Only those who have the actual install disc to Steam only games can do this as far as I have been using Steam games. Downloaded games will always run Steam to start the game, or they won't run directly from the .exe.. Of course, I guess if one is so anol about it, they could kill Steam in the task manager.

"When steam is gone" Implies Valve are close to death, when they show no signs of that at all, if valves dies in say 20 years, would these games even work at all, would you still want to play them.
If your Xbox dies in the future, when no Xboxes are made, the same would happen, not to mention valve has stated that they would give out Steam free game exes if they ever went down.

When will these threads go away?

I don't think you really understand how this business model works. If anything were to happen to Valve your games would no doubt be unlocked and you would have a period in which you would be able to back them up to install and play with no restrictions.

Much smarter people than us considered things like this long before we even heard of digital distribution.

Then vote with your wallet and stop buying Steamworks games, it's not hard.

Considering having an anti virus program without having internet is nigh pointless, I really don't see your point.

And it is a big deal, them having stated that it would be the case, doesn't change that at all.


I bought it for the console. I have no problem with Steam, I use it and have so for a while. I just fundamental disagree with the latest trends going on.

I have seen people running Skyrim at ultra settings with a lower C2D CPU and a single GTX 260. I have 4GB of ram also and some of these ultra-settings players only had 2GB.

To clarify, I have 2 physical copies of Skyrim - the Collector's Edition and the standard edition. I am waiting to install the game until I get my GTX 560. Why would I need Steam when I have copies of the game and I didn't download it from Steam?

I think Steam is great too, and they have good service. But, the main thing I really dislike about Steam only games is , you cannot sell the games (if you have the hard copy of course) because the key code is tied to your account after activating the game with Steam. My wife has a Steam account, but she cannot play the games I bought on hers, unless she buys it; she's resigned to just playing these game on my account. I think that's raw to be honest, though I understand game publishers and developers are in it for the money. On console games, they can be re-sold. But, at least with GFWL, you can play the same disc on as many accounts as you wish, so I like that system more from that perspective. My wife plays Fallout 3 on her GFWL account. Steam, should at least allow one more account to be able to play the game, IMO.

It doesn't actually anything except that no company will exist forever.
Don't have a box or a ps3, but I know that problem with the dreamcast...Had to learn how to repair one from scratch.

Why does everyone assume Steam uses up CPU cycles. It doesn't do anything in the background while you're playing.

If the steam community thing in-game bothers you, you can turn it off with one click in your settings. It doesn't update in the background, it doesn't force you to be online all the time, it does absolutely nothing while you're playing, it's designed that way. It's just a platform that allows you to easily manage/buy games, provides automatic update services and keeps you in touch with friends. And if you don't even want that, as has been stated, you can just run the game directly from your installation folder. The only thing Steam is ever going to make you do is activate the game. That's it.

Here's a tip: You don't need Steam running to play, just to run the launcher. Launch the game directly via TESV.exe. No Steam needed, all the DRM is in the launcher.

Then enjoy the game, Steam doesn't use much (if any) CPU power while it's idle.

If you have a boxed copy then you don't need to download the game, a quick Google could have shown you an FAQ on how to use a command line option for Steam to install from your disc drive. All that would have been left then is patching, and you can get patches from elsewhere too.

I didn't say they couldn't do this, or that it is wrong to do so (if I did, bad wording on my part). I find it an absurdly stupid decision, but it is indeed their property, they can force upon it whatever they like. And rest assured, I have not supported any developer doing this, or at least not directly, in this case by buying the console version.

Well, yeah. It's a better online service than other options. But you're just comparing it to other online things there. Other options (like offline) exist.


Auto update is a bad thing. Less control. Like, for example, when a patch screws things up (Fallout 3, patch.... 1.5? for example). Or when patches open or close "seasonal" content (Sacred 2's Christmas and Easter patches. Being able to go back to the Christmas patch because you prefer that content is nice.)

Chatting with friends? Why would I want that in my games? If I'm playing a single player game, why the heck would I want anything like that? (Not being addicted to chat/texting/Facebook/etc like modern kids, I see this as a negative.)

No CD? So what? Much rather have disc-check for DRM than any of the other options.

etc, etc, etc. None of those things you list are positives.


Think of the other people out there, not just yourself. Just because you're sitting on great internet, doesn't mean everyone is. Especially since this country (US) is so backward compared to most other modern places - between the anti-regulatory fervor and the whole "free-range capitalism will solve everything!", we have lousy internet - slower and more expensive. And with poor coverage. Until broadband is declared a public utility and regulated in such a manner, the broadband companies have no incentive to provide better service, better prices, and coverage into less urban areas.

The whole "Digital Download is the only thing anyone needs!" thing is at least a decade early for many people. But the kids sitting on their college's super-fat-pipe internet just say "Heck, I can download 50GB overnight. What's everyone complaining about?"




(And, for the record, I think Steam does well for some things. I just think it's obnoxious to force it on people, especially for a 100% offline/single player game. Only thing Steam really gains the publishers is total lockout of used sales.)

But will I have to use Steam to register the game? If so, I guess that's okay [a hassle, but I'll manage] but you are certain that I can simply click on the Skyrim.exe icon to start playing without Steam running at all?

Do you realise that there are many many places where no amount of money can buy Internet service?
Even satellite service has some location requirements that not everyone can meet.

I can see no reason why someone should not play video games if they cannot afford Internet service.
Internet service requires a huge outlay in installation, monthly fees, and anti-virus support. A game cost less than one month
of this service. It is a relatively inexpensive entertainment IF the game is on a disk and doesn't require you to pay
50 or more dollars a month for 12 months a year to support the game!

Try and have a little compassion for those less well off than yourself. Try and think things through before you pass
judgement on things you know very little about.

It doesn't bother you that in order to avoid being "forced" to make a Steam account you are instead being "forced" to use a console? Like if you only has a PC and really didn't want Steam, you'd be "forced" to buy a console to play Skyrim.

Your definition of "force" is flawed I think. Seriously, it's like me arguing that Bethesda "forced" me to upgrade my comp.

Either buy it or don't, but don't complain about features that are clearly labelled on the box as though you were duped.

Steam has an offline mode, you can even install the game from the disc and get patches from elsewhere.

You can disable auto-updating for every single Steam game on an individual basis.

Don't use that feature then. You can even stop the Steam client signing in to "Steam community" (friends list, etc.) when it launches.

Even games companies that don't use online distribution platforms are now using "dial-home" internet checking DRM systems. If you don't like it then vote with your wallet, absolutely nobody is putting a gun to your head and making you buy these games.

See my first response.

You forgot the ability to push updates in a reliable manner that ensures people (who haven't disabled that feature) get them ASAP, you forgot the ability for customers to sync their save-games and game settings to Valve servers so they can instantly get back in to their game on any machine without any messing around, you forgot about the amazing "publisher pack" type bulk special offers and holiday sales that are often on Steam (at the request of the publisher), and lastly you also forgot that it's a cheaper, more environmentally friendly, and more convenient way of shipping a product.

Got any more straws within grasping reach?

Yes, that's how I've been mainly playing the game.

I downloaded via Steam without the retail disc and can run directly from the .exe
You can with all steam games, the only difference is they are not online and dont track achievements etc.

Opening the .exe is the best way to avoid the "crashing to desktop" nonsense the PC version encounters atm.

Internet access is more important than a video game. As for places w/o internet, lol, I guess Bethesda ships to tribes and warzones? Not knocking these places but come on, get real.

You will need to connect to the Steam servers at least once to authorise your game, after that you can either play in offline mode or just entirely bypass Steam by running the game EXE file. If you do that you won't even need Steam running in the background.

From what I have read Skyrim only uses 2 cores anyway.


Console games have worse DRM if you ask me. Every patch and every DLC comes through Microsoft and they have already shown on the original Xbox that they will shut down support someday. On the PC we have more DRM technically, but since it's an open platform all that DRM can be easily circumvented someday in case you need to do so to play.

I do dislike DRM though, and nothing about digital distribution necessitates DRM, as can be seen with MP3s and GOG.com.

That's what I have been hearing also - which is good for me!