Transfer Registration for Civ V?

[Sloom]

Greetings gamer-folk,
I bought my kid Civilization V for Christmas, only to discover that our machine will never be able to run the game. I can't afford to splash out for a new box, so I would like to see about being able to perhaps offer it up for trade on craigslist, or here if it's allowed or provided for. But I think that registration of the game with "Steam" could be an issue. We registered it only to discover it's useless to us, to the disappointment of my kids.

Anyhow, is it possible to re-register or transfer registration to another user?

Thanks for your time...

[slowtarget]

Sadly, no.

There are a number of reasons for this, and I can try to explain some of them if you like, but Steam doesn't allow you to sell or otherwise transfer your account or any games ("subscriptions") registered to it. While it has been done in the past, and probably still gets done now, if you are caught, Steam will irrevocably cancel the account (angering the buyer) and in some cases, blacklist the original owner. In general: It's not worth doing.

The only good news here is that Civ games tend to be long lived, and if/when you do shell out for a new box, your Steam account and Civ V will be there waiting for you and it will be completely legal to install a copy on the new box.

[dip22]

Depends really if you got anything else on that steam account.

People do regularly sell them (accounts) via online auctions and as long as you don't reveal to Steam who you are selling to, it should be fine.
It is afterall completely normal to change your security email address for the account once in a while or say relocate to another country.

[Skunkone]

Greetings gamer-folk,
I bought my kid Civilization V for Christmas, only to discover that our machine will never be able to run the game. I can't afford to splash out for a new box, so I would like to see about being able to perhaps offer it up for trade on craigslist, or here if it's allowed or provided for. But I think that registration of the game with "Steam" could be an issue. We registered it only to discover it's useless to us, to the disappointment of my kids.

Anyhow, is it possible to re-register or transfer registration to another user?

Thanks for your time...

You can sell it (sorry if this has been responded to I only read your post) you just need to sell the account. Yes they say you cant shouldn't and what not but I can not see a point where you can get in trouble with it since it is basically free advertisement for steam. Just go on Ebay and say you are selling the account and hold the user name and password till your offer expires. You should be able to get about 50-75% of the cost of the game.

[Davor]

Well you can do anything you want. The thing is if you get caught. So sadly if you want to do it "legaly" or by that I mean using Steam's terms, is No you can't do it. If you don't have anything else with that account and it was for Civ V only, then yeah you can do it. Thing is, I am not sure if you can change emails with your Steam account or not.

[M A F I A]

I don't think selling Civ5's worth the hassle, one can buy it new for less than 20€ right now, even if you could be able to sell it for half price, well it would be such a little sum that in my opinion wouldn't be worth the trouble.

[SirMaru]

Greetings gamer-folk,
I bought my kid Civilization V for Christmas, only to discover that our machine will never be able to run the game. I can't afford to splash out for a new box, so I would like to see about being able to perhaps offer it up for trade on craigslist, or here if it's allowed or provided for. But I think that registration of the game with "Steam" could be an issue. We registered it only to discover it's useless to us, to the disappointment of my kids.

Anyhow, is it possible to re-register or transfer registration to another user?

Thanks for your time...

You cannot sell the Civ V per Steam's license agreement. However, if you purchased the game from Amazon within the last 30 days, you could call them and see if you can return it for a refund. You may be asked to sign an agreement that you uninstalled the game and agree to never use it in the future. Amazon has been generous with disappointed customers in the past.

[Gyrate]

Do not sell the game to anyone that you know. They might get mad at you.

[slowtarget]

You cannot sell the Civ V per Steam's license agreement. However, if you purchased the game from Amazon within the last 30 days, you could call them and see if you can return it for a refund. You may be asked to sign an agreement that you uninstalled the game and agree to never use it in the future. Amazon has been generous with disappointed customers in the past.

Note: According to Amazon's return policy, Civ V cannot be returned. The 30 day software return policy only covers units which were not sold with one-time activation codes. As the entire game is sold as a one-time activation code, Amazon is well within their rights to refuse the return.

[SirMaru]

Note: According to Amazon's return policy, Civ V cannot be returned. The 30 day software return policy only covers units which were not sold with one-time activation codes. As the entire game is sold as a one-time activation code, Amazon is well within their rights to refuse the return.

Good point. I was not aware of that. However, Amazon sometimes bends their own rules. I did receive a refund on a defective Kindle WiFi cover FOUR MONTHS after purchase. I'm sure that was an exception to their own rules but they did it anyway and even gave me a promotion allowance in addition.

It never hurts to ask. For those, who purchased from Steam, it may even pay to ask them if one really wants a refund. It certainly does not pay to ask for it on this Forum. Some companies, who don't give any cash refunds on software, sometimes give credits to purchase new software. Steam sells plenty of digital download game software and probably would not even take a loss if they did it.

By the way, Amazon even pressures third party sellers to give refunds for goods purchased through Amazon. I had one experience with a $ 500 chair where I changed my mind and the seller gave me a refund after Amazon called them.

In addition, all companies approach large customers with different policies than small customers.

[Olek]

your account or any games ("subscriptions") registered to it

This comments has me concerned, are you saying that when I shell out $99 for Civ 5 I'm only subscribing to it ?

[slowtarget]

This comments has me concerned, are you saying that when I shell out $99 for Civ 5 I'm only subscribing to it ?

Yup. You bought a non-expiring (but not non-terminable) subscription to the game content. While it sounds like some fraud scheme, its really the only way that the model works. Its the same way that XBox Live and a few other digital distribution channels work.

[Shiggs713]

well, except you can play any xbox game without xbox live, but yea, other than that

[slowtarget]

well, except you can play any xbox game without xbox live, but yea, other than that

I was referring to games downloaded via XBox Live, as well as DLC. XBL operates much like Offline Mode in Steam. You need to validate your account when you buy/install, the content is locked to that account (but usable by other valid accounts on the XBox), and if the validated account is removed/cancelled, all content bought for it is disabled.

[Shiggs713]

ok fair enough, still purchasing games through XBL is optional isn't it? Or are there games that are exclusively on there and not sold in stores? I only use it to play black ops and halo, stuff like that.

Plus I'm pretty sure if you, for example get a 3 month gold account, get all your games updated, the updates will remain even if you let your account expire.

[Valkrionn]

Any and all Xbox Live Arcade games (several of which are well above and beyond what you'd normally think of) are locked solely to purchase via XBL. If you are only playing major games like you say, then you're frankly missing out; Many of the 'arcade' games are better than the titles you buy in stores.

Updates are an entirely separate beast from the downloadable games he was talking about.

[Wenla]

The only good news here is that Civ games tend to be long lived

Are you sure that this will continue?

[Sloom]

Thanks for all the response. I went and bought the game for my kid, just figuring our machine would handle it. I'm kinda busy and not on the edge of all this internet gaming thing- in fact I didn't know what "Steam" even is. I would have passed on the whole deal had I known/paid attention/looked furhter into it- or maybe been educated by the store that happily sold it to me. All I wanted was a game, not an occupation/concern. I'll figure out something to do with it...

Thanks again!

[Davor]

Hopefully things will work out for you Sloom. All you can do is chalk this up as a learning experiance. Espically in this day and age, you really have to do your homework before buying a game now. Espically now when 99% of the time, you can't return video games and get your money back now.

[SirMaru]

Thanks for all the response. I went and bought the game for my kid, just figuring our machine would handle it. I'm kinda busy and not on the edge of all this internet gaming thing- in fact I didn't know what "Steam" even is. I would have passed on the whole deal had I known/paid attention/looked furhter into it- or maybe been educated by the store that happily sold it to me. All I wanted was a game, not an occupation/concern. I'll figure out something to do with it...

Thanks again!

Have you tried to install Civ V yet? What is the name of the retailer from whom you bought it? If your kid and you don't mind running it in a stripped down mode, he still may be able to enjoy it. I run it in stripped down mode and have no problems.

If you never installed the game, then it is NOT activated by Steam. Then you could give it away or even sell it. If its still in the shrink wrap, then your retailer may even take it back depending on his policies and his relationship with you.