See Fenixp post. Offline mode can be used indefinitely, as long as no updates are found. So having a computer online to install the games, then setting Steam offline and removing said computer from the network should allow you to use Steam's offline mode indefinitely. Having said computer online with Steam in offline mode will also work indefinitely, unless Steam publishes an update. Similar to saying "Postal 2 development is finished" without adding "until we decide to make new content for it".

In this case they aren't, because it specifically refuses to let the user stay in the Offline Mode, invalidating the first claim.

The argument that there may be so critical fixes to the client that they must be forced to Offline Mode users as well (overriding their wish to stay in the Offline Mode) sounds to me about as sensible as Steam games deciding to download updates, even though the user has specifically told it not to auto-update the games. "Ok, we will not update your games... until we decide we will anyway.".

I wonder how Microsoft was able to make their Windows auto-update system so that if the user tells Windows not to download nor install Windows fixes automatically, then the user's wish is the command, and that's that. I bet Windows has much more critical security fixes than the Steam client running in offline mode.

Yes, and I even replied to it.

When I tell Windows, or Linux, not to automatically download even critical updates, then that is exactly what they do (= don't download and install them). I am not aware of some overriding function that they would download and install updates regardless of my wish, at least I haven't seen such.

It's not. It does override the "No-update" rule for (very) few updates.

Edit: Windows at least, didn't notice the Linux part at first, and I don't have enough experience with Linux to tell you if it does or not.

You can argue semantics and design philosophies all you want, fact is, as a bunch of people around the thread already figured, there's no hard limit to offline mode. There is, however, an entirely different functionality, which will force the client out of offline mode - which is why I suggest pepole to never rely on it. It doesn't mean, however, that the client is not designed to stay in offline when actually offline, it just means that approach to update and security policies of Valve differ from those of yours - that doesn't make your policies right and theirs wrong, just different. I can only wholeheartedly agree with JMich on the array of issues that refusal to update can cause.

Edit: That is, of course, presuming that the offline mode is designed to be used offline - I don't think that's an unreasonable presumption.

I've had only one experience with the "offline mode". I kickstarted defense grid 2 two years ago, and the day after installing it, went in the country for a few days without any internet connection.

Of course it never worked. :)

Defense Grid supposedly being one of the "drm-free games of Steam", I just lol now every time I see a steam apologist post somewhere. :)

And I will certainly never bother with hidden entertainment path or anything steam related again, even though the game was awesome.

Everytime i read something about Steam is always weird problems with offline modes, accounts erased and whatnot...

I wonder why in 10 years (11 in february 2015) it never happened to me?

I must be extremely lucky, or somebody else must be lying.

That invalidates the claim that the user can stay in the Offline Mode as long as he wants. It is not semantics, it is a wrong, or the very least inaccurate, claim from Valve.

If you think it is an ok presumption that the offline mode should stay in offline mode only if you are completely severed off from internet, then maybe they should disable the offline mode altogether whenever one is connected to internet, and in those cases always force one to online mode. That way there would be no wrong expectations on its functionality and reliability.

In a similar vein, do you feel it is reasonable to assume that if you have set Steam games not to autoupdate themselves, they won't do that even if your PC is connected to internet? Or is it merely semantics to argue they shouldn't autoupdate themselves in any case, if the user has so commanded?

Naturally e.g. online multiplayer games might refuse to connect if you refuse to update the game (because all the players must be running the same version), but that is beside the point. With single-player games, there is no similar reason to prevent the gamer to run his game, in case he chooses not to update it.

I don't think Valve has ever claimed that user actually can stay in offline mode, they rather said that the client is designed to handle such occasion. Which... Well, it clearly is, in spite of the fact that it doesn't always quite do so.

Don't go there, people are not lying about their issues - it's just that people liking Steam and it's functionality and not having any reason to complain barely complain. You don't hear about them. You just hear about those who do have issues. So you are in the silent majority, whereas you keep seeing the loud minority.

It is? I always thought it wasn't. Where was it declared as a drm-free one, and why isn't it on the list?

Edit: Type, missed an h

Yeah, every single user who has run into technical problems or has experienced account issues with Steam is a liar. GOG paid me to make up stories about offline mode just ceasing to work, about account hi-jacking attempts and downright evil support staff.

Maybe you were lucky, maybe others were unlucky, but this kind of shit just happens to tons of people.

The PC is not exactly a standard closed working environment. It's like when programs crash: happens, but not to everyone.

With the greatest respect, that makes no sense. Just because one person (you) has not experienced a problem doesn't mean that people saying they have experienced problems are lying.

"...the client should allow you to run in Offline Mode for as long as you like."

Sounds pretty clear to me. Ok then, maybe that Valve employee (NOT a support person, mind you!!!!!111*!!!!1!) should have continued:

"...unless, of course, the client decides otherwise."

How extensively have you used the offline mode, for instance? To me it seems the people who complain the least about the offline mode, are those who never use it.

I haven't had my Steam account erased either, for the record. I'm still miffed about the Steam client update locking me out of all my Steam games running on my earlier Win2000 PC, though. That revealed the main reason I'd rather not have all my single-player games locked behind a client, especially one that apparently forces client updates to me. I'm assuming the same will happen again when Valve decides to drop Windows XP support in some Steam client update (and many years later Windows 7, and so on and so forth...).

The key word being 'Should' ;-) It's pretty likely that the part of the dev team which has made offline mode being able to stay offline has never even seen the code for automatic updates. These projects get massive - my team has got 4 members and even then I don't know the details of implementation of other members. I'm not sure why would you think that every dev would keep every single piece of functionality in their brain, even that which they never worked with. I have the suspicion that's why he has used that particular wording.

Question, is your car capable of driving on any road or not?