I bought a copy of Bloodlines from Direct2Drive -- the original Direct2Drive, I don't know how many years ago. It was probably like 2008 or 2009 or something, maybe even earlier. Definitely way before GameFly bought it out.

Anyway... I never actually got around to trying to install it until now. I guess I may as well before this sale and the Steam Summer Sale end.

The installation went alright (Windows 10), but it needs to activate online and the original servers seem to be gone. I still have the original CD key though. At some point in the past though I did have it in my GameFly account for its probably now-defunct PC delivery app. Wonder if I can dig that up.

Should I just give up and re-buy the game here or on Steam? They should add games like this to the "Reclaim You Game" list.

I actually have the same problem with SWAT 4, and if I can't get that to activate I'm pretty much screwed since it's not available anywhere. I'd probably be forced to crack it.

Since you spent money on it I see no problem doing what you gotta do to make it work.

You must change your processor to single core in settings and set it to no more than 2GHz. If this doesn't work, then you have to disable desktop composition, make it run in compatibility with either winxp or 98 and 1-2 more ticks on that settings tab. Making bloodlines to run to a system later than xp is a real bitch, though. I have the original retail box, tried every solution proposed online and my win7 simply won't run it; or at least always crush upon the new game first loading. GOG version will work flawlessly, though. Steam is crap and needs much tampering, too. But gog has the unofficial patch incorporated, so quite a few things change in game, it is no longer the original experience, is, feels and works like a mod or something. Still, if you want your game to run... "You can't make an omelet..."...

I don't think you should pay again, but if you still want it, then I suggest the Steam version, because:
a) unlike the GOG version, it's vanilla
b) you may be able to get it on GOG for free, if this game will be added to GOG Connect

The STEAM version won't run without apply WESP's patch. What's your point?

Incorrect; while Wesp's patch fixes it internally, it's a real easy fix for anyone to do - just divorce it from Steam by creating a new folder and changing the shortcut to go there.

I have the same version. It asked for a serial and wouldn't register after I entered the code.

I applied the latest version of wesp's patch and it works fine. The only odd thing is sometimes I have to start it twice, but otherwise it works like normal. This is using Windows 7.

So the patch get's around the activation?

I was able to recover my Direct2Drive account on the new D2D, but I can't download Vampire since it was delisted. I still have the original D2D installation executable though.

It worked for me. That's all I can tell you. I don't know anything about how or why.

I just tried it, and it worked by creating a new executable shortcut for the game. Thanks.

I know my copy of the game works now, I just can't ever lose the game files. It's kind of like owning a physical copy really. I still wish there was some place from which I could re-download it with my original CD key. I wish they did a thing on GOG or Steam where I could input that and get a license like some other games let you do, but I don't expect Activision to care about that. I even have the original order receipt. On my D2D account I can even still see the CD key (same for SWAT 4 even though that's not available digitally anywhere anymore).

It may be a good idea to make a backup on some cloud storage. Thus, you will not need to keep the files on your PC, and you will be sure that it can be recovered should problems arise.

Yeah, I still have my receipt too, I'm sure. I haven't tried accessing D2D in years though.

Personally I burned the whole package on a DVD shortly after I first downloaded it. It's still in my desk drawer.

That's probably a better idea. The game is 2GB and my cloud storage is all the free kind -- usually only like 5GB on iCloud or Dropbox.