Over the past few years I have been buying progressively fewer and fewer new games. The reason behind this is the transition to online-based DRM systems or online-only features. Although I recognize the need for developers/publishers to protect the games they make and accept DRM such as disc checks or serial numbers, I simply do not buy games that rely on external servers to play, install or activate. That is where I draw the line, because it makes the game dependent on continued existence of those servers, which is something I do not accept.

Moving onto my actual point: Having read that Skyrim uses Steam, I had automatically written it off as a game that relies on external servers and did not purchase it. Now, though, I have read somewhere that the original Skyrim game right from the disc does not actually need Steam to run and that the need to use Steam has only been patched-in in the first patch. Given that I really like RPG games and Skyrim is clearly a great game, if it doesn't need Steam the barrier to my purchase of the game would be removed. Hence, I have two questions for those in the know:

1) Could somebody confirm that the original unpatched game installed from the disc does not need Steam to run?
2) Is Skyrim in a playable state as far as bugs and other issues are concerned without any patches?

Thank you for your kind help!

Skyrim has many buggy quests unpatched
Also steam isn't not always online DRM, there is offline mode. You only need to be online to activate and update.
Steam is not as intrusive as others drms like...origin.
You may be thinking of installing from the disc instead of downloading then installing.

For clarification, the steam "patch" was a forced update that you could not opt out of without physically pulling the plug before attempting to play.

Secondly, the disc does not contain all the files needed to play. The exe and a few other files are downloaded at the last minute before launching the game. This is part of the "DRM" part of Steam, and only adds to the inevitable unplayability of all Steamworks games.

The playable state of 1.0 is debatable and varied person to person. I personally had no issues running the game (Crashes and CTDs wise), but as mentioned, there are quest bugs and whatnot that the patches fix.

Thank you to both of you for the clear and precise explanations of how it works. So it is seems that my information about the game from a disc working without Steam was inaccurate, which is unfortunate, but altogether not very surprising. Once again, thanks!

Your welcome, steam does have its flaws but in my humble opinion, it is the lesser evil.

I hate being railroaded myself but like Stan posted, it's the lesser evil. I would much rather have Steam DRM than something like Starforce or SecuROM.

Since the OP's question has been answered this will be closed.

Take any further discussion of Steam to this thread please

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1359009-unofficial-steamdrm-discussion-27/