I purchased Fallout 3 on DVD rom over a year ago, and I've been playing it just fine. Suddenly yesterday when I launch the game it is demanding a sign-in with a Windows LIVE id. It's never asked this before (that I remember), and it won't accept any of my attempts to sign in. I have no idea what, if any, LIVE id I may have used when I first purchased the game. I tried making a new account, and it refuses to accept that. Why is this suddenly happening? And more importantly, what I can do to fix this so I can play MY game again??

(I find this kind of thing completely infuriating. I bought this game. I bought it on DVD rom explicitly so I didn't have to deal with some of the crap Steam runs us through. And I have the access code to prove my ownership. I understand the need to require a code to prevent piracy, but this is like Windows LIVE and Bethesda Software reaching into my computer and stealing my property from me. It pisses me off. And of course is there any number I can call to complain? Any way I can demand customer service fix the problem? No. All I can do is turn to other users, other people who've had to deal with the same BS, for help. And thank you guys for the help!)

If you don't mod your game: Grab this to shut out GFWL: http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=1086

If you do, grab http://fose.silverlock.org/, it will shut off GFWL by default.

Thank you, Thomas!