5 comments about Sims 2: Seasons: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides).

1. SEASONS ARE FUN FOR SIMS. THEY GET TO GROW A GARDEN. THEY CAN PLAY IN LEAVES AND RAKE LEAVES AND THEN BURN THE LEAVES. THEY CAN PLAY IN THE SNOW IN WINTER TIME. THEY CAN MAKE SNOW ANGELS, BUILD SNOWMEN, HAVE SNOWBALL FIGHTS, OR ICE SKATING AT THE SKATING RINK. THEY GET TO BE RAINED ON TOO. DON'T KEEP YOUR SIM OUT IN THE COLD FOR TOO LONG OR THEY WILL GET SICK AND THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO SLEEP UNTIL THEY GET BETTER. THIS IS A LOT OF FUN!



2. I've had limited time to play since installing this latest expansion pack to The Sims 2, but when I've played, I've really enjoyed the new features, careers, activities, etc. The added game content is well worth the price of this expansion! If you enjoy The Sims 2, you will definitely enjoy this expansion!



3. This guide was very helpful in that it gave insight to a great deal of new things the Seasons Expansion Pack had to offer. Without the guide it would have taken me some time to find and utilize these new features. Knowing about the new features and how they work made gameplay much more interesting. The guide has a great layout for finding things.



4. I have been a fan of the Sims since the very beginning and own every expansion but this is the best for the Sims 2. The changing of the seasons really brings reality to the game which is what we Sims fans really want. It feels so much more real to see it snowing or raining. I also love the gardening aspect of the game. You need to really tend to things to get your gardening skills to grow and it's alot of fun. I have all the original Sims games and expansions and also everything for Sims 2 but if I had to suggest only one expansion to get it would be this one. It is definitely the best so far.



5. I live in a climate where the season change so I was happy to see my Sims season change too. I love that you can set your own season; so if you want it to snow all the time you can set that. I love the little add-ons like the sun burn or turning blue if your outside for too long. The details are what makes this game/expansion pack enjoyable.
   
   I'm having a hard time with getting my trees to produce fruit though...

5 comments about Sims 2 Bon Voyage: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides) (Prima Official Game Guides).

1. i was very excited when this ep came out and hurried out to buy it. it has its glitches and changes. no longer can one delete various custom content as before in eyes, makeup..., problems like sims being stuck on vacation, beach towels multiplying over the entire vacation lot,ordering and paying for room service food but none shows up, vacation lot became corrupted, unusable, it would take up space to list it all, but they all do spoil game fun.
   
   the biggest problem is the use of an anti piracy sony securom7, which lodges in ones computer with hidden files, registry keys which need hi tech knowledge to remove due to remaining after the game is uninstalled. many including myself have had our norton firewall quietly disabled , other reports have been disabled cd devices, unable to access email, sluggish internet to computer crashes. i have had some these problems myself and a search of other securom protected software have experienced these same problems and more.
   
   i have uninstalled it as the glitches, in game errors, and securom7 do not equal enjoyment nor money well spent for me.



2. I have been playing the Sims 2 since it first came out and have purchased all of the E.P.'s and mini E.P.'s. Bon Voyage is by far the one of the most enjoyable E.P.s . Not only do your Sims get to go on vacation to one of 3 exotic locations, but they get treasure hunt, dig for treasure maps and collectables, shopping for souveniers, and visiting each locations secret lots. There's lots to do and each location has it own unique style of hotels/camp grounds and locals who can teach your Sims a multitude of new interactions and skills. One even has a ninja that can teach your Sim how to "teleport" and make travelling from within a lot much faster. Also, there's "Big Foot" whom your Sims can meet at one of the secret lots and can befriend him, maybe even move in with your Sims. These are just a few of the many fun things to do with your Sims in this E.P.
   I give it * * * * *



3. This is even better than I expected; it is my favorite expansion back. I highly recommend this one to all Sims players.



4. I just got this game today and have just ordered the strategy guide from this site because it's no longer carried in stores.I'm really looking foward to getting this guide because I want to see where all the new stuff is located.Prima is usually pretty good at listing new stuff like funiture,electronics,plumbing etc.I'm also getting this guide to find out which motels have the best stuff with them.There is a patch that has just been released for this expansion pack so most of the problems listed by other reviewers should be fixed with it.From starting the game today this ep has new hairstyles,new turnons and turnoffs,you can get married and go on a honeymoon at one of the vacation locations,you can buy vacation homes etc.I really like that Maxis added the ability to swim in the ocean.I also like the new vacation tourist clothes they thru in.I've only been to 2 locations so far but there are 3 and after the install you can install all 3 of them at your location at one time.Example Pleasentville.I like the Tikki Beach area best because of the ocean and one of the vacation homes are located on the beach.If you don't have the money use the motherlode cheat to buy the vacation homes.You must get on the computer at your home and click on realestate then buy the vacation home.You can't do it while your on the island.I bought one of these homes their nice they have huge bedrooms and a big interior.I will probebly buy one at the other locations too.Their the same price as most homes in the neighborhoods.More info will be forthcoming when I get the guide.



5. Sims 2 Bon Voyage: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides) (Prima Official Game Guides)I have bought all the guides for the Sims2 games. This one is the best so far. In fact, I doubt I could play the "vacations" strategy very well if I did not have it. The information and instructions are also very well laid out. For example, the user needs to know how to set up, save money for and establish a "home base" for his or her vacation. Choices for the three vacation sites and what to do, if you have Seasons 2 loaded, are helpful too. Otherwise, much time will be lost trying to figure it all out. This manual includes enhancements to Sims2 game play which are great! Buying this guide is a must!

5 comments about Pokemon Yellow (Prima's Official Strategy Guide).

1. Very helpful indeed. The pictures weren't so great but I got through the game fine. In record time I might add.



2. It is a very helpful guide. it helps you through pokemon yellow, red, and blue. It is well written. it also is made for: pokemon red, blue, crystal, gold and silver. it is also made for other games.



3. I love this because Pokemon Yellow is my favorite game.



4. I purchased this guide after losing the original one from 3 years ago. I found this one much more detailed and a lot more helpful. Instead of flipping around pages to find which Pokemon is caught where then flipping to another page to find out what HM's and TM's it can learn, you can get it all on the page for that Pokemon. Thanks again for another great book.

   Sincerely, Eileen Caprio




5. its super buy it the best

No comments about Game Design, Second Edition.

No comments about Scripting Your World: The Official Guide to Second Life Scripting.

5 comments about Myst III: Exile: Prima's Official Strategy Guide.

1. Don't even waste your time getting this hint guide. The online/unofficial guides much more accurate and are always being updated



2. Won't you pleeease help me-....this book will get
   you going again!
   I was stuck in the game and so frustrated.
   Bought this... on Amazon and am enjoying the
   journey again.



3. My kids and I had to rely once or twice on cheats. The puzzles are not so hard - but there are some problems with not doing things in the "right" order in Exile. Online free sites provided the answers. The walkthroughs, like the one in this book, are empty and utterly spoil the game. Don't buy this book.



4. This book SAVED ME!!!! i am a BIG myst etc. fan. I think the puzzles in exile are harder than in riven or myst, so i was STUCK IN J'NANIN!!!! luckily, my dad bought this book! so I was saved. it's actually a very interesting book to read, weather you're on exile or not.



5. Came within a week after ordering in perfect condition.

2 comments about God of War: Chains of Olympus Official Strategy Guide (Bradygames Official Strategy Guides).

1. This guide is well laid out. The bestiary, photos, and campaign walkthrough are top notch. I really liked the sections that explained the Greek myths, which provided extra background info about the characters in the game. It was definitely an abbreviated history lesson. The guide also contains lots of concept art in the back. You also get a nice rundown of all the hitpoints for all the enemies. All the combos are explained. If you are a fan of the series, you can't go wrong with this little guide.



2. The GoW guides are some of the best out there because the include every tiny bit on what you have to do in the game. I also liked that the Bestilery has improved and is a lot more clear. The only problem I have with this is that it doesnt show you the bonus costumes that you unlock as Kratos. So overall this is a very good guide and it comes in handy a lot.

5 comments about Fire Emblem (Wii): Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides).

1. it helped
   
   the end
   
   
   
   GOOD GAME!!!



2. I strongly discourage the purchase of this guide. Prima demonstrates in this guide that, yet again, if you can't play the game their way, you can't play it at all. The guide is set up in a step-by-step format, telling you specifically what characters to be used, and when they are to be used, turn-by-turn. Because of Fire Emblem's chanciness, the advice offered by this guide is just short of absolutely useless. Utter garbage. Its sole saving grace is the art featured throughout the book.



3. The stategies offer is so-so.
   Too little artworks.
   Flaws and inaccuracy in the data section.



4. This book is a great help for beginners and helps you reveal secret items around every corner within the game. But if you're planning not to spoil yourself like I myself. My words to you would be, not to buy it and experience all the action without the unnecessary spoilers for upcoming battles.



5. When people buy strategy guides there are looking for a collection of facts that will allow them to develop a better strategy. This "guide" is little more than the author's turn-by-turn diary of the way he played the game. The enemy locations and stats are often wrong and only offered for Normal Mode, so if you're playing easy of hard mode you're on your own. The maps are often too dark or too small to get a good idea of how to approach the chapter (especially the one with the bridge). There is hardly any artwork, just screen shots of the game Dan Birlew (author) played. Its almost as if Prima new this guide sucked when they released it with the name premiere edition, certainly suggesting it wouldn't be the only edition. I really wish Nintendo Power would make their own (instead of teaming up with Prima) because their efforts on previous fire emblem game guides were far superior.

5 comments about The Complete PC Upgrade and Maintenance Guide, 16th Edition.

1. Sybex and the authors have updated this long running and successful text with the 16th edition. The rapid changes in personal computer hardware mean that you might want to consider getting this book for its comprehensive advice of a wide range of hardware items.
   
   I should say that even with the changes in this industry, if you have the 14th or 15th editions, you may well want to stick with those. Not everything changes between consecutive editions, and those still hold considerable relevance.
   
   The book's remit extends across a broad range of hardware. Not just items that might be directly plugged into your computer. For example, there is discussion about routers for your local network. Where these might be wired or wireless devices.
   
   Typically, across all the hardware they describe, there is enough information to be able to install that hardware, even without the manufacturers' instructions. Sometimes, the book's instructions may even be clearer!



2. Who want to work in computer repair then need this book.



3. Minasi's earlier editions were good (and hardcover - what happened to that?). This one was apparently rushed out without any proofreading just to keep up with the Joneses (Mueller). There are so many errors in the first two chapters, it's unbelievable... Maybe the rest of the book actually got re-written and proofed, but the first part is very disappointing and makes me unlikely to grab this volume when I need an accurate answer.
   
   E.G.
   p.17 figure 1.5 shows connectors on back of PC, points to a Centronics 36 connector, labeling it a 25-pin parallel port. Same figure labels a DB-25 port (male? female?) as "External SCSI". (Could be, if a VERY old scsi card is in there... )
   
   p.17 "... be the expert on how many millions of polygons a particular sound card can render per second." Huh?? Since when did sound cards start rendering geometric shapes?
   
   p.22 "Quick Steps: Installing a CPU" gives 6 steps. No mention of heatsinks/fans. Just pop it in, button up the case, and get the marshmallows ready!



4. I am not a very technically savvy guy with a computer. I was looking for a book to explain to me how I can upgrade my computer and keep it in fairly good maintenance. I saw this one and it seemed to have a good description. It turns out this book is massive, but most of it is devoted to computer peripherals. I was not impressed because it is not a very user friendly book and didn't have more of what it was titled to be. It would be an excellent book for someone that has a lot of time and already should know most of this stuff and what's to change their peripherals mostly.



5. Ordered this new edition because of my experience with earlier ones.
   
   This edition lacks the CD which the other edition contained.
   
   The format of this edition is not done as well as the previous one.
   
   I am dissapointed in it's new format and lack of CD.

5 comments about AI Game Programming Wisdom (with CD-ROM) (Game Development Series).

1. "Artificial Intelligence" means different things to different people. One useful application is the control of nonplayer characters (NPC) in video games. This is the first book to address this field. Like any collection of papers, it is uneven and does not systematically cover the subject. It should be read in conjunction with a traditional AI text, such as Murphy "Introduction to AI Robotics", Russell and Norvig "Artificial Intelligence: a Modern Approach", Tom Mitchell "Machine Learning" or perhaps Bruce Blumberg's forthcoming "Synthetic Characters".

   I teach AI at DigiPen Institute of Technology and made this one of the required books. It is good in showing which techniques are most useful in games and what you need to consider when designing your AI. Some papers are overly general and some are too specific. That's probably unavoidable, but game programmers can pick and choose the most appropriate ideas. Unfortunately, some of the better introductory articles on A*, finite state machines, flocking and fuzzy logic are not in this book but in "Game Programming Gems".

   Once you understand the basics of AI, this book can save some major headaches by helping with the selection of an appropriate architecture. The CD has source code to help you get off to a good start. Reading the appropriate articles will let you anticipate problems before they happen and design around them. Professional game programmers will likely find at least one technique that pays back the cost of the book.




2. Published by the same folks who brought you Game Programming Gems (and edited by one of the more prolific AI authors in that series), AI Game Programming Wisdom provides a wealth of real knowledge by actual game programming professionals, not professional authors. As a game programming professional, the number of game programming books that sit on my shelf is fairly small. Most have nothing interesting or meaningful to offer beyond rudimentary descriptions and concepts.

   AI Wisdom is definitely a cut above the rest. The topic selection is intelligent and relevant, and the articles are all of a consistent quality and polish. I've already referenced articles several times when writing production code, and several co-workers have borrowed it when they had a particularly tricky problem to solve. This is simply a must-have resource for any professional AI programmer, period. Or, if you're an amateur or hobbyist looking to see the tricks and techniques professionals use, then this is a book you absolutely can't afford to miss.




3. Being in the game development business, I am always on the lookout for new and different tricks, techniques and strategies. When most programmers go to the lectures, panels and roundtables at the Game Developers Conference, we are looking to pick up this same sort of material... we share ideas and approaches - but rarely get the chance to get down to the code details to make it easy for us to implement those ideas into our own work. This book makes that possible.

   Along the lines of the other "Gems" series of books, this collection is filled with ACTUAL techniques and code chunks that are used by some of the top professionals in the industry. Just flipping through the list of the contributors to the book is like going around the room at one of the AI roundtables at the GDC... in fact, Steve Woodcock and Neil Kirby are 2 of the "3 AI guys" that RUN those roundtables! (The 3rd being Eric Dybsand who has contributed to the "Gems" series but not this title.)

   Many books on game development are informative. This one is actually USEFULL. I have personally adopted Steve Rabin's source code from the section "Implementing a State Machine Language" into my own game and it has saved me many hours of development and improved the readability and understandability of my code for the rest of the team. Just that section alone has netted at least a 1000:1 return on the cost of this book. Other sections have given me a different approach on how to handle the economic strategy layer that I could have come upon myself... but was able to implement a lot quicker than if I had done it myself. It was definately worth the price.

   Are any of these sections worth the purchase price for YOU? I suppose that depends on how much you value you your time. Once you equate the cost of the book to the man hours you save, it's a no brainer!




4. This is the best book in my library.
   Write by professionals, with usefull techniques and well explained details of almost every cool aspects of AI in the game programming world.



5. It's hard to find good information about game programming and design. The trouble is that people working in the industry have an incentive to keep their techniques secret -- they don't want their competitors to learn them. The people who aren't in the industry can write about games but don't have the experience to back it up.

   Game AI Programming Wisdom gives us wisdom from people who have worked on real games. Each section is a short explanation of a particular problem (like pathfinding, tactical reasoning, or pattern recognition). Since they're short and independent, you can pick the section that applies to the problem you're trying to solve and read that without having to read everything in order. However, each section is written by a different person, so if you try to read the book straight through you will be distracted by the change in writing styles and level of detail.

   I'm quite glad to see this book. It's actually the first game programming/design book that I purchased. (I'm quite picky when it comes to books. I'm sure Amazon doesn't like that.) Most of the game books I see go into low level programming details. This book teaches you the principles and techniques that will be useful for more than the specific problems they cover.