Playing with no internet

[sdazzle]

First of all, love the game. So this isn't a "bash" in any way. But there are occasions when I want to play the game with no internet access. Gasp! I know!
But there are times, like at my son's baseball practice when I want to get a game or two in while waiting.
Unfortunately, I can't do it. It basically gives me the option to buy or install my game key. I have a feeling during start up, it's checking for a valid game.
I don't remember this being an issue with the game last year. I'm next to positive I played a number of times with no internet.
Is there any way to be able to do this? I know it's not a huge issue, but I sometimes need to get my OOTP 14 jones on with no internet. Any suggestions or am I out of luck.
Thanks

[Bluenoser]

You can order the game on CD, and there is a way to license it offline. I'm not sure of the process though.

[bwburke94]

This isn't SimCity.

[sdazzle]

Originally Posted by bwburke94

This isn't SimCity.

How is that helpful? Simple question that didn't need a condescending response. By the way, I hate SimCity.

[boshk]

Originally Posted by sdazzle

I want to play the game with no internet access

man, if its true that ootp14 has always online DRM, maybe i will just skip this version.

Originally Posted by bwburke94

This isn't SimCity.

it is the biggest reason i did not buy sim city

Originally Posted by sdazzle

How is that helpful?

maybe he was pointing out that this game should not require the convenience of having to always be online with servers up and running?

Originally Posted by sdazzle

By the way, I hate SimCity.

now i hate you. but yes, simcity (2013) really blows donkey balls for multiple reasons.

at least ootp does not nickel and dime us for additional content each version .

[Bigrod]

Originally Posted by sdazzle

First of all, love the game. So this isn't a "bash" in any way. But there are occasions when I want to play the game with no internet access. Gasp! I know!
But there are times, like at my son's baseball practice when I want to get a game or two in while waiting.
Unfortunately, I can't do it. It basically gives me the option to buy or install my game key. I have a feeling during start up, it's checking for a valid game.
I don't remember this being an issue with the game last year. I'm next to positive I played a number of times with no internet.
Is there any way to be able to do this? I know it's not a huge issue, but I sometimes need to get my OOTP 14 jones on with no internet. Any suggestions or am I out of luck.
Thanks

Yes you can play with no internet...but darned if my 60 yr. old mind can remember the steps. I'll see if I can find them..and will edit later.
Edit ...no special steps..just start the game as usual. Tested it and works great on PC.

[sdazzle]

Originally Posted by boshk

maybe he was pointing out that this game should not require the convenience of having to always be online with servers up and running?
.

Ahh, didn't think about that he was referencing the shoddy nature of SimCity. If he was, my apologies for jumping to the wrong conclusion. Shows you how much I play SimCity and what I know about the game.
The only solution I've found to my issue is to start the game up while at home then leave my laptop on until I'm at my kids practice. It's a little too much work.
My thinking is that I have a CD key, I should be allowed to play whenever/wherever. I've tried all sorts of work arounds and can come up with nothing.

[statfreak]

Originally Posted by sdazzle

First of all, love the game. So this isn't a "bash" in any way. But there are occasions when I want to play the game with no internet access. Gasp! I know!
But there are times, like at my son's baseball practice when I want to get a game or two in while waiting.
Unfortunately, I can't do it. It basically gives me the option to buy or install my game key. I have a feeling during start up, it's checking for a valid game.
I don't remember this being an issue with the game last year. I'm next to positive I played a number of times with no internet.
Is there any way to be able to do this? I know it's not a huge issue, but I sometimes need to get my OOTP 14 jones on with no internet. Any suggestions or am I out of luck.
Thanks

Are you sure you are starting the game using 'Run as administrator'? If you are not running the game as administrator it will ask you to buy or install the key or just not start at all.

I just tested my OOTP 14 game (licensed last week Friday, thank you Pre-Order) with no internet access and it started just fine. Loaded up my league and able to play without an internet connection on my laptop.

[old timer]

You only need to be online to activate at the very beginning and never need be online again. In fact, you can perform an offline activation if you have access to another computer that's online. OOTP has never needed you to be online to play the game.

[sdazzle]

Originally Posted by Bigrod

Yes you can play with no internet...but darned if my 60 yr. old mind can remember the steps. I'll see if I can find them..and will edit later.

If you can find the step, you would be the bomb. I just can't figure it out.

[old timer]

If anyone is having an activation issue, come to tech support (see my sig) and I'll help.

[old timer]

Originally Posted by sdazzle

If you can find the step, you would be the bomb. I just can't figure it out.

There are no steps needed to play offline. Open a support ticket and I'll help you activate if that's the problem you're having.

[sdazzle]

Originally Posted by statfreak

Are you sure you are starting the game using 'Run as administrator'? If you are not running the game as administrator it will ask you to buy or install the key or just not start at all.

I just tested my OOTP 14 game (licensed last week Friday, thank you Pre-Order) with no internet access and it started just fine. Loaded up my league and able to play without an internet connection on my laptop.

I'm on a mac. I have guest use disabled, so I am the administrator. I might try to turn guest use on to see if that doesn't do it.

[sdazzle]

Originally Posted by old timer

If anyone is having an activation issue, come to tech support (see my sig) and I'll help.

It's not activation issues. It's playing offline issues. If I try to play with no internet I only have two windows available. Buy the game or install my key.

[OBSL Commish]

Originally Posted by sdazzle

First of all, love the game. So this isn't a "bash" in any way. But there are occasions when I want to play the game with no internet access. Gasp! I know!
But there are times, like at my son's baseball practice when I want to get a game or two in while waiting.
Unfortunately, I can't do it. It basically gives me the option to buy or install my game key. I have a feeling during start up, it's checking for a valid game.
I don't remember this being an issue with the game last year. I'm next to positive I played a number of times with no internet.
Is there any way to be able to do this? I know it's not a huge issue, but I sometimes need to get my OOTP 14 jones on with no internet. Any suggestions or am I out of luck.
Thanks

If you agreed to send info anonymously to OOTP about how you play the game, then I think you have to have Internet access to play. Don't quote me on that, but I have a feeling that may be your problem.

[sdazzle]

Originally Posted by OBSL Commish

If you agreed to send info anonymously to OOTP about how you play the game, then I think you have to have Internet access to play. Don't quote me on that, but I have a feeling that may be your problem.

I don't think I checked that off. But I am not possible. I thought it might be a licensing issue, so I tried to deactivate the license and then reapply it. But I can't even deactivate the license. I get an error.

[old timer]

Originally Posted by sdazzle

It's not activation issues. It's playing offline issues. If I try to play with no internet I only have two windows available. Buy the game or install my key.

So you're saying you can play when you're online, but if you're offline you're asked to activate?! Interesting problem that I've never encountered before. The fact that you can't deactivate suggests that something is up with the licensing system, but I'm not sure yet. I can ask esellerate for help on this, but you need to come to tech support for further help.

[old timer]

Originally Posted by OBSL Commish

If you agreed to send info anonymously to OOTP about how you play the game, then I think you have to have Internet access to play. Don't quote me on that, but I have a feeling that may be your problem.

You can play offline whether or not you checked off to send OOTPD info.

[mking55]

Originally Posted by sdazzle

First of all, love the game. So this isn't a "bash" in any way. But there are occasions when I want to play the game with no internet access. Gasp! I know!
But there are times, like at my son's baseball practice when I want to get a game or two in while waiting.
Unfortunately, I can't do it. It basically gives me the option to buy or install my game key. I have a feeling during start up, it's checking for a valid game.
I don't remember this being an issue with the game last year. I'm next to positive I played a number of times with no internet.
Is there any way to be able to do this? I know it's not a huge issue, but I sometimes need to get my OOTP 14 jones on with no internet. Any suggestions or am I out of luck.
Thanks

I understand perfectly. This is a bug. Last year OOTP13 had the same bug (can't play offline or it will ask you to buy or license). You've already bought and licensed the game.

They fixed the bug last year and all was fine. Open a support ticket or somehow get Andreas to look at this immediately as it is a serious issue and one that I believe is quick to fix.

This doesn't fix your problem, but let's you know that it's the same one they had last year.

[old timer]

Originally Posted by mking55

I understand perfectly. This is a bug. Last year OOTP13 had the same bug (can't play offline or it will ask you to buy or license). You've already bought and licensed the game.

They fixed the bug last year and all was fine. Open a support ticket or somehow get Andreas to look at this immediately as it is a serious issue and one that I believe is quick to fix.

This doesn't fix your problem, but let's you know that it's the same one they had last year.

Can you tell me if this happened only with Macs or only with certain systems? I didn't hear about this problem before. I'll ask Andreas to look into this.