EA game code's last number? It's anyone's guess

This snapshot comes care of Electronic Arts' support website for the PC game Command and Conquer Red Alert 3. A manufacturing error in the printing of the game manuals caused a "small number" of units to be distributed without the final digit of the 20-character activation code, required to play the game.

The page details a workaround that the company has designed to bypass the issue, which entails guessing the last digit out of a possible 26 letters and 10 numbers. Of course, when you consider the alternative involves snapping pictures or scanning the manual, e-mailing customer support and then waiting for a response, the code-breaker option might be the better one.

The full text of the support Q&A is reproduced below. [ What can I do if my Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 install code is 19 characters instead of 20? ]

Answer:

If you are trying to install Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 and the code is only 19 characters long, then it is missing the last letter or number. This was due to a misprint on a small number of manuals and we apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.

There is currently a workaround 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. To do this, simply enter your existing code, and then for the last character, try the letters A-Z, and then the numbers 0-9. You should eventually get the right combination, and be able to play the game. If this does not work, you can follow the instructions below.

In order to get a replacement code, please click the "Contact Us" link on the left side of the page, and attach an image of your code to the incident.

If you do not have access to a digital camera or scanner, you can fax us a copy of the back of your instruction booklet, along with a copy of your receipt. ... Please include with your fax your First and Last name as well as your incident number.

If you would like, once you have created your incident, you can also contact us by phone using the number found on page 28 of your manual.

Note: If you decide to contact us by phone, please include the incident number that you created for this issue.

-- Mark Milian

Comments

[B. Freret]

Nice! Now if only I could find a KB article on "What can I do if my IQ is one character instead of two?"