Possible to buy used CD Key and play it?

I am not asking for crack or cd key.

I was wondering if I bought the used game from ebay/amazon and they registered the cd key under their account, would I be able to use the cd key and use it register it under steam (COD4) after I physcially receive the game?

 

no, in fact, steam is very adimant that games/ keys used in steam are not allowed to be resold (it is illegal)
and im not just saying, no dont do it, im sayin it wouldnt work either, the key is not registered to the CD, its registered to their online account system.

 

Nope...if a game is registered with steam, it is stuck on that account forever. Of course you can try contacting steam about it, but no sure if the seller of the game will be friendly about it...

 

SP yes,online no.

 

Wait a second, how can you play a Steam game without Steam? I'm pretty sure that would be a crack.

 

Well COD4 is not necessarily a steam game, even though it is available from steam, you can get it from shops too.

 

hold on guy, for COD4, I bought an unused cd key from ebay and it was legit, i don't need steam to play online.

 

it's just a bit of a gamble buying games on ebay, don't you think?

 

the guy had over 150 100% feedbacks on COD4 particularly

 

well, thats a good one)

 

150 feedbacks on one game?

 

actually 295 feedbacks
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...S&iid=110248140401&item=110248140401&frm=1883

 

I borrowed COD4 for PC from a friend (I already have it on 360 and play live with it, but i just want to try it out on the pc), i took out the disc and tried playing with it, and it worked, it just won't play single-player, it can play multiplayer without the disc

 

If it's a Valve game, or one that is strictly distributed by Steam (or requires steam for online play) then no, you cannot use a "used" key...unless the person you buy it from has the original receipt or the original CD-key.

You can see the details here:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=1673-IDGK-4694

 

Excluding games actually registered through Steam (those require a once-only CD key) CD keys are hit and miss, some games only authenticate the CD while you're playing online, while others authenticate once and stay authenticated

I think.....

 

Nirvana,

Were you able to register your CD key into the your STEAM account?

 

you can't register a retail key with steam to play without the CD on your computer. if you want the steam version of the game, you have to buy it from steam directly.

a retail key theoretically can be used to install and play online and single player. you will also need the disc. you also will have to trust the seller to not use the key.

 

you guy do realize that COD4 multiplayer does not require CD right?

 

There are alot of games that have CD Keys tied to them and if somebody goes to sell the game and there key comes with it then its totally possible.

Some greedy companies may say its not moral or what ever but you can still do it with the exception of stuff like steam where its tied to your account as a person and not just a key.

However know that in buying a used key you buy its history, so if it has been temp banned 5 times and on its final warning, you may end up banned for something small, ect.

 

It's definitely possible to register a used cd-key with steam. Just email Steam tech support a photo of yourself and the cd key and they should put the game into your account. S'what I did and it worked out fine.

 

I purchased one off of eBay for $5; which works fine. Although the seller is selling plenty of them, he doesn't have as many feedback as the above seller.

 

you can take a picture of the original jewel insert with your cdkey and they will reset the key to your own steam account