Question about ROW keys (especially Tropico 5)

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There was a topic about this 9~ months ago, but it didn't really have a clear answer - it was all over the place.

What I got from it was that ROW keys mean Rest Of World and differ in effect depending on the publisher: country restriction, censoring, a mix of the two, etc.

Question is, in regards to Tropico 5, will ROW work in US & Canada?

Because I heard that some games do work in North America with ROW keys, and some don't.

Thanks in advance.

9 years ago*

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19 Comments

madjoki

Depends on game and publisher.
Checking SteamDB is only solution.

9 years ago

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Plaidygami

I checked SteamDB for Tropico 5 but I don't see any information about ROW or anything like that. Then again, the entire layout and data is just confusing as hell.

9 years ago

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madjoki

http://steamdb.info/sub/32028/

Probably this. Ie. no locks. Only Korea & China has locked versions for keys.
Non cd-key related: Single copies are trade locked, but 4-pack & 4-pack gifts aren't. But needs a trick/bug exploiting to buy from Russia as it isn't listed there.

9 years ago

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Plaidygami

So if someone tries to gift me a single copy from another country, it won't work, but with a 4 pack, it will?

9 years ago

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madjoki

Yes (but at least EU&US copies are free from trade restrictions unless recently changed).

9 years ago

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Plaidygami

Ahh, I see. I'll have to ask them specifically about it, then. :/ Don't want to end up being screwed over, ha ha...

9 years ago

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Black3ird

Check here

9 years ago

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Plaidygami

Not sure what country to use for ROW copies of Tropico 5. I have no idea where the person is buying it from (on SteamTrades).

9 years ago

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Air73

"ROW" is not a really accurate term actually.
If a key is "ROW", consider that you can activate it everywhere.

9 years ago

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madjoki

That's not true. ROW keys still might exclude certain areas.

eg. Japanese publisher (Square, Konami) tend to exclude Japan and Deep Silver excludes Europe.

9 years ago

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NerdHouse

A Japanese publisher would exclude its own country? wut?

9 years ago

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PsyKo

So you'll buy Japan version instead importing (cheaper?) non-Japan version?

There also could be some taxes and law involved.

9 years ago

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madjoki

Deep Silver is European.

Japan tends to have higher prices, so it's to counter grey-import. (Also only version bought from Japan is going to have Japanese language).
Likely same reasoning for Deep Silver. (Europe has usually has 30% higher prices than US, eg. 1$=1€.).

9 years ago

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Air73

Out of curiosity, do you have some exemples ? I never saw a key which exclude the Europe (the western Europe precisely). You're right for the Japan though, I forgot this case (which is absurd, they have to pay the same amount as the USA for their games...).

9 years ago

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madjoki

http://steamdb.info/sub/34907/
http://steamdb.info/sub/42730/

9 years ago

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Plaidygami

http://www.nuuvem.com.br/produto/1945-tropico-5

What about this one? I see no restrictions.

9 years ago