Offline complete game installation?

[LivW]

I have played Civilization for years and I finally decided to upgrade my old Civ4. So I bought Windows 8 (I normally use Linux on this computer). I hate Win8.

Then I went to the civilization5.com and hit the "Buy now"-button. I may be stupid, but I chose Steam as a retailer. I don't know the others, but I really hate Steam.

What I want is what I used to get: I want to play my game alone (singleplayer) in bed in my hotel room after a long day at work - or at the airport, in the plane or on a bus. I don't want to communicate with anybody and I really don't want to get up and go downstairs to the reception to get a new internet login code when the one I had has run out. I have no need for internet except for the connection to Steam and Steam won't let me play the game offline. And my old Civ4 CD doesn't work anymore (probably because I upgraded to Win8)...

Is it even possible to get the download and use it locally? Or do I have to buy the game once more elsewhere? Can I even get an independant install anymore or is it all based upon being interactive and connected?

[Kholstomer]

You CAN play the game offline. Just set Steam to open in offline mode as default(need to do this when online). You can do as said albiet, your progress will be reset everytime I think.

If you have trouble with Civ4 on Win8, try installing it in dual boot mode with your preferred operating system. If all else fails, but a retail non-steam version of the game.

[LivW]

OK, thanks. As you said, the progress is reset every time in offline mode. I didn't know if there was a non-steam version available or if this is it.. I will look around and buy another version, I think. I got hooked on this a long time ago and working out of office is very hard without it. :-)

[BDK]

Sadly, steam is required for all civ 5 versions. Forced singleplayer updates ... eeeeepic fail.

[LivW]

Too bad... I never planned to abandon neither Windows nor Civilization, but now they are shutting me out. It seems that their joint strategy is to get an even tighter grip on the consumers than Apple has. The new Windows is pretty much the same consept as the Apple-products, but even less flexible. I know - they have made a Civilization look-alike for Mac too, but I have heard that it is not for real. It's more of a teaser to make people buy the "real thing". ;)

Some people spend their days on a stable internet connection, but more and more of us spend more than 20 hours a week on some form of transportation being moved between cities or continents, and the nights in hotel rooms. That is a perfect time for gaming! (After a few months the hotel bars and the local night life gets kind of boring.) But when one is on the move it's actually not that easy to access the cloud at all times. In a perfect world maybe, but I don't think we will ever get there.

[The Wanderer]

Originally posted by LivW:

But when one is on the move it's actually not that easy to access the cloud at all times. In a perfect world maybe, but I don't think we will ever get there.

Wait till people who aren't on the Cloud are ridiculed, similar to the people who complain about being molested by TSA, don't have/carry cell phones, are Republicans or Christians.

[LivW]

Well, I have a very nice iPad with retina display, but it turns out that it is pretty useless most of the time. I use it at home to access YouTube and FB and to watch late night movies in bed, or occationally to check e-mails. I can get connected in airports and such places if I need to, but it is a lot of hazzle. And I don't really want to be connected all the time. It would be nice to be offline sometimes... and still have access to my games. :-)

I don't know if Steam works with iPad, - haven't tested it. I tried to access from another computer once and I don't really feel like doing that again. It didn't work and it messed up my steam account.

[Kholstomer]

That would be because you activated Steam Guard. Each time you logon to Steam from another computer or device, a new passcode is generated which is sent to your email account. You will then have to input that code from your email into the Steam client. In my opinion it is one of the best safeguard systems implmented even though its a hassel when switching devices.
If you ultimately desire to play Civ 5 offline with the saving option, I'd suggest you to download the pirated version(supports offline saving).