My CD-key seems to be invalid... I have recently purchased The Sims 2 and when I installed the game, the CD-key worked fine. The game asked me if I wanted to register, and I said 'NO, WHINE ABOUT IT LATER' and stayed up until six in the morning playing . All was well in the land (exept the controls, but that issue has already been adressed) and I decided to (finally) register to EA so I could download custom content. When I tried to run the EA registration program, I put my key in and was told that it was invalid. I still have the wizard up right now ( I'm not liking that stupid elevator music), and I'm pissed. Could someone please help me? Even if my problem can't be helped, can anyonte tell me what I can do to download custom content?
Actually there are a lot of sites you can download stuff at, just start surfing. Read http://forums.worldsims.org/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=5543 for some ideas. however check and make sure you didn't mis enter the key code when registering otherwise you won't be able to access the main ts2 site for gamepatches etc.
TThe way I typed it in was all caps, and with the dashes in. I just learned that it is possible that someone may have generated my cd-key usind a keygen, thus rendering it invalid (two people can't use the same key right?)
Statistically it's virtually impossible to have a keygen duplicate an exact random key, but it is possible, but the chances are like one in a billion.
I have seen this happen with Half Life 2, and it is very possible because of the way they are made. Most CD-keys have to use a few slots that are the same type of character. Some characters must always be either letters or numbers, for example: A 3 character CD key might have to use only the middle character as a number, and never as a letter. This greatly reduces the possibilities, and most of them use more than one place that is like this. Some even use CD-keys that always have the same charachers somwhere! for example, in a 3 character key, the third character is always "Y", and noting else. The reason that they do this is so that the server can recognise the key easier by just looking for the set character types and set characters then looking for a few "good" characters, instead of just matching it off of a list. If they match keys off of a list, then they would have to constantly update the list to keep up with the copies sold, and that wouldn't work out well. The possiblities are very wide, but not so much so. The projected amount of copies sold determines the amount of set keys and set characters.
This is pure speculation (because I have no need to know and therefore have not pursued the truth, one way or the other) ... but there must be lists of valid unlock codes for every type of software for those of a criminal bent to use. Naturaly EA is aware of this and will supply a new valid code to honest customers who return the orginal documention for replacement. Send a proof of purchase. See the warranty information in the back of your manual for further information regarding how to contact EA in your region of the world.
I wanted to do that, but I have already solved my problem. I decided to just use a Key-gen, but I still have my proof of purchase so I caan still ask for help from EA at any time. Besides, who reads the manual anyway? All I thought it said was a bunch of stupid stuff about seizures...
