Purchased Bioshock through Russian CD key seller....help

Garyj881 · 1 Apr 2013 at 14:18

I purchased a serial key from a Russian cd key seller for Steam.

When I tried to activate it wouldn't work as I didn't purchase it in my country, I contacted the seller and they gave me instructions to activate though a vpn. I didn't agree with this and asked for my money back, for which they refused, I followed up with a Paypal dispute, for which they declined me.

Last resort I tried the vpn and activated it, I then closed the vpn as instructed, now when I go to download the game it says -

The game was activated with a different product code that is valid only in a specific geographically region. Since you are not currently in that region, Bioshock Infinite is not available to play.

CaptainRAVE · 1 Apr 2013 at 14:40

Sounds like you need the VPN active to play then?

You need to be careful with these keys sites.

Would be useful to have your feedback here.

Fenris · 1 Apr 2013 at 14:55

Garyj881 said:
I purchased a serial key from a Russian cd key seller

There's your problem.

Semiskimmed · 1 Apr 2013 at 14:56

its region locked, nothing you can do with it apart from maybe using the vpn every time you want to play it.
there is no work around.

angela · 1 Apr 2013 at 14:58

best think is probably go to Russian steam community/ groups and sell there.

Semiskimmed · 1 Apr 2013 at 15:15

angela said:
best think is probably go to Russian steam community/ groups and sell there.

not possible, it just sits dormant on your steam account.

Bromhead · 1 Apr 2013 at 15:22

Out of luck I'm afraid. You'll need the VPN everytime you want to play....... or possibly if you can use offline mode and block steam for the internet that would work as well I guess.

@angela - He won't be able to sell the key now it's been activated on his account, it will just sit there, for all eternity, not being played

Komedy · 1 Apr 2013 at 15:32

Bromhead said:
@angela - He won't be able to sell the key now it's been activated on his account, it will just sit there, for all eternity, not being played

I dont think we should be taking pleasure and having a "lol" at his expense. He has posted here asking for advice.

Anyway - have you tried being connected to the VPN while you DL and install it, I know others who have bought Bio Inf from similar sites and have been ok. So try that and ignore the trolls above

SHEDDER1uk · 1 Apr 2013 at 15:40

Buy cheap buy twice. Sounds like a right pain.

HarryPainful · 1 Apr 2013 at 15:57

Why both for the sake of a few quid, really?

blueshift · 1 Apr 2013 at 15:58

Your not alone Gary i did exactly the same thing.
It wont even play with VPN.
Just had to bite the bullet and buy it again, no too bad really as its a great game

neoglow · 1 Apr 2013 at 16:08

Do you need the VPN the whole time? Can you not use the VPN to download the game fully, launch the game and play it for the first time and then disable the VPN? Or does the VPN need to be enabled every time you want to play it?

As already said, in the future be careful where you buy keys, you can buy keys cheap from various key sellers that are apparently not certified, eg CJS Keys springs to mind cos a lot of people don't buy from them when actually they are legit and work fine. I have bought from CJS and other places before with no problems. Just look for key sellers that sell EU / region free /worldwide keys. Any mention of Russian then stay well away.

blueshift · 1 Apr 2013 at 16:12

I tried playing it with the VPN on all the time,,
But just gets stuck on the update launch box, so i gave up. lesson learnt.
Although i have purchased other games there without any probs?

MeMeMeMe · 1 Apr 2013 at 16:13

Sorry, CJS are no more legit than the russian key seller the OP used.
You've just been lucky you haven't been burned with them.

neoglow · 1 Apr 2013 at 16:22

MeMeMeMe said:
Sorry, CJS are no more legit than the russian key seller the OP used.
You've just been lucky you haven't been burned with them.

A divided community. I've never seen any proof that CJS etc are legit or not legit. Are GMG really legit? Who knows and we will never know but people use them and their keys work. But I bet there has been times when keys from GMG haven't worked for a customer.

Anyway, people will buy from wherever they want. Hence the OPs issue.

Garyj881 · 1 Apr 2013 at 16:36

To be clear, the game won't even install even with the vpn active.

I can't download or play with or without the vpn.

blueshift · 1 Apr 2013 at 16:38

Garyj881 said:
To be clear, the game won't even install even with the vpn active.

I can't download or play with or without the vpn.

yup same here mate, you,ll just have to buy it again to play it , like i did im afraid

ince · 1 Apr 2013 at 16:41

This is interesting. Normally you could download with VPN and play without.

neoglow · 1 Apr 2013 at 16:42

Garyj881 said:
To be clear, the game won't even install even with the vpn active.

I can't download or play with or without the vpn.

So the VPN allowed the game to be activated on steam and shows in your games list but it won't download the game files? You are using the VPN to try and download the game? It's strange how the VPN fooled steam to allow the game to activate but not download the files. Have you tried a different VPN?

Semiskimmed · 1 Apr 2013 at 16:42

first youll need to get valve to remove the russian version from your account. contact support, they will do this for you.