Non DRM games on Steam

[TheEvilMetal]

Before I had access to online purchases I was forced to go into a store to purchase games. Some games ran with Steam such as my retail copy of Skyrim. Some games required a uPlay account such as my retail copy of Assassins Creed 3. Some games had absolutely no DRM and only needed the CD key to run such as my retail copy of The Witcher 2: Enhanced Edition.

Is there some way to get games such as that added to my Steam library without having to repurchase the game via the Steam store? I still have most of my games original boxes and manuals and CD keys for proof if it's needed. Could those games be added to my account with those keys? And on another note could I have my Assassins Creed 3 be attached to my Steam account as well as my uPlay account the same way Far Cry 3 is. It runs with steam and the overlay, but launches uPlay and also has the uPlay overlay.

[Lucid]

First, attempt to activate the CD Key in Steam (this sometimes works). Otherwise your only option is to create shortcuts to the games in steam. Just drag a shortcut to your library. This will mearly use steam as a launcher; no sync, cloud, etc...

[TeKraken]

Some keys work. Not sure how old this list is:

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7480-wusf-3601

[TheEvilMetal]

I tried activating the key (long before this thread was started) and it says invalid key and The Witcher 2 isn't on that list. As for having the game as a shortcut.. That's what I've got now, but not what I'm looking for. The overlay isn't worth starting a thread. I'm looking for DRM protection on games that currently have none.

[TeKraken]

The overlay question has been asked before. It seems it depends on the game.

http://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/666827315553082666/

But IDK as I dont use it very often.

[fiksaq2]

?

[TheEvilMetal]

The way I see Steam is as a way to keep my games safe and attached to me and my account. If my house were to burn down and all my game disks and manuals and CD keys were to be destroyed I would still own the games on my Steam account and be able to download them on a new computer. But for games such as my copy of The Witcher I wouldn't own the game anymore. The disk and CD key, the very things that mean I own the game, would have been destroyed. My saying I want DRM protection on games that have none I want them to be attached to my account so that I will always own what I have bought. As for the Steam overlay... I don't care. I really couldn't care less about the overlay. I don't use it. It makes no difference to me. It is not relevant to this thread. Having what I own attached to my account is what this thread is about.

[enamel]

Some games come with Steam keys, but the vast majority of non-Steam games do not, and therefore cannot be "Steamified" in the way you are describing.

I think you are confused about what DRM is tho, it has nothing to do with storage and access of your games in the cloud. Games shipped on disk had DRM long before the Internet was widespread.

[TheEvilMetal]

Owning a disk means nothing. I own 2 copies of Titan Quest disks, but since I have lost the CD keys I cannot play it (online). If the CD should be destroyed I can download a standalone installer, but it's still useless without the CD key. It's the CD key that means I own the game. There should be some way to attach that CD key to Steam. Whether it's for Titan Quest or The Witcher 2

[TheEvilMetal]

enamel lähetti viestin:

Some games come with Steam keys, but the vast majority of non-Steam games do not, and therefore cannot be "Steamified" in the way you are describing.

I would never expect a non-steam game to be "Steamified", but seeing as this game is actually a product on Steam it should be possible to add it to my account with my valid CD key.

[enamel]

You could request a Steam key from the developer/publisher. It is up to them, the worst they can say is no.

[TheEvilMetal]

enamel lähetti viestin:

You could request a Steam key from the developer/publisher. It is up to them, the worst they can say is no.

Finally a useful comment.
Another thought that occured to me is that when you purchase a game (say Skyrim) instore and try activate it on Steam, but get a duplicate code error you can query it with Steam with proof that you own the game (picture of the box and CD key and disk) and have the game removed from whoever redeemed the code's account and attached to yours. Perhaps the same sort of thing could be done here. I have proof that I own the game (disk, CD key, box, box case, manual)

[Marble]

The problem is that there is a difference between online keys and printed ones.

Online ones only become active once the purchase has been made, while printed ones are active as soon as they are released and the key verification is usually done locally rather than via an online service, meaning they are broken by hackers pretty quickly, followed by a flood of key generators. There simply isn't a way to activate these sorts of keys with an online system unless they had online-service activation in mind from the start.

[Smebb]

Spreadsheet with CD Keys and ISOs stored on a Cloud storage platform (like Amazon, Dropbox, or some CDN) or rent a dedicated server with enough space. Or host your own backup system of the disks.

Too expensive? Time consuming? So is running the Steam service.

[TheEvilMetal]

TPI Smebb lähetti viestin:

Spreadsheet with CD Keys and ISOs stored on a Cloud storage platform (like Amazon, Dropbox, or some CDN)

One of the better responses in his thread. If I can find a place to upload where I have enough space I'll be doing that. I know there's ways to get free extra space on dropbox so that's a possibility

[tmwfte]

It's doubtful that CDR will issue you a Steam key. You can, however, register your key for a digital backup through GOG (which technically is also CDR): http://www.gog.com/witcher/backup