Retail box missing authkey

[oracle128]

I bought a retail, boxed copy of Defcon at my local (Australian) EB Games store. The box contains no authentication key, only the game disc and a poster. The game asks me for the key when trying to play. I can't do anything but play as a Demo. How/where do I get a key?

[Pox]

Hmmm... didn't know it was being published here... was it a second-hand copy?

Check the disc and box for the pinnacle logo... if it's there, it's a pinnacle published copy, otherwise it's likely a copy that was ordered from the IV online store (in which case sounds like someone might have duped EB :/)

[oracle128]

It's new, not second hand. It's not the only copy they had at the store. The other copies they had at that particular store also did not have any auth keys, I had the clerk check. And I've seen DEFCON at other non-EB stores. I've seen it in EB in particular for at least 6 months, but only got it recently as part of EB's stocktake sale. I am also in Melbourne, so I'm not sure how you could have missed it...

It's not a burnt copy, I can tell by the disc. No 'burn ring' - it's been pressed - and it has the correct ID on the inner ring. Both the game box and the CD have the correct OFLC rating printed on them (not on a sticker).
The game is published by THQ according to the box and CD, and no, at AUD$2.48/minute I'm not calling THQ tech support, 7 minutes with them and I could have bought the game again online. The THQ logo includes the Australian THQ URL (www.thq.com.au)
The box includes a review quote from PC Gamer magazine, who apparently gave it 87% (I notice on GameRankings this relates to PC Gamer UK).

In the main menu, the game identifies itself as "Defcon 1.43 retail", "Published by THQ". The version states it is "DEFCON 1.43 EN-AU RTL".
I do have a Steam account, but it's irrelevant as I do not have, nor have ever had, Steam installed on the machine on which I am installing DEFCON. I have never purchased, downloaded, or played DEFCON, either a full version or a demo, on any machine at any time past or present.

Anything else?

[xander]

I would suggest that you try emailing sales@introversion.co.uk . Most of us on the forums don't actually work for IV, so there is not a lot that we can do to help. We can try, but that usually just ends up pissing people off, because they think that we can actually do something.

xander

[oracle128]

Thanks, I've just emailed them. Hopefully I'll get a reply soon, before the refund period runs out and I'm stuck with a $20 demo.

Though I must admit I find it quite disappointing that I'm the only person on this forum that has purchased an Australian retail copy of the game.

[KingAl]

My friend has an Australian retail copy which certainly came with a key. EBs has a very lenient refund policy, allowing people to return games within 7 days, and they'll sell returned games as new copies, so chances are a previous owner nicked whatever it was that the key was printed on. All else fails, it may be better to return the game and buy it through Steam, IV's online store or a different retail store. I'm pretty sure both of the former options, including postage from IV, are cheaper than a non-discounted retail copy.

[Pox]

Thanks, I've just emailed them. Hopefully I'll get a reply soon, before the refund period runs out and I'm stuck with a $20 demo.

Though I must admit I find it quite disappointing that I'm the only person on this forum that has purchased an Australian retail copy of the game.

Well, most of us around here have been here for a while, and as such have bought it online or (eugh) through steam... I didn't know THQ was publishing it here, must have been fairly recent - I haven't been to a game store since I bought the orange box, so I wouldn't know.

Personally, with indie/smaller companies, I much prefer to buy the self-published online edition if it's not a huge download, as I know all the money goes to them

[oracle128]

My friend has an Australian retail copy which certainly came with a key. EBs has a very lenient refund policy, allowing people to return games within 7 days, and they'll sell returned games as new copies, so chances are a previous owner nicked whatever it was that the key was printed on. All else fails, it may be better to return the game and buy it through Steam, IV's online store or a different retail store. I'm pretty sure both of the former options, including postage from IV, are cheaper than a non-discounted retail copy.

Except as I already stated, at the store I went to, they had at least 5 other copies, none of which had keys. I refuse to believe that somebody has gone to the trouble of buying and returning the same game multiple times, somehow gotten a different box each time (the customer can only touch the display box, other boxes are stored in the staff-only room), and has not only kept the key, but has physically kept whatever it was printed on, and each time, the clerk taking the return has failed to notice the missing key. And yet this hasn't happened with any other game that I know of. Either some person has a major grudge against IV and/or DEFCON, or some company has f--ked up and not stuck the keys in there (or at least instructions on how to get one).

Unfortunately for me, 6 of my 7 "return" days are up, and I most definitely won't be buying this online (I have my reasons for avoiding digital downlaods). In other words, if I don't get a key for my retail copy by tomorrow, I'm returning the game and IV loses a sale, simple as that.

I'm not sure what exactly the correlation of time spent on this forum has to do with online sales though. I bought the retail box of Darwinia several years ago and was perfectly happy with that one.

[KingAl]

Hmmm, you'd have though we'd hear more about it if THQ had seriously screwed up the distribution You could try contacting them through their e-mail, enquiriesau@thq.com , but they'd doubtless redirect you to IV anyway.

All Pox was saying was that people who use the forums are more likely to be aware that copies can be purchased directly from IV, allowing more money to go to the developers themselves, and so it's natural for them to purchase directly - but as a result the proportion of those here that actually have retail copies is fairly low.

Beyond suggesting that you check all over the material in the box and the files present on the disc, which you have almost certainly already done, there's not much I can suggest. Note that you can purchase boxed copies as well as digital downloads from the IV store if your concern is purely regarding the latter rather than digital transactions in general - I similarly dislike only having a digital copy of something I've purchased. If you were ever hell bent on purchasing from IV without digital transactions, they've accepted postal methods in the past if one contacts them about it.

Hopefully IV can be of help with your missing key, anyway!

[oracle128]

Hmmm, you'd have though we'd hear more about it if THQ had seriously screwed up the distribution You could try contacting them through their e-mail, enquiriesau@thq.com , but they'd doubtless redirect you to IV anyway.

All Pox was saying was that people who use the forums are more likely to be aware that copies can be purchased directly from IV, allowing more money to go to the developers themselves, and so it's natural for them to purchase directly - but as a result the proportion of those here that actually have retail copies is fairly low.

Beyond suggesting that you check all over the material in the box and the files present on the disc, which you have almost certainly already done, there's not much I can suggest. Note that you can purchase boxed copies as well as digital downloads from the IV store if your concern is purely regarding the latter rather than digital transactions in general - I similarly dislike only having a digital copy of something I've purchased. If you were ever hell bent on purchasing from IV without digital transactions, they've accepted postal methods in the past if one contacts them about it.

Hopefully IV can be of help with your missing key, anyway!

I would have considered getting the box shipped straight from IV - I certainly have no problem with that, I was more than happy with getting Sam & Max Season 1 + merchandise that way direct from Telltale Games. And I was fully aware IV'd be selling it themselves like they did with Darwinia. The difference here though being, I got DEFCON for $11 cheaper than I would have direct from IV, plus I got it straight away, plus I get a more convenient local returns policy in the event that, say, the key isn't printed on the box.

And yeah, I checked every file on the CD and all installation files, registry keys - I already figured there'd be nothing there, with it being to inefficient to press every disc uniquely - plus every inch of the included poster, the game disc, and both sides of the box's slip cover. Definitely no keys, not even any glue residue suggesting the prior existence of a sticker (I would think the key would be on a sticker, like most any other game).

But thanks for the help anyway, of course I realise there's not much that you guys can do than take a stab at some ideas. Hopefully IV can sort it out in the next 24 hours, otherwise back to the store it goes.

Edit: Never mind, IV support just fixed me up with a working key. I guess they trust me enough to just generate a new one. Another win for indie developers.

*Case Closed*

[xander]

...plus I got it straight away...

It should be pointed out that, when you order DEFCON directly from IV, and request a box, you can immediately download the game, and they email you a key right away. Thus, you can start playing right away. I know this no longer matters to you, but it may to someone else reading this thread.

xander

[Mustang76]

I've got knocked with this too EB Australia, no game code.
Man this sucks, looks like I'm going to have to prove myself to tech support.

[themacmeister]

I just purchased a new copy of Defcon retail at EB Games in Australia, and it comes with a lovely poster, and no Authenication Key. This seems to be a running trend with THQ versions of the game in Australia.

I have sent an email to Introversion, but I will try THQ as well, as this is entirely unacceptable.

This is too much of a coincidence to be random. This was a sealed box, with the original full ticket price still attached (I did get it for $20AUS at the checkout, which made me happier).

When I discovered the lack of Authentication Key, I was less happy!!

Please reply in this thread and let me know how you got on... refund, replacement, new key? anything!

EDIT: I have contacted THQ Aus. as well

[Wasgood]

I suggest emailing Intro via that email address thats above. They are unbelievably helpful.

[Alq Veers]

I've got the same problem, I'll follow what has been said up there but I've got 6 days or EB won't take it back. I stopped buying from EB for a good reason and I knew I shouldn't have gone back.

How could this happen anyway?, someone trying to make extra money by attempting to have us buy 2 versions?

Edit: Sent of an email to the Introversion address, I hope that this can be resolved quickly without me giving EB and THQ a complaint.

Edit: 09022009 at 10:30pm AEST :: Email and key recieved from Introversion. Great guys they are. great guys.