You've been invited to a playtest using Steam, but you're unsure what to do or how to activate a key. Perhaps you're not sure how to access the betas section? Not to worry, we've covered everything you need to know below with a full step-by-step journey.
Steam Introduction
If you don't know what Steam is, that's ok!
Steam is a widely used digital platform that serves as a distributor of PC games. It houses gamer libraries, has a store included, and developers register keys through it to sell and provide games to the masses.
You can download it here - https://store.steampowered.com/about/ - by clicking the blue "Install Steam" button. This downloads the installer to your device, which, once opened (from your downloads folder or the downloads section of your browser), will install Steam for you. From there, it's a matter of signing up (if you don't have an account) and logging in!
Key Activation
You should be at the point in Contribute where you can see a steam key.
It will look a little something like this;
From here, open Steam if you haven't already got it open. Then click the little plus symbol in the bottom left of the Steam window and click "Activate a Product on Steam."
Alternatively you can go to the top of the Steam, click Games then click "Activate a Product on Steam."
From here, a window will pop up, stating that you will need to enter the Product Code (otherwise known as a Key)
Go back to our recorder and highlight the Key (you can left-click your mouse and drag it across the key to do so, or if you triple-click the left mouse button on the key, it should highlight the whole key.) It should look like this;
Once it's highlighted, on your keyboard, press the Ctrl and C keys together, this copies the key to your clipboard. Then Navigate to the Steam window again, click into the Product Code box and press Ctrl and V on your keyboard. This should paste the key directly into this text box.
Alternatively, you can type the key as it appears (including any dashes, hyphens or spaces).
Once you have it entered, click Next.
You should then see window that says the activation was successful.
Click Finish here and you'll see an option to install the game.
Click next and follow the prompts to install the game. Once complete, it will show in the Library tab of your Steam window, and will show in blue when downloading, and in white when complete and ready to play.
That's the game installed!
There may be one more step to take before you proceed with playing, which is selecting the correct version, or BETA of the game to play during your test. See below for how to do this!
Beta Versions
You may see a screen on our recorder when you move to the next step that asks you to play a specific version of the game.
It should look something like this;
If this does appear, go back to the Steam window, right click on the game in your Library, then click properties. This will open a settings window, and you should select the Betas open on the left of this new window.
It should look like the following;
Type your beta access password (from the recorder, you can also copy and paste it, just like with the Key earlier!) into the Access code field, and click Check code.
Once you've done this, you should be able to select the correct beta from the pulldown menu at the top.
From here, close the window and you should see the game name in your library change slightly (it should have the beta name at the end, below we have omitted the game name, so you'll see it showing as the "Game Name [gotestify]) and there may be a slight update.
Wait for the game name to turn white, then you should be ready to go!
Now that you've completed these steps, you're ready to continue in Contribute. Please continue with the steps and start on your test!
FAQs
Steam says my Key is already redeemed!
Sorry to hear that, this can happen very occasionally, please reach out to a member of the Support team via the methods mentioned below and we'll get this sorted for you!
Steam says my Key is invalid!
As above, this can happen very occasionally, apologies for the trouble! Please reach out to a member of the Support team via the methods mentioned below and we'll get this sorted for you!
I can't see a key on Contribute!
Please ensure that you have clicked the "launch session" button via the original invitation link to the playtest. Also see this article for full steps on how to take part in a PC playtest. If you've checked these things, please reach out as below and we'll get this looked at for you!
There is no Beta Section in Steam!
We'll need to check this with the Game Studio, please let us know as below and we'll reach out to their team who will be happy to assist!
If you find you're having difficulties with Contribute, please check this article for some troubleshooting solutions, and if you are still unsure of anything, you are welcome to reach out and ask any questions via little bubble in the bottom right of this screen or email us at: support@gotestify.com we'll be glad to help!