Bioshock.. Can't activate on steam?

I just bought Bioshock for PC today from Best Buy for 25$!!!

Which is exciting.

But since I saw it was being sold on Steam, I figured I could use the CD key to activate it on steam, which is extremely useful if you lose the DVD or otherwise, and lets you update easily, and also play with no DVD in the tray.

I typed my code in.

Not accepted?

I installed the game and tried again. Still no deal.

I went on steams website, is it true that it is not supported for downloads/activations/etc?

 

Yup. Retail and Steam versions are separate. You can't activate the game on Steam using a retail key. You can, however, add it as a "non-Steam game" (under the "Games" menu at the top), just like you can do with any other game.

PS: Your icon frightens me.

 

Kind of strange that they are separate. :[

 

Bioshock is not valve = not getting $$ for retail sales. Any Valve software you buy you can use the code to get it on steam. Same problem I had with Dawn of War, it wouldn't take the code

 

yeah if you buy it through steam then valve takes a cut. that is why. you should really be able to pay the "cut" portion to valve though, for them to add the game to your account, but i guess there is not a big market for that.

 

I don't see why it would be any use though. It's not like it's a MP game.

 

There would be for me. I bought SO many games that are now hosted on Steam that I wish I could activate on Steam instead of disk hunting. I'd pay the fee.

 

It's just nice to not have to worry about the DVD and serial key.

Say in 2 years when i have a nice desktop, I can't find the key.

If it was on steam, I could just easily download it.

Plus, updates and all are much more handy on steam.

But I guess the 25$ price tag and not having to deal with a faulty download are more than worth it.