I TRied to install FALLOUT 4 but all I got was steam.

[REHutch]

Brand new computer with only 1 game installed and the systems OS. I broke the seal on Fallout 4 and TRIED to install it from DVD. It asked me my STEAM Login which I gave and "Bob's your uncle" Steam was on my SDD. The problem was FALLOOUT 4, remember, the game I acutally paid for, was no where to be found. I checked the box it came in. No...it says 1 disk included but will have to dl some data from steam. Well. I have the disk. I dl the data - steam in fact. But FO4? No where to be found. I thought these kind of BS would be over when I started buying games rather then ummm....getting them else where. But no. They don't come with instructions any more either. I tried to open the run command and put in: E:\locations of steam D:DVD DRIVE - INSTALL and got nothing. I am very upset. New system a purchased game and all I get is steam. Can someone help me? I didn't have problems like this with GOG and Witcher 3. Please please help me.

[Bullet Proof]

So u did not buy from steam store in app ?

[Ogami]

Enter the activation key you got from your Fallout 4 retail package in Steam. That activates the game.
The disc only contains the Steam Installer, you need to install Steam, login, activate the Fallout 4 key and then download the game.
The game is way too big to fit on a single disc and Bethesda was too cheap to include multiple discs in the retail package. So you have to download the whole game.

[Tev]

The game should've come with a CD-key that it's activated to Steam with. If you're Polish, there might be some launcher on the disc that the activation happens with (not sure if that applies to Fallout 4 specifically though.)

You know you can always check sites like http://pcgamingwiki.com before making your purchase as they show whatever DRMs the games use.

[Falsus Te Deum]

Many dev's are moving towards that then realesing box version of a New PC game only to have the activation code in the box or with activation code and steam/Origin/Uplay launcher. Disc with full games seem to start to disaper and becoming rare. I'm getting 50/50 on the few i buy in box version.

And almost all game in retail boxes requires a online platform to play Steam/Origin/Uplay.

[REHutch]

Sorry I dont know how to reply individal messages. I received the game ( a physical box with 1 DVD) as a gift. No where on the freaking thing does it say I have to dl the game. Most of the info in the box is about preventing seizures during game play. Plus a "Season Pass" with no explanation. No where does it say I have to get it from steam. Maybe in fine print I can't read on the box. And, yes, I do have a registration key. I just installed Witcher 3 and it makes you install Galaxy. Steam/Galaxy are fine if that is what you want but I think it is BS to make a game owner have to install it to dl a game. I was hopeing they'd put games on thumb drives when they sold them one day but I guess it is all going to dl from the net so they can save a few cents. Anyways That you for reponding to my angry frustrated plea because I would never have figured this out on my own.

Again Thank You

[REHutch]

OK, I guess I am a simpleton but HOW DO I ACTIVATE my FO4 Key? I went to STORE and found FO4 and started the purchase option but didn't see where to put my key. I looked in other places but no luck so far. Suggestions?

[Hanomaly]

at the very very bottom of the Steam client on the LEFT side it should say "+ Add a Game.."

Then you can pick "Activate a game on Steam".

~~ it's literally in the bottom most left of the Steam Client. There's probably another way to get to "Add my Game", but that's how i do it.

[Kelmenjar]

Top left of client - Games > Activate a Product on Steam

[REHutch]

Originally posted by Hanomaly:

at the very very bottom of the Steam client on the LEFT side it should say "+ Add a Game.."

Then you can pick "Activate a game on Steam".

~~ it's literally in the bottom most left of the Steam Client. There's probably another way to get to "Add my Game", but that's how i do it.

Thank you. It use to be I understood and even mastered games and their installataion. But I go without a gaming system for a year and it is like learning a new language. An when did no longer having a physical copy of a game you purchase become a good idea. OK, an EULA but still for $50 I'd think they could include a few DVDs or a thumb drive. I tell you in the even of an EMP from an atomic bomb everyone that depended on "the clould" for a back up will be sorry.<G>
But thank you again for your help and I'm glad it wasn't something I overlooked. "Add A Game" is kind of hiden at the bottom of my screen.

[REHutch]

Originally posted by Kelmenjar:

Top left of client - Games > Activate a Product on Steam

Thank you for your response. I had already added the game based on Hanomoly's advice but still I appreciate your reply. I did try to follow your directions however and was unable. I don't use Steam much so maybe I don't have the correct vocabulary to understand simple instuctions. I don't understand "top left of client." I did go to GAMES under LIBRARY but didn't see anything re activation of a product. But regardless of my shortcomings I am glad to see this is an active community and the people very helpful. Im still unsure if the problem is/was me or the difficulty in how to install FO4. Now I hope to play the game with no problems. I hope.

[The Giving One]

Digital downloaded game content is better. You cannot lose the disk or scratch it and the drive will not fail, in the case of Steam games.

All you have to do is install and play. No disks or thumb drives to worry about. Welcome to the new age.

[Cathulhu]

Well, Bethesda in their infinite wisdom decided to save money. So instead of pressing the whole game on multiple DVDs they just delivered a tiny fraction of the game and expect the user to download the rest of a not small game.
They didn't even consider the users that are either tied with volume based contracts and/or very slow internet connections.

[Falsus Te Deum]

EA's Mass effect Andromeda does not even include the startprogrram on disk. All that is is a online code. A dvd box, but only a basic TOS and code. All is downloaded from Origion platform.