I Hate Steam So Much Right Now

[Dinoman]

A little while back, I bought a cheap copy of Civ 5 on PC DVD-ROM from a thrift store. I was so excited because this is a game I've been wanting to play for a bit now. I have tried the install several times now, and each time Steam opens up with the error "An error occured while installing AppID 0: "invalid backup path". After doing a bit of research, I found out that I didn't buy a video game. I bought a box with a fancy steam install that most likely has already been redeemed. This is total bs. When I buy a game for my Xbox 360, it doesn't matter how many people have played it before me, I can still play it. And it doesn't really advertise this either, there's a tiny blurb in the back near the copyright stuff that says "Internet connection and acceptance of Steam Agreement required for activation" in a very tiny font. I hate this so much. Why the hell would I buy a storage disc if I didn't want to buy the game? I like being able to own games. I know this won't change anything, but if there's any chance you're reading this, Mr. Newell, this is a really stupid system. If I want to purchase a Steam Game, I'll log into Steam and buy it. If I want a fancy box, I'll go onto amazon and find a fancy box (this box isn't even that fancy). But if I want to own the files that make up a video game, as well as have the programs required to run said game on a portable storage device, I'll buy a physical copy of the game. To the people involved in making this ROM, I hope you get a little bit congested every time you're about to fall asleep tonight. I'm out, thanks for reading my rant.

EDIT:
I would like to emphasize that I’m not mad at Steam because I bought a used redeem code. I don’t know whose fault that is, maybe mine, maybe the store’s maybe the guy who donated it instead of throwing it away, or most likely a mix of the thee. I’m mad because I bought a physical copy of a game expecting to get a physical copy of the game, and I think it’s stupid that Valve and EA would make this and have it look like any other DVD-ROM. There is no purpose to this other than greed, and for that they should be ashamed.

[Muppet among Puppets]

Load steam from the homepage, and add the key of the game to steam. When steam is running, down left, add game.

[d3str0y3r]

There is nothing Valve can do about this as they do not have any rights to Civ 5 and have nothing to do with physical media being sold for it.

It is very rare in to find physical games for pc that have the game's files, almost all are just an activation code for Steam. This is a choice made by the game's devs/publishers not Valve.

As you have just learned it is best to not buy physical pc games. If the key has been used Valve will not and cannot give you a new license key and it's very unlikely the devs will.

Game devs do not like the second hand market. This is why everything is switching to a digital only. Before long Xbox and PlayStation will be like this too.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Dinoman:

I Hate Steam So Much Right Now

A little while back, I bought a cheap copy of Civ 5 on PC DVD-ROM from a thrift store. I was so excited because this is a game I've been wanting to play for a bit now. I have tried the install several times now, and each time Steam opens up with the error "An error occured while installing AppID 0: "invalid backup path". After doing a bit of research, I found out that I didn't buy a video game. I bought a box with a fancy steam install that most likely has already been redeemed. This is total bs. When I buy a game for my Xbox 360, it doesn't matter how many people have played it before me, I can still play it. And it doesn't really advertise this either, there's a tiny blurb in the back near the copyright stuff that says "Internet connection and acceptance of Steam Agreement required for activation" in a very tiny font. I hate this so much. Why the hell would I buy a storage disc if I didn't want to buy the game? I like being able to own games. I know this won't change anything, but if there's any chance you're reading this, Mr. Newell, this is a really stupid system. If I want to purchase a Steam Game, I'll log into Steam and buy it. If I want a fancy box, I'll go onto amazon and find a fancy box (this box isn't even that fancy). But if I want to own the files that make up a video game, as well as have the programs required to run said game on a portable storage device, I'll buy a physical copy of the game. To the people involved in making this ROM, I hope you get a little bit congested every time you're about to fall asleep tonight. I'm out, thanks for reading my rant.

That's not Steam's fault.

2K Games & Aspyr decided to make their physical copies basically coasters with Steam redeemable keys.

[Ferox_Stormdragon]

most pc games on physical discs from about 2005/2006 onwards are steam installs, in future when buying pc games READ the back of the box especially the lower half

if your buying 2nd hand pc games and the text "requires online activation", requires steam or EA/ubisoft/2k/activision account required is there on the back, don't bother

[rawWwRrr]

Originally posted by Dinoman:

I'll buy a physical copy of the game. To the people involved in making this ROM, I hope you get a little bit congested every time you're about to fall asleep tonight. I'm out, thanks for reading my rant.

There is no physical media anymore. It's all online. Anything that you can find on CD/DVD/Bluray/floppy is all old and outdated.

I recently bought the DOOM Anthology[gear.bethesda.net] because I wanted the BFG that came with it. Also in the box was a steel book jewel case much like you get with special edition movies. All that's inside is a warranty booklet and a single piece of paper with a Steam activation key on it.

Long gone are the days of games on physical media. You need to get with the times.

[Haruspex]

You're about 21 years too late. You sound a bit like I did when I bought Half Life 2. I didn't want to install this "Steam" thing. I just wanted to play the game I bought a physical copy of. It also didn't help matters that I was on dial-up Internet at the time and the game wouldn't let me play without first downloading an update. I had to bring my desktop to work to get things updated so I could bring it home and play in offline mode. I was absolutely livid.

Consoles too are getting away from physical media. There are consoles sold now without a disk drive for optical media. Retailers are phasing out their physical media sections. Sony just announced they're ceasing production of Blu-Ray media. Like it or not, the present and future of media is digitally distributed.

Civ V regularly goes on sale for about the price of a decent sandwich. The Spring sale starts soon, so keep an eye out.

[nullable]

Originally posted by Dinoman:

Ao the people involved in making this ROM, I hope you get a little bit congested every time you're about to fall asleep tonight. I'm out, thanks for reading my rant.

LOL the game is fifteen years old, Firaxis made piles of money from it and Civ7 is out and you'd be silly to think anything has changed.

You've got other games on your account, you know digital distribution isn't some scam or burden. So it just seems like you're mad that your assumptions were wrong. And rather than admitting they were your assumptions, you're mad at Steam who doesn't have anything to do with Civ5 development, or physical distribution. (More assumptions: who's to blame). So your issue is with Firaxis and 2K games. And what's your issue exactly? You suddenly have opinions about how the game ends up on your HDD and is playable? If those bits don't come off the DVD they're less good are they?

I get it, what the heart wants is what the heart wants. But don't expect too much sympathy when you're being unreasonable or pedant. And ultimately how the game is distributed is a very minor issue to be hung up on.

[76561198407601200]

Originally posted by Dinoman:

A little while back, I bought a cheap copy of Civ 5 on PC DVD-ROM from a thrift store. I was so excited because this is a game I've been wanting to play for a bit now. I have tried the install several times now, and each time Steam opens up with the error "An error occured while installing AppID 0: "invalid backup path". After doing a bit of research, I found out that I didn't buy a video game. I bought a box with a fancy steam install that most likely has already been redeemed. This is total bs. When I buy a game for my Xbox 360, it doesn't matter how many people have played it before me, I can still play it. And it doesn't really advertise this either, there's a tiny blurb in the back near the copyright stuff that says "Internet connection and acceptance of Steam Agreement required for activation" in a very tiny font. I hate this so much. Why the hell would I buy a storage disc if I didn't want to buy the game? I like being able to own games. I know this won't change anything, but if there's any chance you're reading this, Mr. Newell, this is a really stupid system. If I want to purchase a Steam Game, I'll log into Steam and buy it. If I want a fancy box, I'll go onto amazon and find a fancy box (this box isn't even that fancy). But if I want to own the files that make up a video game, as well as have the programs required to run said game on a portable storage device, I'll buy a physical copy of the game. To the people involved in making this ROM, I hope you get a little bit congested every time you're about to fall asleep tonight. I'm out, thanks for reading my rant.

You hate Steam due to your shortsightedness? Seems logical.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

OP I tell you few things right now.
1. If you didn't bother to read the back of the case, it clearly gave you all the information you needed before buying it, even tell you it's a ONE-TIME at the bottom. If you're NEW to PC, or basically just learning this now, games since 2010 became VERY common to come with a KEY, or auto launcher with key to activate your game on Steam.

2. If you want to buy HARD copies of the games, read the back of the case, check for DRM that the MAIN KEY POINT you want to look for is DRM if it tied to any store, or client online that need you to make an account to activate the game. So take this as a lesson don't jump to buy a USED PC games that has DRM.

3. If you wanted Cid V you could've got the COMPLETE edition with ALL DLCs for $12. Yes this is a Steam key.
https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/sid-meiers-civilization-v-complete-edition-aspyr

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

It even was on sale here for $10.04 during the Winter Sale.

[******]

bruh i have 0% trust factor

[29933545203998740]

You are not wrong, OP.

[Anonymous Helper]

Base Civilization V game has gone for as low as 2.06€ previously according isthereanydeal site and is currently on sale for 6.89€ on Fanatical. Complete edition of the game has been bundled many times in the past and I'm sure it will be offered in future bundles as well.

As other have said, there is no point in looking at physical copies on PC at this point as they all are tied to one platform or another (mostly Steam) and digital copies are sold dirt cheap few years after release.

[matt]

The first answer is the best one. Just find the key code and manually enter it into the Steam client. That should bypass whatever install program is bombing out.

If you can't get it to work, try following the instructions you get. I got an error once, and it was a bit stressful. It said to try again in an hour, and when I did, it worked fine.

If you truly can't redeem the game at all, contact Steam support.

[Tito Shivan]

Originally posted by matt:

The first answer is the best one. Just find the key code and manually enter it into the Steam client. That should bypass whatever install program is bombing out.

If OP got the game from a thrift store he'll be lucky if the key isn't already redeemed.

I've heard lots of "I bought this game on a garage-sale/thrift/second-hand store, but Steam says the CD-Key is already in use".