5 comments about The Sims Box Set 1 thru 5 (Prima's Official Strategy Guide).

1. Ok, the bad stuff first - which has been mentioned a lot here. The books are shrunk down to a much smaller size than your average strategy guide, so the pictures and illustrations are really difficult to see. Second, the first half of each book is the same in all five - just basic info about the Sims. So there is a lot of wasted space and material you have to skip over to get the new information on whatever expansion pack the book is for.

   The books small size makes them easier to store though, they can even sit on a bookshelf in front of all the other strategy guide since they are so much smaller. They also come in a sleeve so that they all stay together nicely. While most of the information is repeated in each book, there is a good amount of new information that is really useful - even for long-time Sims players. Every time I open up the books I learn something new, and I've been playing the Sims for several years now.

   Overall, for the price I can't complain too much. The good stuff is better than the bad, by far. Definitely would recommend to any Sims addict looking to learn some new tips and tricks.




2. the info give is ok. Nothing to reveling, but the examples given in picture are impossible to read. they could have made a single book instead of 5 if they had just made the book larger and pictures more readable.

   Only buy this book if you can not figure out how the game works. otherwise save your money




3. Really unnecessary. The game is the easiest to play in the world. There is no end to the game hence no need for strategy.



4. Don't buy this.

   There is no reason you need to buy these books.
   Any information you need is online and cost you nothing.

   On all of the books, the 1st half is devoted to The Sims (the original game itself that you need in order to add any of the expansion packages).

   If you need any information on game play with any of the expansions then go online.
   The Official Sims Website is one place to start.
   That is not to mention all of the other Fan webistes that you can go to. (Devoted to The Sims and there are a lot)

   They are for the most part free and you don't have the books taking up room.




5. First, a note: I am not actually under 13--I'm 15, actually--but I was too lazy to create my own bn.com account or wait for my mom to come home so I could use hers. But anyway.
   In general, the Prima strategy guides are excellent--they are thorough, humorous, and well-written, with aesthetically appealing layouts and screenshots. So having five half-sized strategy guides for the approximate price of one sounds like the perfect deal, right?
   You'd think that...
   While these guides are excellent, I think that Prima made a mistake in making these books so small. Although I am fortunate enough to have, for the moment, very good eyesight (from years of reading under the covers, I suppose), I still found these books very hard to read. I can only imagine the difficulty for someone who already has a vision problem.
   In short, these discounted guidebooks are worth the price only if your eyesight is excellent. In general, I'd recommend buying the normal-sized guides. While more expensive, they are at least legible.

1 comments about Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain: Official Game Secrets Strategy Guide (Secrets of the Games Series).

1. Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain hint book is great to have if you are lost, stuck, or just feal like there is something missing the book is great to fall back on.

5 comments about The Complete Guide to Game Audio: For Composers, Musicians, Sound Designers, and Game Developers.

1. This is a great book for those composers and sound designers wanting to break into the gaming industry. I do not understand why many people read this book hoping to find technical audio information, but this is NOT a TECHNICAL AUDIO or ENGINEERING book. This book is in the same vein as Jeff Rona's Reelworld book or Richard Davis's Complete Guide to Filmscoring.
   
   Invaluable industry advice and at preparing your audio demo reels, and making connections. Must have for any aspiring game music composer or sound designer.



2. This book is very well written, its easy to go through it quickly. One of the features I really like is the different interviews with game music composers asking everything from equipment to techniques to inspiration.
   
   This book gives a detailed look into the industry, don't expect to learn how to compose from buying this book. This book is for musicians that are beginning or are already working with computer games and need to know about the industry. Sorry but there will never be books around pretending to teach you how to compose music, composing like anything else is something that you learn by doing and not by reading books. But if you are a musician already, and love computer games, then you won't regret this book.



3. This book contains very good and valuable information for those wanting to get into the game industry, unfortunately it was written in 2000, so most of the information is completely old for today standards, specially in this field.



4. I've been working in the field of game audio on the content side for about 5 years. I got this book as I was starting out and I found it a quick, easy read that offered alot of helpful insight and pretty much everything Marks said has held true in my experience. There are people complaining here that this book doesn't offer deep technical information or insight on how to provide content or help with audio programming and that's true. Maybe the title could have been clearer - it's more an idea of what game audio is about and what it's like to work in that field. But if that's what you're looking for, it's a quite worth reading and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know how to break into the industry on the audio side.



5. I found this book an excellent resource for a composer like me. Not only does it addresses elementary issues, but takes readers into intermediate topics which are very useful for someone getting into gaming audio.

1 comments about Metal Gear Acid(tm) 2 Official Strategy Guide (Official Strategy Guides (Bradygames)).

1. Highly informative. Recommended for any one that is a fan of Metal Gear or any one that is having trouble finishing the game.

5 comments about Company of Heroes Official Strategy Guide (Official Strategy Guides (Bradygames)).

1. I was looking for more of a tactical guide with recommendations on which forces to build/use given certain situations in the game. This guide is more of a cheat-sheet that walks you through every mission and basically tells you what you should do. So if you were looking for a general tips/tricks/and basic concepts guide this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a book to hold your hand on each mission, then it's perfect.



2. This strategy actually make some valid points for the hardest rts I have EVER played and I've played alot grat game and book



3. Quite a bit of useful information, especially if you are new to strategy games. The maps are good and help to give a good overview of the of the single player campaign. I withheld the 5th star due to a lack of more detailed strategies for general game play in skirmish and multi player modes.



4. This is probably the worst strategy guide I have ever seen. It is nothing more than the game manual. It will help you get through the missions, but there is nothing in here on how the units interact, optimal costs, or any kind of strategy info you can use.
   
   If you are looking for info on multi-player strategies, look elsewhere. There is MUCH better information can be found online for free.
   
   VERY disappointing.



5. Recently, while waiting to see my optomologist, I noticed that he had a diploma from Parkland Hospital, so I asked if that had been the same one where President Kennedy had died. He told me that one of the patients he had there was working in the Emergency Room at the time this event took place. He had talked with an actual eyewitness to this tragedy and its aftermath.
   
   About five years ago, I had another specialist at a regional hospital, a gastroenterologist. He, too, had interned at this famous hospital in Dallas. Thus, I had decided he was from Texas. A sensitive, shy personality but extremely competent in his field, I had much admiration for his skill. He had performed some minor surgery and tests on me which kept me from needing radical procedures later on. At one of these procedures, however, I had waited past my endurance(the whole time attached to an IV); thus, I asked a nurse to unhook me as I was ready to go home.
   
   When she toldthe doctor that I was wanting to leave, I was immediately wheeled back to the operating room. He said, "So you were going to skip out on me," and I replied, "Doctor, I was sure you had gotten on your horse and ridden off into the sunset." He was surprised and amused by this vision and asked, "Now, why would I do that?" I emphatically stated, "Well, you're from Texas and that's what cowboys do, isn't it?" He said (before he promptly put me to sleep so he could perform his task), "We have horses in Tennessee, too." Later, I learned from one of his nursing assistants there at the hospital that he's a native Tennessean and proud of it. The problem was he hadn't let me tell him that cowboys had always been my heroes. From that day on, this doctor who looked nothing like a cowboy, was one of my heroes.
   
   Lincoln once said, "The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time."

1 comments about The Rough Guide to Videogames 1 (Rough Guide Reference).

1. 
   I hate to sound like some over exuberant fanboy who might fall in love with just the idea of this book, but I'll risk it. This Book Is Awesome. When I picked this up I expected nothing, but then I started flipping through, and there's literally something on every page that you can just start reading without having to start all the way at the beginning of the book, which I love. There are 100 word (about 100 at least) reviews galore on top of the 75 or so canon "best", and lots of bright and shiny pics of the best new games, plus a ton from games I grew up playing (like the first lemmings!) There's a chapter on the back story of modern games which I thought would be boring, but which turned out to be surprisingly engaging! Exclamation!
   
   There's just a huge amount of material in this book, and it's all so easy to access. If you're looking to expand your knowledge of videogames, and add some of the best to your collection, this is your book. I just can't recommend it enough

1 comments about SMARTLAB: 2nd Grade Challenge: Ages 7+.

1. This would be a great activity for a car or plane trip. It is not annoying loud (and you can turn the sound off). The questions in the 1st grade challenge were mostly easy for my almost-nine year old daughter, however, the format of the game kept her interested. If you had two children, you could definitely go with the younger age and the older one would enjoy playing along. You can play a two-player game, passing it back and forth.
   
   If a child can read, they could play this independently. It's easy to understand. However, my daughter and I even enjoyed involving my 3 year old, by telling him to press the right color button for the answer.
   
   The questions vary from simple math (6+5 =) to questions on money and geography, and even some that I didn't know (Who was the first modern woman doctor? A. Deborah Sampson B. Eleanor Roosevelt C. Elizabeth Blackwell D. Susan B. Anthony).
   
   One thing that increases the fun of it, is that on the display it tells the child to go to a certain number within a certain section (coded by color) for the next question. For example, 57 Red. This makes the combination of 500 questions have staying power. A child is not going to go through all of these in one day and be bored.

1 comments about King Kong Official Strategy Guide (Official Strategy Guides (Bradygames)).

1. First of all, I enjoy all gorilla movies, and enjoy King Kong movies.
   The guide was very helpful to me, in working with the game to advance further to the ending of the game. I haven't finished up the game as yet, put the guide is useful.

5 comments about Animal Crossing (Prima's Official Strategy Guide).

1. I dont know if this is the animal crossing guide i have or not. But the one i have is full of useful information on this game, that's fun to just look at.. even if you have the game if you ask me.



2. Animal Crossing is a real world type game.It has great graphics and is not violent.It has a lot of stuff you would do when you move out of your parents house like bills house ware and of course geting letters from your mom! By:Andrew Fink



3. This guide is a great tool for Animal Crossing fans to find out what pieces they are missing from their sets, and when activities happen (in general) and items can be found. Beware, however, if you are looking for a guide that will tell you every detail of your game. Due to the nature of Animal Crossing, no guide can give you a complete list of what to expect. The guide includes a calendar of the events for 2003, so if you're playing the game at the current date and time these events will not be accurate. This guide can tell you what to expect, but can't tell you exactly when and where it will happen in your Animal Crossing town. The only way to do that is to play your game every day ;) The layout of the guide makes it easy to catalog what you have collected and see what you are still missing, but looking up items takes a bit of page turning. There are nearly complete item lists, and approximate timetables for catching fish and insects. Overall, this guide is a great resource for collecting, but it can't replace the months/years of gameplay necessary to 'complete' the game and do all there is to do in your town.



4. Since this item is no longer in stock it would be nice if you would delete it from the listing. I have been looking for this title for a long time and was very disappointed to find that it is sold out.



5. If you play Animal Crossing a lot then you have to have this because there is so much to the game. There are some problems but it still is handy and can help a lot. That said you still will have to get some info on the internet. Is there such a thing as a casual AC player? I don't think so.

3 comments about Ratchet & Clank(tm): Up Your Arsenal Official Strategy Guide.

1. This guide doesn't just help you beat the game, but gives you tips, maps, weapon description, armour description, a ship accessory list, and, of course, a whole behind the scences look at how the game was made. I actually got the stragety after I beat the game, and when I used it, I discovered all the secret unlocks and places that i did'nt even know exisited. This guide is defenitly worth the money!



2. i got it as a gift and they havn't complained and it was shipped really fast so yay party



3. My son was thrilled to learn the secrets of this game and be able to finally win. I think these type of guides are good so that the kids playing the game don't get discouraged and upset that they cannot get past an area, or know what to do.