Piracy is a non-issue to Gabe Newell

[Red Hawk]

If you start up Steam when you don't have an internet connection, Steam automatically goes into offline mode.

 

[HeXen]

If you start up Steam when you don't have an internet connection, Steam automatically goes into offline mode.

but it does seem to want to validate at some point. i unplugged my ethernet, rebooted and tried to play a game last night...no go. But if i log in first then unplug it, i'm fine.
maybe it only has to check once in a while, but it does seem to want to check in, so if i ever had to turn off my internet for whatever financial reason, i would likely be screwed at some point.

 

[Nebor]

but it does seem to want to validate at some point. i unplugged my ethernet, rebooted and tried to play a game last night...no go. But if i log in first then unplug it, i'm fine.
maybe it only has to check once in a while, but it does seem to want to check in, so if i ever had to turn off my internet for whatever financial reason, i would likely be screwed at some point.

Perhaps if Steam had an "indigent" function somewhere in the settings, in which you could enter a special code that you receive over the phone or web from Valve. If you fall on hard times and can no longer afford your own internet access, you go to a website, or call their phone number, and provide your steam account info, along with your social security number, bank accounts and all the other info they need to verify your financial state. If you are in fact so broke that you can't afford internet access, they provide you the indigence code, allowing your Steam games to run offline for a certain period of time.

 

[Phynaz]

but it does seem to want to validate at some point. i unplugged my ethernet, rebooted and tried to play a game last night...no go. But if i log in first then unplug it, i'm fine.
maybe it only has to check once in a while, but it does seem to want to check in, so if i ever had to turn off my internet for whatever financial reason, i would likely be screwed at some point.

You must activate offline mode once when you are online.

 

[rchiu]

You must activate offline mode once when you are online.

exactly, and I don't know what the big deal is. Steam is an Internet game distribution after all and you need to be online to actually buy and download the game. After you down load, just activate offline mode until next time you buy another game or want to update.

What's so hard about that?