Dead Rising 2: Off the Record (Co-op edition)

Starting Dead Rising 2: Off the Record in co-op mode is an episode in confusion.  Kinda.

Firstly, you're going to need to make sure that you're 'friends' with the person who you want to play with, within the Games for Windows Live system (http://www.microsoft.com/games/en-US/Support/Pages/friends.aspx).

The person who wishes to be the host (or server) has to start their game normally.  It can be sandbox or storyline mode, either works.  Then, the person who wishes to be the guest (or client) can open the Games for Windows Live dashboard (press the Home key on the keyboard), open their friends list, open the profile of the friend, and click the "Join" option.

(I understand that the same process works for those playing in the original Dead Rising 2.)

If you're in storyline mode, the guest won't be able to join the host until the host reaches the point of the story where Frank West gets to the first 'safe house' or save point area.  (If you're okay with mini-spoilers coming from within the first twenty minutes of play, it's an evacuation centre, presided over by a cranky moustachioed security guard.  You'll know it when you see it.)

After all the difficulties we had getting the game started, I'm thoroughly enjoying it thus far.  It's good to see Frank West again.  I missed him from Dead Rising 1, back in the good old days of '06, when the Xbox 360 was still new on the scene.