GFWL CD Key length

niggyg · 15 Oct 2012 at 09:20

I bought a Gears of War key from CDKeyHouse yesterday. The key won't activate and it also seems to be 1 character short. I've been given a 24 character key, are the keys normally 24 characters?

Witcher1979 · 15 Oct 2012 at 09:27

Should be 25 characters, when you get it sorted you can add me on GFWL if you want to co-op, I still need some achievements playing as Dom. I don't use mic's though

niggyg · 15 Oct 2012 at 09:34

I've never really played GOW, but a friend loves it so we are going to give co-op a whirl.

AWPC · 15 Oct 2012 at 09:58

Gears Of War is only LEGALLY available from Games For Windows Marketplace so you need to get a refund ASAP (unless you can buy a retail copy which I doubt after 4 years).

http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/Product/Gears-of-War-Windows/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8044d530842

niggyg · 15 Oct 2012 at 10:38

Am I allowed to name the key selling place here? It's a well known one.

Clav · 15 Oct 2012 at 10:39

Are you sure it's not just a typo on their part? Email their support and get it re-sent.

iviv · 15 Oct 2012 at 10:41

AWPC said:
Gears Of War is only LEGALLY available from Games For Windows Marketplace so you need to get a refund ASAP (unless you can buy a retail copy which I doubt after 4 years).

Uh... what? How on earth can it only be legally available from the GfW Marketplace? The game was released on the retail channels too, so saying that it is illegal to sell those copies now sounds pretty stupid.

niggyg · 15 Oct 2012 at 10:46

Clav said:
Are you sure it's not just a typo on their part? Email their support and get it re-sent.

They sent an image of a typed out key and it does look like the image is truncated where you can see one line of pixels for the last (missing) character.

Their CS has been a bit slow and poor. I've explained the key is missing a digit and they have asked me for screenshots and then come back again asking where I obtained the game. All of which is irrelevant to the problem.

Just had a search around this forum and they are mentioned plenty of times so I amuse it's ok to mention them... CDKeyHouse.

AWPC · 15 Oct 2012 at 10:56

niggyg said:
They sent an image of a typed out key and it does look like the image is truncated where you can see one line of pixels for the last (missing) character.

Their CS has been a bit slow and poor. I've explained the key is missing a digit and they have asked me for screenshots and then come back again asking where I obtained the game. All of which is irrelevant to the problem.

Get a refund ASAP they are selling you something illegal. Buy the game from MS digitally or try to find a retail copy there is no other legal way to buy this its that simple. All you have bought is a copied key or key from another GFWL game MS never ever sold this game anywhere apart from @ retail then the digital exclusive to GFWM version.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gears-of-War-PC-DVD/dp/B000VWQWJU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350294636&sr=8-1

You can buy a used copy from amazon it comes on 2 DVDs & is about 12000 files to install so takes at least an hour to do so. This uses the older GFWL DRM which has a 15 times activation limit then you would need to prove your purchase to MS to get more activations. If you buy the digital version from GFWM it has no activation limits.

As thats the only digital version not sure how you expected to download this legally anyway as you only get the key from MS after buying the game from them............

AWPC · 15 Oct 2012 at 11:01

iviv said:
Uh... what? How on earth can it only be legally available from the GfW Marketplace? The game was released on the retail channels too, so saying that it is illegal to sell those copies now sounds pretty stupid.

Digitally thats the only legal way to own this otherwise your buying a used copy with a 15 limit activation then your out of luck as MS will not give you more unless you can prove you bought the game new!

Lets assume someone buys it used & the seller did not keep track of activations or gave their friends a copy as well etc etc your buying a coaster :rolleyes:

niggyg · 15 Oct 2012 at 11:02

A friend has a retail copy I can use to install the game. Or I'd have no moral issues with using a torrent when I'd bought a key (I understand it's still 'illegal').

AWPC · 15 Oct 2012 at 12:10

niggyg said:
A friend has a retail copy I can use to install the game. Or I'd have no moral issues with using a torrent when I'd bought a key (I understand it's still 'illegal').

Moral issues does not come into it if MS detect its an illegal key (quite likely as your not the only person who thinks its a bargain are you!) they will suspend your GFWL account so any other games you have will be unplayable & good luck trying to get a suspended GFWL account back its time consuming & MS are not exactly consumer friendly towards how you even get it back either!

Just buy any other UK GFWL retail game from 2007-2008 & use that key instead it will allow you to connect to GFWL as that older GFWL key system is a per access to GFWL not per game model.

Witcher1979 · 15 Oct 2012 at 12:15

Yeah actually I got mine from the market place, it actually has two codes. One was activation and the other is the GFWL key. Reminds me I need to buy a retail version for the collection. I have it so should be easy to get a retail copy with a used key as I don't need the key.

Stanith · 15 Oct 2012 at 12:31

If there's only 1 missing character there are only 36 possible combinations assuming A-Z + 0 - 9...should be easy enough to guess the missing one

AWPC · 15 Oct 2012 at 13:16

voorhees1979 said:
Yeah actually I got mine from the market place, it actually has two codes. One was activation and the other is the GFWL key. Reminds me I need to buy a retail version for the collection. I have it so should be easy to get a retail copy with a used key as I don't need the key.

I bought the retail when it first came out then I got the digital copy gifted to me by a GFWL gamer from the US who got it for free as a pre-order bonus for Bulletstorm last year (US only based offer though but keys were useable globally).

niggyg · 15 Oct 2012 at 15:20

AWPC said:
I bought the retail when it first came out then I got the digital copy gifted to me by a GFWL gamer from the US who got it for free as a pre-order bonus for Bulletstorm last year (US only based offer though but keys were useable globally).

Want to sell me your retail copy if you have a digital duplicate?

AWPC · 15 Oct 2012 at 15:50

niggyg said:
Want to sell me your retail copy if you have a digital duplicate?

Nope sorry it would not be any good to you anyway as I have already used the key myself just buy it direct from MS for only £14.99 it has unlimited activations thats pretty cheap considering its still very active co-op & MP wise due to it having extra content the 360 never got as well a full level editor.

Look at those prices on amazon where people are asking silly money as they know some will pay it so as you can sell £14.99 is suddenly very cheap compared to those asking £147 :eek:

http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/Product/Gears-of-War-Windows/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8044d530842

niggyg · 16 Oct 2012 at 09:03

CDKeyHouse sent me a new key that worked yesterday. £6.50 isn't bad for a game this old but I wouldn't pay £15.

I had a about an hour of co-op and I'm enjoying it so far.

Witcher1979 · 16 Oct 2012 at 09:19

niggyg said:
CDKeyHouse sent me a new key that worked yesterday. £6.50 isn't bad for a game this old but I wouldn't pay £15.

I had a about an hour of co-op and I'm enjoying it so far.

Dont forget to check out all the mods, people have added horde mode GoW3 characters etc.