3 comments about 10 Cool LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Invention System 2 Projects: Amazing Projects You Can Build in Under an Hour.

1. Once again Syngres has put together a top notch team of Lego builders. The robots in here are incredible to say the least. I was amazed to see that CS Soh had a hand in this book as I've been a big fan of his LEGO work on the web for some time. I just finished building all of the robots in the prequel to this book for the Star Wars Dark side lego kit when I saw this become available. These are all top notch robots built by people who know their lego robots. They don't beat around the bush-they give you step by step instructions for buidling these robots. They go one step beyond the first book by giving you alternate building instructions for download. I'm going to use this in my high school robotics class. Top notch.



2. This is the perfect compilation set of fun, and challenging projects which can easily be manipulated for your own robotic tastes. The sources of this book are the masters in the field, and do an astounding job sharing their wealth of knowledge.



3. We got our son a new Mindstorm for Christmas - the NXT. This book was designed for the previous generation of the Mindstorm, so was of no use to us. The description on-line was not clear to us that we were wasting our money.

No comments about The Ecology of Games: Connecting Youth, Games, and Learning (John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Series on Digital Media and Learning).

5 comments about Lego Star Wars 2: The Original Trilogy (Prima Official Game Guide).

1. Very insightful, helps me find most of the items I can't otherwise find.



2. HE RECEIVED THIS AS A GIFT ALONG WITH THE GAME AND IT HAS BEEN REAL HELPFUL FOR HIM TO GO BACK TO SHOULD HE BE UNSURE AS TO WHAT TO DO IN A CERTIAN AREA OF THE GAME.



3. Good game guide, it's helpful, covering every chapter in full detail, history and free modes, even when sometimes it is not very clear it helps.
   It misses some canister locations, among them, the most difficult to find, which is the one in the first chapter, but this is hidden in the elevator ramp behind the crane and it's accessed with one of the cars built in previous sections (attainable only in free mode)
   It does not cover the locations for all the red bricks, this would help a lot.



4. Well illustrated and carefully thought out guide. I played the game through the first time without the guide but then bought and read the guide cover to cover before starting the game over again (in Free Play mode). Really added to my enjoyment the second time through. Helped me find things I simply missed the first time. Enjoyable read, especially for a game guide. Great screen captures and art work. Lots of nice extras.



5. Most of my questions weren't answered in this book. It's probably because of the lack of pictures and the fact that not all of the missions are listed. The pictures that are in there aren't large enough, either, so it can be hard to know what part of the chapter they're talking about. The book drags along as a written summary of what is happening, including the little clips within the chapters. If I want to know what happens, I'll play the game itself.

2 comments about The Official Guide to 3D GameStudio.

1. I've owned 3D Game Studio for several years and hadn't seen an English language book, so I picked this up with some excitement. I've created art assets and done some level design in 3DGS but for the most part, I haven't tackled the programming in any significant way. I mention this since, after several years of waiting, I approached the book with some preconceptions about what it should be. Because of this it is not surprising it initially fell short of the 'vision' I had in my brain of a guru-like book of ultimate 3DGS wisdom. I've since taken a step back, considered what other software products 'official guides' were like and prepared what I hope is a balanced review. This is important since whether you love, or just like this book, is going to depend on what you expected out of it.
   
   In my opinion this book is a good 'light' introduction to 3DGS and game programming concepts. In review of other official guides I find they range from minimalist, "hello world" type books -that seem to have been created only to satisfy customer expectation of a manual- to full fledged product bibles crammed with every detail. This book, like most, falls somewhere in-between. If you are brand new to 3DGS, or a student taking a first course on game programming, you'll find that the author has taken considerable effort to provide helpful details about game history, interface design, and playability issues; he also touches on game psychology, the importance of story and marketing. All of these are essential concepts.
   
   The book is well written, easy to understand and adequately illustrated. The chapters on modeling using MED (the 3D Game Studio model editor), skinning and animating your model are satisfactory. The level design chapters are also appropriate and the included project walks you through successfully designing, creating and texturing a level.
   
   The scripting chapters cover some of the basics of scripting, but this is the area that left me wanting for more. In fairness, after reviewing the official guide (for a much more expensive animation and design product I use at work) I find that the level of detail covered is similar.
   
   It is likely that the author generalized or covered some of the programming material lightly because, at the time this book was written a very significant update to 3DGS was on the horizon (and has since been released). A7 is a substantial step forward for the game engine and suite of tools that comprise 3D Game Studio. A large part of that is the inclusion of the Lite-C programming language. This may explain the light c-script coverage since it is likely that c-script, even if in continues to be supported, will become much less important than the much more powerful Lite-C. Having said that, some c-script is covered and basic interactivity walked through in the relevant chapters. There is also some additional material and scripts on the disk.
   
   So we are back to my first paragraph. Whether this book is for you or not depends on what your expectations and point of departure are. If you are a student (or a teacher) using 3D Game Studio as part of an introductory game development class then this book could be a good choice. The coding material would have to be supplemented, in my opinion, by Conitec's in depth written documentation, by guru George Pirvu's free and excellent AUM user magazine and by the extremely active and friendly official user forums.
   
   This book, along with an instructor guided project, could also satisfy the course requirements for an introduction to game programming based on the 3DGS engine.
   
   It's usefulness to people that already have some game dev experience is going to vary by individual and skill level, so look at the TOC, any other reviews and get feedback from the 3DGS forum members who have the book - then make you own determination.
   
   I am generally satisfied with the book, with the sole exception of my desire for more substantial programming tutorials.
   
   If the next version of the book is updated to include good material on Lite-C programming, or perhaps a second companion volume with more significant programming information is created, it would increase the value of the book immensely and likely drag in many of the thousands of current users who are eager to use Lite-C.
   
   The Official Guide to 3D GameStudio



2. Uno de los pocos libros tecnicos que no he podido terminar. No hace honor al titulo. Una guia oficial debe ilustrar sobre las interioridades, como mejorar el rendimiento en el uso de la herramienta, proporcionar complementos que ayuden al programador/artista. Desperdicia muchos capitulos en temas no relacionadas con el aspecto de programacion del engine y el uso de las herramientas multimedia que incluye. Me parece mejor la ayuda en linea del engine que la proporcionada por este libro.

3 comments about Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Collector's Edition: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides) (Prima Official Game Guides).

1. Just like the Collector's Edition of The Twilight Princess Guide, this book is a lesson to all other player's guide manufacturers in lavishness!!! The pages are all lined with gold leaf & as soon as you open the book it just screams 'quality' at you. If you want a guide look no further than this & to add to the quality it's cheap too. Bargain!



2. A very, very thorough walkthrough. It's 300 pages long for a relatively brief game, and it really does leave "no stone unturned." Every rupee location, every collectible, every secret...all revealed.
   
   Downside: can be a little disorganized. (For example, if you want to find out when to do the trading sequence, you'll have to find the right chapter and flip to it.) On the other hand, Nintendo guides always have the bare bones walkthrough first and then a "sidequests" section as an appendix. While I prefer the latter setup, it's no big deal. There's a huge series of checklists in the end of this guide for every ship part, gem, heart container...you name it.



3. Que decir de esta fantastica guia de The Phantom Hourglass, es una compra obligatoria que hay que hacer, y ahora que AMAZON lo pone a este precio!

5 comments about Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas(tm) Official Strategy Guide (XBOX and PC) (Signature).

1. I actually just found out that Bradygames released 2 books, (PS2, and XBOX + PC) for this game. This XBOX + PC Book is almost completely accurate in terms of where it says items or locations should be. Well, I should say that the maps in the "Odd Jobs" chapter are 100% accurate. The maps in the beginnings of the other chapters are -slightly- off (no idea why though), but if you like to explore in the GTA games, a rough location plus a description is all you need!
   
   Lots of maps, Racing maps, weapon locations, actual mission descriptions + storyline, a huge "Odd Jobs" chapter explaining every THING you can do if you're not on a mission, sprays, camera shots, horseshoes, bike jumps (unique stunt bonuses), and oysters will keep you busy for a long time if you're after the 100% completion mark. In addition, the last 5 things I mentioned above have in-game pictures in case you just can't find it.
   
   
   I recommend it. It makes a good addition to the game itself.



2. The book was excellent but for those who have a PC would prefer the
   X BOX hints also have hints for PC. The light was shining on those who had X BOX not a PC. It does not suggest any of the schools which makes it difficult for those who have trouble, lets say in driving school.



3. This guide is very well laid out. It will help you if you get stuck. It helps you find some of the bonuses in the game. I only use it when I get frustrated



4. This guide is in NO WAY easy to use. No index or table of content, and being as big as it is it's not easy to search through without them. However the content is very good, but you can save yourself some money and just Google 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas online strategy guide' and you'll find one with the same info,help,tips,secrets,etc you need to complete the game with 100% progress for free.



5. I have owned both versions of this guide, and I ended up giving away the PS2 Version. It was very inaccurate in some of the locations of items. For a specifice example, the locations of the Photo ops in San Fierro. The locations were not accurate, and not even matched up correctly by number. Even some of the horseshoe locations were completely inaccurate that they were not even the correct location, which annoyed me because I spent a large amount of time searching for something that was not there. I own a PS2, but I use the XBOX & PC version because of its accuracy. There is no real difference, as the guide does not tell you which button needs to be pressed, so the XBOX version still fits.
   
   Also, for those who I know are curious, the XBOX version gives more insight on the dating and "coffee" aspects, unlike the PS2, which skips over it.

4 comments about This Gaming Life: Travels in Three Cities.

1. I received an advanced reading copy of this book through LibraryThing recently. While I am most definitely NOT a gamer (except for the occasional game of Cake Mania 2), I was looking forward to reading this book since both of my sons are gamers. In fact, I would classify my older son as a hard-core gamer. I have always wanted someone to explain to me what was so wonderful about these games, and I was hoping this book would enlighten me. Well, it didn't satisfy my curiosity very much. The conclusion that the author comes to is that basically, games are there to alleviate boredom, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. In the first part of the book, I detected a very defensive attitude, as if Rossignol wanted to justify his life's passion with gaming. Towards the end of the book, there is some discussion about some practical applications of games, including education and the defense industry; I was hoping to see more of this. I learned a great deal about the gaming culture in South Korea, which I actually found interesting. I also learned way more about the game EVE than I ever, ever wanted to know. I understand that there are some social aspects to these games and that it takes a certain level of intelligence to play them, but I still don't get it! While I did learn some things in this book, for the uninitiated gamer, it was tedious reading at times.



2. Right from the start, you can tell that Jim is a talented writer who succeeds in vividly describing the settings and the people he encounters in his travels to the three major cities in the book (London, Seoul, and Reykjavik). The stories he tells serve to illustrate his points and provide a vivid backdrop for his personal quest to better understand the hobby, passion, or obsession that we call gaming, a major theme of the text.
   
   While the book is written in a way that's meant to initiate the non-gamer into the world of gaming, I think that it's gamers themselves (and particularly those of us who dissect, analyze, think, and write about games) who will most benefit from considering the issues he examines and asking ourselves the questions he raises. The most compelling question that the book tackles, in my opinion, is whether or not we're wasting our time with the thousands upon thousands of hours that we sink into gaming. It's certainly a question I've asked myself on numerous occasions.
   
   The book is an odd mix of travel narrative, journal, and philosophical examination on the purpose of gaming (which it readily admits to being, if you glance at the inside cover). While the individual personal examples and discussions of gaming sub-culture are well-written, the parts I enjoyed the most were the sections towards the end of each chapter and the book's concluding chapter, "The Window," wherein Rossignol ties everything together and discusses the relevance of the medium from a number of different angles.
   
   There are times when the book seems like it's trying to pull in too many directions at once or tackle too many topics in rapid succession, and much of the discussion of EVE Online in the later chapters seems unnecessarily detailed and ponderous. Even for someone like me, who lives and breathes this stuff, there's only so much I care to read about the intricacies of one specific, complicated game whose purpose in the text is to illustrate a larger point about player creativity.
   
   Still, This Gaming Life is well worth reading for anyone interested in what it means to be a gamer and what purpose gaming might have in both a personal and larger social context. The international examples provide some much-needed multicultural perspective on the phenomenon of the universal attraction of electronic entertainment, the personal stories give insight and encouragement for those interested in striking out into the games industry themselves, and the philosophical meanderings of a traveling lifelong gamer scratch the surface of issues that could easily be spun off into entire books or academic dissertations in their own right. If you're serious about games and the culture of gaming, the read is worth the price of admission.



3. This book is a basic overview of different aspects of gaming. It discusses some cultural differences in the way Westerners game vs. those from the East (with the possible general exception of Japan). It is interesting to note the difference not only in game style preferences, but the way gamers are perceived in Western vs. South Korean culture, specifically.
   
   The author also examines what he calls emergent gaming. These are methods of gaming and actions within the game that the designers did not anticipate. He goes on, at length, about the evolution of EVE Online and how it is the players that have largely driven that change rather than developers. He also waxes philosophical when it comes to what games mean in a larger context. Are games merely a waste of time and energy better spent on other endeavors or do they ultimately represent something else? This discussion is not very deep, but he does give reference to some other works that delve deeper into this debate.
   
   Besides the few annoying grammatical errors, the tone is kept fairly light, yet you can tell Jim Rossignol is passionate about his current chosen focus in life. There is some good information here, but it really is best for someone who is looking for a PC-gaming biased overview of what gaming has been, is in its current state, and could possibly be. Console gaming is touched upon, but not discussed in any great detail. Those looking for minute detail and insights into the gaming industry won't find them here. But he does point the way to others who discuss his more philosophical points at length. This Gaming Life is certainly worth a read if you're interested in gaming no matter what level you wish to explore, unless you've already delved into this field.



4. Rossignol has crafted a nice little book that exudes the feel of a series of expanded magazine articles. The stories he tells of his travels related to gaming and how these stories address his larger theses and sub-theses are engaging and insightful. Even though many "gamers" of today's ilk think more of the living room console when they consider their beloved activity, This Gaming Life centers on PC gaming. This is a fair enough choice as these are the experiences Rossignol has the largest revelations about and they do drive the points home.
   
   The way the book is promoted makes one think that it will be an autobiographical look at one person's adventures with games, but really the personal tales are just a nice starting point for his larger arguments. The book is well written and enjoyable. It is quite an easy read and its short length keeps it from really losing any punch as you continue through it.
   
   The only quibbles I have with the book are largely technical ones. As the book progresses and it begins to refer to its own previous sections, the choice was made to place parenthetical references back to those sections. Although this doesn't sound like a big issue, it is quite the distraction and somewhat insulting. An additional technical gripe is the misuse of the phrase "begs the question." This is a common mistake, but it shouldn't show up in a book from a professional writer, reviewed by professional editors. It just looks sloppy and detracts from Rossignol's authority. The concluding bits of the book are a tad meandering and don't really tie together the previous sections that were overall well thought out and almost poignant.
   
   All in all, this is a good read for anyone who enjoys gaming or tech and pondering the effect they have on our lives. There isn't an "inside baseball" feel to the book that should scare off non-gamers, but it is still unlikely that many who aren't gamers will pick it up and read it. This is another book, like Chris Kohler's Power-Up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life, that is working to create a discourse on games beyond screenshots and history lessons. This Gaming Life is a fun step in the right direction.

No comments about Psychology of Entertainment (Lea's Communication Series) (Lea's Communication Series).

3 comments about Official Nintendo Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Player's Guide.

1. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes is a very hard game. I got stuck on it pretty early, but I knew I was up for a challenge because I played the first game. So I bought the strategy guide. It helped a LOT.
   Just like most strategy guides it leads you step by step through the whole game. It skips unnecessary parts that are obvious like going to a certain room to get to the next part. It explains what you have to do pretty well. It is an attractive book with lots of colors. It spans 238 pages.
   The only real complaints I had with the guide are that Nintendo Power could have put more screenshots for the game while going through it step by step. They focused more on huge shots of Samus taking up a whole page (which is really unnecessary). The other complaint is that sometimes they will skip through certaing rooms, which some players might not like.
   Overall this is a very good strategy guide. I recommend it for anyone stuck in the game!!



2. This guide, while not perfect, does provide a large amount of information on the game and gives a description of what is required to completed every level in Metriod Prime 2. The only issue I have had is that some of the explanations of what you have to do are somewhat vague or inaccuate, although exploration is part of the fun of the game and giving too much detail might spoil it. All in all, it is a very useful resource.



3. Delivers as promised. Detailed instructions to be able to finish the game with 100% items.

1 comments about Condemned 2: Bloodshot: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides).

1. So far, this guide has been everything it's supposed to be. EXCEPT:
   
   Mission 6: City Museum. They neglected to mention the MAP. If you don't find The Map on the pillar/column, you'll only get the Silver Level badge. You need this map to get the Gold Shield for this level. Worse yet, it's a tough level, and having to repeat can be THE SUCK.
   
   The Map is on a Pillar/Column to the right of the stiarcase where the hanging security guard is. If you've gone up that staicase and over to the Information Desk/News TV, then you've missed The Map. You'll need to go back down the stairs. As you approach The Map, you'll be prompted to Investigate, So hit the proper button, and you'll begin the Investigation Sequence. (It Involves Rosa and the whole bit)
   
   You'll need to scan the Map, submit the proper Information: MEDIEVAL TOOLS 13A. This location will be added to your GPS and you'll get a PERFECT. So if you follow the guide as is, plus add this step, then all the commotion of this level will be a one time event.
   
   Remainder of the Guide has been very nice, providing insight into the Chain Attacks, Environmental Kills, all of which are confusing at first, then become a fun edition to the game. The guide just helps you reach the fun part a little quicker.
   
   You'll also get the lowdown on Multiplayer and the five "Fight CLubs" you'll unlock as you play the game. You'll get the breakdowns of which Mele weapons to use etc.
   
   So it's effective, just not thorough.