hi,
im sure there have been many posts about this before, i've had a quick hunt and i couldn't find any and i'm in a rush so i hope u dont mind me posting this one.....

i own a brand new copy of SoF2 wich i recently purchased but when i try and log on to any server i get the error INVALID_KEY. i even took the game back to the shop and changed it for another....same error message.

I have been to the Activision website and tried the things that they suggested to fix the problem but it has made no difference.

Does anyone know what i can do in this situation?!?!?!?!

BE AWARE: I AM NOT ASKING FOR A KEY HERE!!!! I merely want a solutiuon to my problem. I payed for the game and its so frustrating to  not be able to play the multiplayer  

I'm surprised they let you bring the game back... how do you know someone before you didn't do the same thing and just steal the CD Key? What do you think is going to happen for the next perrson that buys that box? INVALID_CDKEY

I'd suggest going to a different store...

Firstly I'd like to say, 'HI DR NICK!'

Thanx for your reply mate, don't think i hadn't thought about that one. both games I have had from the shop were cellophane wrapped - and also it's not some BS dixons sister group chainstore, it's a private shop and the owner is usally really good and takes care of his customers to improve customer loyalty-  he sends all his defective stuff back etc.

Plus have you ever heard of the consumer rights act dr.nick? it means that we, as consumers are protected from being sold inferior goods and works on the premis that if we buy something that says 'I can do X, Y and Z' and then we later find out that it does NOT do x, y and z - then we have the right to return the goods and claim a refund as replacement!

Next time don't be so surprised when you hear of a shop accepting returned goods    

Take this post in good humour mate, im just a frustrated gamer, or NON-gamer as the case is right now. Mainly i suspect due to Ravensofts crappy key-checking system.

If there's anyone out there who can offer any useful assistance I'd love to hear from you.... TA

Without you giving any specifics about your computer or connection I can only guess

Badly configured Firewall or Router


I think you will find that you wouldn't be able to use that act when your system is at fault, which I'd say has a very large chance of it being the case. Trying to Cast the blame on a proven sytem that has been in use on most Q3 games doesn't really help your cause either

was only suspicious of ravens server as i get no probs from thwe WONserver in CS, same firewall, same configurations, i may be a forum n00b but i am not a PC n00b

NE1 else?

PS i presume that this is a common problem otherwise there would not be a Help topic about it on the activision site?! scuse me if i am wrong...

if it happens with a 3rd copy, I'd look elsewhere for your problem

i meant if you get a 3rd legitimate CD of SoFII, and the problem happens again, you should look elsewhere besides a defective CD key as being the source of your problem

you said you'd already returned it once and it happened again, right?

in no way am i implying you're not telling the truth or that you do not have a legitimate copy, but if it happens with a 3rd legitimate CD, then you gotta begin thinking about the problem perhaps being something else

sorry if you took my post the wrong way; i was trying to be helpful

i know im sorry mate - the apology is all mine, i read it wrong, too much work not enough play - tired eyes and need sleep lol ... sorry once again edited post now

np, i shouldn't have said "copy"