How do I get a serial # for a steam purchase?

[michaelws]

I just purchased Command:Modern Air Naval Operations on steam. I want to register it but I received no serial number...only a confirmation order number from valve. Is there a way to register this or get a serial number to be able to register with Matrix?

Thanks for any information on this.

[Frido1207]

I believe, you only get a serial, if you buy directly from Matrix/Slitherine. That way, you then be able to redeem a Steam key if you like.
I don´t think it works the other way around.

But I´m only guessing here & might be completely wrong.

[michaelws]

K thanks for the reply. Shame tho that I cannot register.

[MrsWargamer]

Yes to confirm.

If you buy from Slitherine Group, they give you a complimentary Steam key, if you buy through Steam, all you get is the game via Steam. Additionally, you don't get the same form of installation file for the game when you buy through Steam. No Steam = no game.

[michaelws]

So am I getting less because I bought directly from Steam?

[zakblood]

no, your getting what you paid for, just a different delivery system tbh

[michaelws]

k...thnx

[CarnageINC]

Steam will give you a CD key if you look in your library on that particular game and look on the right side. It will say CD key, that is your serial number.

*edit: I don't own a matrix game bought through Steam, but that is were the information would be if its available.

[michaelws]

Thank you I will check my steam library.

[michaelws]

Well sadly there is no CD Key or anything on Steam. Nothing on the right-hand column that relates to the game...just a list of internal links for steam. Oh well.

[MrsWargamer]

ORIGINAL: michaelws

So am I getting less because I bought directly from Steam?

Yes, you are getting less because you bought directly through Steam.

Steam is just an option, and it is an option some prefer, but then, people like a lot of things for a lot of reasons. I don't need to agree with those reasons or even think very much of those reasons though.

A Slitherine Group title on sale for half price is not a superior purchase to a Slitherine Group purchase made at full price directly from Slitherine Group.

But some people think with their wallets and some people think with their brains.

Every one of my Slitherine Group purchases comes as a digital download, with a serial, that comes with an installation file, that never ever ever ever once requires the computer installing it have any connection to the internet at any time ever. There is no additional software required to be installed at any time whatsoever during any portion of the process.

You can't say that with Steam. Steam is a service that some like for a variety of reasons, but, if you don't have the Steam client installed, you have nothing regardless of what you paid for. If you don't have an internet connection during some portion of installation process, the fact you paid for the product means precisely nothing.

That Sltherine Group provides me with a free Steam Key when I buy directly from them, means buying directly from Steam seems to be a highly questionable decision.

Steam is to me, as far as buying Slitherine Group products is concerned, nothing but a means to advertise their products. In this particular case, it is Steam that is being exploited and not the other way around. Steam operates mainly by dangling games people want in front of customers for seemingly awesome prices frequently. And frequently it is only the price the customer sees.

I have seen large batches of games offered for upwards of 75% off and higher in the past. But in a lot of cases, the games being offered were sufficiently worthless, that was the only way any sale was even possible. If something is actually worth something, you don't need to all but give it away to get anyone to buy it.

But, sadly, wargaming is a niche so small, often a lot of the gaming public is unaware the game even exists. When I go into the local EB Games stores, they have NEVER heard of just about any game sold by Slitherine Group or for that matter just about any wargame publisher. In fact, they are rarely even aware the publishers exist.

For Slitherine Group, going to Steam was likely more an advertising ploy, than a need for Steam in any other fashion. Well that is how I see it at least.

[IainMcNeil]

Guys we'd like to offer serials to Steam users but it isn't something we have had time to look in to yet and probably can't be done retrospectively.

We're looking for other ways to let Steam users register but its not a simple problem unfortunately.

[michaelws]

Thanks for the vote of concern Ian. I do appreciate that. I don't know the pros and cons of Steam. I am not a big game player. Probably 70% of all the games I own are Matrix games. I stumbled upon Command thru Steam so there is one good point for it. I might not have seen this game were it not for Steam's little promo scrolling browser of games they think I might be interested in. I never assumed that there would be limitations or benefits dependent upon where one purchased. So...being on Steam at the time...I purchased. It wasn't until I read that there were benefits to registering the game That I discovered I did not get a serial number from Steam and could not register my product.

So I do hope there will be more uniformity between developer/publishers and their distributors or retail partners so that customers are able to access all the benefits irregardless of where the purchase was made.

But I thank Ian for taking the time to at least voice his concern for this issue and to let us know that it is not that easy to remedy at this time. There are people who like to judge someone like me for not being "smart" enough to know the limitations of a service like Steam. So I appreciate that Ian's comment gives me the impression that there are numerous customers who are becoming aware of this. It will make me a smarter buyer in the future. Thanks to all who have piped in on this thread. Each of you has taught me something...and I am grateful. Now to try to learn this game!

[michaelws]

Deleted reply....

[zakblood]

ORIGINAL: MrsWargamer

ORIGINAL: michaelws

So am I getting less because I bought directly from Steam?

Yes, you are getting less because you bought directly through Steam.

Steam is just an option, and it is an option some prefer, but then, people like a lot of things for a lot of reasons. I don't need to agree with those reasons or even think very much of those reasons though.

A Slitherine Group title on sale for half price is not a superior purchase to a Slitherine Group purchase made at full price directly from Slitherine Group.

But some people think with their wallets and some people think with their brains.

Every one of my Slitherine Group purchases comes as a digital download, with a serial, that comes with an installation file, that never ever ever ever once requires the computer installing it have any connection to the internet at any time ever. There is no additional software required to be installed at any time whatsoever during any portion of the process.

You can't say that with Steam. Steam is a service that some like for a variety of reasons, but, if you don't have the Steam client installed, you have nothing regardless of what you paid for. If you don't have an internet connection during some portion of installation process, the fact you paid for the product means precisely nothing.

That Sltherine Group provides me with a free Steam Key when I buy directly from them, means buying directly from Steam seems to be a highly questionable decision.

Steam is to me, as far as buying Slitherine Group products is concerned, nothing but a means to advertise their products. In this particular case, it is Steam that is being exploited and not the other way around. Steam operates mainly by dangling games people want in front of customers for seemingly awesome prices frequently. And frequently it is only the price the customer sees.

I have seen large batches of games offered for upwards of 75% off and higher in the past. But in a lot of cases, the games being offered were sufficiently worthless, that was the only way any sale was even possible. If something is actually worth something, you don't need to all but give it away to get anyone to buy it.

But, sadly, wargaming is a niche so small, often a lot of the gaming public is unaware the game even exists. When I go into the local EB Games stores, they have NEVER heard of just about any game sold by Slitherine Group or for that matter just about any wargame publisher. In fact, they are rarely even aware the publishers exist.

For Slitherine Group, going to Steam was likely more an advertising ploy, than a need for Steam in any other fashion. Well that is how I see it at least.

not to argue as i'm old enough and wise enough to know women are always correct (as my other better half reminds me most days when she correct my many mistakes) so will agree with most of above and respect your views and wish my other half was online playing wargames and not FB rubbish all evening, but on one point i have a different reply but aren't saying or implying your's is either wrong or incorrect but mine is just a different point of view maybe [:D]

pay less and get less, pay the same get the same...

i use steam, but mostly for the ability of it's auto updates, and nothing else, i play all my small steam collection offline, and have never played them online, as it's an option in steam you can have on or off...

when i bought my first game on there, i only used it because i bought a graphics card which came with 4 free games, all keys only version and i had to install steam to redeem my keys, then a sale was on and i bought the whole total war series for less than 1 full price game, i think around £28 / £30 for what is now on there at around £140+ mark so it's a no brainer for me and a great purchase, all games work on win 8.1, all are auto updated for me, so no worries looking and finding out where the older patchers are etc...

but as i also buy from here and Slitherine as well and other places as not all games can be got from one place, if they all was on steam, would i buy them all from there? well that is a question i'm not sure i'm 100% sure as yet i know the answer for, price is good, delivery system and speed is great there, but as i don't play stuff online either it matter little one way of the other really

[MrsWargamer]

I would not have any contact with Steam, if not for Civ V.

I had to have Steam to get Civ V.

I wanted it enough to just deal with Steam.

I don't hate Steam, but let me tell ya, Steam is no more thrilling than a bra on a hot day. You can spin Steam any way ya like guys, but, at the end of the day, most would not pick it over a better alternative.

The auto updating feature for instance. Hmm if I had a dollar for every auto updated game I have encountered, where the auto updated update actually mangled the game instead.....

The ability to download from Steam.... I don't really have a problem installing from a master file folder that possesses all of my various wargames. It's not really that hard to carry around a copy of all of my game install files wargames or otherwise. But it is not always an easy matter to be in a location that has internet access. If my laptop is with me, every wargame I own is also with me (should I want to install something that is not currently installed).

But I applaud Slitherine Group for finally getting the drive to conquer Steam. I'm sure their market awareness has done very well in the process.

Eeeeeverytime I have gone into an EB Games or any other game store for that matter, they NEVER have any idea who any of the wargame publishers are. Nope, they have never heard of Matrix Games, Slitherine, Battlefront, HPS, John Tiller etc. That's about the only real value I think that has been gained from breaking out of the mind set that Steam was not a good idea.

Steam is more to me, just a very good advertising tool.

[IainMcNeil]

Our aim is to give the same level of service to all customers. You should never feel penalized for buying from one place or another, but its not always possible. We will try to support you so you can play in the way you prefer but sometimes things are impossible or take longer to implement. Steam is still quite new for us and we're learning as we go.

[demyansk]

I was wondering the same thing, Steam is going to be here and I appreciate Matrix/Slitherine honoring their commitment to us loyal customers. I just bought Flashpoint on Steam and wanted to try it.

I have my serial number written down on paper so hopefully Steam will outlive my life

[demyansk]

I was reading the posts again and found them interesting. I like Steam and really have not had any problems. I was wondering if Matrix would ever try a download client similar to Steam? I have a load of games and play them for a while and then off my hard drive.

What do you guys do when you plan on switching computers?

[zakblood]

backup steam account folder and move it across, run steam setup on new pc, and it updates, put in user name and password and your up and running in less time than i would have taken to download and install one game, so a 400gb steam folder is done in less than a few mins, so depending on size of folder, ios how long it will take, and hardware on pc of course