Thank you. However, my question was not about a persistent internet connection. Rather, I'd like to know if the game will install and play without ever having to check in with distant servers to "authenticate" itself.
So, in this context, does "having Steamworks" mean that I could install and play a retail copy of the game without my computer being connected to the internet at all? My understanding is that I would not be able to, and thus will not buy the game.
However, I realize that I could be mistaken, and that Steamworks will possibly be some software bundled with the game that -- were it to connect to its servers -- would give me access to a number of features that I'm not particularly interested in having. And that I would therefore be able to play the boxed game ten years from now (I still play SMAC), even if Valve and Firaxis were to both go the way of Microprose.