2 comments about Railroad Tycoon, II: Master Strategies for Empire Builders.

1. Railroad Tycoon II is extremely flexible. At one level you can play it as an exciting multi-user game with robbers robbing trains, trains blowing apart and ruthless AI opponents. At another level you can read through the book and understand much more about how the game was built and its capabilities. You can control the speed of play, I use the slowest speed and even then I find it too fast when running over 300 trains in the UK at the same time. For me using the book, RailRoad Tycoon II Official strategy guide and the game together meant learning about the map editor so I could customise other people's maps and make my favourite map of England much more accurate to play. The game itself becomes much more interesting as you deal with more levels of complexity. You can even eliminate the AI opponents and robbers. Introduce new events and generally create your own world.

   The game shows its North American roots. My background being English is very different, nowhere in England is more than 50 miles from the sea. Fishing and ports are much more important. My personal wish list would be to add different types of ports and a fish cargo to the game.

   But to enjoy the game to the full you really need the Official Strategy Guide. Is it likely to have a harmful effect. Don't know. I have spent many hours playing the game, I have even learnt a bit of geography whilst playing it, I now know roughly where a few places like Denver and Frankfurt are. Also I can tell you exactly where the mountain ranges that are going to slow down trains are as well. It also gives an introduction to economics, how resources interact with cites and manufacturing plants.




2. Well it is a very good game and should be updated to build any where in sandbox mode and blah bla blah blah

2 comments about Dazzling Optical Illusions.

1. This is a fun and very original and easy to read book. You should see all the ways that colors and shapes can fool you. Really astonishing! At the same time, you'll discover a huge quantity of geometric illusions, paradoxical puzzles, impossible objects, etc... If you like Sam Loyds, you should get this book! I also suggest this book for class activities to develop maths and spatial sense.



2. I have been a puzzle addict for over 50 years ,have a collection of over 500 'puzzle books',and am continually adding to it ;particularly with the help of Sterling for the last several years.They deserve a big thanks for all their efforts.
   A quick thumb through,actually usually 30 seconds or less,and I either buy it ,or pass it by.This one looked pretty good ,so now I have it.
   As always, with Sterling,the construction the paper quality ,illustrations and color are supurb.
   As I started going through the book,I was really enjoying it but as I reached the mid point ,I became less enchanted with it.
   Here's why.
   While many of the puzzles were familiar to me from other books and puzzle makers,many were simply a re-do of old classics.Even that was OK.As a matter of fact the puzzle on pge 131 was a very different take on the Tangram;At least I don't recall seeing it before. Also the maze on page 133 was also a good twist on mazes.The construction puzzle on page 119 was also different.The vanishing birds on page is just a re-do of Sam Loyd,s vasishing chinese man puzzle that has been done as Leprechauns,trees ,animals,and you name it.
   So why only 3 stars?
   Many of the puzzles require cutting up the book,an absolute no-no to any book lover or making copies ,even transparencies;both black and white or color.Then there is the puzzle on page 60, a takeoff on a puzzle that is often sold as a jigsaw puzzle with a mylar coated cylinder included in with it.Then we get on page 152 one that requires 3-D glasses;like everyone just happens to have a pair in their hip pocket!
   I hope I've made my point.This book should have come with separate pieces in a pouch or something like that;so they would be available to do the puzzles without a bunch of construction, negating the destruction of the book.At the very least ,there should have been a warning on the front cover.This is not a new idea and has been done many times before.
   I am surprised the editorial reviews didn't pick op on this.The names of the two authors were unknown to me in the puzzle book field and they appear more to be into creating classroom aids.All the more so, this book would have been a much better product with the additions I suggest.
   I think both young people in a class as well as adults would enjoy this great mix of puzzles; but if either a decision to save a small amount at publishing or just a lack of thought is the reason;what would have been a first class effort is just a so-so result.
   the old adage certainly applies here:
   "Anything worth doing is worth doing right."

No comments about How to Do Everything with Your iPod & iTunes, Third Edition (How to Do Everything).

No comments about Star Wars Jedi Starfighter (Xbox) (Prima's Official Strategy Guide).

No comments about Indie Game Magazine (Indie Game Mag).

2 comments about Prey Official Strategy Guide (Official Strategy Guides (Bradygames)) (Official Strategy Guides (Bradygames)).

1. this game is overrated and there is to much aimless wandering . the same thing over and over hope they dont make prey 2



2. PRETTY COOL EXCEPT I HAD TO USE SOME FREEBIE WALKTHRUS THAT EXPLAINED SOME ITEMS BETTER. THE ENEMIES AND WEAPONS,DEATHWALK AND HINTS AND TIPS WERE HELPFUL.BUT THE BEST PART WAS THE BRADY GAMES WEBSITE AND THE "HOW TO DEFEAT BOSSES" CLIPS.. COOL TRAILERS AND USEFUL BUT I'LL NEVER MOVE THAT FAST!!! AFTER ALL I PLAY THIS WITH MY GRANDSON!!
   
   RUDY

3 comments about Jet Grind Radio: Sybex Official Strategies & Secrets.

1. glits, glamour ingorged phliping fun. warning if you feel the hairs on your neck doing the lambada. That would be your extreme dream game Jet Grind Radio taking adrialine to a NEW LEVEL. With great gaffiti, new wave style techno world graphics, give this game "a cartoon with a aditude" feel. The controls could use some work but so could every human being in the world woops sorry! I already been sweating out day after day on the ever more engrossing replay value. I pity the dream cast owner that does not BUY THIS GAME.



2. I'm Korean. I can't English. sorry...... Jet Grind Radio Official guide is very good. good bye



3. First glance of this was a really hit in the face. The graphics are superbly neat and realistic even though they are animated. It's great fun and this is the best title for you to keep you in-doors in a wet afternoon.

5 comments about Tomb Raider Tech Manual (Pocket Books Media Tie-In).

1. I like this book it tells all of Lara's gadgets and gizmo's that Bryce comes up with for her. It was very interesting to look at. The only thing is dont look for this book to actually read. It is more of a picture kinda book with a little of words describing the item and how much Lara likes it. On the other hand it is very cool! check it out!



2. This book is an excellent guide to the Tomb Raider Movie. It shows you all of Lara's weapons and gadgets used in the movie and some that "Bryce developed for her" but were not used.It is amusing to read how Lara is never completley happy with what Bryce gives her. But the book would have been better in a more detailed version with labelled diagrams, etc. Like the "Star Wars Visual Dictionaries" or "The Secret World Of 007". But it is a good book, especially if you loved the gadgets from the movie.



3. Super good book,,,really captures the movie and overall Lara Croft story-liked the pictures much,amazon.com keep up the great work!!!a real lara croft fan-



4. If you're a fan of the Tomb Raider movie, I'd recommend it. It was very entertaining to read and there were lots of detailed pictures (close ups of her guns, motorcycle get up - helmet, glove, boot) a nice shot of the Land Rover and all the gadgets and nick nacks inside... I kinda wish they'd release one for the "Cradle of Life" there were even MORE gadgets and cool "toys" in that one!



5. I read this book and kept expecting to see diagrams and descriptions of things that nobody else but the Countess could possibly have had, some of the unusually high-tech equipment that she used in the film, the highly specialized things reminiscent of Batman. But her high-tech binoculars and her high-tech piton pistol were NOT SHOWN. There were only things like her .45-caliber pistols. I mean, come on! I can identify the *gunsmith* already. There was nothing particularly unusual about them, one can even get them as toys! Why would anyone be particularly interested in them? Then there was her run-of-the-mill BORING BORING huge Land Rover. Pfagh! A sop to the foolish masses who are interested in accursed immoral *monster trucks*! A gas mask. Gas masks are not unusual. A stupid, unrealistic robot. A security system. What is interesting or unusual about a security system? Gloves, boots, *clothing*? I have no interest in what clothing the Countess chooses to wear.

No comments about Electronic Gaming, September 2008 Issue.

1 comments about Vigilante 8: 2nd Offense Official Strategy Guide (VIDEO GAME BOOKS).

1. I recently purchased this guide and it was invaluable in playing the game. The maps give exact locations and the pictures showing the objectives are clean and crisp. Well done!