[0018] FIG. 4 shows components used in a system for granting access to a system and content. In one embodiment of the invention, a customer gets a coupon that includes a special offer key allowing the customer to play a selected game or set of games for a period of time. Although the word "game" is used, the special offer key may provide access to other content or services such as an application suite, such as Microsoft® Office. Unless indicated otherwise, "game" is also intended to mean content and/or services. When logging on to a server, for example, the customer provides the key. The server checks the key with a database and determines what games the customer is entitled to access as well as what period of time those games are available.
[0019] After a customer uses a special offer key and is authenticated, the customer may have a series of selections to subscribe to. For example, the customer may subscribe to a particular genre of games, such as real time strategy, an application suite, such as Microsoft® Office, or a single game, such as Half-Life®. When a package of software applications is selected, information about the package may be displayed, such as applications included in the subscription. Before, during, and after selecting a package of applications to subscribe to, ads may be displayed on the selection screen. Pricing may be shown telling how much each subscription costs and/or how long the special offer key allows access to a subscription. The subscription follows a customer from computer to computer or other electronic device. When a customer logs on using a computer, the customer obtains a ticket that gives the computer access to one or more content servers that can provide access to files needed to execute the applications contained in the subscription.
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