Poll: Moral Question about downloading...

[Jadak]

Older versions aren't. I still have a physical copy that only uses a locally checked CD-key, and in all likelihood pre-dates Steam.

Older versions of some games maybe, Medieval 2 has steam built into it from the start. You have to have it registered on steam to even play the game to begin with.

Its not that simple. Not all games that are on steam have the option to input your CD-Key. For example, I bought the Dawn of War Platinum Edition in stores, but only the vanilla game and Winter assault worked, while Dark Crusade wouldn't install due to a faulty disk. I tried to put in the Dark Crusade CD Key on steam, only to find out that its CD Key format was not supported

Read above. There's no reason what you described would work, steam does not generically support every game ever made for no reason. But some games, like all of those made by Valve and various others who signed on for it as a form of DRM, like Medieval 2, are not only supported by it but require it.


Edit:

Seems you (the first guy I quoted) may be correct and I have my timeline wrong. It does appear possible that Medieval 2 may not have required Steam from the start. However, it does appear Steam will support keys sold prior to that happening.

 

[vivster]

he said he sold the old pc with the copy in it
that means he gave it away
if voluntary or not doesn't matter

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Older versions aren't. I still have a physical copy that only uses a locally checked CD-key, and in all likelihood pre-dates Steam.

Older versions of some games maybe, Medieval 2 has steam built into it from the start. You have to have it registered on steam to even play the game to begin with.

Its not that simple. Not all games that are on steam have the option to input your CD-Key. For example, I bought the Dawn of War Platinum Edition in stores, but only the vanilla game and Winter assault worked, while Dark Crusade wouldn't install due to a faulty disk. I tried to put in the Dark Crusade CD Key on steam, only to find out that its CD Key format was not supported

Read above. There's no reason what you described would work, steam does not generically support every game ever made for no reason. But some games, like all of those made by Valve and various others who signed on for it as a form of DRM, like Medieval 2, are not only supported by it but require it.


Edit:

Seems you (the first guy I quoted) may be correct and I have my timeline wrong. It does appear possible that Medieval 2 may not have required Steam from the start. However, it does appear Steam will support keys sold prior to that happening.

Yep. Medieval 2 does not require Steam, and I have the Gold Edition to testify for that. All Total War Games from Empire onwards have required Steam for activation though. Some CD Key formats are not supported by Steam, such as the Dawn of War Games up to Soulstorm.