5 comments about The Art of Halo.

1. This has great artwork from the Halo Game Series. Very crisp and detailed - all on glossy print paper.



2. This book was ok. I used it as a reference for building a replica armor set. Its got nice details and some good concept art. It only contains however images from halo 1 and halo 2. There are no halo 3 pictures, screen shots or artwork.



3. I was expecting this book to primarily be for displaying conceptual drawings and paintings created during the designing process of the games. There is some of that, but the book is mostly filled with images of the 'in game' 3d models used for the characters and still shots of the 3d environments. The actual conceptual drawings take a back seat. The paintings that are there are great, but why aren't there more?! Overall, I think a 3d modeler would enjoy this book more than a 2d artist.



4. This book clearly shows just how much time, energy, passion & love went into creating the entire world of Halo. The creation of the art work is simply stunning, if you enjoy glorious colour & unbelievable creative spirits, you owe it to yourself to get a copy of this book. Then as a added treat, check out on-line some of the HD trailers which are available, if your able, try to get copies on DVD & watch them on a large screen TV in full HD mode ... check your heart rate before & after ... if you don't have goose bumps & want to run out & buy a Xbox 360 & Halo 2 or 3 ... you may want to check your pulse. 5 stars out of 5 stars ... easy.



5. My son wanted this book for a long time and loves to study the artwork. I like that it stimulates an interest in art. It shows kids theres more to the games than just the "play" factor.

5 comments about The Draconomicon (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying).

1. i am satisfied with the product and the delivery. Everything was good!



2. Let me start this review by saying that this book is beautiful. The full color images throughout almost make it a coffee table book, and it is hard to NOT give it five stars just for those images.
   
   But this book IS a roleplaying game supplement, so it has to be judged on more than just its pretty pictures.
   
   Content in this book can be divided into three primary areas: General dragon information, player information, and DM-specific information.
   
   - General Dragon Information. I truly have mixed feelings about this area. Dragon anatomy diagrams, descriptions of their senses, and the dragon language dictionary are all very interesting and worth an initial reading. Some of the other information, including history and religion, is disappointing - not only does it conflict with previously established sources, but it also doesn't fit with the "theories" that most people have about dragons (according to the Draconomicon, dragons die of old age, they worship strange gods, etc, etc..).
   
   - Player Information. The sections of the book featuring player information truly shine. There are new feats for those that often deal with dragons, a good selection of new spells, intriguing new prestige classes, and numerous new magical items. The section on dragons being player characters, however, is too short and not particularly useful.
   
   - DM Information. This is where the product once more falters. The new draconic monster section is all right, and the section on dragon feats / dragon prestige classes is also moderately interesting (though extremely limited in usefulness unless you are running a dragon-only campaign). The various additional rules and the sample NPC dragons weren't particularly captivating. The pantheon section and the dragon twilight section will not be accepted by many fans as those sections conflict with previously established content. Mongoose Publishing's "Slayer's Guide to Dragons" (written by Gary Gygax) contains better dragon rules and DM information, in my opinion, and should be considered if that is the only reason you are buying this book.
   
   In conclusion: rating this book is extremely difficult, and depends on the desires of the consumer. On content alone, I would only give it 3 stars; when the incredible artwork is also factored in, it gets 4 to 4.5. For those that don't particularly like dragons or don't think they'll deal with them beyond one or two in an entire campaign, this product is a bit of an overkill - use the Monster Manual instead.
   
   Side Note: Those interested in behind-the-scenes industry comments and barbs should check out the deity "Garyx" on page 33.



3. This is a great sourcebook for inspiring GMs with ideas of how dragons behave. It even offers an article on each of the "major" dragon types (the chromatic and metallic dragons.) That having been said, I was a little disappointed that it didn't mention (not even in passing) any of the other kinds of dragons in the D&D setting.



4. I dont belive until today i dont have the book in my hands, really Im scare because is the first time with this kind of articles, need an explication about this item, dont have notices about this problem, Im really hungry.....



5. Have been holding off buying into new 4.0 edition. But have been loathe to invest any more dollars or shelf space into 3.5 supplements. However, after paging through this one at the local book store I picked it up any way. Am a few readings in, and am glad I did.
   
   This book provides, as the name would suggest, a comprehensive delve into how dragons can be fit into your campaign world. And since dragons will be with the game as long as there is a game, I found it worth the coin. There are extended sections on the psychology of each species. Invaluable for roleplaying encounters that live up to the dragon's immense NPC potential. There's also a load of combat oriented mechanics to flesh out the dragon's terrifying natural abilities. Though rooted in 3.5 these could also be updated, and provide plenty of inspiration. The inclusion of a quick snapshot for every age category of every dragon is a little dense, but I found myself still enjoying the snapshots.
   
   All in all, a worthwhile purchase for any DM. Especially if you can pick-up a used copy at a discount.

No comments about Silly Faces Stickers (Dover Little Activity Books).

5 comments about Five Weeks to Winning Bridge.

1. Still the best introduction to the game of Bridge, ever, hands down. Laced with humor and common sense. Sheinwold is far superior to Goren as a writer and teacher. Teaches literally EVERYTHING a beginner needs to know. Once you've mastered this book, you're ready to learn about five card majors and you're not a beginner anymore. Read it and buy a copy for your favorite partner.



2. This book is excellent for someone who wants to get a full basic education in bridge bidding and play.

   In addition to giving you the rules of bidding, it explains the logic behind the bidding, so the player can use the techniques to communicate fully within their partnernership.

   It is laid out in a simple to use format and was terrific for bringing me up to speed as a Bridge bidder.

   In addition, Alfred Sheinwold was the author of the daily bridge column in most newspapers, which has been taken over by Frank Stewart, so that the reader/player can practice on a daily basis, the concepts introduced with the same bidding system. After going through this book, I found I could usually get the newspaper quiz right, due to the knowledge gained from this book, which is not true for most of the people I play with, although they have years more experience.

   Worth the time and effort for beginning players, and intermediate players who think they need to fill in gaps in their game.




3. Received the book that I ordered in short order and was in new condition as stated in the ad. Highly reccomend this seller.



4. This item was order and confirmed for shipment on 8/16/05 Today os 8/15/05 and I have yet to receive the book!!! Well=-- not good kimosabe!!!



5. This is the book I foist on acquaintances who want to learn the game; it's a shame this thing is out of print. It's the best of its kind. Very logical, orderly, with a progression that really makes sense for the student; it's also well-written, enjoyable to read.
   
   One of the nicer things about this book is, although it's a 5 week "course", you really only need about the first 2 or 3 weeks of it to be able to play ok in a social game or in internet communities. Not at "master" level, of course, but fine for a game with friends. It's a very quick way to get into the game.
   
   Another thing to like about the book is it's very convention-neutral. It teaches a purely natural system, rather than being biased toward 5-card majors as most other intro books are, or toward more complicated and modern systems. It gives the reader a foundation in the natural game, which will make it very easy to pick up more advanced systems later on.
   
   Some criticize the book for teaching the reader to open a 4-card suit, even if it's a major; but I think that's a strength of the book. "5 card majors" is a convention, not the natural game. Imagine a player who had to switch back and forth between 5-card and 4-card majors: it would be much easier for a player with a foundation in the natural game to adopt the 5-card-major convention, than it would be for someone who learned 5-card majors as a beginner to play with a partner who used 4-card.
   
   Get this book and give it to the people in your life whom you want to have become players. And someone, please, GET THIS THING BACK IN PRINT!

5 comments about Master Sudoku: Step-by-Step Instructions for Players at All Levels.

1. VERY HELPFUL. SHE DOESN'T LEAVE YOU WONDERING WHAT CAN I DO, OR TRY, OR WHERE TO START. IT'S ALL THERE FOR BEGINNER OR DIFFICULT PUZZLE SOLVER. THE ONLY BOOK OF IT'S KIND OUT THERE ...I.B.E. MASS.



2. Good basics. A good springboard, and you can go to more advanced techniques later. Her favorite epressions are "slicing and dicing." Took a while for me to figure out that all she's telling you is to look horizontally, and vertically.



3. I WAS HOPING THAT SHE WOULD HAVE GONE INTO THE SOLVING OF MORE DIFFICULT PUZZLES. HOWEVER, I THINK SHE DID A GOOD JOB IN SOLVING THE MEDIUM PUZZLE SOLUTIONS.



4. *****
   This is a great sudoku book for all levels, but especially good for those who wish to increase their sudoku proficiency and MASTER sudoku. There are 200 puzzles, only one to a page, printed large enough for marking up. There are places to record your time, too, and you can accrue points based on how quickly you can do a puzzle. This is nice, because although I prefer difficult puzzles now, it's fun to go back and do an easy one faster and faster. There are different techniques involved in the different levels of puzzles and timing them makes them all continue to be challenging.
   
   If you're a beginner, you can start out with the easy puzzles and work your way up. There are medium puzzles, too, as well as difficult and super-difficult. There is plenty of technique instruction, and there are many examples, so this could serve as a first book for adults. It was not my first sudoku book, but it is still one of my favorites, and I find myself going back to it again and again.
   
   Highly recommended.
   *****



5. I had never done a sudoku puzzle so I bought this book and loved it. So much so that I'm now online to get my next Vorderman Sudoku book.
   
   Her method takes you through 4 levels of difficulty explaining techniques for solving at each level and diagramming solutions as they are worked out.
   
   She also has scores for the puzzles which adds a little spice. For example, if your time is less than X minutes you get Y points, etc. The harder the puzzles the longer you have to solve them, but the times are often pretty challenging.
   
   Interestingly, I found that I trusted Carol to provide solvable puzzles. Some of the books I've picked up have puzzles that don't seem to be solvable - one of them even had wrong anwers in the back, i.e. the grid in the answers didn't match the grid given for the puzzle.
   
   I recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn how to solve Sudoku puzzles.

5 comments about Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Prima's Official Strategy Guide).

1. Very good product. Fast delivery. AAA+++. Please leave me positive feedback, if it is allowed.
   
   Thanks. God is good.
   
   Martha in TN
   sngwrtrme



2. Every time I looked in this guide it made me want to play it, but unfortunately I'm not very far. That's because my skills in this game aren't good. I did manage to get from the Vulker base to creating my own light saber. I do think you should get this cheat book. It helped me get through an area when I couldn't do it on my own (in the sewers on Teris). But above all, it's a good cheat book.
   K. (8 years old)



3. Great product, really helpful and also very cheap for mint condition A++



4. Despite the beliefs of others, I believe this guide is actually helpful. Of course, the guide is not going to pass the game for you, you have to do that yourself. More or less, this gives you an outline of what you need to do, you just have to be smart enough to comprehend what it is that they are telling you. All one should need when playing these games is to know the answers to the most difficult puzzles. If you cannot accomplish something on your own, then Knights of the Old Republic isn't for you, so look elsewhere.
   
   Of course, with everything, there is also some faults, but then everything can't be perfect. The maps are helpful to guide you to where you need to go, especially on Dantooine. From what I've seen, there are times when the guides can be wrong. They also sometimes use pre-production graphics which you look forward to and then are let down. That is practically it.
   
   One should look at these guides basically as outlines. For the most part, outlines help you learn and remember things, but they are not going to teach you everything on the subject. So learn to deal with what you've got.



5. I am one of those completist gamers who likes to get everything available the first time through the game; therefore, a strategy guide is usually an absolute must for me. Unfortunately, there is a wide variation in quality, and this one leans pretty heavily towards the lower end of the spectrum. Don't get me wrong, it's still useful, but on the whole it feels sloppy and thrown-together, rather than comprehensive and helpful.
   
   One of the things that really mars the presentation is how badly organized it is. The walkthroughs are relatively helpful, but oftentimes a crucial bit of information that was mentioned previously is left out, leaving you to flip back through trying to find it. Another problem is that the guide was apparently written for a beta version of the game - it talks about gameplay and story elements that aren't available in the game itself and leaves out others that are. Taken as a whole, it just feels like it was done in a hurry by someone who wasn't paying attention.
   
   On the whole, the guide does work, but I wouldn't recommend purchasing it - you can find much better-organized and more thorough collections of the same information for free online. It's far from unusable, though, so it'll work if you need to have something nearby for reference and don't own a laptop computer.

5 comments about 400 Wood Boxes: The Fine Art of Containment & Concealment (500 Series).

1. 
   I have always been fascinated by boxes.An avid puzzle enthusiast,I am always on the lookout for what I call puzzle boxes.These are boxes that have a secret method required to open.They are designed with hidden panels,magnets,bars,bearings,and everything imaginable that keeps them from being opened until the "Puzzle" is figured out.Unfortunately, there are no boxes of this sort in the book;though there are many that could be adapted to include a locking device or mechanism.Design wise these boxes are beautiful artistic objects and a joy to behold.It would be an even greater thrill to be able to pick them up and open them.
   All the other reviews are very good and warn that what you get with this book is a picture of the box ,its overall dimensions ,color,some info on the material;but no construction methods.Not that there is any suggestion that construction methods or details are provided,one might think they are.In other words;what you see is what you get.
   Anyone who designs and makes interesting boxes should find this book a real gem,and a storehouse of design ideas.
   To someone who is interested in buying boxes like these,but not really interested in making them,you might have some success in contacting the artists.In addition to that,I attend a lot of Art and Craft Shows and without fail there are always a few artists who are selling wooden boxes similar to these.Common are inlaids,stacking,burls,sectionals,jewellery,chess,games,and at times I come across "puzzle boxes".



2. Very nice book, lots of great looking boxes. Great for new ideas (woodworker) or if you are looking for something special. Only downfall, is most do not offer a picture of the inside of box.



3. Great collection to make you think and to inspire you to "build out of the box".



4. If you, like I, can make whatever you see, this is the book for you. It is approx 400 pages of photos. All of which are fantastic boxes (works of art). This book is a must for when you don't know what to make next. It oozes originality. One of the boxes was my inspiration for new kitchen cabinets!



5. This is a wonderful book. I bought a couple of how-to books awhile back and was disappointed that those books didn't offer more inspiration photographs. This book fits satisfies that need exceptionally well. Just page and after page of beautiful woodwork.
   
   When I first got the book, I started reading it page-by-page. It took at least an hour to get through the first half. All of the boxes are wonderful to look at and contemplate.
   
   There is no style depicted. It covers everything from the small trinket holder, to jewelry boxes to turned boxes to the "Well, I guess someone would like that".
   
   All of the photos are in color and are captioned with the artist's name, dimensions of the object and types of wood used to create it. An index is in the back of the book that provides the city and state of each artist.
   
   There is absolutely no discussion of technique.
   
   Time to head back to the shop...I've got a couple of board feet of absolutely stunning bastogne walnut that needs my attention.

5 comments about Bookcases.

1. In general I like almost all the books and magazines that I own from Taunton press (such as Fine Woodworking, Fine Homebuilding, and some of their other books). In general the their writers are adept at what they do and their editing and illustrations are well done.

   This book is no exception. Unlike several of the reviews I have read, I didn't find any glaring errors in any of the plans (I built the maple plywood bookshelf and adapted the beech bookshelf for my own needs). I find the designs and illustrations to be useful. I plan on building the cherry Shaker-style book shelf in the near future (it should be easy enought to adapt to hold my DVD collection).

   Of course you will need some good power tools to complete these projects, especailly a good table saw (although I built the maple bookshelf mostly with my circular saw and a good edge guide), a biscuit joiner, jointer and a router. But this is pretty standard fare for any woodworking project.




2. Bookcases are a reviewer's friend. Or rather, they are until they take over the house. Eventually you realize that you have more invested in cheap assemble-it-yourself furniture than you do in that Volvo in the garage. If you have pretensions at being handy, there will come a time when you start dreaming of nifty cabinets and lawyers bookcases - all make in that shop in the basement. And that's the time to reach for Niall Barrett's book.

   Think there's nothing to it? Barrett starts right out with a bit of bookcase theory. Finally you will understand why those shelves keep sagging and how to keep it from happening. The author's style is straightforward, right to-the-point, but it is clear from the beginning that Barrett loves making bookcases, and loves what goes in them as well.

   Eleven designs are presented, from a simple, short bookcase to and exotic formal sideboard bookcase. Other than the sideboard, which is a bit over designed for my tastes I found all of the bookcases attractive, graceful, and functional. Barrett pays most of his attention one the details of building with only elementary suggestions about finishing.

   As has been mentioned earlier, he uses shop tools to simplify the work. Although there is no reason that some of the simpler designs couldn't be done with basic hand tools or handyman's power tools. Probably a router and a good rotary saw (small table saw or hand tool) are minimum requirements.




3. ... on the one hand, all the projects are beautiful, will inspire you to want to try them, and will probably appeal to an advanced woodworker.
   
   On the other hand, the title is simply, "Bookcases," rather than "Advanced Bookcases," and none of the projects as I recall were within the level of someone like myself with a simple table saw and simple router, and no biscuit joiner. Even for someone with a biscuit joiner, the author acknowledged that some of the joinery was a bit tricky.
   
   With that said, I did learn some wonderful stuff in the introduction, where Barrett notes two things: 1 -- To always plan your bookcase project by measuring what you are going to put in it, and what it weighs, and 2 -- To always sleep overnight on your plan before doing the cutting.
   
   Voila, he is so correct. I ended up not making any bookcases at all, but installing Rubbermaid wall-mounted white melamine shelves.
   
   I test-fitted all my shelves before attaching them permanently to the standards, moving tall books with tall books and short books with short books, and all the super-high world atlases on one spot.
   
   I made sure to sleep overnight on any design questions involving fitting the wall-mounted shelves around ducts or doorways, or figuring out where to make short, well-supported spans for heavy books. It all came out great, so that is an unintended consequence of Niall Barrett's book. The introduction really is quite good on how to plan a way to store a library, and has nice photos of various fasteners and standards.
   
   Check this book out and maybe use it to plan something simpler -- that's my advice.



4. Hello, Mr. Barrett and his team have knocked themselves out to train and educate people like me on both the asthetics and craftmanship of high quality bookcases. I am a professional instructional designer who graduated from a top three graduate program in the field (FSU) and I recognize how important it is for the subject matter expert (Mr. Barrett) to logically convey his or her teaching objectives to the reader in ways that the reader will hold fast to and generate good work from. IOW, I know I can follow the instructions while referencing the excellent exploded diagrams and produce handsome bookcases to hold and display my beloved books. My own goal and the instructional goal of Mr. Barrett and his team match cracker jackerly. Thanks for your hard work.



5. this book details 11 different bookcases: simple short, simple tall, shaker-style wall shelf, standing v-shelf, country colonial, trapezoidal, shaker-style with doors, arts and crafts, barrister, formal sideboard, and step-back bookcase. All nice-looking and well detailed. Most using solid wood, some using a little plywood. for me though not any plans for large free standing bookcases. i ended up designing and building my own 8-foot by 3-foot units with paneled sides and locking doors out of solid teak using very simple construction. this book needed some more fancy designs with dimensions i used.

2 comments about Build up your Chess with Artur Yusupov: The Fundamentals Volume I.

1. I saw this book at a friend's house recently. I checked the table of contents and went through a couple sections.
   
   This is a very nice look at tactical play and developing pattern recognition. Several examples of a theme are given, followed by quiz positions. Yusupov also recommends a method for working through the variations given. This is not just a book of tactical puzzles, but a guide toward improving a player's eye for combinations.
   
   Yusupov, along with his trainer Dvoretsky, has written some of the best advanced chess manuals. Here he writes for the beginning to intermediate level chess player who is striving to improve.
   
   Highly recommended!



2. I really like this book. It is not so much an instructional book as a graded workbook. I would say it is half way between an instructional work and a test book. You are introduced to some concept, shown some examples, and then offered exercises to do (with a rudimentary scoring system). No effort is really made to teach you though - it's as if this were designed as material for coaches which I believe it is.
   
   Jeremy Silman was disappointed that it was so dry (he's right) but this doesn't bother me at all. There are numerous books providing good instructive material on this or that topic but precious few that offer any kind of substantial course or progressive introduction of material (I guess this is what you pay a trainer for). This book (volume 1) looks like it could be the start of one and that would be a good thing. Actually Silman's own endgame book is very deliberately written to offer a progression of material and it is great (less dry too, for those who care).
   
   The material is not difficult, but not beginner stuff (the Introduction suggests under 1500 ELO). The exercises at the end vary in difficulty so some are trivial and others require more effort.
   
   My purpose in buying this book was to discover fundamental weaknesses that I had skipped over so I could fill in the blanks (the Introduction states that it will help "close any possible gaps in his chess knowledge"). It is proving useful for exactly that purpose. In essence I am paying for the author's proven skill in selection of material and recognizing what is relevant for a particular playing level. This is money well spent.
   
   Five stars if it had just a little more instructive prose.

No comments about AI Game Programming Wisdom 4 (AI Game Programming Wisdom (W/CD)).