PC database questions

[Sirgin]

most if not all valve games are one use

But you can have those tied to your Steam account, right? So when you change machines (or re-install Windows) you can download and install them again.

[techwizard]

ya but i'm not talking about limitations of one use for a game you bought new and want on multiple pcs, i mean if you buy pc games used especially with valve you're not likely to get a working copy. i have a stack of about 8 valve games that i bought and they force you to go through steam, but each one says duplicate product key, already in use.

[bombatomba]

Ahh, I see, one user meaning that when you buy Half Life 2 and enter the code it ties itself to a single account on Steam and cannot be transferred to another user. 

Yeah, some modern games (especially digital ones) are user/account based, though in honesty that doesn't seem to stem the piracy at all.  Kind of a shame, but older games are much more fun to pick up anyways.

[techwizard]

i miss the days when product keys didn't even require an internet connection and could be used infinetly

[Sirgin]

ya but i'm not talking about limitations of one use for a game you bought new and want on multiple pcs, i mean if you buy pc games used especially with valve you're not likely to get a working copy. i have a stack of about 8 valve games that i bought and they force you to go through steam, but each one says duplicate product key, already in use.

Oh, right! I see what you mean now. Yeah, that's true though. For Valve games, I'd just buy 'em new when they go on sales during the holiday period. I believe they pack them up in bundles so you can get all of their games in one go.

[bombatomba]

i miss the days when product keys didn't even require an internet connection and could be used infinetly

And that is why I collect old PC games!

Oh, right! I see what you mean now. Yeah, that's true though. For Valve games, I'd just buy 'em new when they go on sales during the holiday period. I believe they pack them up in bundles so you can get all of their games in one go.

Me too.  I get so many games on those Steam sales that I almost feel guilty.  I mean, all those games so cheap...

For the past three years the OddBoxx (all the Oddworld games) has been about $2.00 at the Steam Holiday sale, and each year I pass it up in favor of something else.  This year may be the year I finally go for it.