magmoose May 16, 2016 @ 11:59pm
noob question about codes?
lol so i went to a garage sale the other day and got about 100 games some in cases some loose and 50 cd's (like regular music cd's) and a lot fo these games have working steam codes. can i use them? i mean the owner obviously didnt use steam but can i use the codes? i mean technically i bought them but... idk i feel like its not right in a way? lol basically is this legal? haha

lol i just dont want to have my account banned/locked for redeeming someone elses games maybe they use their receipts for a complaint?

idk how it all works but ive never done this before at least not where i had codes from some random person and all that but still any help would be appreciated
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Showing 1-8 of 8 comments
Little T May 17, 2016 @ 12:19am 
We'll
They are your steam cards now so u can obviously youse them 😀😀😀
magmoose May 17, 2016 @ 12:29am 
Originally posted by fauxtronic:
You can try them, but most won't work.

This is a list of retail CD keys that can be activated on Steam but it's not comprehensive and if they've already been activated then they won't work.
no they all work except the old ones that are games for windows codes from like 2008 e.x fallout 3, and the like. i all the ones that do have the codes for steam havent been activated (ik a lot of people who dont trust/use steam so its not surprising) i just wasnt sure if i wanted to activate them or not because i dont want to somehow get in trouble >< i mean i doubt they kept the codes if they didnt use them but still you know better to be cautious and keep my account then be reckless and lose all 100+ of my games lol
Calzs May 17, 2016 @ 12:32am 
Well he sold them to you, if he didn't use them, they're yours! Surely?
magmoose May 17, 2016 @ 12:34am 
Originally posted by Calzs:
Well he sold them to you, if he didn't use them, they're yours! Surely?
lol well still id like an affirmative answer i mean theres like 30 steam codes all games i dont own >< so idk lol i dont want my account like deleted or something cus of some games i got lol. i mean i got about 100 games anywhere from 1996-2014 and idk. lol like i said i just dont want to get in trouble for it lol although 30 more games would be awesome :P
Calzs May 17, 2016 @ 12:36am 
Originally posted by Ma9nUs Gaming:
Originally posted by Calzs:
Well he sold them to you, if he didn't use them, they're yours! Surely?
lol well still id like an affirmative answer i mean theres like 30 steam codes all games i dont own >< so idk lol i dont want my account like deleted or something cus of some games i got lol. i mean i got about 100 games anywhere from 1996-2014 and idk. lol like i said i just dont want to get in trouble for it lol although 30 more games would be awesome :P

I'm not sure how you can get in trouble, it's not like you've stole them, you bought them off him, he wouldn't be able to reedem them now anyway as he has no code.
Last edited by Calzs; May 17, 2016 @ 12:36am
Pheace May 17, 2016 @ 12:47am 
Originally posted by Ma9nUs Gaming:
Originally posted by Calzs:
Well he sold them to you, if he didn't use them, they're yours! Surely?
lol well still id like an affirmative answer i mean theres like 30 steam codes all games i dont own >< so idk lol i dont want my account like deleted or something cus of some games i got lol. i mean i got about 100 games anywhere from 1996-2014 and idk. lol like i said i just dont want to get in trouble for it lol although 30 more games would be awesome :P

I'd honestly be surprised if someone had a stash of ~30 games that came with Steam codes to activate and yet had the game standalone on the CD/DVD without requiring Steam for updates or anything.

Also, you claim the codes haven't been used but that's because he told you so I assume? There's no other way you can come to that conclusion since you can't verify Steam codes without using them, which is a one time thing.

Either way, you're probably fine. Only way that could be a problem if he has a picture of the game + key + original receipts. That's the only way he can prove he's supposedly the owner at this point since you'd have the game + key too now. I wouldn't worry about it. Doesn't sound worth doing anyway.
Last edited by Pheace; May 17, 2016 @ 12:49am
J4MESOX4D May 17, 2016 @ 3:08am 
If the games aren't sealed in their box; you have to assume they have already been used and the keys are worthless. Your account can be locked for fraudulent activity if you attempt to activate fake wallet codes, fake game key codes or ones that have already been used in quantity within a short period of time. All attempts made are tracked and any suspicious activity will see your account temporarily locked and the only resolution would be to contact Support.

I'd personally try activating three keys and if they have all been used; bin/return the rest of the games and try and get your money back from the seller.
magmoose May 17, 2016 @ 11:29am 
Originally posted by fauxtronic:
Originally posted by Ma9nUs Gaming:
no they all work except...


How do you know they work? I thought you hadn't tried them yet.

Originally posted by J4MESOX4D:
If the games aren't sealed in their box; you have to assume they have already been used and the keys are worthless. Your account can be locked for fraudulent activity if you attempt to activate fake wallet codes, fake game key codes or ones that have already been used in quantity within a short period of time. All attempts made are tracked and any suspicious activity will see your account temporarily locked and the only resolution would be to contact Support.

I'd personally try activating three keys and if they have all been used; bin/return the rest of the games and try and get your money back from the seller.


Originally posted by fauxtronic:
Originally posted by Ma9nUs Gaming:
no they all work except...


How do you know they work? I thought you hadn't tried them yet.


Originally posted by Pheace:
Originally posted by Ma9nUs Gaming:
lol well still id like an affirmative answer i mean theres like 30 steam codes all games i dont own >< so idk lol i dont want my account like deleted or something cus of some games i got lol. i mean i got about 100 games anywhere from 1996-2014 and idk. lol like i said i just dont want to get in trouble for it lol although 30 more games would be awesome :P

I'd honestly be surprised if someone had a stash of ~30 games that came with Steam codes to activate and yet had the game standalone on the CD/DVD without requiring Steam for updates or anything.

Also, you claim the codes haven't been used but that's because he told you so I assume? There's no other way you can come to that conclusion since you can't verify Steam codes without using them, which is a one time thing.

Either way, you're probably fine. Only way that could be a problem if he has a picture of the game + key + original receipts. That's the only way he can prove he's supposedly the owner at this point since you'd have the game + key too now. I wouldn't worry about it. Doesn't sound worth doing anyway.

How do you know they work? I thought you hadn't tried them yet. [/quote]

well i screwed around with it because and i tried one but i never actually accepted them yet i just wanted to see what ones work. and surprisingly about 80% of them worked at least of the ones i do have that are steam codes. i however never accepted the code so they are still useable just not activated.

a lot of them were single player games such as fallout NV (which i bought previously so i already owned that strore bought but now i have a second code) and some other games. they did have steam codes but they were mainly single player games. that didnt exactly need the codes. as i said above there were a few that were actually used mainly some warhammer 40,000 games and dlc's as well as some other ones but i have roughly 25-35 that work (didnt count em just woke up so XD idr exactly) but theres some good games here, that i never played before.

and there were idk 10-20 that didnt have working codes. the rest of the codes were either for old websites/gaming programs such as "Games for Windows" that failed project you know the one :P and some were like dungeon keeper and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six (the original one) and dungeons and dragons: dragonshard etc those all had codes but for sites that now no longer are being used. there were also the games for windows games such as fallout 3 and an old medieval total war (original i believe) and some other older games from the GfW system.

but i did use one already that was medieval Total war II which actually didnt havea disk but the code was in there. so i am just using this as a test run XD if they have issues with it. i will gladly ask them to remove the game from my acc but thanks for all the help ill tell you if anything happens!
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Date Posted: May 16, 2016 @ 11:59pm
Posts: 8