1 comments about Do You Know Your Groom? (Do You Know Your...).

1. My husband and I purchased these ( both Do you know your groom & Do you know your bride) shortly after getting married. They were entertaining and left us feeling informed and good that we knew so much about each other. We giggled a lot...well my husband chortled and I giggled :). Since then we have purchase several sets of these for couples as wedding gifts. They are the perfect activity for that plane ride to a honeymoon destination.

5 comments about Official Nintendo Power Yoshi's Island DS Player's Guide.

1. This Player's Guide goes hand and hand with the game. Helps you to find all the hidden places and items you would have a hard time finding other wise. Makes playing a snap. This is a must for others who are playing Yoshi's Island DS and want to have an edge on the game. And the nice thing it doesn't take away from the excitement yet adds more to it. Ever since I started playing the older classic Nintendo games with my son in the 80's we had to find out things the hard way. And that is find for those of you who like to find things that way. But I can never find them all and need a little help. You can play it first without the guide and then try with it to see if you missed any. And I'll bet you did. Nintendo is know ed for hiding things. Plus it gives you the edge on fighting the bosses and other enemies in the game. I recommended the guide to everyone.



2. I gave my daughter a Nintendo DS as a gift, and one of the games I bought for it was Yoshi Island DS because my husband loved the older version of it on Nintendo 64. However, she couldn't get past World 1-3.
   
   We saw this book on a recent shopping trip, and we immediately bought it after browsing it. In just 2 hours (after reading the first few pages until World 1-3), she was able to finish World 1-3 and started playing World 1-4.
   
   The book was so good at presenting all the characters, villains, must-have collection items, must-have bonuses, and ways to rack up points that you feel you can play the game and beat it! The book also gives detailed maps and descriptions of worlds, hints and advice on how to get through each world without actually revealing everything about each world (i.e., it doesn't give spoilers). The layout and graphics were colorful and true-to-life to the DS game. The flow of the writing was also good, i.e., the book first tells you about the basics (controls and moves), characters and common items seen on every level of the game, then the minor games (mini games within each game), lists the enemies, gives you general advice in the form of helpful hints that are useful at each level or world, and then gives you keys on how to read the maps of each world that are subsequently presented.
   
   Being essentially a manual or guidebook on how to play the game, I was expecting some high-fallutin' words that a kid won't be able to understand. So I was pleasantly surprised and pleased to find out the book was very easy to understand. If your average third grader reads a lot, he or she will have no difficulty going through the book and understanding it in order to be able to play the game better.
   
   After reading the book from the basics until World 1-1, I was ready to try the game myself. I don't know if there are too many mothers out there who became addicted to playing the Nintendo DS, but I certainly am hooked now as a result of reading this guidebook! To date, I have completed the first 4 levels in World 1, and I attribute that to the book. Without the book I would probably only last until Level 1, if at all!
   
   In summary, this book is a must-have if you want to be able to play ALL the worlds and levels of Yoshi Island DS. The game is a very entertaining game and will give you lots of fun by itself -- but the fun will be mixed with frustration at too many failed attempts to complete each level (I know because I've been there). The book is well-written, even an 8-year-old kid can understand it. After reading the book, you can play the different levels you have played on Yoshi's Island and improve your scores at each re-playing. This book is an essential partner to the game so you can fully appreciate and enjoy the different worlds and levels available on the game and quickly become a pro! This will help you win at each level rather than die repeatedly because you didn't have the hints and strategies this book gives you.



3. With all the different stratgy guides that come out for games, no company has made the best maps and tips like Nintendo. They've definitely made the best ones for games like New Super Mario Brothers on the DS, and The Legend Of Zelda Twilight Princess for the Wii. Their latest strategy guide for the Nintendo DS does follow that suit. The guide for Yoshi's Island DS is a descriptive and well-displayed strategy guide that shows all the level nicely, and all the tidbits that can help you guide Yoshi and his baby friends Baby Mario, Baby Peach, Baby Donkey Kong and Baby Wario through all the outrageous levels of the game. It also points out shortcuts, and the best strategies on how to master Baby Bowser. I really recommend this for anybody who owns the game on the Nintendo DS. It is a great buy.
   
   Price: B+
   
   Maps: A
   
   Tips: B 1/2-
   
   Overall: B+



4. This Player's Guide is extremely helpful! My son would not have been able to open many of the secret levels without it. The maps are very easy to understand and this guide is well worth the money.



5. It wasn't as helpful as I thought it would be but it is still a great book.

5 comments about Championship No Limit & Pot Limit Hold 'Em (Championship Series).

1. there is some good stuff in this book and written in simple terms



2. As the title implies, the authors discuss every hand that [they] think is playable in a tourney and describe how to play them in limit, no-limit and pot-limit events. There's also a discussion of some important hands that were played in past WSOP championship events. However, I found the information and discussion to be a bit shallow.
   
   McEvoy and Cloutier seem to take a cookie cutter approach when describing how to play the hands. When you have hand X you do action Y. While they [somtimes] modify the action to be taken based on position, there is almost no discussion of the changes that your stack size would dictate. Nor is there much discussion of how hands play differently early in the tournament at full tables vs. late at short tables.
   
   Discussion of how to play various hands on the flop and later are seldom given much in-depth discussion.
   
   Anyone following the advice would be fairly predictable.
   
   Lastly it should be noted that the authors are two long-time successful players. While overall I was disappointed, there were a few points that struck me as very useful. Hence the two stars instead of one.



3. I must admit this is one essential poker book that should be in every poker player's library. Tj and Tom give you expert analysis on the proper way to play particular hands. I really value their experience given all the bracelets and tournaments they've both won. Tj Cloutier gives great advice on knowing your opponents and tendencies to make your decisions at the poker table. Even though much of the advice in this book at first look can be interpreted as conservative, its really the best book on tournament poker strategy. Tj stresses no limit holdem is all about survival and making smart decisions where you don't have to take too many chances will ensure you do survive. For example Tj states "In the first round of the World Series, as well as in the first round of the smaller buy-in events at the WSOP, a pair of kings is not a big enough hand to get broke with. The only hand that is big enough to get broke with before the flop is two aces." Who'd a thought that at first glance!



4. This book contains many stories and not that much poker-tips.
   
   The tips are pretty basic and many of them are told repeatedly throughout the book. The result of that is a book with 304 pages that contains a net total of maybe 100 pages of poker-lessons. Not good. Sure, the stories are very entertaining to read and the authors both have a LOT of experience, but I got this book to get better at tournaments. Not for entertainment reading.
   
   I regret that I bought this book. Recently I threw myself into Dan Harrington's vol.1 and vol.2 and they're great. I highly recommend them. Actually I can't even think of a single bad thing to say about them.
   
   Sorry T.J.!



5. I'm not sure who this book is intended for. The down home, folksy style of writing makes it easy and accessible, like a good beginners book. But some topics that beginners absolutely need to learn, like pot odds and implied odds, are skimmed over and barely touched on. Other times, they'll simply repeat the same thing over and over again, with different ways of phrasing it. I get that you need "iron balls" to play hold 'em; no need to word it 5 different ways in the span of two pages.
   
   The authors also like to make grand pronouncements and hold fast rules, as if they're reading from a stone tablet or something (this is not a direct quote from the book, but they do mention this "concept"): "Thou shalt not draw to a flush unless ye have the nut flush draw AND two overcards!" Ignore, for a second, the absurdity of that statement; I just hate it when poker players say things like that as if they're the gospel truth. There are going to be times where you should put money into the pot with a non-nut flush draw or even simply two overcards, let alone both of them. The overall strategy described in this book is uber-tight, to say the least. They're much more concerned with protecting their own chips then they are with taking them from others. That's not a bad strategy for a beginner to start with, but if that's as far as your poker skills get, you're going to leave a lot of money on the table.
   
   This book is not without it's highlights. The discussion on how to play small pocket pairs is refreshing, if only because two dissenting viewpoints are discussed. T.J. doesn't really like them, Tom will play any pair. Personally, I agree with Tom, especially if the stacks are deep. The implied odds you get from hitting a set make it a very profitable hand to play, as long as you can get some action when you hit it. If you're at a table full of nits who don't pay off (players like T.J., for example), you probably shouldn't waste your money with the small pairs unless you're simply trying to steal the pot pre-flop (basically playing it like a semi-bluff.)
   
   Overall, I was very disappointed with this book. I think the main problem is it's target audience. It seems like the authors wrote this with serious poker players in mind, but a lot of it reads more like a beginners book. If I had found this a few years back when I played ATC (any two cards) this would have been exactly what I needed. Now that I know how to play the good kind of loose, this book does nothing for me.
   
   If you're a real tight player, you may find this book comforting. Everyone else should move along, there's nothing to see here. If this is "the bible of poker", as the back cover claims, then call me an atheist, cause I ain't buying it.

No comments about 500 Five Minute Games: Quick and Easy Activities for 3 to 6 Year Olds.

3 comments about Bridge for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide to One of the Most Challenging Card Games.

1. The best introductory book on ACOL bridge I have yet encountered. Clear and concise explanations of bidding and play strategies and the reasoning behind them, logical sequencing and helpful "Briefing" summaries at the end of key chapters. Thoroughly recommended.



2. I found this book extremely well written fo beginners. Language and examples were easy to understand.



3. 
   I just want beginning bridge players to understand that the ACOL system of bidding that this book teaches so well is NOT the same as the system or systems normally used in the USA.
   
   When scoping out bridge texts, you will want to be sure that the bidding style is called "Standard American" or, more specifically, "five-card majors." The highly regarded "Two over one game force," (abbreviated "2/1") will probably not appear in a text aimed at beginners; but there's a good chance you'll wind up there eventually if you stick with the game.
   
   Bridge is a wonderful game; I just don't want us Yanks boning up on a system that is of little or no use on this side of the pond!

4 comments about Zoo Tycoon 2: Sybex Official Strategies & Secrets.

1. IF YOU HAVE ZOO TYCOON 2,YOU HAVE TO GET THIS GUIDE!!!!!it helps a lot.it tells you how to build a 5 star zoo,and it tells you what the animals and guests like(excluding downloads).MUST HAVE FOR ZT2 FANS!!!!!!!!



2. I have owned everyone of the Zootycoons and always had trouble with the challenging aspects of the game until I got this guide. It helps a lot with the planning of your zoo, the campign strategies and how to construct a good exhibit. It is very easy to understand and is very helpful if you are new to the zootycoon genre. I highly recommend it.



3. My son loves the zoo tycoon games. The only problem is we do not know how to install it. It is not like other games you install. I put it in the disc drive and I see nothing!! Not sure where it is,we tried every possible folder. Would be a nice game if wwe knew how to install it.



4. If you want to be truely successful with Zoo Tycoon 2, you should read this book. There were things I learned that worked WAY better than other things I tried myself. For example, who would have guessed that visitors find standing up in a gazebo more restful than sitting on a bench?!
   
   I will say that I am slightly annoyed that some of the more basic information that is in this book is not available with the literature that comes with the game. But I guess it is one more way of funding the game creation process (in the way that paying a parking ticket is a way of funding the good things that your local municipality does!!).
   
   But it really does help you make a zoo where the animals and the people are happy. :-)

No comments about Radiant Sunshine and Shadow: 23 Quilts with Nine-Patch Sparkle.

2 comments about Play the Semi-slav.

1. The author provides a thoroughly researched repertoire for the popular Semi-Slav Defense. The Bibliography includes every recent book on the Semi-Slav, as well as Chess Informant, New In Chess, and several databases. The analysis has been computer-checked.
   
   Against 5Bg5, the first 3 chapters cover the fashionable 5...h6, while chapters 4-7 provide extremely detailed analysis of the out-of-favor Botvinnik Variation 5...dc. Reading these chapters helped me understand why it is out-of-favor, but the author does include some suggested lines for any brave soul who dares to play it.
   
   Chapters 8-10 cover the Meran Variation. Only 8Bd3 Bb7 is covered, 8Bd3 a6 is not. I found the analysis of 8Be2 and 8Bd3 Bb7 9a3, both used in the Kramnik-Topalov match, to be particulary illuminating. The main repertoire choice is the very theoretical Reynolds Variation (8Bd3 Bb7 9O-O a6), but the author includes a simpler alternative in 9...b4.
   
   Chapter 11-12 cover the 6Qc2 variation. Against 7g4, both 7...Bb4 and 7...h6 are given thorough coverage.
   
   Chapters 13-15 cover the Exchange Slav, the "Slow Slav" (4e3 Bf5), and various less common alternatives for White.
   
   The book is divided into 50 complete games within 15 chapters. Each game, as well as each chapter, ends with a "Conclusions" section that sums up the key recommendations. I really like this feature. I know I will never be able to remember all the details, but I may be able to recall the "Conclusions" during the heat of battle.
   
   The author does far more than list variations. The book is replete with useful explanatory comments. I also appreciate the many references to games from American tournaments.
   
   This book is a must for any serious player who plays either side of the Semi-Slav. Even if you don't play the Semi-Slav, it is a useful reference work for following games of the top GMs in this popular opening.
   
   I look forward to more books from David Vigorito.



2. Following on the heels of his extremely well written and researched book on the Qc2 Nimzo Indian, Vigorito has done what may seem like an impossible task: taking the mammoth theory and practice of the Semi-Slav and distilling it into a workable repertoire. Take that statement with a grain of salt, please: this is not an easy book. The Semi-Slav is not an easy opening. On the contrary, it's perhaps the most complicated and theoretical queen pawn defense available to black. However, Vigorito's treatment renders the theory workable and enjoyable. Did I mention he provides multiple lines to play against most of white's options? That's right, not only is the Moscow deeply covered (including the ultra-topical Anti-Moscow Gambit), but my favorite line in chess, the Botvinnik, is also thoroughly explored. I can't say enough about the original analysis and re-assessments of various lines. I have wanted to play this opening for years, but there is so much information that it has been almost impossible for a non professional to do so until now. Another huge success for Vigorito and Quality Chess, which has quickly taken it's place with Gambit and Everyman as leaders in chess publishing (Frankly, Quality Chess's offerings have surpassed both those esteemed publishers in my opinion. Especially recommended are Marin's two volumes on the open games. A better source could not be found on that material). If Mr. Vigorito happens to read this, congratulations and thanks for a truly excellent and monumental work that will set the standard in repertoire books for years to come. I could not be happier with it.

5 comments about Professional XNA Programming: Building Games for Xbox 360 and Windows with XNA Game Studio 2.0.

1. I'm another reader who was disappointed with this book. Browsing through the book while in the store, I was excited about the different games that the book covered. I have a little bit of programming experience, but not writing games. Once I sat down with the book, it left a lot to be desired. The first chapter or so is all right, but after that it becomes a mess.
   
   The author spends too much on unit testing, as mentioned by others. The code is often incomplete, and not explained very well, if at all. The snippets of code were too much of a mess to make head or tails of, and I ended up downloading the examples and compiling them.



2. Ben is a really awesome contributor to the whole XNA community. He also really knows his stuff. Unfortuately, this book tends to leave us guessing what he knows and what he's thinking about. I can really understand why there are dissatisfied people with the content provided in this book. I am not an experienced game programmer nor am I vastly familiar with Visual Studio, but I am used to relying on my own research to find the information I'm looking for. This book is perfect for me because it helps me to identify what I need to understand and how I should go about performing that research. Not everyone finds this method a compelling manner to learn however. This may seem like repeating what others have said but it's actually coming from the 3rd paragraph of the introduction: "For a more practical use of this book, you should follow along with the examples and code." That means, as I have seen mentioned before, at the computer, VS open, and the example code downloaded and displayed on the screen.
   
   This book is for a variety of audiences, but its not for complete beginners. One will need to first understand C# (or another C-style language like C++ or Java), have knowledge of Object-Oriented Programming and design, and perhaps have more than a few bookmarks in his or her browser covering some of the more in-depth topics on getting started with game programming in general. This book should not necessarily be viewed as a "How-To" book but rather a book regarding personal experimentation and exploration of XNA development practices and content (with an emphasis on the practices), during which a few games are created. If that doesn't seem like what you are looking for, then perhaps you should start with a different book. Perhaps, the Microsoft XNA Game Studio Creator's Guide by Stephen Cawood and Pat McGee (ISBN-10: 0-07-149071-X, ISBN-13: 978-0-07-149071-9). Though that book goes over XNA Game Studio 1.0 (don't think it's even the 1.0 Refresh), it has much of the code and explanations in the pages. There are downloads for it from McGraw-Hill as well. Then, go over any tutorial you can find covering the basics. After that, Nitschke should be right around the corner.



3. The author has talent, there is no doubt. However, I believe he thought he was writing a book on unit testing. Sure, unit testing is important ... but use those precious pages to explain code. Code is valuable ... but code is free and unfortunately, the book doesn't do much to explain the code. Reason for 2 stars instead of 1 is that the examples are polished. Plus getting a glimpse of what he was thinking with the XNA Racer starter kit was good.



4. I've spent a couple hours with this book and I'm already decided to return it. I am just a step above "beginnger" when it comes to coding and I realize just enough that this book is completely outdated. The published date says Feb 26, 2008 which is exactly two months ago, however, version 2.0 of the Game Studio Express is fully out in the public and there are TONS of differences between it and what is presented in this book; so much so that it is actually confusing me to read this book INSTEAD of learning something.
   
   Furthermore, a big reason I purchased this book was to read more about the Dungeon Quest game mentioned in the book. The author makes it sounds like this will be a fairly fleshed out example game by the time the book is released. However, what I find online is merely the example that was created in his 4 day GDC stent and nothing more. To make things worse, I cannot get it to compile in v2.0 of Game Studio Express.
   
   Sorry.



5. I agree with all the other dissatisfied buyers of this book. I have had this book 1 day and will either pray I can resell it or just plan give it away. I am on chapter 2 and can't even get it the Pong game going because more than 50% of the code needs to be downloaded. The writing style is all about the authors practices in game development and not the XNA technology. He does not teach you the XNA Development platform but rather how to right unit test and about 25% game development. I agree he is probably and outstanding game programmer and should stick to that. Very, Very bad buy and I have read alot of programming books in my day and have to say this is the Number 1 worse. Pllleeeaaase I beg that you save your money and buy a different book and don't set yourself back $40.

No comments about The New York Times Crosswords for a Relaxing Vacation: 200 Light and Easy Puzzles (New York Times Crossword Puzzles).