Used Computer Games

Ok, so I was looking on ebay and saw that there are a lot of listings for used computer games, but I thought today's games are coded where you can't install on more than one computer? Are these sellers on ebay a scam or is the one game per one computer just propaganda?

 

Under the EULA agreement when you install a game, it's usually one copy per computer. Legally when a person sells the game, they have to uninstall their copy from their computer as well. But whether or not this actually happens is another issue.

 

so there is a risk buying used games?

 

what risk?! just buy the game if u like it...man, u guys need to chill out with all the legal "issues"

 

There might be some issue with the new games that are coming out with the activation keys. I think they get registered to the original owner, which might cause some issues when you are trying to activate it for yourself.

 

yeah, i don't mean like "oh no, i might get caught" risk i mean if it is set up where it won't run on my computer because it's activated on another

 

as for myself, i'm not familiar with any games as of today that I played that would require only one license per computer...

 

Anything Steam would do that. So good luck buying a used copy of HL2, for example...

Same with Bioshock, it seems. Anything that uses an element of online activation might be a problem.

 

yeah, my bad, forgot about the online keys, but as long as it is a legit one, it's cool.... that's probably why i never get to play any of my games online lol

 

You can actually buy used copies of Steam games, just it's a big hassle because you have to go through all this nonsense with Steam people to get it transfered over and such. That's a whole different story then the norm though.

Unless the game is like, for example, Tribes 2 or Bioshock, where the CD Key has to be registered somewhere online to the original purchase/install, the only real legal worry goes to the person selling it for Fraud and/or legal action at duplicating/pirating the game.

So do your homework on the game, and the seller if it's from ebay, and you should know if you'll have any trouble or not.

 

if im buying a game from ebay i make sure that it is one that i'm not going to play online or that it is brand new!

 

Age of Empires III is a game that you don't want to buy second hand if you plan on playing online. It allows only one online account per CD key, so unless the user also gives you their account, or hasn't created one, it's useless to buy second-hand. I don't know of any other games that do this yet.

CD keys also are critical - the game's worthless if they give you the disc but not the CD key. EA and Microsoft games tend to use CD keys; I don't know of any others that do off the top of my head.