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Hi, a little question

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Zarthus

Hello,

I've had a question regarding giveaways.

I've looked into my Humble Bundles and noticed a few unclaimed keys, but I do have the games activated on my Steam Account.
Considering Steam does not allow for checking if a CD Key is valid, can I still make the giveaway, without being an absolute 100% sure the CD key is valid? How would I go about this?

I've read the FAQ / Guidelines but nothing stated anything about being 100% sure the key is valid -- I cannot check this, but I do strongly believe that the keys are valid (For Humble Bundle said that the key was unclaimed thus far, but it did make me wonder why it was already on my steam, perhaps it was from a different bundle, but regardless, it gave me doubts)

So, ultimately, am I safe to make the giveaway, noting in the description that I am not 100% sure the giveaway key is valid? Should I contact steamgifts.com moderators first?

Thanks.

11 years ago*

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18 Comments
bobofatt

There is no way to see if a key is valid or not. The only true test is to use it on an account that doesn't own the game, at which point you will find out if it had been used or not, but it will be used by that action.

11 years ago
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Zarthus

I'm sorry, I don't think you fully understand my question.

My question is, I know Steam does not allow me to validify my key, so as result I am not 100% sure if my key is valid, but it should be, am I still eligible to make a giveaway?

11 years ago
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josgba2002

If you create a giveaway, you are intended to give game to winner. If key isn't valid, you should buy game right away in somewhere and sent it.

11 years ago
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shukatom

In case your key doesnt work, you need to buy the game for the winner.
If you wont do that you will get suspended/banned/something.

11 years ago
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AtomicWoodchuck

While you're unlikely to get suspended or banned for a single failed giveaway, you WILL get an unreceived strike against your name, which will remain a permanent blemish on your profile. Additionally, people will routinely throw rotten fruit at you in the streets, and whisper unpleasantries behind your back.

11 years ago
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ErrEff

Did you have to press the button to view the key? Humble Bundle always remembers if you pressed the button or not, so it if was unviewed up until now, the key cannot have been used.

11 years ago
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Zarthus

Yeah, it had that button, I opened one of them to see if I could activate it with Steam, where it said I already owned the game in my collection and wished to download it.

So, I'm good to go, right?

11 years ago
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pielord17

You should be, yes. They don't expire or anything. I guess it would be possible for someone to guess it though.

11 years ago
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josgba2002

If you create a giveaway, you should give game to winner. Otherwise, it would be a Fake Giveaway and that is reason to meet banhammer.

11 years ago
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wbarton

A fake giveaway is one in which the creator never intended to deliver the gift in the first place, actually.

11 years ago
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josgba2002

Oh, I didn't knew that. I thought any GA where creator doesn't sent gift is fake.

11 years ago
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wbarton

If they acted in good faith, but are unable to deliver because of a mistake or a technical issue or something, that's unfortunate and we don't usually come down on them hard for situations like that. It's when someone knowingly makes a giveaway with no intent to deliver, like a certain person who tried to get away with using them as free advertising for a while, that we really go after them.

11 years ago
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wbarton

You should never make a giveaway for a key that you are uncertain has been used unless you are prepared to either replace it or accept the 'not received' feedback in the instance it has already been activated.

11 years ago
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SuicideBroccoli

You could also make a key drop..:P

11 years ago
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wbarton

You're toeing the line on begging there, and we don't recommend users drop keys in the forum, as some people have scripts that scrape for keys, including users who have been perma-banned here.

11 years ago
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FluffyFerret

so robo-ninjas do exist :0? i honestly didnt know but then again im tech inept slightly ;p

11 years ago
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wbarton

Sadly, yes. If you're going to drop keys in the forum, you should probably at least put some protection against that like spelling out numbers, using words for the letters, avoiding the standard format and hyphens, posting an image of the key instead of text, etc., etc..

11 years ago
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AtomicWoodchuck

Personally, if there was any doubt over the key's validity, I'd just randomly give it to someone on my friends list who might have an interest in the game (warning them there's a chance it may not work, of course!).

If you're not 100% sure, then it's not really fair to make a giveaway unless you're prepared to purchase another copy of the game in the eventuality that the key is a dupe.

11 years ago
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Closed 11 years ago by Zarthus.