How to install a game in 12 easy steps

Hey folks,

Its been quite a while since I posted back here but let it not be said that this blog is dead! I really wanted to share my experience installing Batman Arkham Asylum - Game of the Year Edition. I purchased the game from a popular digital distribution platform - Steam. The payment process was real simple and downloading the game was equally so. The problem came when I wanted to actually install it. And so began a grand adventure to get the game up and running.

Step 1: I Put in the activation code for the game. Straight forward enough.

Step 2: Game happily launches.

Step 3: Game tells me that it requires "Games for Windows - LIVE" (loving called gfwl). I am also told that if I choose not to sign up with a Windows Live account, the game will let me play but NO SAVING!

Step 4: Everybody needs to save their game progress, right? So, I go sign up for a Windows Live account (am I ever going to use that anywhere else?).

Step 5: The same activation code mentioned in Step 1 is required for gfwl. Alright, done and dusted...

Step 6: Now, I am informed that there is an update for gfwl! WHOOPEE! I love downloading updates.

Step 7: My insanely slow internet connection forces me to wait another 20 mins for the update to complete except... SWEET MOMMAYAMA! It never completes..

Step 8: I quit the game and start over, all the while praying to the Norse Gods of Asgard for some hope of salvation. Still no go.

Step 9: I go online and google something retarded like "Cannot update Games for Windows Live".

Step 10: Everyone seems to be having a host of problems each one unique from the rest. I realize that I need to just download and install the darn gfwl service directly. I twiddle my thumbs as my crawling internet connection further keeps me limbo about my fate.

Step 11: Sweet Mana from heaven! The service is installed. It now tells me there is a hotfix for Windows XP. Alright, I'm down with that. The hotfix was likely the issue that caused all hell to break loose n Step 7 anway.

Step 12: Finally! I am allowed to play the game like any normal paying customer should.

The game is simply wonderful! Batman is uber-cool, the Joker is a real gag and Comissioner Gordon looks like Mr. Universe in formals. I'm now enjoying playing the game but I still wonder if I ever needed to go through all that pain just to install the darn game!