I really hate Steam's 'duplicate product code' crap - Games

Seriously, i've been looking for my Half-Life Platinum Pack for over a year now just so I could redeem my games and play some goddamn Half-Life mods that have caught my eye for a long time now (and to see what all the hub-bub was about the original Counter-Strike). Tonight, I finally find my HL Plat Counter-Strike disk, inside its carrying package thingie with the CD key still on it. Ecstatic, I go onto Steam to redeem the code-- And I am met with the 'Duplicate Product Code' bullshit. Does this mean some lucky keygen asshat stole my code years ago or just happened to guess the exact digits, or did someone else have a platinum pack / Counter-Strike copy with the same code? Whatever the case, I dug around some more and found my Blue Shift; same issue, 'Duplicate'-fucking-'Product Code'. I'd of used my original Half-Life key, but that was torn off from the bloody package apparently, and my luck probably would've left me without reward. Anyone have any advice, comments, or otherwise in this annoying situation?

Contact steam support and show them the code and everything and they should reimburse you for the HL Platinum pack

You're lucky you still have yours I lost my CD keys ages ago :(

Alright, I was able to send the code to support - hopefully, and that's a major word with how unlucky I am, this'll work.

It could be possible that someone else saw your box and used it on their account, such as a friend or a sibling.

I'm the only one on Steam in my entire house, and at the age of sixteen i'm the youngest of my other two siblings, of which only one lives with me. Neither of them have interest in games like Half-Life or such. Plus, the keys themselves have been missing in my computer desk for a couple of years now. v:v:v The only thing I can honestly guess is that some keygenner hacked my comp years ago and got the key that way, or they randomly got the exact same digits. That, or Steam just really hates old games and their CD keys.

[QUOTE=RikohZX;21267662]The only thing I can honestly guess is that some keygenner hacked my comp years ago and got the key that way.[/QUOTE] Your knowledge about Computers amuses me.

[QUOTE=Frying Dutchman;21267750]Your knowledge about Computers amuses me.[/QUOTE] Hey, I don't really get all that much about actual computer and code know-how (even if I did mess around with game creation for a few years). I'm more of a person who understands the basic theory, and besides; that was only a guess I threw out, not a stolid opinion of the cause.

someone registered that one that was ripped off the CD. That's why you can't register the other ones. Haveing that first one registered automatically made all the other ones registered. EDIT: I know this because I have that same collection, and after registering the first disc's key, all the other ones appeared in my game list, and trying to register the other ones would result in the error you mentioned.

I don't think someone stole the CD key right off the package, because I would've never been able to play the original Half-Life without it back then.. But who knows. Question, though; how long does Steam usually take with support stuff? I did it back at six o' clock in the morning, and my impatience has me checking my mail constantly.

3 days to a week. Relax, and take a deep breath. Or buy it again. It's p cheap you know.

[QUOTE=RikohZX;21269617]I don't think someone stole the CD key right off the package, because I would've never been able to play the original Half-Life without it back then.. But who knows. Question, though; how long does Steam usually take with support stuff? I did it back at six o' clock in the morning, and my impatience has me checking my mail constantly.[/QUOTE] It's saturday... I don't think they are in right now. [editline]05:21PM[/editline] oh... and if you can't contact them... you can buy that whole package here. [url]http://www.g2play.net/store/Counter-Strike-1.6-8-GAMES-Steam-Key.html[/url] I'm not trying to advertise, it's just that I bought from them before so I know you can trust them.

Kinda reminds of the time I bought the complete HL1 pack at a pawn shop, for five bucks, FIVE FUCKING BUCKS! And guess what? The shit didn't working and I was like :derp:

[QUOTE=Edracon;21272927]It's saturday... I don't think they are in right now. [editline]05:21PM[/editline] oh... and if you can't contact them... you can buy that whole package here. [url]http://www.g2play.net/store/Counter-Strike-1.6-8-GAMES-Steam-Key.html[/url] I'm not trying to advertise, it's just that I bought from them before so I know you can trust them.[/QUOTE] Wow dude, are they real? They have a pretty good price! I might actually buy from them. Can I trust them?

Well shit, i'm getting automatic responses from a support administrator about how the key is in use by another Steam account, which is why i'm asking them from help in the first place. I probably won't get my answer to my reply until well into tomorrow, but i'm quickly losing any sign of hope for reimbursing my bloody Platinum Pack..

My half-life 1 adrenaline pack gave me a instant HL1 Platinum on steam, Yours must be fucked. Or why dont you just install the dam game without steam? its not like its required.

[QUOTE=doonbugie;21279947]My half-life 1 adrenaline pack gave me a instant HL1 Platinum on steam, Yours must be fucked. Or why dont you just install the dam game without steam? its not like its required.[/QUOTE] Using WON? Oh please. It's discontinued

[QUOTE=solid_jake;21280540]Using WON? Oh please. It's discontinued[/QUOTE] Thats true, you could try WON2, It has alot of servers actually, yes its legal. [URL]http://v4.steamlessproject.nl/index.php?page=news[/URL] its a patch that you just have to apply and it edits the master server/ updates you game etc for WON2. Won2 is a community network run by people who loved WON.

i had this problem when i got the movies game. someone used a keygen and stole my code. i was angry. but contact steam support and tell them you have it. i think it has a confirmation code they use to prove you have it

So you want steam to remove this "crap"?

Yeah, I got something similar with my copy of Unreal Tournament 3. They just told me to take a picture of the CD code with the Steam Support ticket number written above it, which I did, then they added it to my Steam account.

Whew! Took from last Friday to today, but I successfully redeemed my platinum pack for Steam! I was beginning to lose hope there, but i'm glad it ended well. Makes you wonder how many of these types of problems Steam handles daily, much less annually..