Civ V Retail Multiplayer Not Working

[Reier]

Yo all.

Saw Civ V when it came out, and since I liked 3 & 4, I thought I'd get it. However, I didn't want to fork over $60 so I found one on ebay in brand new condition for a lot less.
Odd thing is that it's some Ukrainian version. That wasn't a problem though, there was an option in the installation screen that let you change it to english.
Anyway, it installed and it was fine. Played it, blah blah.

Recently I decided I wanted to play online, but here's where I have a problem. Since I didn't install it via Steam, it won't let me play over the internet. I didn't even have an option related to steam when I installed it, which it seems the US version had?
I can have steam and Civ V running at the same time, but it makes no difference when I try to play online.

Another thing I tried was going into Steam > Games Library > Add Game > Activate Product. When I do this, it asks for a key, but I don't have a key anywhere I can see. There might've been a manual that had one on it but I don't have it.

I don't get it, what else can I do? I'm not going to buy a game in Steam that I already own just to play it online. I've looked all over the web with no success.
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

[Edit] Whoops I put this in the wrong forum, my bad.

 

[The_J]

Moderator Action: Moved to MP.

However, I didn't want to fork over $60 so I found one on ebay in brand new condition for a lot less.
Odd thing is that it's some Ukrainian version.

You did not buy a pirated version, did you ?

 

[Reier]

Nope.

 

[TheHanzou]

Then what DID u buy? Because there comes a key on the back of the manual. If you did not receive this key you were scammed and bought an illegal version. To play the game at all in Multiplayer u do need this key. Im not even sure if you can install the game without a valid key but i highly doubt it. which means your version was most likely a cracked version.

Every game has a game key, that should be obvious. I highly doubt the gamekey is on the disc, but maybe it is. Or maybe in the registry. But you need to be more specific what exactly you bought for us to help you.

And if by ukrain you mean russian (which it pretty much should be since there is no ukrainian version) then you can only play that game in russia. Its region locked from what i can gather online.

Edit: Civ 5 requires Steam as DRM (protection), which means your version is definitely an illegal version. It doesnt even install without steam CD key registration.

summary: You got scammed, you should inform yourself a lot more about the seller and how the game runs if you try to make these kind of bargain deals. And even if your version had come with an legal key it would be region locked to Northern Europe/Russia and would not work anywhere else.

How did you receive the game? Ebay is not even a digital download service provider. Did you basically just buy from some random dude that send you his cracked install file? If by some odd chance you really did purchase from an legal source you should try to contact their customer support. If you purchase a game via digital download you just buy the gamekey, which u then use to download via steamservice (or sometimes a different service). You dont buy a download to an .iso or otherwise file.

And its not 60$, civ5 is aviable almost anywhere for 25$ maximum (unless you purchase directly via steam i guess, but they had a -75% sale just recently during sales, steam works that way).

 

[HarvesterofSorr]

Got my (perfectly legal and kosher) copy on Amazon for $20.

 

[Altisma]

You shouldn't be wasting money on buying Civ 5, buy the GOTY edition.

 

[Reier]

Then what DID u buy? Because there comes a key on the back of the manual. If you did not receive this key you were scammed and bought an illegal version.

Don't jump to conclusions man, I just didn't receive the manual when I got the game.
It's not pirated, look:

My case

Spoiler :

My disk

Spoiler :

Installation screen

Spoiler :

In no way I'd buy some generic disk with "Civ V" written on it in sharpie. It's a legal copy.

I think it's just cause I don't have the manual that I won't be able to play online.
Oh well, thanks anyway.

You shouldn't be wasting money on buying Civ 5, buy the GOTY edition.

Don't give me lame advice please.

 

[The_J]

I really wonder if they made a non-Steam version for countries where it's not supported o_O (I remember that someone from Moldova complained that he can't buy anything from Steam). Because like TheHanzou pointed out, you should not have been able to install Civ5 without the key for Steam.
And this is now the second case where someone claims that he was able to install Civ5 without Steam.

Can you tell us where exactly you got it from? I'm reall curious. Would even try to buy it.

 

[Reier]

I honestly don't remember. It was from someone on ebay.

 

[SamBC]

It's possible that it was a very professionally done pirate. It's been known to happen that pirates make real, commercial-seeming covers etc. Sometimes they even have access to proper disc presses, so it isn't a DVD+/-R.

 

[SamBC]

I did a little digging, and it looks like it has never been published as a Games for Windows product. In fact, never to the general public on PC except as SteamWorks.

So, guess it's just a really professional pirate job. Not sure about the "Premium Game" logo on the disk either.

 

[Camikaze]

Moderator Action: What SamBC said. Sorry, but you've definitely bought a dud. We don't provide any advice for non-legit versions here, so thread closed.