Is it pirating to buy Skyrim used?

[wuffser]

I had this question in my head for a while. It didn't bother me much at first. But then I began seeing a bunch of mod authors start talking about how their mods won't work on pirated copies of Skyrim.

 

I just wanted to know. Is it pirating to have got the game used? I bought this used from amazon for $40.

 

This may sound dumb but the issue really stems from the fact it always tries to install through steam (Even though I have the physical copy). And that causes issues obviously, I have bought countless games through steam, this is the first one to have a physical copy and use steam. It wouldn't let me install it because the key was already used(Duh). This forced me to go online and find a way to NOT install with steam. After that and I finally installed it I couldn't run it (Turns out the disk only possessed key components not updated online such as the skrimlauncher.exe) And was forced to go online and get the latest patch via torrent.

 

I did some further research and realized I wasn't the only one, many others where forced to do this (Even people who bought it brand new). This may seem stupid to post here about it but I really wanted to know. If the response is a ban then that's appropriate.

[Oubliette]

You can't buy Skyrim legally "used." Because of steam, each activation code for Skyrim is unique new codes are not given out along with the used disk and it's that's code that will allow you to log onto steam, update and validate your files so if the game has been installed somewhere before the activation code is invalidated for anyone else to use. It's not illegal to buy a used copy of Skyrim but since you still can't legally use this used copy, it should be illegal to sell a used copy.

 

Next time do your research before not after the purchase and find out if a game requires steam and then avoid the 'used' copy scam.

Edited September 11, 2012 by Oubliette

[JanusForbeare]

From the Skyrim EULA:

 

LICENSE CONDITIONS

 

You agree not to:

(a) Commercially exploit the Software;

(b) Distribute, lease, license, sell, rent or otherwise transfer or assign this Software, or any copies of this Software, without the express prior written consent of LICENSOR;

© Make copies of the Software or any part thereof, except for back up or archival purposes;

(d) Except as otherwise specifically provided by the Software or this Agreement, use or install the Software (or permit others to do same) on a network, for on-line use, or on more than one computer, computer terminal, or workstation at the same time;

(e) Copy the Software onto a hard drive or other storage device from the included DVD (although the Software may automatically copy a portion of itself onto your hard drive during installation in order to run more efficiently);

(f) Use or copy the Software at a computer gaming center or any other location-based site;

(g) Reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble or otherwise modify the Software, in whole or in part;

(h) Remove or modify any proprietary notices or labels contained on or within the Software; and/or

(i) Transport, export or re-export (directly or indirectly) into any country forbidden to receive such Software by any U.S. export laws or accompanying regulations or otherwise violate such laws or regulations, that may be amended from time to time.

 

As far as I can tell, the person who sold you the game broke the EULA, but you didn't. However, the game will not work for you without a unique, unused CD key, which you can't obtain without breaking the EULA.

 

Seeing as how you've been up front and honest about your situation, and that selling games second-hand is a long-established practice (albeit one that's becoming less common), I hope that the moderators don't ban you for this. The fact that you're out $40 should be punishment enough. :sad:

Edited September 11, 2012 by JanusForbeare

[TheUninvitedGuest]

Used copy sales a real grey area sometimes. On the one hand Game stores tend to encourage them, because they make a huge amount of money through used game sales. On the other hand Game developers tend to DIScourage them, because they usually make no revenue from the sale of used copies of their games. This is why in games such as Mass effect you will often have additional content that is only available to users who have bought the game new (through the one-time licensing key system).

 

Steam obviously eliminates this issue, and its just a shame that users are opened up to the possibility of buying an unusable disc-copy of a game when Steam is used in conjunction with the more traditional media.

 

I'm sorry this happened to you :( . It might be worth talking to Amazon about the issue...

[Staind716]

I had to edit my post supporting you. While it is terrible what happened to you and I feel for you for that reason and also refreshing to see such an open and honest admission, the reason I had to edit this was because of the reason why you did so.

 

If you had made this post because you felt guilty then I would have been comfortable showing some support. But as you stated, it didn't bother you until you found out you couldn't use mods with pirated copies. So in my opinion, you did the right thing for the wrong reasons. Sorry. :mellow:

Edited September 11, 2012 by Staind716

[wuffser]

Thank you all for understanding.

 

But this forces a new question. Why would Bethesda even bother to make physical copies of the game if it's only designed to be used ONCE? And obviously Amazon didn't care as there was well over 20+ used copies in circulation last I bought it (8-9 months after the initial release if I remember). I just don't understand that part. If they release a physical copy it is far out of their control, it will eventually be resold to another unlucky sap(such as myself) naively thinking all they have to do is pop it in update and play. They will obviously get pissed if they realized they can't play it and pirate it. And then DLC comes out as a digital copy/patch only ....

[TheUninvitedGuest]

A good question - I would guess because high speed internet is not yet wide spread enough for Bethesda to be sure that a game as popular as skyrim would not have its sales significantly effected by the lack of a physical media. Also I suspect it has something to do with marketing personally. They should perhaps provide additional keys at a lower cost (say $15) that could be combined with a pre-existing key - so that users such as yourself would have some route to play the game officially without having to buy it over again.

[wuffser]

That indeed would be most helpful. And make me far less guilt ridden about this. And in fact what you suggested earlier has been used a lot. Particularly with MMOs and most experienced PC exclusive companies.

 

But the high speed internet thing, might be only part of it. Releasing on multiple consoles might have caused some sloppiness in how they release their games to the public. It didn't help with the Anti-Pirate craze going around. If they where going to release physical copies but only update online they should have made the ID keys just as available as the physical disk.

 

They really should have understood that it will be resold and that simply stating it in their TERMS OF USE licensing agreement will not discourage this. Particularly if it includes something so widespread as reselling games. Not even companies fully obey this kind of thing. And cracking down will only start a fire and encourage pirating (more out of spite than anything else).

 

Know that I think about it the high speed thing is redundant know that they released more stuff online, and only update online know. Those physical copies will eventually openly harm the overall revenue their product could gain. Future DLC will lock out anyone who was unlucky enough to discover this issue. And if they wanted to sell more they would have to make new copies for each new key they make if they kept this up.

 

This will quickly snowball out of hand (It probably already has). :ohdear:

[sinnerman69]

I had a lot of trouble with used video games both gaming console and PC's,most of the time they are un-readable by your DVD/CD rom because there too scratched up and the retail store that sold the disc used, the clerk eye sight wasn't good enough catching the scratches!.. EB games sucks :down:

 

So I buy new all the time or buy from steam store

 

used your asking for trouble

[wuffser]

I had to edit my post supporting you. While it is terrible what happened to you and I feel for you for that reason and also refreshing to see such an open and honest admission, the reason I had to edit this was because of the reason why you did so.

 

If you had made this post because you felt guilty then I would have been comfortable showing some support. But as you stated, it didn't bother you until you found out you couldn't use mods with pirated copies. So in my opinion, you did the right thing for the wrong reasons. Sorry. :mellow:

 

 

 

 

Perhaps I wasn't clear enough on why exactly I started this thread. I kind of did the beginning off the top of my head.

This issue didn't concern me for quite some time because It honestly slipped my mind. :facepalm:

It popped back up in my head when I was leafing through my purchased games list on steam. It was an idle thought wondering why Fallout 3 GOTY edition was entirely online for digital download yet was available as a physical copy. Skyrim had the same thing, I just got lucky with Fallout because I bought the game through steam which is guaranteed to come with a new unused key. But I got Skyrim used on a physical disk and well was forced to pirate the updates to the thing, and am unable to get any future DLC. And that's when the guilt started.

 

What added to the guilt about this was the large number of people being banned for even mentioning they had a pirated copy. (Thumbing through the archive is something I do with forums I'm about to post on). And in conjunction with the VERY large number of people with bought copies forced to pirate because they can't play it, made me think further. In fact there is a youtube video that even has a download link to a program that allows you to download without steam(Razor or something). All mods work on my game (Even steam recognizes it :psyduck: allowing me to chat, though it doesn't show in the list of owned games).

 

I pirated the game because I bought it with MY own money for the very first time, online another first, and delivered straight to my door again first for me. I was very upset to discover I couldn't play it and well you know the rest. Afterwords I bought a whole mess of games online via steam.

 

So no I did not start this thread because I couldn't use mods.