How to Record Video Games

Recording video games requires the installation of software that can record while you play. One of the best free pieces of software available for this is called WeGame. It allows whatever video game footage that is on the television to be immediately recorded and saved onto the computer for future use. This is how many people are able to take the video game footage and put it onto sites such as YouTube.

The use of WeGame is very simple. Download the software from the website provided above and then install it. They suggest that your computer have 2GB of RAM, 15MB of hard drive space for the software to go and then 5GB of space for the recorded video to go. However, their minimum specifications are 1GB of RAM, 15MB of hard drive space for the software and 2GB of space for the recorded video.

Once the software has been installed, you need to connect the television to the computer. The best way to do this is to get adaptors that split the audio and video signals from the console so they go to both the computer as well as the television. For the computer piece, connect those three adaptors to a USB. Now that it is in a format that the computer can handle, plug the USB into the computer.

With the software open, turn on the video game console. Load a part of the game that you want to play and then begin to play. Hit the record button on the computer and so long as the software installed correctly and, more importantly, the cables are plugged in properly, the footage will record. If not, make sure that everything is connected properly. Sometimes, a wire can get loose.

With the finished product, take the movie file and upload it to YouTube or one of the many other video uploading websites. Now the footage can be shared with the world. Unless it is necessary to keep the video stored on your hard drive, it might be a good idea to delete it because many videos can begin to take up a considerable amount of space.

How to Fix an XBOX 360

An XBOX 360 may have problems with overheating and reading game disks. There are some simple solutions to disk read errors and overheating.

Using a Laser Disc Lens Cleaner

A laser disc lens cleaner is recommended to gently remove particles and residue that may have settled onto the laser "eye". These laser disc lens cleaners are designed as disks with small bristles that are usually coated with a solution to remove the particles from the laser diode.

They are available at most electronics stores and retailers that carry consumer electronics. Regular use of a laser disc lens cleaner also helps to prevent the buildup of particles that may cause game disk read errors on theXBOX 360.

Using Compressed Air to Remove Dust

One of the common problems with the XBOX 360 console is the buildup of dust in the system. The dust that builds up can cause problems such as clogging the ventilation exhaust escapes, being caught in the fan motors, and slowing the fans down during console operation.

Disconnect all cables from the console and place it in an area that is conducive to using compressed air to remove dust.

By using compressed air to remove dust (a vacuum may be used to remove dust from exterior vents first), many of the problems that a dusty system can cause are eliminated or lessened.

Note: Only use compressed air in a well ventilated area (outside) and follow the instructions on the can to reduce the chances of damaging the console by inadvertent freezing with the compressed air fluid.

Moving the Console for Better Ventilation

One of the XBOX 360's main problems is overheating. This is due to the heat sink's position and size on the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) inside the system. This part of the XBox is actually inefficient in its design.

To help the system stay cool, it is important to move it to a flat surface that is at least 8-10 inches away from the wall. This will allow hot air to escape from the back of the system exhaust while providing enough space to allow it to pull cool air in with its cooling fans.

Keeping the system in an unconfined area will help to reduce overheating problems (one of the reasons the XBOX 360 gets the Red Ring of Death).

One solution for overheated systems is wrapping it in a towel for an extended period of time in order to allow it to overheat. This heats up the motherboard and can provide enough heat to allow the GPU chip to reset. However, this is generally not recommended. The system should either be attended to by a certified repair person or replaced.

How to Connect an Xbox 360 to a Laptop

In order to connect an Xbox 360 to a laptop, the user must have anEthernet cable. An Ethernet cable may or may not come with the Xbox 360 upon purchase, but is required to provide the Xbox 360 with an Internet connection. Normally, an Ethernet cable would be connected from the Xbox 360 to a router or modem. In this case, however, one side of the Ethernet cable must be connected to the Xbox 360 and the other directly into the laptop.

How to Bridge an Internet Connection

Once the Xbox 360 and the laptop are connected via an Ethernet cable, the user should setup his/her network to view and access the Xbox 360. This can be done by bridging an Internet connection between the router or modem that the laptop is wirelessly connected to and the Xbox 360 that is physically connected to the laptop. Bridging an Internet connection between two separate networks allows all devices within those networks to use the same Internet connection, allowing the user to access Xbox Live without a wireless adapter. In order to bridge a connection, the user must open the Start menu, open the Control Panel, and either Network Connections or Network and Sharing Center, depending on whether the user is using Windows XP or Windows Vista. The user should be able to see his/her Internet connection as well as an icon for the Xbox 360. If the user can see this, he/she should select both connections and right-click them. The user can now select “Bridge Connections” and follow the instructions. This should allow the Xbox 360 to access the Internet via the user’s laptop.

How to Connect Via Bluetooth

Rather than using an Ethernet cable to connect an Xbox 360 to a laptop, Bluetooth equipment can be used to connect the two devices wirelessly. While using a wireless adapter is much more practical than using a Bluetooth adapter when bridging an Internet connection, a Bluetooth adapter can be used if the user already has one and the Xbox 360 is Bluetooth-enabled. This can be done by pairing the two Bluetooth devices and following the same steps mentioned above to bridge an Internet connection between the two networks. However, playing Xbox Live through an Internet connection via Bluetooth will diminish the graphics considerably, cause the game to lag, and may fail spontaneously. Therefore, this option is not advised.

How to Play Games Without a CD

Mounting is a term in computer science that refers to placing a file in a “virtual disk” that allows users to play games and access other programs without a physical CD or DVD. Games and software that are mounted in a virtual disk function in the same way as they would via a physical disk because a virtual disk allows the computer to process the data in the same way a CD or DVD player would. Mounting is very easy, but may seem complicated to inexperienced users.

Where to Find Game Data

Before the user can mount a game in a virtual disk, he/she will need the actual game data that is usually on the disk. Game data has many sources, including P2P and BitTorrentwebsites such as IsoHunt and PirateBay, although this is usually illegal. The game creator sometimes gives access to game data, although this is very rare for popular games. More commonly, there are disks with game data that can easily be ripped in order to play the game on multiple computers.

Daemon Tools Lite

Once the user has obtained the game data, specifically the game’s BIN or CUE file, it can be mounted using any mounting software. One of the most popular mounting programs available, Daemon Tools Lite, is very easy to use and is completely free. Daemon Tools can be found here and, once installed, will place an icon on the Taskbar Tray for easy access whenever the program is running. The user must simply right click the icon, put the cursor over “Virtual Devices,” then over “Device 0: No Media,” and click “Mount Drive.” This will allow the user to browse for the BIN file in the game data and mount it, causing the game to load. The user should then be able to install and play the game without any problems. If the game allows the user to create a shortcut or includes an AutoRun software, the user will be able to use this icon to access the game whenever it is mounted. If the game does not provide the user with this option, he/she can play the game by going to My Computer and selecting the appropriate drive.