Fix the connection error problem with the Games for Windows LIVE Marketplace

*** EDIT:
It seems that this fix is NOT working at this time.
We will do our best to keep you updated with either a solution or that Microsoft has fixed the issue that appears to be on their end. Edited on October 7th, 2014.

To fix the connection error problem with the Games for Windows LIVE Marketplace problem:

1. First uninstall the Microsoft Games for Windows Marketplace
2. Second uninstall the Microsoft Games for Windows – LIVE Redistributable
3. Third download and install the latest Games for Windows Marketplace installer called gfwlivesetup.exe from here:  http://www.xbox.com/en-US/Live/PC/DownloadClient and use the Download button

You should not have to uninstall and reinstall any of your .net frameworks, especially if you have 3.5 up to date. This fix should work for Vista and Windows 7, if you have Windows 8 you may need to download the full installer for the client here:  http://download.microsoft.com/download/D/0/F/D0F9F1BD-9BE6-49E4-8729-4AAAFCAC20F9/gfwlivesetup.exe and when you do install it you will want to set compatibility for Windows 7 and run as administrator. Hopefully this works for all of you who still have games in the LIVE system.

How to recognize phishing email messages, links, or phone calls

In light of the recent onslaught of phishing emails that most people aren’t savvy enough to recognize, I thought I would help you to be able to more easily identify these.

Many of these emails are coming from what appear to be VERY trustworthy sources, but in fact they are not.

How to repair Microsoft Xbox 360™ Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows®

UPDATED 06/03/2012

Intsructions:

How to repair Microsoft Xbox 360™ Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows®

First thing is first, this is a more than uncommon problem, as it is mentioned in various places on the web.  I’m sure a bit of “Google-ing” will yield a result or three.

Basically the receiver stops working.  Trying various USB ports is useless.  Reinstalling the software is useless.  Updating the drivers is useless.  No matter what you have tried (and you have tried everything else right?), the power light simply will not illuminate on your receiver, nor will it be recognized by Windows, nor will it allow your Wireless Xbox 360 Controller™ to connect.

Now you could buy another one, if you can find it by itself, or just buy another one bundled with a new controller, and I strongly suggest one or the other unless you are very comfortable about soldering on your dead receiver.  It does mean “breaking” apart the housing, as it is glued together, but this can be done with little effort and a little patience.

Torchlight & Why it’s Never Over

With the latest announcement outlining the coming sequel to Torchlight and the promise of a MMORPG in the works, it seems here at The Replay Project we really need to step up to the plate and actually finish the first game. So in my time-off from running a household (HA!), I’ve been jumping into Torchlight when I have a few moments. Then I realize it’s well past midnight and I’ve lost all track of time while I was dungeon roaming and questing ‘under’ the town of Torchlight. The fact is, this game is addictive. If you’ve got a wife, cousin, brother-in-law whatever, that’s hooked on Farmville (et al) you’ll want to keep them very far away from this game. Or maybe flash has been as far as they’ve gone into the realms of gaming. Then you’ll really want to introduce them to their new best friend.

DISCUSSION: What Constitutes RPG Elements?

Here at Replay Project, we decided to stir things up instead of bringing you another post discussing our latest game. Instead, we are going to start a discussion post that we may decide to feature again if all goes well! Today’s topic is due in part to publishers telling Joe Consumer that Borderlands is a “shooter with RPG elements.”  What EXACTLY does that mean?

Weekend Rant: Kids on the net with e-bawlz

Okay, had a rather uneventful weekend, had parties and play-dates for the the kids, normal parent stuff, watched a movie with them last night “Igor” which by the way is not a great movie, I suppose it’s “cute-ish” but even the kids were pretty bored by it, though it had a great cast.

But I digress.. on to the actual rant part of my weekend rant:

I did have some time to get some gaming in on my beloved Shadowrun, and am continually, umm what’s the best word to use here? amazed, no, intrigued, no, awed, no, stunned, no, really frelling stunned, no.. Hmm, flabbergasted, that works, yes flabbergasted is the word. I am continually flabbergasted by the size of the e-bawlz that these 10-16 year old kids have!

More Cross-Platform Ranting… Shadowrun and more

I want to thank NebsiNsaNe for his mention in this blog post of what may well be the best multiplayer FPS game ever, and it is a Cross-Platform game (in fact, as you mentioned, the FIRST Cross-Platform game), Shadowrun. Sure we as PC players got gimped controls, but it did make it more fair, though the auto-aim on the 360 is ridiculous at times, especially with the Smart-Link enabled… still I’ve seen players from both sides do VERY well at the game, so it must have worked, and it still has a player base from both camps, and they still play because it IS fairly evenly matched.  Cross platform COULD work, because it did work.  Too bad FASA was K.I.A. before DLC came for the game.

Haven, New and Old

New Haven. Sounds like a nice sanctuary from the wildlife of Pandora, towering and glorious with all its splendors, right? Well, it’s not. Its really just a run down shanty town, hidden amongst mountains and deep valleys of trash! New Haven becomes your new base of operations for the duration of your vault hunting. Here we get to meet some new friends, some old friends, and some friends we hadn’t met until now.

Weekend Rant: Cross Platform Clash

Last weekend, a post emanating from VoodooPC founder and HP CTO Rahul Sood’s personal blog has been circulating the regular PC and Gaming news sites. The post was a reflection on the state of PC gaming and Microsoft’s supposed failed attempt at Cross Platform gaming. To his credit, he is one of the few people who grasps the state of gaming on personal computers.

BOOM! Headshot?

Borderlands is one of those games that you’ll sit down to play for a couple hours and all of a sudden you’ve lost 6 or 7. It’s easy to just keep going like nothing is really going on in the outside world. Or in my case, I get tunnel vision with my monitor. The keyboard and mouse are my only outside contact from Pandora. NebsiNsaNe and I play together and we might talk to each, other but the feeling is more of two characters talking than gaming buddies. I’m not really into shooters; in fact I’ll tell you flat-out, I suck at FPS, but I’m not terrible in Borderlands. Surprising? I think warming up by rolling so many low-level alts made me practice at the game quite a bit. I’ve got a level 25 Hunter/Mordecai, and I’m in love. I didn’t know I was a sniper at heart!