At time, Steam can be really freaking annoying.

- Buys second hand games
- Blames everything and everyone but himself for being a cheapass

Activation keys are nothing new and certainly not limited to Valve. PC gaming has been using them for decades, so if you didn't know you might need a serial/CD-key, that's on you.

I was supposed to write something but I figured that there's no point. Now I'm just gonna leave this here.

You bought a used game, it's your fault. Now just get it back to Flea Market. And Half-Life 2 was very cheap during Summer Sale.

how can you borrow ?? WTF?

Console gaming is perfect for 2nd hand gamers.

This is not a problem exclusive to steam, but to the entire online distribution / DRM thing.

yea... DRM sucks ass..

You might as well just pirate it if your going to put that much effort behind it.

Just curious, how much you paid?

rofl why u did that?

"IT'S SO ANNYOING!"

It does sound very Annyong.

Annyong.

Annyong.

How much did you pay for it? I'd laugh if a working copy were cheaper during the Summer sale.

Send a message to steam support following the directions for "invalid keys".

hahahah my god I was hoping this was a troll but no

You buy a game from VALVE and you expect it not to ask you to activate it on Steam? Stupidity level? -IT'S OVER 9000.

lol

well... everyone knows that there are no "used" games in the pc world :o

No shit. Important reminder: Don't ever buy a used game that uses Steam. If it is 'Used' it means somebody already used the activation key, and Steam requires activation keys.

it's completely your fault, Steam has nothing to do with this issue.

But... atleast you have the box, i want that box

Used Steam game.
Used...
Usually, "used" means, like, you know... Already used...

When buying second hand, ALWAYS buy DRM free. If you want a Steam key, trade for it, or buy it.