How do I play without Apex Connect?

[Elegant Caveman]

The pinned FAQ says that it's optional:

3. Do I need an Avalanche Apex Connect Account?

Having an Avalanche Apex Connect account is not required to play Generation Zero, but you won’t be able to utilize Assignments

But when I try to play the game, I get this screen:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2945435432

Not seeing any options to not play with an account.

[DedZedNub]

I believe that if you are offline, not connected to the internet, and play with Steam Offline, you don't have that screen come up and you don't have to sign into anything, just either click thru or choose any esc or other function if needed.

As you say, you will have access to no Assignments.

There was also talk once, which I have not tried to verify, that if you start the game offline, and then go online after the game loads, perhaps to the main menu, that then you can also do co-op. Again, just remember it was once talked about, I have no idea if it is true.

I only play offline with Steam Offline, and it works fine for the campaigns and with new games, even after the last patch.

Besides that there are two levels, supposedly, of increasing to get Assignments. One is where you choose a limited Apex Account, which requires only email address, but which will only give you some of the Assignments, I guess. And another which works only when online and requires more, which also can allow you access to the Beta or Test versions supposedly.

I'd simply say, that if they limit their beta access to so few, no wonder they have problems tracking down bugs and knowing what the actual full measure of fans truly want.

There is lots to do without the Assignments anyway. So not that big a deal since almost every update they break the Assignments or some of them. However the Assignments are supposedly mostly working if not entirely currently.

[Elegant Caveman]

Originally posted by DedZedNub:

I believe that if you are offline, not connected to the internet, and play with Steam Offline, you don't have that screen come up and you don't have to sign into anything, just either click thru or choose any esc or other function if needed.

As you say, you will have access to no Assignments.

There was also talk once, which I have not tried to verify, that if you start the game offline, and then go online after the game loads, perhaps to the main menu, that then you can also do co-op. Again, just remember it was once talked about, I have no idea if it is true.

I only play offline with Steam Offline, and it works fine for the campaigns and with new games, even after the last patch.

Besides that there are two levels, supposedly, of increasing to get Assignments. One is where you choose a limited Apex Account, which requires only email address, but which will only give you some of the Assignments, I guess. And another which works only when online and requires more, which also can allow you access to the Beta or Test versions supposedly.

I'd simply say, that if they limit their beta access to so few, no wonder they have problems tracking down bugs and knowing what the actual full measure of fans truly want.

There is lots to do without the Assignments anyway. So not that big a deal since almost every update they break the Assignments or some of them. However the Assignments are supposedly mostly working if not entirely currently.

Wow, sounds like quite a mess.

I'm only interested in singleplayer, but out of principle, I should be able to play co-op without an account, as it used to be.

To be clear: I've had the game since launch and played it plenty, without an Apex Account, I just haven't played in a year or so.

Last I played, assignments/apex accounts existed, but they were optional and you could just ignore them. I didn't care about assignments, so I never bothered making an account.

Trying to launch the game today, though, I saw no way to... just play, and that bothered me.

I like to come back to the game every now and again, I love the desolate atmosphere, but I also like being online when I play games, to chat with friends or whatever. Having to play offline makes me just want to not play.

I'll have to try disconnecting my internet, loading the game, and reconnecting after, see what happens... such a hassle, though. We really shouldn't have to do that.

Feels like they've stolen the game I paid for. Probably not illegal, but it should be.

I wouldn't have bought the game if a third party account was required, at the time.

[🤪CrazyWolf🐺]

Get a limited account (no email required) is the only option, other than playing offline, if you want to play.

[Elegant Caveman]

Originally posted by 🦷 CrazyWolf 💊:

Get a limited account (no email required) is the only option, other than playing offline, if you want to play.

Then they need to update the store page and stop with the lies.

They explicitly say that an Apex Connect account is not required, in their FAQ.

[Vin]

Originally posted by Elegant Caveman:

Originally posted by 🦷 CrazyWolf 💊:

Get a limited account (no email required) is the only option, other than playing offline, if you want to play.

Then they need to update the store page and stop with the lies.

They explicitly say that an Apex Connect account is not required, in their FAQ.

and it isnt because the game can be played offline. though i do think one of their mods should come and say something because its pretty shady whats going on.

[goatfish]

its ridiculous that even today, devs think setting up some kind of server for games is a valid option. this game barely has more than 1000 players at any given time, and is more than likely going to be irrelevant in a couple years.

but that aside, signing up for another account for a server is pointless if the game doesn't have the player base to justify having one. especially when online play is Peer-to-Peer. someone else has to host the world, not Systemic Reactions.

so whats the apex account used for? broken assignments that aren't worth doing even if they did work. maybe for the option to play multiplayer? i don't play it so i don't know. but if it is, whats going to happen when they eventually (and it WILL happen) shut down their servers because either the game is dead, or the company dies out for whatever reason. look how long it took bethesda to update Fallout 3 to NOT run with the need of Games For Windows Live, that was shut down in 2013

[Elegant Caveman]

Originally posted by Vin:

and it isnt because the game can be played offline. though i do think one of their mods should come and say something because its pretty shady whats going on.

The co-op aspect is a pretty big part of the game, I'm just "lucky" insofar as that I happen to not care about it.

For a lot of the people that bought this game before this whole Apex Connect ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ started, though, there's a strong argument to be made that implicit in "an Apex Connect account is not required to play the game" is the understanding that this would include co-op.

I just did a test, though, and I'm cautiously optimistic...

If I start the game with Steam in offline mode, it just goes straight to the main menu, nothing about accounts. If I put Steam back in online mode after this, though, everything seems to be working fine.

I don't know if I could play co-op, but it's nice to know that I can apparently at least still play solo with Steam online, it just takes some extra steps.

This feels like a workaround/exploit, though. Since it's possible to play without an account, why not just give use the option to play without an account by launching the game normally?

That's extremely scummy... like they're trying to fool people into making an account.

Originally posted by goatfish:

its ridiculous that even today, devs think setting up some kind of server for games is a valid option. this game barely has more than 1000 players at any given time, and is more than likely going to be irrelevant in a couple years.

but that aside, signing up for another account for a server is pointless if the game doesn't have the player base to justify having one. especially when online play is Peer-to-Peer. someone else has to host the world, not Systemic Reactions.

so whats the apex account used for? broken assignments that aren't worth doing even if they did work. maybe for the option to play multiplayer? i don't play it so i don't know. but if it is, whats going to happen when they eventually (and it WILL happen) shut down their servers because either the game is dead, or the company dies out for whatever reason. look how long it took bethesda to update Fallout 3 to NOT run with the need of Games For Windows Live, that was shut down in 2013

Yeah, there's no legitimate reason for any of this.

It's just about control and data harvesting. Pretty disgusting.

Bad enough when it's part of the game straight from the beginning (like they're doing with their new game), but it feels particularly egregious when it's something that's added years later to a game that wasn't like this when it came out.

I had high hopes for Avalanche when this game came out, it seemed like a bright new future full of possibility.

Since then, though, it's just been disappointment after disappointment. Such a pity.

[🤪CrazyWolf🐺]

This issue is a frequent on and off topic on the forum simply because devs and mods simply ignore it. It keeps the forum a bit busy if that is what they are after, in the same vein as "bad news is till news."

[Vin]

Originally posted by Elegant Caveman:

The co-op aspect is a pretty big part of the game, I'm just "lucky" insofar as that I happen to not care about it.

For a lot of the people that bought this game before this whole Apex Connect ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ started, though, there's a strong argument to be made that implicit in "an Apex Connect account is not required to play the game" is the understanding that this would include co-op.

I just did a test, though, and I'm cautiously optimistic...

If I start the game with Steam in offline mode, it just goes straight to the main menu, nothing about accounts. If I put Steam back in online mode after this, though, everything seems to be working fine.

I don't know if I could play co-op, but it's nice to know that I can apparently at least still play solo with Steam online, it just takes some extra steps.

This feels like a workaround/exploit, though. Since it's possible to play without an account, why not just give use the option to play without an account by launching the game normally?

That's extremely scummy... like they're trying to fool people into making an account.

i agree. its very suspicious but it took them almost 3 months to put a patch out to fix the main mission bug.

this is something they should have fixed immediately. cant really say its deception because the fact is that you can play the game without an account. its too bad that steam does not have a catergory for this under their report system because i would have reported it and suggested others report it to since they dont want to say anything or move their butts on it.

Edit: they arent the only ones doing shady stuff. the devs of warhammer inquisitor martyr blamed the community for forcing them to add an offline mode to the incredible adventures of van helsing.

can you imagine? devs blaming community for wanting their game to work after they shut servers down in an ARPG (which by the way they did shutdown).

some devs are just too arrogant. they think we need them.

[Elegant Caveman]

Originally posted by 🦷 CrazyWolf 💊:

This issue is a frequent on and off topic on the forum simply because devs and mods simply ignore it. It keeps the forum a bit busy if that is what they are after, in the same vein as "bad news is till news."

Unfortunately, that's fairly believable.

Originally posted by Vin:

i agree. its very suspicious but it took them almost 3 months to put a patch out to fix the main mission bug.

True, they have a track record of incompetence (or lack of care?) when it comes to taking too long to fix stuff.

"Why attribute to malice what you can attribute to incompetence", as the saying goes.

Originally posted by Vin:

this is something they should have fixed immediately. cant really say its deception because the fact is that you can play the game without an account.

Well, my calling them liars was in context of:

Originally posted by 🦷 CrazyWolf 💊:

Get a limited account (no email required) is the only option, other than playing offline, if you want to play.

Before I tested it myself.

Considering you can play without any accounts and still be online, though it requires a workaround, it's not quite a lie.

Still... it's not obvious for someone who pretty much never uses Steam's offline mode (like me).

If it wasn't for this thread and the discussions that have been had in it, I wouldn't have even considered "turning Steam off and then on again", though. I tend to always leave Steam on (for chat), so I have very little experience with offline mode.

Before doing my test, I assumed that switching Steam between offline and online mode required a client restart, which would mean you couldn't do it while a game is running.

Point being, it works, and they're technically not lying, but I imagine that for a lot of people, they'll just turn on the game, and assume they need an account to play. That's not cool.

It's like they really don't want you to play without an account... it's technically possible, and they're technically not lying, but I'd argue they almost are, at least in the spirit of the words, if not in the exact technicalities.

Originally posted by Vin:

Edit: they arent the only ones doing shady stuff.

I absolutely never intended to imply that they were. Apologies is that's somehow the impression I gave.

I hoped they'd be better, though, so it's disappointing.

Originally posted by Vin:

the devs of warhammer inquisitor martyr blamed the community for forcing them to add an offline mode to the incredible adventures of van helsing.

can you imagine? devs blaming community for wanting their game to work after they shut servers down in an ARPG (which by the way they did shutdown).

some devs are just too arrogant. they think we need them.

Oh, wow, I don't remember the Van Helsing thing, but I remember being turned off by that game requiring an account and constant connection... disgusting practice.

Looking at their explanation again, I see the Van Helsing comment... I read this years ago, but forgot about it. The whole thing is such a joke.

[🤪CrazyWolf🐺]

Originally posted by Elegant Caveman:

Considering you can play without any accounts and still be online, though it requires a workaround, it's not quite a lie.

I have seen this "workaround" so many times but never got the details how to play the game online without apex account.

[Elegant Caveman]

Originally posted by 🦷 CrazyWolf 💊:

I have seen this "workaround" so many times but never got the details how to play the game online without apex account.

1. Set Steam to offline mode before launching the game.
2. When you start the game, it'll go straight to the menu, not asking for an Apex account.
3. You can tab out and set Steam back to online mode, and the game will still be working.
4. Proceed normally, playing the game, with Steam being online.

I haven't tried with co-op, so I'm not sure if that would work, but it works for solo play.

EDIT: If you look at "Avalanche Apex Connect Account" in settings, the status just says "CONNECTING" and doesn't go anywhere, like it doesn't know what to do.

I tried "Find Game" (under Multiplayer), and it didn't throw up an error message or anything, just said "Joining game. Connecting to host.".

Timed out after a while and nothing happened. Not sure if it's because it doesn't work, or because it couldn't find any games to join right at that moment.

[🤪CrazyWolf🐺]

Originally posted by Elegant Caveman:

Originally posted by 🦷 CrazyWolf 💊:

I have seen this "workaround" so many times but never got the details how to play the game online without apex account.

1. Set Steam to offline mode before launching the game.
2. When you start the game, it'll go straight to the menu, not asking for an Apex account.
3. You can tab out and set Steam back to online mode, and the game will still be working.
4. Proceed normally, playing the game, with Steam being online.

I haven't tried with co-op, so I'm not sure if that would work, but it works for solo play.

Thanks. You will actually be offline even if you enabled Steam online while playing the game. You can't find games and you can't see your friends who are online — in short you are offline.

Still it is a good option for those who really do not want to create Apex account.

[Elegant Caveman]

Originally posted by 🦷 CrazyWolf 💊:

Thanks. You will actually be offline even if you enabled Steam online while playing the game. You can't find games and you can't see your friends who are online — in short you are offline.

Still it is a good option for those who really do not want to create Apex account.

Ahh, interesting. That's good to know, thanks.

Guess that doesn't help anyone who wants to play co-op, then, but I've never had a use for the game itself being online, since I only play solo...

I only wanted Steam to be online so I could chat with my friends while I played the game solo; didn't want to have to leave Steam entirely offline just to play this game.

In that case, I'm sticking with my argument that if the game can't be played co-op without an Apex account, their Apex account FAQ is a lie, since co-op is a core part of the experience for many.

[Eventide]

It's baffling why the FAQ hasn't been updated, since the Landfall update, April of last year. I suppose technically the Apex account isn't required because of the 'go offline' work-around, but, the FAQ could be a little more helpful, and/or the blocking screen if you don't even choose the "limited" option, could have a 'cancel / go offline' button.

My comment after a Dev reply, April 2022:

Originally posted by basic.syntax:

Originally posted by kissemiss:

You will need to have a Apex Connect Account to play GZ from now on. The limited one does not require email or name.

Thanks for the reply! I wish I could be happier about it, though. If the limited one doesn't do much, and the game worked fine before Base Assault, and in fact does work as a single-player experience in Offline mode - why is this even necessary?

Why isn't whatever minimum functionality that is enabled by Apex Connect: Limited account, simply built into the game? I have nothing against enticing players with additional benefits if they are optional, like Apex Connect was - before the Base Assault update.

FYI, the Apex Connect FAQ on Steam hasn't been changed & still has a line saying that it is optional. It would be nice to read some new words in the FAQ page, about why this feature is now a requirement. (I find my own things to do in GZ, and don't need the extra help from FMTel. So I've happily ignored the feature, up to now.)