I just heard it's available for pre-order on steam. I really hope steam won't be required for the PC version. I just pre-ordered it through a store.
God, I'll pay $$ extra for a non-steam version!! I just don't like having to rely on steam for patches like I do for FalloutNV. Steam = waiting for fun.

Nobody knows

Steam discussions really should go

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1205658-unofficial-steamdrm-thread/

but yeah I hope it's not another steamworked title (all possible versions requiring Steam)

I think it is, although we have no confirmation.



I've never used a game with Steam as DRM before; Skyrim will be the first (if it uses it). Anything I should know? Do I have to be signed in to Steam to play?

Any help?

There's an "offline" mode, but some people have trouble making it work. Have fun installing the Steam client, it's pretty bloated. And their servers will probably get swamped. When I bought Portal (retail), I had to wait about 8 hours for them to authorize my game code and then download some essential files they decided not to put on the game disc. Thanks for nothing!

Don't know yet, I hope not but that decision is up to Bethesda.

You can pre-order a retail version from http://www.game.co.uk/Games/PC-Games-and-Downloads/Role-Playing/The-Elder-Scrolls-V-Skyrim/~r353132/?s=skyrim. So probably not.

I'm hoping I can link the retail one to my Steam account for future download.

If a game is Steam compatible, or uses Steam, you don't necessarily NEED to use Steam. I bought FO:NV and is was Steam compatible. I could play it whenever I wanted no restrictions(without Steam). I only linked FO:NV to my Steam later because there was a manufacturing defect in my disk that caused it to spin weirdly in my disk drive(It was SUPER loud and I feared it would somehow destroy my drive when I wanted to reinstall due to a reformat of my hard drive).

Sure, but if it's a Steamworks game that retail disc still requires Steam to run.

Has nobody seen the physical copy pictures? The collector's edition? No. It is not only available on steam and BGS would be stupid to do that.

If it does use Steam it would be awesome if it made back-ups of your characters save files onto the Steam cloud thing. Not only does that save a lot of frustration should a hard drive fail but then I could just log onto a friends PC if they have Skyrim installed and grab my saves off there

This is exactly what I did with my RETAIL copy of FO:NV. Here's to hoping it will work for Skyrim! :celebration: :foodndrink:

This doesn't sound right. FO:NV for PC is a Steamworks game. That is, it requires the Steam client and an initial internet connection in order to play. Period. It doesn't matter if you buy it on disk or digitally. You have to use the Steam client and connect the game to an online account if you are using a legal copy of the game.

If it is a Steamworks game, I am gonna to be sooo mad.

What if I'm on an airplane, traveling 8 hours to England and I have nothing to do on my computer?

All signs point to Steamworks for retail PC copies:

1. Brink and Fallout New Vegas used Steamworks
2. when asked whether the game would use Steamworks in the February podcast Todd replied something to the effect that: "We like Steam"
3. Bruce Nesmith confirmed achievements

I'd love it steam only. That way I can install from disk but buy the DLC off steam.

The retailers here heavily over charge for expansions and DLC packs.

It's probably going to need steam yes. What's wrong with that?

Steam can be used online or offline. You'll be able to play it without internet connection the same way I can play all my other games offline.

Don't know... Hope not.

If it's Steam-only many people are probably going to "acquire" the game from somewhere. If Bethesda knows their own good, the game won't require Steam. :unsure2:

Personally, I found Steamworks to be less annoying than GFWL

I certainly hope it is not needed. Any game that requires on line authorization is something I'm not likely to buy. If there is a deal breaker for me than this is in

When you buy a Steamworks game, even a physical DVD one, you can't resell it ever once it's registered. This isn't stated up front to the buyer; I can show you numerous titles that show plenty of logos of what tech. they use, but somehow fail to mention Valve, Steam, or state this registration and non-transferability requirement.
If you happen to read the fine-print of the EULA and refuse to install it because of this, your retailer will probably refuse to return it stating they don't return software due to "piracy" or some such nonsense. This is completely in violation of commercial law in most countries as it's terms and conditions presented after the sale, and destroys the Right of First Sale, in addition to other things. But Valve is a very large company with plenty of lawyers so it goes unchallenged. It's also a U.S. company so is untouchable elsewhere.

If Valve/Steam thinks you are trying to sell your account, they will permanently lock you out of games you paid for with no refund, no recourse, no appeal. One person lost $1,800 worth on his account for this. They also will do this if they think you cheated on even one of your games. They don't have to prove this; it's their word against yours and, again, Valve is a very large company with plenty of lawyers.

Retailers sell Steam-registered games, as noted above, that then install the full Steam client and encourage buying games through Steam rather than the retailers. The retailers have no recourse. A group of retailers in Britain now refuse to sell Steamworks-enabled games because of this.

That's all I have time to type right now. I'm sure there's more, but these are some of the major problems.

Edit: The one thing I forgot. Games are priced the same on Steam as physical copies. So for $60, I can get Skyrim from Amazon, on a physical DVD, with a paper manual, sleeve, case. It's mailed to me so postage has to be paid. Or I can get it on Steam and get a bunch of bits. The profits must be extraordinary.

Does anyone here even use Steam? In my experience, retail games that use steam only use it for DRM. It's not like, "YOU CAN'T PLAY THE GAME IF YOU ARE NOT ONLINE." You only need to be
online for ONLINE ELEMENTS(and I don't even think there will be any online elements in Skyirm, so there you go).