Any way to play without steam?

Now this is not for illegal reasons!!

My internet is soooo slow as a result of my poor service provider that its basically dial up.

I just purchased saints row the third to play in my internets down time.. But the game has an update... and wont let me play until its updated.

Does anyone know how to play games LEGALLY without steam?

Ive tired playing in offline mode but its says "this game is not ready to be played offline"

Surley games are playable without pre launch patches? just want to enjoy my new gaming pc

Grr its don't 2% in 2 hours lol games at 84% nowwww waaa! Lame! Woneven be finished by the time I get up in the morning lol

I have, I've got the retail box 2 dvd version :)

Its not a steam game.. Its made by THQ.
Almost all games these days are either run through origin or steam, so you've little or no choice.

And my first post clearly states why just for ONCE why I don't want steam..

Well that would leave my game choice to EA and well that's it..

And joe when you install most new games they installer runs through steam.
Its just a way for developers to have their products regulated (via steam) and to aid in the distribution of patches ect, to make all games the same version for online play.

Very few games are stand alone. EA uses origins instead.