Just bought game and have no serial

[dogma555 187]

Hi everyone, I just bought the SimCity 4 deluxe version of the game i even have the receipt and everything and when I put the cd in the computer it asks for the serial at the back of the cd case. First of all, there is no CD case, and second its not on the back of anything. Then in the manual it says that the serial is on the back of the manual yet there is nothing there but the access code to register the game with.  I'm absolutely furious because my son picked up an old copy of SimCity 3000 and he had a lot of fun playing with it and I drove pretty far to a local gamestore because most stores around me didn't carry the game anymore. So what am I supposed to do?! Any help is appreciated

Just to assure everyone this is not a bootleg. I even registered the game using the access code but still no luck.

[Dalton 23]

My first though is that the access code is the serial number.... second though is that you didn't actually register that with EA. (if it's a bootleg).

You said there's no cd case. What was the disk in? A carboard sleeve? a paper sleeve? Jewel Case? It wouldn't have shipped from EA with no holder of any kind.

You might want to take a very close look at the disks themselves. Do they look at all like they might be burnt? Does the lable appear real or like a copy/stick on label etc?

Last resort, go back to the store and get your money back then go find a legitimate store and get it there.

[tungston 19]

As far as I know, there is only one number, if you used it to register at the simcity.ea.com site, then it will unlock the game unless it's a pirated copy.

[dogma555 187]

Originally posted by: Dalton My first though is that the access code is the serial number.... second though is that you didn't actually register that with EA. (if it's a bootleg).

You said there's no cd case. What was the disk in? A carboard sleeve? a paper sleeve? Jewel Case? It wouldn't have shipped from EA with no holder of any kind.

You might want to take a very close look at the disks themselves. Do they look at all like they might be burnt? Does the lable appear real or like a copy/stick on label etc?

Last resort, go back to the store and get your money back then go find a legitimate store and get it there.quote>

It came in a case that looked like a console case, and there were two discs just plopped on top of one another in a spindel, sort of like when you buy blank cds. The access code was only a few digits, while the serial they are looking for is 20 digits. This was a legit store too, Gamestop.

Luckily, I did a google search and it seems like quite a few people got games without serials and someone was kind enough to post a serial. I was reluctant to take it, but hey my son wanted to play, and I legally do own the game.

[dadyrghluv 8]

return it, and request a different/used copy if at all possible. let them know that the game u bought was prolly missing its serial key #, and that u would like one with it. always remember to check your game before leaving the store for a serial key, as almost all games these days require one.

it should be either on the printed on the back of the manual, back of the cd jewel case, or a sticker inside the jewel case itself, if not there, request another copy

[tungston 19]

I think you are the legal owner of an illegal copy. There is no way Maxis/ea, would send out a game without a key. What you are using to run the game is called a crack, and is not what we like to hear on the forums.

If you bought a used game, then you took a chance that it was a legal copy. The game is not expensive, you can get a new boxed game from amazon.com for 15 USD.

[dogma555 187]

I dont think its an illegal copy.. the cds look real and it came with all authethentic appearance all around, and even had a valid registration number. It cost $19.99 and the title on the front is "Sim City 4 Deluxe Edition" I even registered the product, so technically whats wrong with using a differerent serial just to get it installed if my purchase was missing one? It sounds like the one I bought had the serial swiped from it somehow. How does it come usually, as a sticker maybe? The game literally had dust on it when the guy finally found it, and it took 2 employees to differenciate between "Sim City" and just "The Sims" and another to finally find it 10 minutes later.. this is a 5 year old game after all and like I said, I was really lucky to find this not too far from here.

[masochist 111]

You registered it on the official SimCity 4 site and it wasn't the same number that you could use for the serial? And it's not on the back of the manual above the Hot-Keys Chart? If not...find the nearest EB Games...or www.BestBuy.com...or www.amazon.com...

[granto93 4]

OH! my friend bought the game and it was not at the back either....it should be in one of the little booklets that come with the game. im pretty sure its the white book with all the install instructions, on one of the pages. look closely though. hope i helped

[tungston 19]

Originally posted by: dogma555 I dont think its an illegal copy.. the cds look real and it came with all authethentic appearance all around, and even had a valid registration number. It cost $19.99 and the title on the front is "Sim City 4 Deluxe Edition" I even registered the product, so technically whats wrong with using a differerent serial just to get it installed if my purchase was missing one? It sounds like the one I bought had the serial swiped from it somehow. How does it come usually, as a sticker maybe? The game literally had dust on it when the guy finally found it, and it took 2 employees to differenciate between "Sim City" and just "The Sims" and another to finally find it 10 minutes later.. this is a 5 year old game after all and like I said, I was really lucky to find this not too far from here.quote>

 

I can make exact copies of the CD's with my printer, so looking good doesn't mean much.  The jewel case might have been taken from the game you bought, in which case take the game back and get a refund.  

Unless you registered [signed up] at the web site, it wouldn't have rejected the number you that you entered.

The three deluxe versions I have all came in oversized boxes.  I saw the game in a regular size box at Walmart.  The CD's came in a 2 CD jewel case, and the Key printed on the back cover, inside the case.  Bottom left corner.

[Albatross Domain 2]

the version of SC4Deluxe RH, (Jewel -Case Box Set) had the serial number posted on the back of the manual near the top, however when I bought the game was in '04, at the Local Wal-Mart, there were some issues even then, of ppl bringing the game back, bc they omitted the serial number, or that when it was printed, it was off-set, or smeared, making almost impossible to read. As long as you have all of the original packaging (box, CDs, manual) Wal-Mart will exchange it without a receipt (permitting they still sell it).

Good Luck

[Coo_Cooi-MX 0]

My CD serial key number is in the back of the little booklet inside the case. Back at the bottom. Check there maybe? Good luck

[hawkpride147 1]

albatross hit it on the head...it took me a couple of calls to ea customer service to figure that out...i got my game swapped out and everything is great now.

[justintime 8]

This has happed to me when i replaced my Simcity 4-D.E. copy, it's on the back of the Manual with the Box-art printed on it.

P.S. It's retarded that it says  "SERIAL NUMBER IS FOUND ON  BACK OF "THIS" MANUAL"  - installation manual: page 21

 When it's really on the back of the the Simcity 4 Game manual/Mini guide .

[dogma555 187]

lol okay i think i figured out what is going on here.. I dont even have a manual with the box art printed on it!! I only have a little black and white guide that says "simcity deluxe edition installment guide" (which has the registration code on the back) and a yellow hint card, so I guess someone swiped that manual with the serial on it. Probably seems odd that I didnt notice it was missing earlier but 1) I never in my life read those things and 2) I was extremely busy trying the game out! *****s at gamestop. My only question now is will my "bad" serial conflict with my being registered when it comes to downloadable content?

[Bobbo662 23]

I had the exact thing happened to me.  I purchased through the web (not from a store) - The Sims2 Fun Family Stuff EP, and the game came without a registration key to install.  So I called EA Support (the number they give you in the manual), and spoke to Customer Service Rep, and they emailed me a registration key for the game.

So - if there's a number to EA Support - call EA CSR, explain - and they should email you the registration key.

[justintime 8]

Originally posted by: dogma555 lol okay i think i figured out what is going on here.. I dont even have a manual with the box art printed on it!! I only have a little black and white guide that says "simcity deluxe edition installment guide" (which has the registration code on the back) and a yellow hint card, so I guess someone swiped that manual with the serial on it. Probably seems odd that I didnt notice it was missing earlier but 1) I never in my life read those things and 2) I was extremely busy trying the game out! *****s at gamestop. My only question now is will my "bad" serial conflict with my being registered when it comes to downloadable content?quote>

 

You didn't get the Passport-shaped Mini guild (Front: Box-art / Back: Black on white Text with the Number in the upper-center(Or lower, lost mine) of the back?)

BTW the number sould be made of letters too, and printed like this:

A111 - AA1A - 1A1A - AAAA - 1A11(Not in that oder(A = Letters 1 =numbers))

[dogma555 187]

Nope, I didnt get any sort of official manual that usually come with console games. Sounds like this game was traded back to gamestop as "new" from someone who installed the game, used the serial, and returned and resealed the item while making a point to remove the manual/serial from it before sealing.. so they got to install, make a clean break with the serial, and got a full refund! Either way, this game is just absolutely addictive. I didn't even plan on playing the game and I found myself up to 3:30 last night working on my first city.

[tungston 19]

Originally posted by: dogma555 I found myself up to 3:30 last night working on my first city.quote>

 

Welcome to the world of SimCity 4.  You have a lot of company when it comes to over doing it.

[ianicus 0]

well at least your playing I guess, some of the people in here are really....dumb? haha ALL pc games are coming in the console styled boxes now, aka an oversized DVD case, I believe thats the case Dogma received, and it certaihnly sounds like the manual with the serial was swiped, crappy luck dude!

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Hope you still have your receipt.  I would return the game to gamestop with the complaint that the manual wasn't in the box, and the game can't be registered.  You should get a new one (check the content) or a full refund.

[dogma555 187]

no the game could still be registered fine because I still got a registration number in my package. Unfortunately im running into another problem but Im thinking its my computer and the only way I can play is to system restore and reinstall over and over again.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Raise a new topic on this.  You shouldn't have to do this.  In your new problem statement include:

Your machine configuration

Your Operating System and version

Your Virtual memory settings

Which version of the game you are playing.

[Guypom 0]

I'm having same problem because I bought the game 5 years ago i think and I moved 2 times since then. I cant find my CD key! I wrote it on the CD case but I guess I copied it wrong so now I cant even install the game

[rainyday 2]

well if you registered this game on the official ea website, then you had to use the product serial no. to register the game.

If this still doent's work, I would advise you to contact EA. If you registered the game, you are eligible for technical assistance and if you give them the code that is on your disc (It usually begins with MX i think) It's right above where is says "Disc 1/2". I did this before with a sims game and I got the no.s.

Hope this helps.

[ThomassamohT 1]

WHERE IS THIS SERIAL YOU SPEAK OF?

IM TRYING TO REGISTER MY GAME WITH EA, BUT I CANT SEEM TO HAVE ANNNY LUCK!!!!!!

[High5flyier 7]

Check on the back of the Manual (top)

[marryescher 0]

The serial number on mine, is on the back of the case the CD's came in. I bleeped out my serial number with purple, in the bottom left corner.

[Sniffeh 121]

On 7/5/2007 at 5:41 PM, granto93 said:

OH! my friend bought the game and it was not at the back either....it should be in one of the little booklets that come with the game. im pretty sure its the white book with all the install instructions, on one of the pages. look closely though. hope i helped

I have a physical copy of SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition. Mine is exactly like the one described by dogma555, with the two discs on a tall spike. It was packaged with a white booklet titled "SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition Install Guide." If this is the white book you're referring to, the activation code is not found in it. I found mine at the very top of the back cover of the other thicker glossy booklet. This one: 

[rsc204 21,804]

You might want to consider the date of the last post in this thread, 2008, I suppose it's possible someone waited 15 years for an answer, but at this point I think the issue is mute.