Anno 1404 - DRM Free

[Antr4cite]

Game is DRM FREE. No Uplay, no TAGÈS, no Steam... yes, you can even run the game without the Steam client.

It comes with the latest official patches (also known as Gold Edition patch 3.1):
Anno 1404: 1.03.3650
Anno 1404 Venice Addon: 2.01.5010

TAGÈS was removed in patch 1.1: http://forums-de.ubi.com/showthread.php/23167-Patch-1-1-completely-removes-DRM

You will find two files named "TagesClient.dat" and "TagesClient.exe" in the installation folder, but they are residual files from the disabled TAGÈS drm. These files are also present in other games where TAGÈS was disabled, like The Witcher for example (http://www.gog.com/forum/the_witcher/tags_drm_in_the_witcher):
http://i.imgur.com/vqZWLeJ.png

[ExiaRS]

It's already patched but...

INSTALL THIS (I already posted):
http://forums-de.ubi.com/showthread.php/103573-ANNO-1404-DoD-Venice-Unofficial-Patch-Release!

[Romuhousu]

Look at that. A Ubisoft product I can bring myself to purchase. Now if only they'd remove the DRM from Anno 2070 aswell

[Red Dragon]

Are there steam achievements and if so, is the unofficial patch compatible with those steam achievements? (But the patch is surely compatible with the in-game achievements right?).

[ExiaRS]

There are achievements inside game only. This is not Steamworks game.

Unofficial patch actually fix many broken things in English version including achievements.

[carlica]

OK, just to be on the safe side: that 3 machine activation limit is gone as well with that patch, the information on the store is outdated, right? Also, does steam apply the patch that removes DRM automatically?

[ErsM]

Originally posted by carlica:

OK, just to be on the safe side: that 3 machine activation limit is gone as well with that patch, the information on the store is outdated, right? Also, does steam apply the patch that removes DRM automatically?

The game you purchase is 100% drm free. Theres nothing. You can download the game, close steam and start the game from your desktop if you want to do so.

It's patched to the newest version as well, no need to do anything (except, if you're not german, use the unofficial english patch linked in the same thread)

The store page is outdated. Game is clean.

[carlica]

Okay, thanks for the clarification. Guess I just found something worth purchasing in this sale after all. On a sidenote, I am German, but I wouldn't want to play the game in German. I am old enough to have played computer games before was such a thing as multi language or localization. Playing a game in any other language than English kinda feels wrong to me. Guess I have a look into that unofficial English patch then. Thanks again, and happy holidays.

[ExiaRS]

If you are a German, play German version of game because developers are Germans and game was intended for German market mainly.

Originally posted by carlica:

OK, just to be on the safe side: that 3 machine activation limit is gone as well with that patch, the information on the store is outdated, right? Also, does steam apply the patch that removes DRM automatically?

Ubisoft doesn't care about their games' Store description. Another Ubisoft published game - R.U.S.E. - has Uplay DRM warning, except it doesn't have it.

[carlica]

Originally posted by ExiaRS #wengerout:

If you are a German, play German version of game because developers are Germans and game was intended for German market mainly

I still have one of the early versions of Anno on cdrom somewhere (1602 or 1503 I think) ... which I never really played much, because it is German only. It feels wrong, even if it was intended for the German market. I remember the last game I bought on disc was Diablo2 and I had to go through great lengths to get an imported US version. After that I just stopped buying games because it was hard to get any English versions here in Germany - until I discovered Steam about 2 years ago. So I think I'll be just fine playing it in English ... even if the devs are Germans.

[jackshile]

one wierd think .. steam does not record played time on anno1404 for me ..

[ExiaRS]

If you start game outside Steam, of course it won't record your time because game doesn't have CEG (aka Steam DRM).

[MaxD91]

i have the problem that i bought the gold edition but cant play online cause of the keys are somehow invalid for some reason can someone help me?

[KingCoward]

Good to hear that it doesnt require uplay account, definitly picking it up shortly, such low price aswell for imo the best anno made so far, btw wasnt this game removed from steam for a while, i remember not being able to purchase long time ago.

[carlica]

Aye, it used to be in the store, but you couldn't purchase it ("currently unavailable"). I did have it on my wishlist for quite some time, without being able to buy. Now it's available again. If you're not overly impatient, I would recommend to wait until all Anno games go on sale again though, Usually there's a discount on 1404 when 2070 is on discount. 75% off during the winter sale made quite a difference for me.

[Powellinho.72]

this game is 40percent off right now , do you think it will drop lower ?