DVD retail version?

I don't see how Steam "adversely interferes" with other computer functions. It runs in the background.

If you're asking if you need Steam to run the answer is yes. Regardless if you have a DVD or not, you are required to use Steam in order to launch it.

While I certainly have no love at all for Steam, the only adversely interferences I ever encountered are:

• Consuming memory
• Consuming CPU time
• Needing time to launch
• Updates of the Steam Client itself can become annoying
• Surprise game patches that break savegames if you dont read the forums regularly
• Sometimes a less than stellar user interface

Now, of course the issues

• renting games - for full price
• Privacy? Muhahahaha
• the ability to wipe all of your games without anything you can do about it

remain unchanged.

While I certainly have no love at all for Steam, the only adversely interferences I ever encountered are:

 


Consuming memory - You can turn Steam off you know
Consuming CPU time - See above
Needing time to launch - Your computer needs time to boot does it not? Internet pages need to load yes?
Updates of the Steam Client itself can become annoying - Well I'll be damned if they want to make their service better
Surprise game patches that break savegames if you dont read the forums regularly - You do realize you can prevent automatic updating of games
Sometimes a less than stellar user interface - It'd be worse if they never updated

 

Now, of course the issues

 


renting games - for full price - When have they ever removed any of your games? Give me one proven example
Privacy? Muhahahaha - You think your google searches are private? You think these forums are private?
the ability to wipe all of your games without anything you can do about it - See two above

 

remain unchanged.

1. It is my   long and legendary privilege on this forums to use colours for quoting..... expect a letter from my laywer soon, suing your for copyright violation....

Consuming memory - You can turn Steam off you know - Indeed, but not if you want to play a game requiring it.
Consuming CPU time - See above - In which case, it consumes both CPU and memory that could be better used for your game.
Needing time to launch - Your computer needs time to boot does it not? Internet pages need to load yes? - Booting of the operating system is necessary for primary system operation, loading of web pages is necessary to receive new data. Steam on the other hand needs over 10 seconds to transfer a few lousy bytes of login information. And more importantly, the software serves no purpose or at least often it does not serve the currently requested function. I want to play Sins.... not watch a steam window going up. By the time Steam finishes loading, I could be in the main menu of the game already. Now, if you want to play online, it is of no concern, but for singleplayer the steam client does not serve any purpose in the background. Yes... 10 seconds are not much..... but for nothing.... ?
Updates of the Steam Client itself can become annoying - Well I'll be damned if they want to make their service better - They should start with making client updates go silently in the background.
Surprise game patches that break savegames if you dont read the forums regularly - You do realize you can prevent automatic updating of games - If it wasnt so bugged... yes.
Sometimes a less than stellar user interface - It'd be worse if they never updated - True, but who had the brilliant idea of implementing a web browser that does not support an adress bar? Makes finding a page you have in the client very difficult to find in Firefox.

I think that I forgot the most annoying thing about Steam though:

Steam Fanboys!

You can hate on Steam all you want, but their sales are great(Don't you just love a game going from 50 to 10 euro) and their system is relatively easy to use...better than having to go to the store everytime for me  

But indeed, I don't like the fact they can just remove all of my games if they wanted to, or what if steam suddenly was to go down for eternity...

I never intended this post to be about the merits of Steam. I simply asked will there be a retail DVD purchase option along with the download without buying the collector's edition.

I think overseas there is.

Kalypso Media will be selling a retail version of Sins: Rebellion soon in the UK and Europe.  Zoo Media sells retail versions in Japan and All Interactive Entertainment does so for Australia/New Zealand.  As mentioned above, any retail copy will still require the Steam client to install/update/play.

As they tend to charge US Dollar values in Euros.... I dont find most of those deals to be particular interesting.

40 $ = 30.76 €

It usually sits at 40 € tough.

40 € = 52,01 $.

That pretty much ruins most of the deal margin in many cases.

Thanking all who answered the question; it appears that I will have to pre-order the collector's edition since I live in North America.

pre-order what?

I have received my Kol battleship MONTHS ago ... It's been out for a long time I think.

Buy more ships.