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Cost is the same (usually) between buying an access key online, and buying the game in a store. There are only 2 ways to buy an access key online, and as far as I know, they both require you to have the game downloaded on a computer. The in game store, and PlayNC's site both sell access keys, but I think you need to have the game loaded for it to transmit the data. They do not send an email with an access key, or send one in the mail. It is all done digitally.

So if you want to buy the game for a friend, but not buy a boxed version, take your disks to his/her house, and install the game. Then have him load it up, and use your credit card to purchase the access key.

If someone else knows of another way, they can post it, as I don't know of anything else that would work.

Never buy access keys alone from other sites than planc or the GW online store. Any other site means that they had to open the box thus breaching the EULA if i remember correctly. Magma is right, it'll cost you the same as a box for sure if you are in the US.