As a paying gamer, never using pirate software, I despise being penalised in the stead of those who do steal. No wonder the game costs 50 bucks, probably $10 from each sale is going to Steam. Nowhere on this page does it mention that Steam must be installed on your system to play this game. I have had experience with Steam in the past and they are dodgy. They have modified programs with their own content and have in some ways damaged features of the original. I do not trust Steam at all and am disappointed that Sid Meier's has gone this way, it will no doubt be a long term arrangement and, as a result, this fan will not be purchasing any more Civ games. I did not choose this option and would not have bought the game if I had known.