Download the Demo then delete.
I have the boxed copy and no there is nothing in the box except a dvd and a program that contacts Steam on the dvd. No manual nothing. The part that describes Steam activation requirement is printed in the tiniest printing I have ever seen, I had to use a magnifying glass to read it after I already opened the package of course, Can't the Steam Activation printing be any smaller? Here is an idea, why not put the Steam Activation requirement inside the box and have a total deceptive marketing campaign instead of using tiny tiny print that no human can possibly read without aid of magnification.
My pointed review of warband for anyone interested, but make your own decision, I am biased.
Update :: Deceptive marketing by Steam ruined Mount & Blade, Warband for me and also totally destroyed any enjoyment I may have had with this game, I am sorry but the game was ruined before I ever rode my first horse into battle, so if you have no problem with Steam your results may very I felt ripped off by the deceptive small print and waisted a couple of days getting this mediocre game working. Warband does have a certain magic about it and you could very well enjoy it more than I did. I wanted to like warband but the magic never happened for me no matter how much time I gave it. My review still stands as this was my experience with the game.
Fun factor?
The game for me was fun at first. It has some rather inventive combat and a very simple trading. I played the game for around, I hate to admit, 60 + hours. Looking back it truly is a very empty land indeed about 1/10 as exciting a COAS, correction 1/1000 as exciting. There is no exploration, none, the only redeeming quality I found was that there are no magic spells. The battles at first are fun then slowly but surly decay into boredom. The arena fights are enjoyable, visiting the village master is not.
Towns and castles?
Enter the castle courtyard is again boring nothing to do really, On the world map riding your tiny horse across the world is ok at first then becomes boring, it made me feel sick after a while. Here is the real kick in the pants, there are small towns all over the map and they are beautiful to look at when you first enter one. Sadly beauty only goes so far and in this case it goes nowhere but instead leads the adventurer ever so slowly down hill into the land of boredom and repetition and well boredom.ÂÂ
Starts out fun then falls off a cliff.
I don't know what all the hype is about warband, it seems they have a good idea but there is not any real depth to this game. It has the formula for success obviously taken from other games, but the towns and the castles are in a sad sad unfinished state, well a pathetic state honestly and this ruins the already flawed incomplete game. It does have a few good ideas but the game is oh so limited and towns are oh so boring, again battles are fun for awhile, bow and arrows are great, but they too soon turn into boring tedium as does commanding your group or so called warband of eager followers.
To sum it up.
They have a very talented and dedicated Mod community I would give them a 10 +. The game, warband, overall will not, does not, can not truly be anything more than a demo game as it stands. The full version, 'don't get no better than the demo'. Try the demo play until the fun wears off which won't take all that long, buying this game will not make it more fun only make you more poor. One more recommendation get yourself a good program removal tool,
http://ursoftware.com, they have a trial version I think, so you can remove all the horse droppings warband and Steam leave behind. You might also want some mouthwash if you buy the game cause that bad taste warband and Steam left me with is hard to get rid of.
Warband fans and followers.
I apologize to any fan of warband for my honest review of your game of choice. The game warband did nothing for me but waste my time and money, If you are finding the same empty boring feeling I took away from warband get yourself Age of Pirates 2. It truly is the Greatest game I have ever played, I can recommend this game to every warband player or to any adult reading my small review. The pace is slow and the game is deep and exciting. The Mod Team at Pirates Ahoy! well, they are without question the absolute best, and what they have created is simply amazing. If you want a fun exciting game you owe it to yourself to get Age of Pirates 2.
I can not recommend warband for purchase, demo only.
I will never again buy a game that is tied to Steam, Never again.
I have ridden this lame horse, I only wish I could get my money and wasted time back.
(If you want to ride horses get Oblivion, now that is a fun game. It is a fantasy title with magic and other such things, but a great game non the less and the land and game are huge and the whole thing is beautiful. Also for $20 you get the game of the year edition) Oblivion is great but still never reaches AOP2 in the level of fun or excitement, for me anyway. Oblivion is a much better alternative to the unfinished unpolished warband game the deceptive marketing ruined the whole experience for me.ÂÂ
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   ( ..... .. ... ..... ) magnified it reads ( Shame on you Steam )
Hope this helps........... Lord Fauntleroy
Something else to add to Steam - nice. :urgh Seems there's a way to get a Steam-free copy though after registering the boxed copy - that's good. 
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