2 comments about Sid Meier's Railroads! Official Strategy Guide.

1. I am still somewhat excited about exploring the development of railroads through this game. However, upon loading the game I discoverd that my Windows XP could not accomodate this game. As of this writing, I am still to go to the computer repair shop to check out my system and see what additions will be required.



2. Given to grandson, he loved it. He said it helped to play the game. He had problems with it before. Now he can play it. Plus the ps3 helped too.

5 comments about Age of Empires II: The Conquerors Expansion: Sybex's Official Strategies & Secrets.

1. this book was really worth it! before i got it i had to keep using the cheat codes every time and that really took the fun out of the game. Now i am the AOE2 expansion master!



2. this book was really worth it! before i got it i had to keep using the cheat codes every time and that really took the fun out of the game. Now i am the AOE2 expansion master!



3. I love this game. You get to use Spain and they even speak Castillian Spanish just like my Grandparents speak it. Really smooth gameplay, Great Online play I could play this game everyday all day for years and not get sick of it. I have been playing it since day one when it came out and I still love it. My only favorite P.C game title I still enjoy. Lots of great stuff in this game. Create own maps, download maps, Create characters, Awesome Map editor with the ability to use triggers. This game rips and always will. Santiago!!! Guerra!!!!



4. One> I am attending an AOK TC competition in 3 days. I needed a quick reference to all the civilizations which is found in this book plus strategies against and for. Two> Knowledge is power - info in the net may be diverse but it isn't complete. This book caters to my immediate needs. Three> If your sick of your performance against a 'Hard' skilled computer - I suggest you grab this book. Ages of Empires and Kings is a thinking man's game - it is the new age Chess or Toy Soldier game in full real-time.



5. The book gave what was needed and some more: how to beat each misson with flying colors, detailed descriptions of every civilization, strategies on how to win at multiplayer, and much more. the only down side was that if you buy this the game loses some of its chalenge.

5 comments about 2D Artwork and 3D Modeling for Game Artists (Premier Press Game Development (Software)).

1. totally cool book i got lots out of it. texturing was great too. got me totally into making models and using teh torque game engine. i think this book is killer so far



2. I agree with the majority of other reviewers on the content of this book, especially the sections of texturing. Very in depth and covers a whole lot of topics on inorganic and organic textures and how to use them. He also takes you step by step through the modeling process of a gun and a big ugly monster.

   But instead of spending too much time repeating what everyone else is saying good about the book, I am going to tell you what I think isn't so good about the book because there are a few not-so-good things about the book you should know before spending half-a-hundred dollars on it. Though, I still give the book 4 stars because it has many more good points than bad.

   The most depressing thing is that you really need full versions of all the software programs used to be able to follow along with the book the way you need to in order to learn what your reading. Sure, you get some experience working with a bunch of programs like 3d studio max 5 (very heavily used in 3d game model production) but you don't even do 3d modeling it. Instead, you follow along with the modeling process in TrueSpace 4 or 6. What you'll find REALLY frustrating about that is, unless you have $595.00 to spend on the full, legal copy of version 6.6, you won't be able to save any of your work using the DEMO version that comes with the book! So, you may spend an hour or more modeling your gun, and then have to close the program down and load the model that the author made on the book's CD in order to continue to the UV mapping, texture painting, optimizing and triangulating which is done in 3ds max 5 (of which the demo version is also included on the book's cd-rom). The modeling process could have been done just as easily in 3ds max 5 which is much more powerful than TrueSpace anyways. Why switch between the two programs when one can do both tasks? 3ds max 5 costs an arm and a leg (around $3,105.00), but can do EVERYTHING that TrueSpace & DeepUV combined can do. The full, retail (useable) version of DeepUV costs $795.00.

   If you don't believe me about UV mapping for characters in video games using 3ds max, then check out the book "Mastering 3DS MAX 4" which has a section on modeling a character then UV mapping it just like it is done in DeepUV. DeepUV is a complete waist of money if you own a copy of 3ds max 4 or higher.

   Now when texturing you use two different programs, Deep Paint 3D 2.0 and Adobe Photoshop 6. Both programs are equally good and equally powerful, though Photoshop is much more popular. I do not understand why he spreads tasks out across the two programs when he could have done just about everything in one program or another without using both programs. Deep Paint 3D 2.1 costs $995.00! Adobe Photoshop 7 costs you about $609.00!

   See what I'm getting at? You gotta have a fortune to spend on graphics production software in order to fully and completely follow along with this book and to be able to do ANYTHING productive with the information you've learned after reading the book, especially if you are a game programmer like me who has to make 3d models, then texture them and plug them into a 3d rendering engine.

   You can do anything and everything this book covers by having a full version of just two peices of software, Adobe Photoshop 7 and 3ds max 4 or higher. That's it...that's all you need. Buying two 3D modelers, a program for UV mapping, and two texture paint programs is a waist of a whole lotta money. I understand the good it can do because one program can essentially be better at one task than a similar program can, but how many of us hobbiests have over $6099.00 to spend on software to follow in the footsteps of the book author? Not me, certainly.

   If the book was designed with the hobbiest or budding superstar in mind then it would have focused all it's attention on production software that doesn't require you to be a zillionare. In fact another software program out there, Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8 can also be used for making game quality textures and 2D sprite art very much like Photoshop 7 or Deep Paint 3D 2.1 but it only costs about $100.00 for the full retail version. And then there's 3D modeling software like Milkshape 3D which is also VERY cheap in comparison to 3ds max, Maya, Lightwave, TrueSpace, Cinema 4DL, etc. And the best thing about Milkshape 3D is that it was made specifically for making game-only 3D models (originally made for the game Half-Life).

   Don't get me wrong, I do like a lot of things about this book. The book does a good job of showing you how to use an array of different programs and how to effectively use them for making game art such as 2D textures and 3D models and how to prepare those models for use in a game engine, and it even includes a demo game engine to plug your models into. But just be warned that owning those programs isn't necessary to make quality 2D and 3D artwork for games, but IS required to follow along with the book completely. You can "work around" with the book using the demos that comes with the CD, but don't get too excited because you can't even save your TrueSpace 3D models anyways, so how are you going to get the models into 3ds max 5 for further manipulation and game prep?




3. I was really excited when I got this book and could tell it was exactly what I needed since all aspects of making art for games was a mystery to me. However, I was disappointed that to go along with the tutorials, you had to use a TrueSpace demo or lay out the hundreds of dollars for the full program. The demo doesn't let you save anything, so that makes it very difficult when you're a complete newbie.
   
   Every time you make a mistake, especially in undoable operations like Boolean operations, you have to start ALL the way over. :(
   
   I would've preferred that the author used one of the more prevalent programs like Max or Maya - it made the learning curve even tougher, having to first learn TrueSpace before being able to do the tutorials in this book.
   
   As I say - I'm glad I bought it, but it would've been MUCH more helpful to have been able to use a program/demo where I could save what I'm working on.



4. This book covers everything, from character creation, bones rigging, texturing of the character (and hundreds of general textures using Photoshop). The book uses 3DS Max 7 and Photoshop 7, expensive, but I've found that game companies use those avidly (or Maya, but not as much). Price is high for those but get a demo or hacked copy. The author covers character creation almost entirely, including export to the Torque game engine. The only down side is he doesn't include animation, but I guess that's a subject for another book. I hear he's writing a character book that will include this as well. Very cool book, A+.



5. The main problem with this book is that the author isn't very good at what he does. He details lovingly how to make the artwork but he simply lacks the talent to create 3D art that's very good. The model he creates, Slogre is in the end, a lumbering snow man like mess of a creature poorly set up for animation.
   
   The author spends a lot of time talking about concept art and why its important only to ditch it in production of the model, ditching all of its charisma to create an ugly mess that looks like it was created by someone completely inexperienced.
   
   Most of the textures he creates end up looking very flat and ugly. The black and white printing causes a lot of his points to be lost. The best examples of this are on pages 225 and 226. He shows a demonstration of poorly tiling textures with noticeable seams. However, due to the cheap printing, the wall is just a solid block of grey making the visual aid wholly useless.
   
   If you're completely new to 3D art, there are far worse places you could start. This book has some decent primers initiating readers with certain aspects of various art programs including Photoshop. There's a lot of information here and it's not all useless.
   
   However, if you are planning on getting into 3D art, I would recommend you start out with Milkshape 3D and Psionic3D tutorials. (Google those. Amazon doesn't allow linking last time I checked.) For texturing, 3D Game Textures by Luke Ahearn is a much better resource than this.
   
   If you have any experience in 3D art though, then you can probably skip this book without a second thought. There is likely nothing you couldn't have figured out on your own. The things that are worthwhile for the experienced here are already available in Internet tutorials.
   
   The only thing that would make this book of any value to an experienced artist is the collection of nearly 500 royalty free photos intended for use in your own textures. To some, these are probably worth the price on their own, but they're photos that would be easy for someone to take on their own. Think twice about buying this book.

5 comments about The Unauthorized Halo 2 Battle Guide: Advanced Combat Techniques (Premier Press Game Development).

1. "He must be level 10..."
   "I bet he's a low level.."
   Especially considering that Halo 2 stats can be viewed at any time (for free) at Bungie.net, do you really want to trust people (no names mentioned) who can't even be bothered to check their claims before they write them? Skip comments like those, and you'll get much better insight into what the actual guide contains.
   
   The people behind this guide might not be major stars at the moment, but in the wake of a half-dozen patches and a release of new maps, it's hardly fair to expect the old-school stars to be the tops of the new age- especially when most every name you see at the top of the leaderboard nowadays probably cheated their way there. But enough about that! This space is for reviews, not bashing people.
   
   This guide is great for players new to competitive gaming in general, and it's a good read for players who think they know it all. After all- if you haven't mastered the basics, what exactly do you have? The answer: squat.
   
   If you're someone who's interesting in kicking some serious tail online, and you're new to the whole idea of "pwning" people in first-person shooters, this book is a great place to look. With a few helpful tips to help you along your way, you'll see your skill level start to climb in no time at all.
   
   Sure, it might seem silly to have to be told to remember to reload your weapons whenever you have a break in action, but take a close look over the shoulder of even the best gamers, and you'll see that little mistakes like these are the crucial points when the game's on the line.
   
   Especially as your skill increases in a game like Halo 2, you need to keep a firm grip on every little piece of information you can access to get ahead. How many players really know that there's a tiny dot in the center of all headshot-capable weapons that lets you know when you have a headshot lined up? How many players really know all the little jumping tricks that you can use all over Lockout?
   
   And for those who are woefully unfamiliar- Char was a player who achieved godlike status during Bungie's beta testing for Halo 2. Char had an uncanny ability to wipe the floor in virtually any game, at any time, against even the best players who could be found, and came out as the Michael Jordan of the Halo 2 beta test. Several other names revolving around this guide had similarly impressive success in Halo 2's early days and- even if their insights have been dusted over a bit as the game's gotten older- their sheer talent regarding tactics and weapons will always be of help to newer players.
   
   While this guide is no substitute for setting down and playing the game, the insights it provides can be absolutely invaluable for the new to mid-range player. And "1337" players take note- it can never hurt to see other players' takes on tactics and learn from them.



2. if you like halo and all stuff about it this is a must have, if you like to play live and you would like to achive a higher rank this is what you are looking for. the only thing that i didint like is that it has no superjumps.



3. This is a must-have for Halo fans who do not have access to Xbox Live. All of the experience that is missed out on from not being able to play other people is greatly made up for by these tips and strategies. It gives very good details and examples. It is very easy to understand and incorporate into your play. Even if you do have Xbox Live, it is still something that you should look into anyway, but it gives VERY helpful information.



4. I dont care what people say this book is for begginners. It does provide some really great tips but, im a lvl 26 (spuddy nutt and backdraft757 if you want to check) i found that i new most stuff. there were however several things that did improve my game and i did use a couple of the tips just for test. If you are just beggining then this will help alot but otherwise you need to learn how to improve on these strategies so that they are more flexible and you can adapt to suprises better but all in all it was a good book well written and nicely pieced together.



5. My kid loved it. Used it and moved onto being a World of Warcraft junky!

No comments about Data Structures and Algorithms for Game Developers (Game Development Series).

1 comments about What's New With Phil & Dixie Collection #2: Sex & Gamers...Really.

1. Love everything I've seen by _either_ of the Foglios. The book was, however, a gift that didn't quite arrive on schedule.
   
   The book: five stars
   
   Timeliness of shipping: two stars

5 comments about Heroes of Might and Magic V (Prima Official Game Guide).

1. Don't buy this. There's more accurate information online about HOMM5. This is the poorest Game Guide I've ever bought.



2. Overall the book is useful, but like most of Prima's game guides it is a mass of errors and typos. They really ought to consider hiring an editor.



3. With a complex game like Heroes you want some good fold out tables and charts of the different troop-types and heroes. You dont get that. The entire book is in black and white. Most of the guide is simply a walkthrough of the Campaign missions. Bleh. That would have been fine to include that but fans of this game want tables and charts in a readable format. Very unfortunate how bad this "guide" is. I regret buying it.



4. The game looks nice but except from the graphics nothing else has been changed from the previous version.You should by this game only if you missed playing heroes but do not expect much from it.



5. I read the reviews here and hesitated to buy this guide. So I went into a game store and looked at it in person. It had everything I expected it to have: monster descriptions, spell descriptions, ability descriptions, campaign walkthroughs, and even some stuff I didn't expect, like what all the "Week of..."s meant.
   
   It's certainly a grand improvement on what the game's rulebook gives you. Now I know in mechanical terms what items like "Battle Dive" and "Shield Bash" mean, and can use them properly--not hit a button and not know how the outcome was determined.
   
   I still don't know what a Crystal Dragon is yet, but maybe it will turn up. :)

2 comments about Need for Speed: Carbon (Prima Official Game Guide).

1. These days, the hype of racing games and how to win at them is in many forms. With the success of Need For Speed and the last edition, Most Wanted, a new edition had to come around with the latest Need For Speed game, Carbon. This strategy guide highlights the latest edition for the consoles, PS2 and the upcoming PS3, PC, Gamecube, the highly-anticipated Nintendo Wii and the Xbox 360, and shows in detail each of the tracks and all the highlights for each of the sleek automobiles. This guide does a much better job at highlighting the depths of the game in each course than Need For Speed: Most Wanted did. The only downside is that if you've purchased Need For Speed: Carbon Own The City for the PSP, Game Boy Advance or the Nintendo DS, the strategy guide isn't going to help you. If you own the thrils of this game for your video game system, you'll definitely want this guide.
   
   Price: B 1/2+
   
   Maps: B
   
   Convience: B-
   
   Overall: B 1/2-



2. Very clear and helpful in terms of information related to the game itself, description of cars, tracks, characters and goals.
   In my point of view it could benefit of some more tips to go through the challenges that the game offers.
   
   Other than that. it is a great guide.

2 comments about Perfect Dark Zero (Prima Official Game Guide).

1. The worse book ever as far as a guide book goes. But what can you expect from prima? They should not be in busines. Don't buy it. You will waste your money.



2. I'm not sure what the other reviewer is griping about, or even why. The only thing I can figure is that he must work for one of the other guide publishers, and is crusading to make his brand look better or something.
   
   I have bought and used several guides made by Prima, and they are just the same as other guides made by other publishers (Brady Games, Nintendo Power, . . .). Like every guide ever made, this one has the usual sections - plot synopsis, character and weapon overviews, strategic walkthrough, and even strategies for the co-op and multi-player arena parts of the game. Prima was even nice enough to include a graphic short-story set in the Perfect Dark universe.
   
   So just ignore the last person that reviewed this book - it's like they were expecting the guide to play the game for them or something. To that reviewer: get real and get a life - if you don't want to put the effort into a game that's required to finish it, don't buy it; and don't blame a completely satisfactory guide for your shortcomings.
   
   To people interested in buying this guide: this will not disappoint - whether you're looking for tips on getting through a mission you're stuck on, or just want to learn more about the weapons and characters of PDZ, this guide's got everything you could possibly need. Just don't expect it to beat the game 100% perfect for you, like that other bozo.

3 comments about Mega Man Battle Network 6 Official Strategy Guide (Bradygames Official Strategy Guides) (Bradygames Official Strategy Guides).

1. This book does help out, but the major thing I think it lacks is maps. In the guides before it (BN4 & BN5) they would have a section in the back of the book with full maps of each major area, including what viruses were there, where each mystery data was and where it was, and the location of each Navi ghost.(If there was one there) However, no such section in this one. One nice surprise I thought this book did have was a seperate section for number codes and compression codes. Overall, it's a good book but Maps would have made it so much better.



2. If you are a big fan of the series you dont need this. Although for the sub-chalanges(jobs) it would help. As i said if you have beaten all of the other games(both of the versions not needed) you know what to do without help.



3. I recived my book in a nice pagaging. very fast delivery and no problem with book. I would order again soon. I recomend that everyone order from here.