Pc Games - What's On The Disc?

[bibblebub]

I prefer to install PC games from discs rather than downloading them in their entirety from sites such as Steam, with the only internet access required being to register the game or to check for updates. Is there a website that would give me this information before I buy the discs?

For example, I'm considering buying Rayman Legends which is out tomorrow. What I'd like to know is if I bought the disc in a shop would that enable me to install the game on my PC with minimal internet access or would it still require me to download the several GBs of game files?

I'd appreciate the information for that game in particular but a link to a website that gives such info for all, or most, PC games would be better.

[Frank97]

Found this
When you buy Rayman Legends cd key you will have access to the direct download of Rayman Legends from legal platforms as Steam, Origin, Battlenet... or get it through direct download straight from the store where you bought the game
Doesn't say how much you have to download though.
http://gocdkeys.com/buy-cdkey-rayman-legends

[bibblebub]

Thanks for that but it doesn't leave me any the wiser because recently I bought Civilization V together with a couple of expansion packs and the games were on the discs, no internet downloads required, but that site gives the same statement about having ...access to the direct download.. for them.

[Frank97]

Ah, I see what you mean, sorry.

[bibblebub]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[Mattk]

As with a console game the disc will surely give full access to the game with no internet necessary.

[bibblebub]

Unfortunately that's not the way it often works with PC games. Whilst some releases are totally contained on the discs that you buy others are simply a cd-key which connects you to Steam from which you then download the game, the sort of thing that the above link provides.

[Mattk]

Really? What a waste.
I've never understood why digital copies of anything be-it games, music or movies cost the same as retail versions.