List of games without mandatory online activation

As a sister thread to my list of games with mandatory online activation, I thought I'd knock together a list of some recent titles that DO NOT have mandatory online activation (so you can buy it and be sure that you own the game). Note that I've based this on German releases, so some of these games may not yet be out in the US of A.

This list is largely more recent titles that are still on sale. PublicNuisance also maintains a wishlist of games that are completely DRM-free, many of which are a bit older, might also be worth a look for anyone interested.

Please also note that this list only applies to disc-based versions of the games listed. Games bought via digital distribution are more than likely going to have DRM (unless you buy them from GamersGate, GOG.com or some other provider that offers DRM-free games)

• Feuerwehr-Simulator 2010
• Holzfäller Simulator
• Dragon Age: Origins
• Mass Effect 2
• Tom Clancy`s H.A.W.X
• Age of Alexander
• Quad Simulator 2010
• Offroad Rally Simulator 2010
• Cursed Mountain
• Combat Zone: Special Forces
• Sektor 22
• Code of Honor 1-3
• Helicopter Simulator 2010
• German Truck Simulator
• The Book of Unwritten Tales
• Drakensang
• Drakensang: River of Time
• Risen
• Need for Speed: Shift
• Colin McRae: DiRT 2
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Sith Edition
• FIFA 10
• The Sims 3
• Geheimakte 2 - Puritas Cordis
• Crash Time 3 - Highway Nights
• Tropico 3
• Pro Evolution Soccer 2010
• Der Planer 4
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
• Divinity II: Ego Draconis
• Fallout 3
• Armed Assault 2
• Far Cry 2
• Tomb Raider: Underworld
• Age of Empires 3
• Runaway: A Twist of Fate
• Euro Truck Simulator
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• The Whispered World
• The Witcher
• Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood
• Venetica
• GTR Evolution
• Das Vermächtnis: Baum des Lebens
• Black Mirror 2
• Street Fighter 4
• NBA 2K10
• Company of Heroes
• Ceville
• Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising
• Unreal Tournament 3
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Republic Heroes
• Saboteur
• Overlord 2
• Hearts of Iron III
• Men of War
• Batman: Arkham Asylum
• Dark Void
• Devil May Cry 4
• Saw
• Sonic and Sega All-Star Racing
• Red Faction: Guerilla

I haven't included games where activation is necessary to play online - I think it's a bit of a no-brainer that if you want to play online, a check for a legal CD key is not unreasonable.

Update:

Added Sonic and Sega All-Star Racing (I bought and can recommend this by the way, great game) and Red Faction: Guerilla.

batman AA uses gfwl so yeah thats wrong lol.

batman AA uses gfwl so yeah thats wrong lol.

ionusX

Batman AA can use a fully offline profile with no need to connect to the internet.

yes but without the online mode you miss 1) the dlc, 2) the ability to play any challenge maps.

your basically cutting off about 1/3 of the game lol in order to say that. by all means do im just saying thats not the wisest thing to do.

Starcraft 2

If anybody wants to know if a game is DRM free just check my wishlist. I have taken a lot of effort to make sure there are only DRM free games on there.

Starcraft 2

KalDurenik

Starcraft 2 is confirmed to have DRM. Would indeed have been nice if Blizzard had had the sense to realise that Battle.net was all they needed to prevent piracy, but apparently they didn't. Sorry buddy.

If anybody wants to know if a game is DRM free just check my wishlist. I have taken a lot of effort to make sure there are only DRM free games on there.

PublicNuisance

Sweet. I'll add a link to your wishlist.

Edit: Just noticed that you've got Velvet Assassin in there...

Starcraft 2 has DRM.....? so now because it has DRM even though it works offline, it doesn't make the list? do you know that more than half of the games you listed have SecuROM?DanielDust

Well, gawd, reference for your "facts" about Starcraft 2? none. It does have online activation because obviously you will have to activate it to play online but I doubt you're qualified to make assumptions for a game that isn't even close to being released (it's at least another 4 months away) that it forces you to activate if at the installation.

GTA IV officially asks you to register it during the installation, does it force you ? no, you can activate it whenever you like if you plan on playing some multiplayer (the rest is irrelevant R*SC offline profile and LIVE offline profile). Starcraft 2 has no place on your "mandatory online activation" thread, yet, same with this thread, it has no place in any kind of thread since the game is not out yet.

Well, gawd, reference for your "facts" about Starcraft 2? none. It does have online activation because obviously you will have to activate it to play online but I doubt you're qualified to make assumptions for a game that isn't even close to being released (it's at least another 4 months away) that it forces you to activate if at the installation.

GTA IV officially asks you to register it during the installation, does it force you ? no, you can activate it whenever you like if you plan on playing some multiplayer (the rest is irrelevant R*SC offline profile and LIVE offline profile). Starcraft 2 has no place on your "mandatory online activation" thread, yet, same with this thread, it has no place in any kind of thread since the game is not out yet.

DanielDust

Sweet. I'll add a link to your wishlist.

Edit: Just noticed that you've got Velvet Assassin in there...

jamyskis

According to Gamersgate it is DRM free. Link. Were they wrong ?

According to Gamersgate it is DRM free. Link. Were they wrong ?

PublicNuisance

Small note: You should probably notate [Disc Version Only] on a bunch of games up there - the digital versions of many of those games [if not all] require online activation (Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age: Origins to name 2]carlosjuero

Myself, I did not have internet for a week when I got GTA IV, I installed it and it worked just fine for those 8 days until I had internet again.DanielDust

Starcraft 2 has DRM.....? so now because it has DRM even though it works offline, it doesn't make the list? do you know that more than half of the games you listed have SecuROM?DanielDust

yes but without the online mode you miss 1) the dlc, 2) the ability to play any challenge maps.

your basically cutting off about 1/3 of the game lol in order to say that. by all means do im just saying thats not the wisest thing to do.

ionusX

[QUOTE="DanielDust"]Starcraft 2 has DRM.....? so now because it has DRM even though it works offline, it doesn't make the list? do you know that more than half of the games you listed have SecuROM?gamer620

Jamyskis, you can play it just fine, problem is you have to first get the unlock code (I did get it through a friend), after that I wrote it on the manual and what do you know, I installed it without any problems now, with the same "manual" activation code. But sure, I guess you aren't able to play it if you don't have a single person that you can rely on to ask for help with this problem. After you have the code you can install it whenever you want, wherever you want without internet, not exactly sure but I think the same code can be used to revoke the licence.

[QUOTE="gamer620"][QUOTE="DanielDust"]Starcraft 2 has DRM.....? so now because it has DRM even though it works offline, it doesn't make the list? do you know that more than half of the games you listed have SecuROM?DanielDust

Jamyskis, you can play it just fine, problem is you have to first get the unlock code (I did get it through a friend), after that I wrote it on the manual and what do you know, I installed it without any problems now, with the same "manual" activation code. But sure, I guess you aren't able to play it if you don't have a single person that you can rely on to ask for help with this problem. After you have the code you can install it whenever you want, wherever you want without internet, not exactly sure but I think the same code can be used to revoke the licence.

[QUOTE="gamer620"][QUOTE="DanielDust"]Starcraft 2 has DRM.....? so now because it has DRM even though it works offline, it doesn't make the list? do you know that more than half of the games you listed have SecuROM?DanielDust

Jamyskis, you can play it just fine, problem is you have to first get the unlock code (I did get it through a friend), after that I wrote it on the manual and what do you know, I installed it without any problems now, with the same "manual" activation code. But sure, I guess you aren't able to play it if you don't have a single person that you can rely on to ask for help with this problem. After you have the code you can install it whenever you want, wherever you want without internet, not exactly sure but I think the same code can be used to revoke the licence.

I'm sure they didn't. They did not for Diablo...obviously....WoW is a MMO so..huh? and it does not use the B.net client and they said " YOU WON'T HAVE TO BE LOGGED INTO BATTLE.NET TO PLAY SC 2'S SINGLEPLAYER BUT YOU WILL NOT GET ACHIEVEMENTS AND SUCH".

They're trying to integrate the community in the entire game (SC 2) so obviously you need to be logged in for achievements, chat with friends during the sp campaign (who needs such a feature?) and even arrange co-op matches while you play (don't know about this one since I do not care about this particular thing, if co-op means really co-op in sp or just co-op skirmishes).

I'm sure they didn't. They did not for Diablo...obviously....WoW is a MMO so..huh? and it does not use the B.net client and they said " YOU WON'T HAVE TO BE LOGGED INTO BATTLE.NET TO PLAY SC 2'S SINGLEPLAYER BUT YOU WILL NOT GET ACHIEVEMENTS AND SUCH".DanielDust

And yes, B.net is being built into WoW when Cataclysm releases. I am well aware its an MMO.

Straight from Blizzard Q&A

"Q: I already have a classic Battle.net account that I made for StarCraft, Warcraft III, and/or Diablo II. Can I just use that?

Is that from the same article that said about AC 2's DRM?

Don't know why it's so hard to understand but it's a fact that you can sign in, offline, into a guest account, and play the singleplayer campaign with the save that you chose to be "saved" onto your HDD not online on B.net.

Also it talks about the new account format, which we should all already have by now, the account that they'll integrate into all the forums (the new battle.net) an account that you can use for all your games, the type of account that you "currently" use for WoW.

Is that from the same article that said about AC 2's DRM? Don't know why it's so hard to understand but it's a fact that you can sign in, offline, into a guest account, and play the singleplayer campaign with the save that you chose to be "saved" onto your HDD not online on B.net.DanielDust

If it is please show me a source to that, because all of the quotes i am seeing say different.

as for the wow thing...

"Q: What happens if I don't merge my World of Warcraft account with a Battle.net account?A: After November 11, 2009, you won't be able to log in to the game unless you merge your account with a Battle.net account. You will need to log in using your Battle.net account username (your email address) and password." Looks like battle.net is already fully integrated into WoW. Guess i am behind on the times.

I'm sure they didn't. They did not for Diablo...obviously....WoW is a MMO so..huh? and it does not use the B.net client and they said " YOU WON'T HAVE TO BE LOGGED INTO BATTLE.NET TO PLAY SC 2'S SINGLEPLAYER BUT YOU WILL NOT GET ACHIEVEMENTS AND SUCH".DanielDust

[QUOTE="gamer620"][QUOTE="DanielDust"]Is that from the same article that said about AC 2's DRM? Don't know why it's so hard to understand but it's a fact that you can sign in, offline, into a guest account, and play the singleplayer campaign with the save that you chose to be "saved" onto your HDD not online on B.net.DanielDust

In which case I will gladly own up to being completely misinformed. I doubt I will get the same sort of respect from you though, as clearly evident by your hot tempered and demeaning responses. I do appreciate your responses though... because every response you have had has given me something to do while I continue to sit and do nothing and still get paid. Passed the time pretty well :)

"Chris Sigaty: Challenges are something we're trying. We always hear people say, "You look at singleplayer as the training ground for multiplayer, right?" And we don't really. And in fact here we're kind of training you all wrong, because you can have any unit depending on what missions you went through, and there are units that aren't in multiplayer at all, like Firebats, Medics, all sorts of stuff. We kind of created challenges out of this, and our concept behind challenges is to train you at some of the things that are important to a good competitive player, to be at least aware of. They're little minigames that teach you about things like economy, how to maximize getting resources, unit countering, control grouping, micro, spell usage, all sorts of things like that. Those two things are available when you're offline." Here's another important guy from Blizzard, you must have heard about him... "Bashiok affirms players may play Starcraft II single player offline for as long as the game has been authenticated [once] via Battle.net upon installation. Thereafter, you may play offline any time you wish." If a lead designer doesn't have a clue, then by all means consider yourself the man that knows everything, even things that Blizzard themselves don't knowDanielDust

Needless to say.. have fun playing as a guest.

Interesting bit of news.

I've been in contact with Blizzard Europe about the SC2 first-time activation thing, and asked them about the extent to which Blizzard would commit (commit in the legal sentence, not just a vague 'promise' à la Valve) to releasing a patch that would deactivate the DRM when Starcraft 2 is no longer supported.

Here's the original German:

Hallo xxx,

vielen Dank für Ihre Email bezüglich Starcraft II.

Da Starcraft II derzeit noch in der Betaphase ist können wir noch nicht bestätigen ob eine Onlineauthentifizierung zwingend erforderlich ist, alle Informationen rund um Starcraft II erhalten Sie auf http://www.starcraft2.com
Zu der zweiten Frage können wir Ihnen daher keine Antwort darauf geben, da wir diesbezüglich keine verbindlichen Auskünfte geben können.

Weitere Neuigkeiten und Updates, sowie Ankündigungen zu neuen Patches, Änderungen und den Realmstatus werden sobald diese verfügbar sind auf der Webseite veröffentlicht. Besuchen Sie zudem unser StarCraft II Beta Forum für Neuigkeiten und Informationen rund um das Spiel: http://forums.battle.net/board.html?forumId=25352534&sid=5011

Falls Sie weitere Fragen oder Anliegen haben, zögern Sie nicht uns erneut zu kontaktieren.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Blizzard Entertainment Europe
Stefan K.
Technischer Kundendienst
http://eu.blizzard.com/support

Blizzard Europe

And a quick and dirty translation:

Hello xxx,

Thank you for your e-mail regarding Starcraft II.

As Starcraft II is currently still in beta phase, we can't yet confirm whether online authentication will be absolutely necessary. You can find out all the necessary information at http://www.starcraft2.com

This means that we cannot give you an answer to the second question, as we are unable to provide any legally binding information on this matter.

Further news and updates as well as announcements regarding new patches, modifications and the realm status will be published on the website as soon as they are available. Also visit our Starcraft II Beta forum for news and information on the game: http://forums.battle.net/board.html?forumId=25352534&sid=5011

Should you have further questions or issues, do not hesitate to contact us again.

Yours sincerely,

Blizzard Entertainment Europe
Stefan K.
Technical Support
http://eu.blizzard.com/support

Please attach your answer to the previous correspondence and any files already sent.

Blizzard Europe

Does this mean that the information circulating in the media is wrong? Hmmm...