1 comments about Spore: The Evolution (Prima Official Game Guides).

1. Rusel DeMaria is legendary for his game guides and works covering the video game development. His book, "Spore: the evolution" takes you behind the scenes revealing the original vision, concept art, developer team stories and quotes and more. I personally loved all the images from early builds, along with the tales of things which impacted their direction for the game. This book is great for those interested in game design or anyone that loved the game itself!

5 comments about Final Fantasy XI Online Official Strategy Guide (Fall 2003 Version).

1. This is a great book for those JUST STARTING OUT on FFXI, much of the information from Fall of '03 still works with the current incarnation of FFXI, however, due to the ever-changing nature of FFXI, it will be out of date sometime next year. The job guidelines are great, and it's really geared to the new player. A good buy for any wanting to know a bit more about the game, but don't expect everything in here. There's a level 50 Cutoff on spells, equipment, and information in general (the game currently goes up to level 75) My copy has gotten much use, and I still break it out once in a while. ^_^



2. This guide is nothing more than a decent instruction manual for FFXI. The idea was good and if you started playing the game, let's say, back when it was first released in Japan, this so-called guide may have been helpful. But times change and so do MMORPG's. Don't get this guide unless you have a time machine so you can go back to when it would have been useful.



3. because online games such as these change on a regular basis, this particular book is out of date as a newer version has been issued. also since there is another expansion for teh final fantasy 11 game called Chains of Permathia, another version, probably called fall 2004 will probably be released soon.



4. This book is not even in print anymore. There are three expansion packs out now. This book only covers the first one (Rise of the Zilart) and does not cover Chains of Promathia or Treasures of Aht Urghan at all. It is useful to newbs who are trying to find their way around the game, but there is nothing in this book that cannot be found on the internet if you just search for it. There are numerous sites that contain much more useful information (Such as allakhazam) but the problem with them is that the way this game is written, you cannot Alt-tab out of it to view another web page. Once you are in the game, you have to exit it to access any other programs on your pc (I play pc version exclusively....this doesn't apply to PS2 or X-Box players).



5. Gives good information, but disappointed there aren't better details on objects.

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.

5 comments about Dungeon Siege II: Sybex Official Strategies and Secrets (Sybex Official Strategies & Secrets).

1. I recently began playing DS2 and was looking for a bit of aid specifically in the Map department. The walkthroughs i found online were great and all but this book just can not be beat. It provides all the info, diagrahms, and maps needed to really get into this game and love every second of it. Thanks for the book that saved my Game. -Nick



2. Overall its a decent book. It misses some things that you can find online that would make it more valuable. Overall for maps, info on quests and spell info its great.



3. I found this product to adequately fulfill the purposes for which I ordered it.



4. Once you start playing you cant stop. Get this if you liked the first one.



5. I loved this strategies and secrets book. It was easy to understand and gave me the information and walkthroughs to play Dungeon Siege II. Dungeon Siege II is a larger game than Dungeon Siege I and the book gave me useful tips and secrets to enjoy playing the Dungeon Siege sequel. I highly recommend it.

5 comments about Prince of Persia(R): Warrior Within Official Strategy Guide (Official Strategy Guides (Bradygames)).

1. I have been using Prima strategy guides for years now. They are quite frankly simply the best. They are easy to read and follow. I like to use them only if I get in a jam and have no idea how to get around it! POP: Warrior Within is a fun excellent game, and I would reccomend it to anybody.



2. This book has gotten me through some confusing situations in the game. My feeling of accomplishment doesn't come from figuring out how to do something - it comes from actually being able to do it! One of the frustrations I have is that the guide is written so that it's not specific to a system, so you have to know the generic names of the control buttons. This is not a criticism of the product, just a fact when a game can be played on different delivery systems. I would like some of the pictures to be larger and clearer - I need the visual aids to help me along. Overall, without this book, I would have been stuck early in the game and stopped playing.



3. Though I purchased this strategy guide, I haven't yet utilized it. My process for purchasing any game or guide is subscribing to game magazines and reading the reviews for the game. Also, if I can get a demo for the game this helps a great deal in getting a feel for it--(control scheme). Purchasing a guide is helpful only if I get stuck in the game. Its more economical than calling a help/support/cheat number. I do hope this is a valid review and is useful to whomever reads it.



4. this is a great tutorial for those seeking extra help in this game riddled with puzzles. it requires careful reading here and there though it is overall a great help.



5. Item was recieved in a timely fashion. The book is very detailed and has helped me get through some of the tougher mazes, and traps. Easy to read and follow.

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

1. I was very happy with everything about the product, the delivery, the product itself everything.



2. While the book was a very good read, it was useless to me as the web site never stated what platform the guide was for. I brought it for my DS game, and the guide only covered the PS2 and Wii versions. There is a VERY small spot actually on the picture of the guide itself (you have to enlarge the photo to see it clearly. The web page needs to clearly state what system the book is for. While it read very well, and IF I HAD the game, I'm sure it would be a great help, I gave the book to a friend. It was useless to me.



3. If you like the TV show, Lost, you will probably like this game. It is like the show, but you get to control what is happening.
   We were totalling addicted to it. We played everyday until we accomplished all the goals. Now, we don't play anymore. We had a great time all playing. All of our family members had fun playing the characters and making things.



4. This guide is pretty useful for this game. It definately helps out. I've found every question I had answered by finding it in the book.



5. This book gives you the exact location of the map pieces and the hieroglyphic pieces. It lists the available resources on each island and gives lots of helpful tips!

2 comments about Half-Real: Video Games between Real Rules and Fictional Worlds.

1. In Half-Real, Jesper Juul presents us a not only a new definition for games (computer-based or not), but also an original perspective on videogames and how they operate. Going beyond the 'Ludology x Narratology' discussion, Juul balances the 'Rules' and 'Fiction' elements of video games, emphasizing how they relate to each other.
   
   The book is very insightful, containing information that will be valuable to game designers, academics, gamers and new media enthusiasts. Although you could find some of the its content on Juul's previous articles available on the internet, they are much more complete polished in Haf-Real.



2. Very good book on the theory of videogames. Accessible, innovative, thoughtful, and centered on concrete (and popular) examples. He also includes lots of screenshots, which is good.
   
   Juul takes what might be called a "grassroots" approach to game studies, not bringing heavy disciplinary baggage to colonize the area, but instead trying to build a formal theory of games from the ground up. He takes his lead primarily from game and culture theorists like Huizinga, Caillois, Crawford and Sutton-Smith rather than from literary theory or media studies. But he really charts his own course and stakes out his own ground in many ways.
   
   He has a strong interest in game rules, which has led some to criticize him for being overly formalistic, but I find this a refreshing and interesting contrast to the more standard "new media" approach to video games.

2 comments about Augmented Learning: Research and Design of Mobile Educational Games.

1. Eric Klopfer presents an engaging, thorough overview of augmented reality, an emerging, powerful technology for learning. His book sketches a vision for the evolution of this interactive medium and documents research findings about its current strengths and limits. The growing power and ubiquity of cellphones underscores the importance of understanding the potential of augmented reality for both schooling and informal learning.



2. This book is great if you're interested in how games can enhance learning, both for ideas and for practical tips. The book has tons of examples from all over, as well as a lot of details on a range of projects from the authors lab. Many of the ideas for games he talks about are pretty novel, but after you read them they seem like natural ways of using computers to help people learn. The various examples cover a wide range from elementary through college through museums and other informal learning settings. For practitioners, the discussions of how to foster collaboration among a group of students using a game is particularly interesting. Definitely recommended, especially for people trying to make educational software themselves.

No comments about Gears of War (PC) Official Strategy Guide (Official Strategy Guides) (Official Strategy Guides (Bradygames)).

4 comments about Mario Party 8: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides) (Prima Official Game Guides) (Prima Official Game Guides).

1. With all the hype and excitement over the latest chapter in the Mario Party franchise, and its debut for the Nintendo Wii, many gamers wonder if it is worth it. They'll find out not just when they play the game, but with this guide from Prima. The guide for Mario Party 8 is a simple and easy to use guide that highlights all the 70+ minigames and unlockables, including hidden characters like Blooper. The maps here are detailed nicely, and shows how simple it is to play each of the games with the Wii remote. While there hasn't been a strategy guide for the Mario Party franchise since Mario Party 5 on the Gamecube, this is well worth the hype. I definitely recommend this as a must buy for new Wii owners, and Mario Party fans alike. Party on!!!
   
   Price: B+
   
   Maps: B
   
   Overall: B 1/2+



2. this is a great game not only for kids, but for adults too. My wife and I play this game with our 5 and 7 year old all the time, we enjoy it as much as they do. The only thing that we dislike about it is that we cant seem to figure out how to open a new board or open up new characters and the book doesn't explain how. Maybe some day we will figure it out.



3. What else can I say? The games are good, the mini-games are fun, the graphics are great, but there's no real need for a player's guide. Still, some people feel the need to own all game guides...If this is your style, don't hesitate to buy it. We have all the Mario Parties for the GC, GBA, DS and now this one...but we won't be buying any more guides for the various MP games.



4. This book does not tell you more than you could figure out quickly while playing the game.