Skyrim key codes

[Avelora]

Ok I want to buy Skyrim for my son for his B-day, I got my copy brand new off ebay, i've had no issues.

My questions is...If the game is used and the keycode is used is it useable by anyone else??...im thinking no, and do you have to have a Steam acct to load it in and play??

[Amycus]

Pretty sure that it is linked with your steam account once you use it, so that would be a "no" to your first question... And as your second question, unfortunately yes. Bethesda put steam as a kind of DRM, which means that no matter where you buy it, how you buy it (provided that it's a legal copy), any PC version will REQUIRE you to use steam (with an account) to play. Whether you want to or not.

[Avelora]

Cool, thank you, I was pretty sure it was no on my first question...people are trying to sell used copies on ebay and I just didnt want to mess up...Steam is fine with me that was more or less kinda wondering :-)

[Amycus]

That would be quite the scam. They can install and play the game as much as they like once they use the key (which is nontransferrable). The disc itself is actually completely - useless. Even WITH the key, unless Bethesda has fixed it. On release date I know several people who complained that despite buying the retail version, and despite having all the game data on the disc, ready to install, steam would completely ignore that and download the game (with a looong waiting time) just as if you had bought it digitally instead. When you buy the retail version, you are basically paying for an oversized box for a steam code for the game.

Now, if you can find a CHEAP oversized box for that steamcode, compared from buying it digitally, then that is completely ok as long as it's new. Just a bit odd situation in my opinion.

EDIT: A thread you might find interest in: http://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/780736-is-it-pirating-to-buy-skyrim-used/
(title is a bit misleading)

[Avelora]

Thank you very much I will check out the forum u linked :)