Isn't this thred about a Rebellion preview? What's with the Steam bitchfest?

Is Steam perfect? No.but I consider myself the type to keep my machine clean and Steam doesn't give me major headaches.

I recently built a new machine, downloaded Steam, all my games were there just had to right click to reinstall.

No looking for disks, codes, updating game to latest ver. etc.

There is a off line mode..as just recently Skyrim had a issue with a patch, being in off lone mode I was able to avoid the auto update and played Skyrim until the patch was patched.

Keyword is Steamworks.  That means Steam is 100% mandatory, and must be running to play the game.

To be entirely honest, I'm too tired at this point to even have the argument again.  If you like Steam, that's great, it doesn't bother me.  The problem is that I do not and with Steamworks integration I will be forced to use a platform that I have rejected.

Steamworks is DRM, and fairly onerous DRM at that (only a few steps behind Spore).  Valve has managed to make users accept that by offering useful services and maintaining a good PR.  That doesn't change the fact that I am unwilling to accept that kind of DRM.  If Valve wants to do business like that, I won't be their customer.  If a game goes Steamworks, I will not purchase it.  End.  Of.  Story.

Ask StarDock

But IMO at least you will likely have to have Steam running for multiplayer, due to multiplayer using Steamworks network.

In all seriousness, I believe IC/SD don't give a crap about what we think of Steam.

If I were in their shoes, I'd think like this: "Okay so there is a group of weirdos who loathe Steam... but there is probably a dozen times more people who just LOVE Steam, who sit on steam all day and will very likely get Rebellion just because it showed up on Steam. So - kthxbye". 

Well I don't see anything mentioning that this was a Steamworks game especially after how long it took to even get the pre-order avaliable for Steam.

There's an update section at the bottom of the article that mentions it using Steamworks for multiplayer.  That being said, it would be nice for someone from Stardock or Ironclad to say one way or the other.

That list is incomplete.

You can ask in Paradox forum - its been discussed for looooooong time.

Although the game will require Steam to play online, that does not necessarily mean that you will be unable to play the singleplayer without Steam, or be unable to buy from a non-Valve retailer.

Personally, having played numerous Steamworks titles, I am really happy with Ironclad's decision. The fact of the matter is that Steamworks and the closely associated Steam Friends system combined are one of the best multiplayer platforms in the world, and usually greatly enhance the experience of the end-user by offering what is for most people a common envrionment with simple mechanics.

Should be noted that this means steam will be required and also required to be running for as long as you intend to have sins running. Also of note is that you must have internet to first enable offline mode for steam.

Not true, you only need to have your ligin saved in client.

When I start my notebook without internet connection and start Steam, it simply ask me if I want to try login again, or if I want to use Offline mode.

Thank you for the answer, although its not what I wanted to hear. Well, I guess if any game will make me dive into STEAM, it'll be this one. Damn you guys. I love you though. When will we find out about collector's edition?