Command & Conquer is Conquered by Missing CD Key Digit

[Doctor Setebos]

Did you get EA's Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3? It's possible your manual was one of many that was misprinted and ended up missing a digit in the CD key for the game. Instead of the usual 20-digit code, some manuals were printed with only the first 19 digits. If you are one of those unfortunate gamers, don't fret! EA has a solution:

"There is currently a work-around that may allow you to bypass this issue. Since you have the first 19 characters of the code already, you can basically try guessing the last character," explains the customer support site.This will be one of those moments EA will never be able to live down, despite the fact that it really isn't all that drastic of an issue.

Source - GamesIndustry (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ea-tells-users-to-try-guessing-missing-security-key)

UPDATE: Apparently, EA no longer wants you to try and guess the missing CD key digit. Instead, their C&C:RA3 customer support site (http://help.commandandconquer.com/cgi-bin/eacandc.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_sid=fHI1q3ij&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_faqid=20760) now says to contact EA customer service directly, either via email or phone, to obtain a new key.

[LongStepMantis]

Is it that huge of a deal? not really.

But considering their official response is "Guess the last one"...why do people still buy their games? :p

[QueQueg]

Classic EA tech support.

You get to try to guess the code... up to 36 times? IT'S A MINI-GAME!

[bone_matrix]

I would have tried this before using Google to find an answer, or calling EA support. Its a no brainer. A bit time consuming, but only if you don't guess right.

But, having a giant company that should not have had this happen say it? Seems so wrong! Realistically though, say they had a bunch to give out over the phone, that person who called in just got an extra copy for free.

[Mike Kelehan]

What a fantastic workaround!

The problem is, when I type in CD keys or download codes or whatever, I sometimes get one character wrong. If I did that and then guessed every letter and number, that would be pretty time consuming.

[LongStepMantis]

I would have tried this before using Google to find an answer, or calling EA support. Its a no brainer. A bit time consuming, but only if you don't guess right.

But, having a giant company that should not have had this happen say it? Seems so wrong! Realistically though, say they had a bunch to give out over the phone, that person who called in just got an extra copy for free.

While I agree somewhat, EA makes more than enough money off of us that shit like this shouldn't happen. It really seems like quite a few of their titles have problems of some kind and there's no excuse for it except they don't give a shit, now give them your wallet.

[Karmakin]

Sorry, but I have to say that I think this response is hilarious. They're also saying that you can fax them a copy of the cover and they'll send you back a full key, as well, which is a much more..typical solution.

[DoctorFinger]

I can haz CD key?

[fitbabits]

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/funny-pictures-cat-forgot-the-key-to-his-house.jpg

[agentgray]

Awesome. Can we do this for the other 19 characters as well?

:D

[boratika]

Sorry, but I have to say that I think this response is hilarious. They're also saying that you can fax them a copy of the cover and they'll send you back a full key, as well, which is a much more..typical solution.
Fax it to them? Hell, why not send it by carrier pigeon or smoke signal?
Classic EA tech support.

You get to try to guess the code... up to 36 times? IT'S A MINI-GAME!

I'm interested in how you reached that number.

[fitbabits]

I'm interested in how you reached that number.
A through Z= 26

0 through 9 = 10

26+10=36

[Cit Phil Cit]

I'm interested in how you reached that number.

26 letters and 10 numbers.

I am the first loser. 2nd place doesn't count. :(

[boratika]

Of course. How very slow of me. Curse people for referring to alpha-numeric sets as digits. It's a misnomer I tells ya!

[Adam Blue]

Well, the truth is customer service will hook you up with a new key or in the meantime you can try this work around.

OR, it is better for news to say EA is just telling people to use the work around.

[Wilkz07]

classic EA.

[mightbe]

Why not release a patch that only checks the first 19 digits?

[Doctor Setebos]

Update added to the OP.

Apparently, EA no longer wants you to try and guess the missing CD key digit. Instead, their C&C:RA3 customer support site (http://help.commandandconquer.com/cgi-bin/eacandc.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_sid=fHI1q3ij&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_faqid=20760) now says to contact EA customer service directly, either via email or phone, to obtain a new key.

[paketep]

And yeeeeeeeet another EA DRM fuckup.

Will the idiots ever learn?

[opsin]

It was far too pragmatic a solution for even this fancy new EA to come out with. I was almost surprised that their DRM didn't mean that entering more than three wrong codes would kill it!

[Adam Blue]

Update added to the OP.

Apparently, EA no longer wants you to try and guess the missing CD key digit. Instead, their C&C:RA3 customer support site (http://help.commandandconquer.com/cgi-bin/eacandc.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_sid=fHI1q3ij&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_faqid=20760) now says to contact EA customer service directly, either via email or phone, to obtain a new key.

Thing is, this has been the solution the whole time. It only had to be reiterated because of how news sites like to spin it all. Like I said, the 'guessing' work around was just a quick option they suggested.

But luckily those who had the problem knew this already.