Review key?

[Imdur]

So, I just got a steam key for a game which, when registered, had the word "review" at the end of it. So, I'm wondering, what's different about a steam review key? Does it have any drawbacks? Or is it just like any other steam key?

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: Clarification - the word "review" appeared when registering to steam, however, it does NOT appear like this in the library.

[Cheezus Crisp]

It's just like any other key. Those keys are given out to game reviewers and occasionally some other people get their hands on them and resell them instead.

[J4MESOX4D]

Depends on the game. If your key is a restricted version of the product then there isn't much you can do. Wherever you obtained it from, avoid in the future.

[Imdur]

Hmmm...who is right? Cheezus or J4mes?

[Kargor]

Publishers decide what their keys are called, and what they contain. Obviously, you got yours from one of those borderline-criminal sites, which got it from some guy who doesn't understand what review keys are for.

[Imdur]

Originally posted by Kargor:

Obviously, you got yours from one of those borderline-criminal sites

Obviously... /s

[cinedine]

Apart from the possibility of it being restricted and unsupported these keys may also be revoked at some point in time.
I second J4MESOX4D avoid whoever you got the key from in the future. They are a bad player in the market.

[SeansShow]

I've had umpteen of them, it's just an internal tag used by devs when setting up the keys and occassionally they end up mixed in with retail keys.

I've got retail keys on this account which had demo, alpha, beta, early access in the name years after they hit retail in some instances, I've probably had review as well on some of them.

None were from garbage key resellers, they were bought at retail from authorised sellers.

If there's any issue with your key being pulled if you bought it from an authorised key retailer it would be as easy as going to them and explaining the situation if there ever is an issue.

[Sazzouu]

Originally posted by Imdur:

Hmmm...who is right? Cheezus or J4mes?

Cheesus
The reason...
Actual review versions do not refer to the final game. So basically you can have two versions of the same game in your library.

[Imdur]

Originally posted by SeansShow:

I've had umpteen of them, it's just an internal tag used by devs when setting up the keys and occassionally they end up mixed in with retail keys.

I've got retail keys on this account which had demo, alpha, beta, early access in the name years after they hit retail in some instances, I've probably had review as well on some of them.

None were from garbage key resellers, they were bought at retail from authorised sellers.

If there's any issue with your key being pulled if you bought it from an authorised key retailer it would be as easy as going to them and explaining the situation if there ever is an issue.

Thanks for the info. I've been a part of betas/alphas in the past which led to the game being permanent on my account, so, perhaps this will be the same.

[cinedine]

Originally posted by BeatZ:

Originally posted by Imdur:

Hmmm...who is right? Cheezus or J4mes?

Cheesus
The reason...
Actual review versions do not refer to the final game. So basically you can have two versions of the same game in your library.

Which also means J4MESOX4D is right. Because there is no reason to support the review version with patches/updates and DLC and they might run on different servers for the MP.

The only true answer is: it depends on the game.

[Imdur]

Originally posted by cinedine:

Originally posted by BeatZ:

Cheesus
The reason...
Actual review versions do not refer to the final game. So basically you can have two versions of the same game in your library.

...there is no reason to support the review version with patches/updates and DLC and they might run on different servers for the MP.

I seriously doubt that to be true. Logically, if it's a review version, it should have the exact same content as any other version, otherwise reviews would be based on versions that don't keep up with a public version.

Just to clarify, my copy doesn't say the word "review" in my library. It said that when I activated it to my account, before installation.

[Sazzouu]

Originally posted by Imdur:

I seriously doubt that to be true. Logically, if it's a review version, it should have the exact same content as any other version, otherwise reviews would be based on versions that don't keep up with a public version.

Doubt whatever you want...
https://steamdb.info/search/?a=app&q=total+war%3A+rome+II&type=1&category=0

As you can see there are two version of the game Total War: Rome II.
The review version is the handout version for elected reviewers like Gamestar or whatever magazine you want to put in there as a developer / publisher. The normal version is what is viewable in the actual shop. But both games appear in your library IF you would activate them both.

The reason for actual review copies is basically not to ruin / fake / bloat your "sold copies" count and of course not to crush your games value.

PS: I picked that specific game because a friend of mine was a reviewer at Gamestar at some point and at first I was jealous that he had the game for free, while I saw at the shop page that he did not own the actual game for some reason.

PPS: And I am not talking about the reviews on Steam. Those review versions would not appear on storefronts anyways so they do not have a review system. It is for named magazines to make their webpages for a game while not giving them access to the actual game you know?

EDIT:
Here is another example with Sleeping Dogs
https://steamdb.info/search/?a=app&q=sleeping+dogs&type=1&category=0

Originally posted by Imdur:

Just to clarify, my copy doesn't say the word "review" in my library. It said that when I activated it to my account, before installation.

I know what you mean and the answer to that is simple...

Originally posted by Kargor:

Publishers decide what their keys are called, and what they contain.

Publishers these days do not take the effort to make seperate packages that contain a review version and the actual game. They simply make a batch of keys that they hand out manually to their reviewers and simply call them "WhatEverGame - Review" or something. But it does not have to be a specified review version or something

[Imdur]

Originally posted by BeatZ:

Originally posted by Imdur:

I seriously doubt that to be true. Logically, if it's a review version, it should have the exact same content as any other version, otherwise reviews would be based on versions that don't keep up with a public version.

Doubt whatever you want...
https://steamdb.info/search/?a=app&q=total+war%3A+rome+II&type=1&category=0

I understand why you posted that, however, I just searched for my own game and there is no review version. So, think of that what you will.

[Sazzouu]

Originally posted by Imdur:

I understand why you posted that, however, I just searched for my own game and there is no review version. So, think of that what you will.

You still dont read properly...

Originally posted by BeatZ:

I know what you mean and the answer to that is simple...

Originally posted by Kargor:

Publishers decide what their keys are called, and what they contain.

Publishers these days do not take the effort to make seperate packages that contain a review version and the actual game. They simply make a batch of keys that they hand out manually to their reviewers and simply call them "WhatEverGame - Review" or something. But it does not have to be a specified review version or something

I did not say there HAS TO BE a review version just because the key says so. Publishers can name their generated keys what ever they wanr

[Imdur]

Excuse me, Beatz, I read your reply just fine. However, the point is this - I don't see how this relates to my particular situation. And, it doesn't appear as if it does pertain to the situation I referenced. Just to be 100% clear, there is only one version of the game I have which is seen on steamdb, the site you posted. More than likely, the "review" title was merely a reference to the game title. At a guess, I would say that that title is a way of tracking a set of keys. It's just a guess, though.

However, we can now leave it at that.