Steam / Brink

gbdtil1 · 26 May 2011 at 21:01

Hi all

Genuine dilemma this, not some shady pirate seeking out advice to do the games market out of a few quid!

Recently picked up a new copy of Brink but immediately lent it out to a mate as I was away on business for 2 weeks. Had the game returned to me last night and tried to install it, only to get as far as the key code which kept throwing up a message stating 'this game has already been activated under a different account and (then naturally) won't let me continue installing the game.

Anybody have any experience of this type of problem and if so, could you point me in the right direction to get it resolved. (My mate has stated he will try to remove from his steam account - not yet done - but we don't know if this will make a diffference).

I have email invoices of the purchase to prove genuine purchase but wonder whether there's a simple and legitimate solution to this?

Cheers in advance.....

PapaLazaru · 26 May 2011 at 21:03

You gave your mate the game so he used the key for himself now rendering it now useless you maybe?

Helveticat · 26 May 2011 at 21:05

I think you won't be able to get it back. It will be perma-locked to your friend's account now. Hopefully Steam consider the case and switch it over but I wouldn't be too hopeful mate.

Murray · 26 May 2011 at 21:05

Its your mates game now.

SS-89 · 26 May 2011 at 21:08

Ouch as above the game has been registered to your friends account, get him to buy you another copy.

PapaLazaru · 26 May 2011 at 21:12

Seriously though, you must have known how game keys work?

gbdtil1 · 26 May 2011 at 21:16

PapaLazaru said:
Seriously though, you must have known how game keys work?

Naively assumed that a simple uninstall would make everything good. Of course I understand the principles of key coding etc, just not the practical mechanics through steam.

Used key codes outside of steam for many other games and happily lent them to mates after I'd finished with them.

I guess I'll put that down to a lesson learned then! No point in returning it to mate - he thinks it's pants!

Komedy · 26 May 2011 at 21:48

gbdtil1 said:
... he thinks it's pants!

not a bad judge

gbdtil1 · 26 May 2011 at 22:25

Komedy said:
not a bad judge

subjective and maybe but I would have least liked to have been able to form my own opinion

linktoinsanity · 26 May 2011 at 23:09

gbdtil1 said:
I guess I'll put that down to a lesson learned then! No point in returning it to mate - he thinks it's pants!

He's got it permanently on his steam account now anyway.

You'll have to buy a new copy, and not lend it to a mate this time!

clippa · 26 May 2011 at 23:32

Komedy said:
not a bad judge

I'd say he was an idiot myself

Haven't been this wrapped up in a multiplayer game since cod 4.
Can't mention where as they are a competitor but you can get the pc version for 20 quid, gbdtil1. It's a GAME, there's a clue for you

Bizarre · 26 May 2011 at 23:36

If you have picture proof for steam support, they should recover your cd key within a few days.

Submit a ticket and in 1-3 days the game should disappear from your mates account and appear in yours.

Don't tell them you lent the game to your mate though!

Steam CD Key Reset Process:

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=1673-IDGK-4694

GL

Mal X · 26 May 2011 at 23:40

gbdtil1 said:
.
I guess I'll put that down to a lesson learned then! No point in returning it to mate - he thinks it's pants!

ha ha

you should've posted that on the Brink thread

orderoftheflame · 27 May 2011 at 07:24

Bizarre said:
If you have picture proof for steam support, they should recover your cd key within a few days.

Submit a ticket and in 1-3 days the game should disappear from your mates account and appear in yours.

Don't tell them you lent the game to your mate though!

Steam CD Key Reset Process:

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=1673-IDGK-4694

GL

And potentially get his mates account locked? :confused:

Evilsod · 27 May 2011 at 08:36

orderoftheflame said:
And potentially get his mates account locked?

Yeah thats what I thought...

Cut your losses and either get a new copy or play it on his account for a bit.

Sunbed · 27 May 2011 at 10:10

Ask your mate for his login details so you can play it.

gbdtil1 · 27 May 2011 at 13:34

ok guys, thanks for some of the input here. Was tempted for a moment to pursue the reset option mentioned by Bizarre but wouldn't want to cause any potential problems with my mates account.

As stated, I'll cut losses here and buy a new one - seeking out the 20 quid deal mentioned.

Cheers

Bizarre · 28 May 2011 at 17:44

orderoftheflame said:
And potentially get his mates account locked?

Support will be able to tell that it's a UK serial and therefore realise the duplicate key issue could be down to something as simple as a mess up at the store. It's highly unlikey his mate will have his account disabled for it.

It's not like he'd be issuing a chargeback, or that the key is a G2Play/Russian key bought over the internet, which would raise suspicion and no doubt get his account locked.

What'd be more likely is the game would still show in his mates account but when he clicked on it to play it'd take him to the Steam store to repurchase it. Fair do's to the OP for taking the safer route though.

Soz for bumping this thread btw, I just felt like getting that off my chest to show there was method in my madness, and of course to help you with your confusion.

Evilsod · 28 May 2011 at 18:42

Bizarre said:
Support will be able to tell that it's a UK serial and therefore realise the duplicate key issue could be down to something as simple as a mess up at the store. It's highly unlikey his mate will have his account disabled for it.

It's not like he'd be issuing a chargeback, or that the key is a G2Play/Russian key bought over the internet, which would raise suspicion and no doubt get his account locked.

What'd be more likely is the game would still show in his mates account but when he clicked on it to play it'd take him to the Steam store to repurchase it. Fair do's to the OP for taking the safer route though.

Soz for bumping this thread btw, I just felt like getting that off my chest to show there was method in my madness, and of course to help you with your confusion.

Really? You'd bet a mates steam account on that would you? If it became obvious that you'd lent the game to a mate, he'd played it for a bit, then claimed the account key you owned was in use, someone is likely to end up worse off for it. Especially as you would surely have each other on steam.

Bizarre · 28 May 2011 at 19:19

Evilsod said:
Really? You'd bet a mates steam account on that would you?

No, but I still believe it's unlikey the account would be disabled. I'm not sure how it would become obvious to Steam that "you'd lent the game to a mate, he'd played it for a bit, then claimed the account key you owned was in use", though.

Out of interest, I wonder how many games his mate has on his account, as I can't see him being an avid user of Steam if he wasn't clued up enough to know that the game is tied to your account once you've inputted the serial.

If he only has a few games then screw him, he can lose his account. He should have knew better than to use up my Brink serial.