:36

You've been done.

Without a receipt (which I doubt you got from a car boot), Steam support are unlikely to sort it out for you either.

Efaws · 19 Jun 2011 at 15:40

ah fair enough, lesson learnt! its a bit mad how you can only install it on one account, DRM for you i guess, no wonder people are tempted to find ways around it!

will keep well away from bootys from now on then

Hatton · 19 Jun 2011 at 16:08

He screwed you over for a pound! Get his details and hunt him down.

anuraj · 19 Jun 2011 at 16:12

If the carboot you go to is grassy and has like a hill at the entrance like mine go there with the sniper next week and and snipe his head off.

wilko49 · 19 Jun 2011 at 16:59

anuraj said:
If the carboot you go to is grassy and has like a hill at the entrance like mine go there with the sniper next week and and snipe his head off.

Sounds fun, but don't .50 cal rounds cost more than £1 each?

Edit: Around $6 each.

Source - http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/browse/rifle-ammo-ap-50-cal-rifle.aspx?c=96&s=24