hucklebarry: Found the box and checked. Only says it needs acceptance of the enclosed agreement. No mention of activation, online use, or any sort of internet under the requirements. However the installer is indeed a steam installer. Wish I had learned this closer to purchase, I would have returned it :( (glad I kept the originals) ;)
Mentalepsy: Where are you looking for it? The Steam requirement is usually one sentence in the middle of a large block of very small print, down in the bottom corner of the DVD case.
Everywhere. Where games lists the phrase "online activation necessary" this game say instead "you must accept the enclosed license agreement" (but to answer, I have read every word on the box. It lists "Steamworks" as a logo only along with Nvidia, ATi, intel, etc. But that doesn't tell consumers anything. I'm getting impatient with how games are labeled. system REQUIREMENTS is pretty self explanatory. If it doesn't list an internet connection there... a game should NEVER connect to the internet.
Thanks for the info on the key. Per the lousy box instructions I just assumed the key was a CD key. I may try and give them to some goggers in another thread since I bought the game too long ago to make a stink about now ;)