would someone let me know if this game still requires an internet connection?
description says:
Why buy on GOG.COM?
DRM FREE. No activation or online connection required to play.
but the comments all say that an internet connection is required? if anyone knows for sure please let me know. AS OF 2021/07/20
I'll delete this review if I get an andweer or replace it if I get the right answer with an up-to-date review cuz I bought it.
I absolutely love Prison Architect, from building a high security prison to fitting as many prisoners as possible into a holding cell. Prison Architect is definitely one of the best tycoon games on the market. I have encountered very few bugs through playing the game for quite some time and pesky power problems can be extremely annoying but apart from that it's a really fun tycoon game. If you are somebody whom is looking for a realistic simulation of a prison then this most likely isn't your type of game but if you are someone who just likes the tycoons then download this!
December 2020: To test the DRM, after the initial installation (normally, by GOG Galaxy, so there could be DRM there) I quit GOG Galaxy and disconnected from the Internet, went directly to the installation folder and double clicked the "Launch Prison Architect" shortcut; this launched the PA launcher, and from there I could launch and play the game.
For multiplayer I obviously had to connect to the Internet, and managed to create a private, password protected game without apparent problems but since I don't have friends with PA I couldn't actually test multiplayer, but the PA normal game screen showed up alright.
So although the EULA mentions you "could" need a Paradox account, it seems you can play solo and multiplayer without it. According to the launcher I had all DLCs installed.
Sadly, the game is defective: when I started, it showed me what seems to be a tutorial (after quitting I couldn't immediately find it again, the UI could be better). This tutorial wanted me to build an execution chamber -I managed to get the foundations laid but it wanted an entrance to proceed, and I just couldn't.
Demolishing walls worked on the perimeter wall but never on my new building; I finally managed to make room for the jail door by bulldozing. I couldn't build the door anyway -the "Walls and Doors" menu showed a list of walls, but no door of any kind. So game over.
I like using a TV for playing, this means I have problems when UI elements get near the border: TVs crop many pixels from the border. While the game has windowing options, these are limited and the resulting experience awful.
Runs just OK on a somewhat old Intel HD laptop. The UI is mediocre, and being unable to build entrances means the game is unplayable from the start, so I have to give it 1-star; if it were playable it might be 2-stars, because the UI and windowing sucks. Gameplay doesn't look very fun, but frankly I didn't make it that far.
I got this free in a giveaway, otherwise I'd ask for a refund.
