I have bought every elder scrolls over the years since arena on 3.1 and daggerfall on win 95 ect... all the way up to skyrim but skyrim was the first one I bought for a game console I bought it for the ps3.. loved it. I bought the elder scrolls saga today for the pc so I can play all the old ones again on my current pc. I got them all installed now its time for skyrim. I was thinking my pc skyrim would look better than on the ps3 that was a lot of my reason to buy the saga pack... and to my surprise I am FORCED to make and use a steam account to install a disk I have in my hand I paid cash for. If I had wanted to download it I would have bought it as a dlc game. I want nothing to do with steam, I have never had anything to do with steam, I could care less about the games they carry or if I can chat with other people. I am not 13 years old and do not think yapping to people all the time is fun, I just want to play my rpg and be left alone.. I think if I go out and buy a disk then I should be able to install it from that disk. what if somehow I make steam mad at me and then they don't want to let me play my game? there needs to be a option at least for the ability to do a direct install from the disk without steam. I promise you as long as you require steam I will never buy another Bethesda product. It is not worth the time or headache for a game to require me to become a member of something I don't want to join. so I will not be installing skyrim on my pc and until you change your policys on this you have lost a long time and faithful customer.. I hope enough other people will take a stand and tell you how unhappy they are with this direction your headed. I see nothing wrong with recommending steam for people if you so wish, however REQUIREING it is wrong and unfair to people that want to spend money with you and buy your things but do not want to be forced into other services or programs that they do not want or need...

Nothing is forced on anybody, the box says Steam is required to run. You bought it. Read the requirements more carefully next time.
Having said that, once you load the game, if you so desire, you need never see steam again.

Here is how you do it.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=5357-FSQM-0382

If you want the Skyrim High resolution pack, you get it through steam, and will be part of your account.

But you can play in offline mode, without problems. The account thing, is one time only.

I'm afraid that's the end of your adventure with Betheda, then. All their recent games require Steam and it's highly unlikely to change.

This is a thing you need to research before buying a game. Any game, not just Bethesda's - many new titles require some kind of third-party client, be it Steam or Origin or something else. However, as Mark pointed out, it's possible to install Skyrim from disk and after a one-time activation play only in offline mode.

might as well drop PC gaming entirely and go pure-console then

PC games are going to require an account, be it Steam Origin or UPlay

sure sounds like it


If you are not going to buy games by a Publisher that requires such services as Steam/Origin/UPlay, your not going to buy any games anymore

As much is this is a SPAM thread...

Steam is required because the game uses it for authentication. While Steam has to be loaded to activate Skyrim, you can disconnect yourself from the Steam Community, by playing in offline mode and making your Steam account invisible to other users. As stated most games are headed towards online authentication. Physical optical media only minimizes the download time during activation and installation.

While there may be some negatives (in your opinion), there are many positives with digital distribution/authentication. You can easily re-download the game without a disc. You can play the game on multiple computers (that you own, and not simultaneously) and it has better integration with help/support.

I doubt you will actually read this, because you have two posts since Skyrim was released and they were probably the same topic. You had to register to this forum, which is obviously don't partake in... that's about the level to interaction that you need with Steam. You don't have to be active in the online community. Random people won't bother you unless you add them your 'friends' list.

It seems like you are either stuck in the past or have a severe social disorder, either way, you probably need to stick with retro-games.

I'm not going to try to talk you into something you obviously don't want to do. But I really don't see any difference in using Steam as opposed to not using it for game play. I don't chat with people on Steam so really using Steam is just like using the disk only .. there is no difference. I still won't use Steam Workshop though The only thing you get is a pop-up box showing off new games or sales and honestly I'm so used to just closing that out that it's as much of a reflex as breathing .. I really just don't notice it after awhile.

And if I remember correctly (I stayed away from the Skyrim forums as much as possible when the game was new, too much whining) there was already an uproar over Steam being required when the game came out and Bethesda stuck by their guns .. so don't expect anything to change for Bethesda or any other company that requires Steam, Origin, etc.

end of my pc gaming? I think not ... not every game company has to be crazy enough to only offer game play through a 3rd party. I play many other games that don't... and to the guy complaining this is spam, it is not spam. it is a valid complaint. And yes I understand you can play in offline mode but that wasn't my point. I want nothing to do with steam I've never had it and don't ever want it. and I shouldn't be forced to use it when I pay cash for a disk in my hand. and yes im sure nothing will change, however that doesn't mean they will get any more of my money.. and yea your right its this little tiny red box that says net and steam, not exactly research or something I should have to check for, if they want people to do someone odd they should mark more clearly.. but yea you can bet ill double check the box's from now on. its a shame I work hard and these guys just don't want my money.

you obviously have not been playing any AAA PC titles in the past 4 years..

Steam is the DRM. Most publishers (maybe all) don't use disc-based DRM anymore, because its too easily bypassed or doesn't read the disc properly. Digital authentication DRM is the future, because you don't have to worry about a disc.

Name one modern game that doesn't use this form of DRM, that isn't Indie or CD Projekt.

As far as I know, there are only two ways to not have to play on Steam.

1. Play on Console

2. We're not allowed to discuss it here.

He's got a point though. Funnybunny went as far as to state he has to forgo PC gaming altogether, which is a gross exaggeration. Yes, he's missing out on so many AAA titles, but it doesn't mean you can't find any fun games anymore.

You imply they're niche/rare. I don't feel this way about indies, especially in the time of successful Kickstarter project which often turn into not only very enjoyable, but more importantly, high profile productions. Aforementioned CD Projekt, Obsidian, inXile, Larian, Telltale and others; you can get their games DRM-free and they're absolutely just as fun and good value for money as EA or Ubisoft games. I'd throw Paradox into the mix too, to some extent (they're sold through Steam, but don't use Steamworks DRM, so you could install them, remove the Steam client and still be able to play. Though CK2 had a non-Steam version too if I remember correctly.)

There is a big problem when talking about DRM protected software, and there are tons of mixed opinions over the net.

-------------------

There is an article about: How DRM Is Strangling The PC Gaming Industry -> http://www.reaxxion.com/4435/how-drm-is-strangling-the-pc-gaming-industry

Also there are some great stuff, and things that svcks with DRM related software.

Why DRM is Great !!! -> http://www.info-mech.com/drm_is_great.html

Why DRM svcks !!! -> http://www.info-mech.com/drm_flaws.html

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As for Skyrim, i wouldn't bother not to play Skyrim because of Steam. There are some advantages through STEAM (for some of you, i don't know if that's a problem with the OP), that makes some things better.

10 obscure Steam features that can power up your PC gaming -> http://www.pcworld.com/article/2600209/master-steam-10-powerful-tips-and-tricks-for-pc-gamings-do-it-all-vanguard.html

Actually, i own Skyrim my self - and finished it, even through STEAM. However, i haven't encountered any strange behaviors, or something that i should aware of, not to play Skyrim that way.

Of course that depends on you, if you feel comfortable to use a game like this. Actually there is no other way, except you decide to play Skyrim through a console.

IMHO, if you own a PC, that's the way you wanna go, if you want to enjoy that game in it's full glory. !!!

Welcome to the club !!! (or maybe not...??? )

It's subjective. Seems silly to not play Skyrim just because of Steam. Some of the OPs concerns seem ungrounded. Steam isn't THAT bad. Im sorry.

In the time it takes these drama threads to unfold, you could have just installed STeam, made an account (takes minutes), installed SKyrim, and already be playing it.

Trouble? Community here and Steam communities that are more than willing to help.

> In the time it takes these drama threads to unfold, You could have just installed Steam, Made an account (takes minutes), installed Skyrim, And already be playing it.

Trouble? Community here and Steam communities that are more than willing to help. <

Yeah, i thing that's the "resume" from all this. !!!

Agreed. The whole "I am not 13 years old and do not think yapping to people all the time is fun, I just want to play my rpg and be left alone.." is completely unfounded as that is exactly what you can do, Steam or no Steam (as in, if Steam wasn't required it'd still be the same experience).

Although in the past I have had a lot of trouble and frustration with Orign, enough so that I deleted Origin and don't buy games that need it, so I suppose I can see the OP's hesitation or unwillingness to use Steam. I'll just say that for me Steam has been great, especially since I have lived in areas where the nearest computer or gaming store has been over an hour away.