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 Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 13:41 Post subject: =Definitive Games for Windows Live Info/FAQ= |
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Since there has been a hell of a lot of discussion around the GFWL "glitch", I figured I might as well throw up a definitive guide on exactly what it is, how it's accomplished and what the limitations are. Basically, Microsoft appears to have slightly messed up with their key structure for titles that use their "Live" service for Windows gaming - in essence; with the exception of a single title, every game under the GFWL banner has an interchangeable key which functions for every other game.
Q: Are you serious? I can use any Games For Windows serial key for any other Games For Windows game?
A: Yes, I'm serious and yes it's true. As long as the game has the Live tag, then the key is compatible with other Live-enabled games.
Q: Can I download a Live game and use the RLD/RZR/ETC key?
A: No. It must be a legitimate, official, key.
Q: So the legitimate key will work on cracked copies of the game?
A: Yes. Of course you'll need to find a new crack whenever the game is updated, but the key will always work.
Q: Ok, you mentioned limitations. Explain please.
A: Each key can be used only a set number of times. Nobody knows exactly how many times they can be used, some have reported barely a handful of times before the key stops activating new games, while others still claim over a dozen. Myself, I've activated at *least* 10 games of my own, as well as giving the key to a bunch of friends who've used it in turn - before it finally stopped working.
Secondly; GFWL 3.0, the new updates to the Live system - in certain games - have set it so that while you can still use any GFWL key; it is subsequently tied to your Live profile, meaning once you have activated a specific game with your key - nobody else can use that key for that game. AFAIK the only games to currently use GFWL 3.0 (the new update which ties the entered key to your profile making it once-only) are;
- Red Faction Guerilla.
- Section 8.
- Resident Evil 5.
- DiRT 2
Q: So what's this "one title" you said doesn't work with other GFWL keys?
A: Section 8.
A2: With the release of Codemaster's DiRT 2, we now know that it - too - has the same key restrictions as Section 8. You cannot use any other GFWL key on DiRT 2.
A3: Blacklight: Tango Down is also incompatible with current "universal" GFWL keys.
A4: Dark Void is also incompatible with current "universal" GFWL keys.
A5: Dead Rising 2 is also incompatible with current "universal" GFWL keys.
Q: Hey WTF? I just downloaded Supreme Commander and I tried the key from my legitimate copy of Grand Theft Auto IV and it didn't work! FFFFUUUUU!!
A: A common mistake. For the keys to work, the game in question must say "Games For Windows LIVE" If your game isn't part of LIVE, then Live keys will not activate it. A simple test if your game is Live-enabled; once it loads, press the HOME key. If it's Live-enabled, an interface will drop down from the top of the screen. If not? It's more than likely not a Live title.
Q: Hey WTF? I just tried to install Quantum of Solace using my Fallout 3 key and it said "Invalid serial" You lied to me!! FFFFFFUUUUU!
A: Good point and another common mistake. These keys aren't *always* installation keys, some games have a separate key for that. The skeleton key trick usually only applies to ACTIVATION. IE; Loading the game, pressing HOME to get the Live interface, then typing in the key when requested. Of course most the time the key is the same, both for installation and for activation, but there are rare cases where there is a different key for installation.
Q: Ok, ok, I get it now. So what games ARE Live-enabled?
A: Here is a complete list of every Live-enabled game released to date - and a following list of upcoming games known to be part of Live.
 Spoiler: |
>>Released <<
- Batman: Arkham Asylum
- Battlestations Pacific
- Bioshock 2
- BlazBlue - Calamity Trigger
- Colin McRae's DiRT 2
- Dark Void
- Fallout 3
- Flatout Ultimate Carnage
- FUEL
- Game Room
- Gears of War
- Grand Theft Auto IV
- Grand Theft Auto IV - Episodes From Liberty City
- Halo 2
- Hour of Victory
- Juiced 2 - Hot Import Nights
- Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes
- Lost Planet: Colonies Edition (MUST be Colonies Edition)
- Mahjong Tales: Ancient Wisdom
- Microsoft Tinker
- Osmose
- Quantum of Solace
- Red Faction Guerilla
- Resident Evil 5
- Section 8
- Shadowrun
- Star Wars - The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes
- Stormrise
- Street Fighter IV
- The Club
- Universe At War
- Vancouver 2010
- Viva Piñata
- Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 2
- Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 2 - Chaos Rising
- Where's Waldo? - The Fantastic Journey
- World of Goo
>>Upcoming <<
=Note: We have no way of knowing whether these upcoming titles will use the new GFWL 3.0 system or whether MS will change the key structure altogether, so we don't know if the current key glitch will work on these titles=
- Australian Rules Football
- CarneyVale: Showtime
- Dead Rising 2
- F1 - 2010
- Fable III
- Flowerz
- Homefront
- Spartan
You can always find the list, updated whenever a new game is announced, on the following link;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Games_for_Windows_titles
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Q: Whoa, that's a lot of games. And all those can be activated with a single key, as long as it's a GFWL key?
A: Yes. As for being activated all in one go? Ehh... your mileage may vary. Realistically expect around 5-10 activations on a single key before you hit the usage limit.
Q: How will I know when the key has been used up completely?
A: You will see the following screen upon entering the key during Live activation;
Q: Awesome, you've convinced me. Now where's the best place to get one of these magical skeleton keys?
A: Anywhere that sells GFWL games, silly. The best games to go for are; "The Club" and "Universe at War" - simply because you can get either of those for less than a fiver from practically any game store, on or offline. If you buy a UaW key and reach your activation limit after four activations, who cares? That's four games for the price (laughably low, I might add) of ONE. Bargain no?
For example:
Universe at War. £1.50 with free shipping.
| Pey wrote: | Microsoft has released a new version of Games for Windows Live (v3.1) adding an update to the in-game client to support DirectX 11 for future titles, such as Dirt 2 from Codemasters, updating the downloadable Games for Windows – LIVE client software to make finding content for games easier, and a few other unspecified bug fixes.
http://www.filefront.com/12546340/gfwlivesetupmin.exe/ |
Hopefully that should help answer a few questions about the whole GFWL brouhaha - if anyone has anything to add, or needs even MORE clarification (jeez, want me to come to your house and install the bloody games for you?  ) then just post it in here. Happy pirating! ^_^
Last edited by sabin1981 on Mon, 25th Oct 2010 17:19; edited 16 times in total
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garus
VIP Member
Posts: 34200
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| Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 13:44 Post subject: |
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snip
Last edited by garus on Tue, 27th Aug 2024 21:16; edited 1 time in total
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| Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 13:50 Post subject: |
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except now there's one huge thread where anyone can just forward to MS to read every single detail, instead of some random workarounds scattered in 100s of game threads.
C2D E6750 @ 3.2Ghz, 4GB 800MHz DDR2 4-4-4-12, GeForce GTX 260 c216 OC 896MB, 3.2TB, Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Xbox 360 Elite, PS2 Slim, Xbox
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| Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 13:56 Post subject: |
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Thanks for making this matter even more public which might lead to it getting fixed sooner. Happy?
C2D E6750 @ 3.2Ghz, 4GB 800MHz DDR2 4-4-4-12, GeForce GTX 260 c216 OC 896MB, 3.2TB, Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Xbox 360 Elite, PS2 Slim, Xbox
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| Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 13:57 Post subject: |
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Yes, very much so. Thanks <3
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| Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 14:01 Post subject: |
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| Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 14:09 Post subject: |
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Fuck man I thought this was our little boku no himitsu and shit.
Gustave the Steel
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Pey
Posts: 5594
Location: Argentina
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| Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 16:41 Post subject: |
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Microsoft has released a new version of Games for Windows Live (v3.1) adding an update to the in-game client to support DirectX 11 for future titles, such as Dirt 2 from Codemasters, updating the downloadable Games for Windows – LIVE client software to make finding content for games easier, and a few other unspecified bug fixes.
http://www.filefront.com/12546340/gfwlivesetupmin.exe/
Seasonic 1000w Planitum - TT Level 10 GT - ASUS M5E - i7 2600k @ 5.0ghz - 16GB Patriot Viper 3 - Dell u3011 - EVGA GTX 980 @ SLI - SSD Samsung EVO 250GB - 16TB W.D. - G19/G13 @ Roccat Kone XTD - Razer Vespula - Xonar Phoebus @ Vulcan ANC/Corsair 2100 Vengeance - Logitech G51
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| Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 16:41 Post subject: |
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Nice one, thanks Pey! Adding the DL link to the first post =)
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LeoNatan
☢ NFOHump Despot ☢
Posts: 73194
Location: Ramat Gan, Israel 🇮🇱
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| Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 16:46 Post subject: |
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Template seems familiar.   <3
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LeoNatan
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Posts: 73194
Location: Ramat Gan, Israel 🇮🇱
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| Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 16:49 Post subject: |
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| Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 17:52 Post subject: |
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Shit I didn't know RE5 would tie my key to it like Red Faction. Oh well... I still have a extra key and can always buy the cheaper GFWL games if need be.
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LeoNatan
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Posts: 73194
Location: Ramat Gan, Israel 🇮🇱
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| Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 17:58 Post subject: |
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No no no, it locks the key to your account, not the game, and even that's not true (I have given my key to someone else and it still works for him). Sabin, clear up the confusion.
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| Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 18:12 Post subject: |
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Nice, gonna grab one of those cheap games then.
Thank you.
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| Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 18:13 Post subject: |
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Oi mr did u stealzors my sig banner!! 
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| Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 18:22 Post subject: |
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| moosenoodles wrote: | | Oi mr did u stealzors my sig banner!! |
Yes, lol. It's awesome and definitely suits the thread ^_^
| iNatan wrote: | | No no no, it locks the key to your account, not the game, and even that's not true (I have given my key to someone else and it still works for him). Sabin, clear up the confusion. |
I'm pretty sure there's at least TWO games that come with GFWL 3.0 as standard (the ones where you get the message that activating the game will bind it to your profile) I was pretty sure it was those two >_<
It's been a while since I had to install a GFWL title, so I can't check *sigh*
Oh and yes, I copypasta'd your layout since it was easier and faster. As for the future titles? I *did* list them, dummy, and I would continue to update the main post as and when a new game is announced - but if you want, I'll add the wiki list (even though you know what most the peons on here are like; "Waaaah, wiki is shit!! it's all liez!! Everything is user-edited so it can't be trusted!! Waaaah"
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LeoNatan
☢ NFOHump Despot ☢
Posts: 73194
Location: Ramat Gan, Israel 🇮🇱
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| Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 18:27 Post subject: |
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I shit, didn't see spoiler. Anyway, better to have Wiki so you don't have to update often Think lazy, man. But yeah, about the G4WL3, doesn't matter same key works for me and a friend.
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LeoNatan
☢ NFOHump Despot ☢
Posts: 73194
Location: Ramat Gan, Israel 🇮🇱
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| Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 18:41 Post subject: |
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Put a disclaimer on the bottom "Hey it's your cash, so not my problem if you use your code on a game and then you get banned or can't use the key again, bitches <3" (You might want to reword the disclaimer to make it sound more reassuring )
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| Posted: Fri, 20th Nov 2009 19:28 Post subject: |
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Ooooh, sticky! Thanks ^_^
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| Posted: Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 15:11 Post subject: |
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=Updated to add DiRT 2 status=
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LeoNatan
☢ NFOHump Despot ☢
Posts: 73194
Location: Ramat Gan, Israel 🇮🇱
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| Posted: Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 15:12 Post subject: |
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Why not just wait and see if it is unlocked after the game is released? 
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| Posted: Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 21:06 Post subject: |
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On Dec. 15, Games for Windows Live will include a portal for accessing and downloading your favorite Live-enabled titles. Games on Demand for Windows lets you purchase and download titles from the Games for Windows Live library, and re-install you games whenever you want, wherever you want.
“With Games on Demand, we didn’t just want to create a cut-and-paste version of existing digital distribution services,” said Mike Ybarra, general manager of Live Engagement Services. “We challenged ourselves to deliver an integrated platform that takes full advantage of the unique capabilities offered by the Live service. Our goal has always been to create a seamless online gaming experience for the Windows community, and Games on Demand is a great step toward that end.”
The launch lineup will include recent hits like“Resident Evil 5” (Capcom),“Red Faction: Guerilla” (THQ), and “Battlestations: Pacific” (EIDOS), as well as new exclusive Live-enabled versions of popular digital games such as “World of Goo” and “Osmos,” distributed by Microsoft Game Studios. All games can be purchased either by credit card or with Microsoft Points. Games on Demand for Windows will be available in markets that currently have the Games for Windows – Live service. Microsoft is also offering an updated Live-enabled version of “Tinker,” formerly an exclusive Windows Vista Ultimate Extra, as a completely free download from the Games for Windows – Live client.
“Connected digital experiences are defining the continued growth of Windows as a gaming platform,” said Chuck Osieja, creative director of Games for Windows – Live. “Today marks Microsoft’s return to delivering Windows games built on unique Live experiences.”
Games for Windows Live delivers a truly connected experience for PC gamers, letting you enjoy a common Gamertag, Gamerscore and unified friends list that carries across both supported PC games and the Xbox 360 console. The service also offers single and multiplayer Achievements, voice chat, text messaging and TruSkill online matchmaking.
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| Posted: Sun, 24th Jan 2010 14:29 Post subject: |
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In case this still works(never tried it myself), here's a bit of possibly relevant info I just read about Bioshock 2 DRM.
"Beyond that, we are only using standard Games for Windows Live non-SSA guidelines, which, per Microsoft, comes with 15 activations (after that, you can reset them with a call to Microsoft.)"
source: www.rpgwatch.com
So it might be possible to use the key even after it has been locked if you call MS. If this is even relevant, I don't know, just thought of this thread when I saw it. Can't hurt in any case.
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| Posted: Sun, 24th Jan 2010 17:01 Post subject: |
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Oooh, I saw this the other day and was going to update my topic. Thanks =)
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| Posted: Fri, 5th Feb 2010 21:25 Post subject: Keys for Sell |
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Edited topic.
Thanks Sabin...
Last edited by waffess on Sat, 6th Feb 2010 00:10; edited 1 time in total
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LeoNatan
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Posts: 73194
Location: Ramat Gan, Israel 🇮🇱
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| Posted: Fri, 5th Feb 2010 21:40 Post subject: |
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WTF You can find games like Universe At War for less than 5$, which give you same key.
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