2 comments about Thief: Deadly Shadows (Prima's Official Strategy Guide).

1. The book is nice and clean and the pictures are clear and do focus on areas that you need to keep in mind. The problem with this guide is the information is so jumbled that it is hard to find information that you need especially when navigating to new areas on the city map. The game provides nice 3D replicas of the levels and the city areas, but often times I think it would be more functional to go with a more simplistic diagram. You can certainly navigate the game with book, but sometimes you gotta take some time to look up information mid game because the information is too scattered. It would have also been nice to provide the purchaser with a level "loot list" like many that you can find online to help players on expert level get their 100 percent loot requirement. All in all a guide is kinda unnecessary for this game, but the one they provide isn't "bad," but I think it should have been more organized.



2. This guide is not very well organized. It helps with the main missions well enough, but I constantly found myself searching through the guide to see where I currently was. The game allows quite a bit of freedom in how to move around the world (city), and this guide obviously had difficulties organizing its content around that.
   
   However, I did find the overall guide helpful. Especially the overview and introduction chapters got me in the right mindset to approach most of the game on my own.

5 comments about Super Mario Sunshine: Prima's Official Strategy Guide.

1. To say this guide was bad would be like throwing the game out of your bedroom window! It is so cool you would not believe it!
   The text is well laid out and they have used screen shots in all the right places! The only problem is that it dosen't run in order.The hub world comes before everything else(apart from training). And for shine number 10,11,12 and 13 you need a nozzel you can't reach.

   The good:
   +Well laid out.
   +Lots of shots
   +Detailed.

   The Bad:
   -Not in order




2. Super Mario Sunshine is a VERY hard game, luckily, I found this guide, and it told me EVERYTHING I needed to know



3. I sometimes need help from games through strategy guides, but there are some guide the publishers make, that really don't seem to adequately carry on very well. Prima has made a few of them. Their guide to Super Mario Sunshine for the Nintendo Gamecube, really doesn't seem all that helpful. Although the designs as nice and very well put together, it really doesn't coursely enough show the maps and hints in there, to get through certain areas, and to find shines needed to beat Super Mario Sunshine. All in all, it only seems like a must have, if you don't have the original guide from Nintendo. Instead, I absolutely suggest you get the Nintendo Power strategy guide of Super Mario Sunshine. It is a much better guide for that exact same price as the plumber gets the pipes.



4. The Good
   
   Loads of colorful screenshots
   Nice Checklists
   
   The Bad
   
   none as i know of
   
   
   This guide comes with cool mario sunshine postcards ' and i brought this guide through ebay and i went to look at it ' during playing the video game and finally i beated the game and i couldntve done it without this book so i suggest buying it if youre having trouble with SMS
   
   So buy this book you wont regret it :)



5. The book is messy. First, it's impossible to find a blue coin in this stupid guide. They give you crappy hints

1 comments about Soldiers: Heroes of World War II (Prima Official Game Guide).

1. I learned so much. This book was very helpful to me as I played Soldiers Heroes of World War 2. I cannot wait to see if this "Ron Dulin" writes more strategy guides so that I can get through other difficult games with his help!

2 comments about Star Wars Empire at War (Prima Official Game Guide).

1. I bought this book because the documentation that comes with Empire at War is so scanty, and unfortunately I must say I'm rather disappointed. The most important bit of info you'll need is a chart telling you the income, trade, value per mine and number of build slots per planet - something that took me about 1 - 1 1/2 hours to research on my own and manually enter in the planet entries. It would have been even simpler to count hardpoints, prices, etc. for the ships and list that up on the various ship entries, or even better, on a 1 or 2 page chart - again, something that would have been very simple and basic for a researcher to have done.
   
   There are some nice tips for the multiplayer game, but I wouldn't depend on them unless you fancy being eaten alive by the other players. Most of the tactical and strategic advice is basic, common sense stuff - get your income up, balance your unit and technology builds, etc - but again, the excellent charts and data tables that one expects in a Prima Guide and that one would use to make such decisions are entirely absent.
   
   Spending an hour or two collating important data like this into the book before publishing it would seem basic to me, but clearly not to whoever put this book out. The fact that it's about a third more expensive than other Prima Guides (probably because the game it covers is a hot Lucas Arts title) doesn't help matters.
   
   All in all, unless you're a collector or have money to burn, I wouldn't bother with it. If you really feel the need to get it, at least check any major bookstore or game shop and read the insides BEFORE you buy it. Because failing to do so is how this particular gamer got took.



2. Has some nice maps of the planets so when you cannot see what is there, you have a clue. It helped me get the most outof the game, but it is not necessary to play

5 comments about Digital Storytelling: A Creator's Guide to Interactive Entertainment.

1. This book brings clarity to a complex and often confusing subject. After co-writing several CD-ROM games, I thought I knew what I needed to know about interactive entertainment. This book made me realize how much more there is to this world and the vast potential that's there for creating new forms of entertainment and education. Instead of making you feel overwhelmed by the possibilities, Ms. Miller lays it all out for you in ways that are not only informative but actually inspirational. The chapters are well organized and the real-world examples are plentiful. On the one hand, it's an indespensible reference for anyone who writes (or wants to write) interactive material. On the other, it works as a muse, helping you to see things in a new light and often sparking ideas. It's a must for those who want to work in this field.



2. An extremeley informative, clear, focused book by a pioneer in the field who covers all the bases. It's a useful tool for writers interested in new forms of storytelling. With Miller's lively writing style and illustrations, it's a great read as well!
   
   Dr. Linda Seger, Script Consultant
   Author of MAKING A GOOD SCRIPT GREAT
   and seven other books



3. Not a very playful book. In fact... it seems to follow the old playbook of how things are done. The same playbook that men/boys have written when it comes to gaming. Shoot first and ... questions? what questions? story? What's that? I already knew the material that was in this book. Didn't offer anything new for me. With this book... just a play an online game or grab a game off your shelf, read about the history of "interactive" media and computers and .. voila... you've read the book. For what I needed... this book just did not cover it. Time to lay some new ground in the gaming arena.



4. DIGITAL STORYTELLING
   Carolyn Handler Miller
   
   From sitting in front of the camp fire to sitting in front of a computer, story-telling has always been rewarding, yet often frustrating. The challenges of telling a story using different media, particularly a new one, can be intimidating, especially to someone who wasn't born with a mouse in their mouth.
   
   Not to worry, though, for in the first chapter of Carolyn Miller's book, she lays those concerns to rest by noting that interactive stories are similar to myths, rituals, and games. I immediately felt better and dove right into this comprehensive book.
   
   DIGITAL STORYTELLING is valuable on a number of levels.
   It's a scholarly revue and investigation of interactive media and thus an excellent resource for researchers.
   It explains the terminology and theories.
   It offers specific tools for digital storytelling development of plot, structure, and characters.
   It has guidelines for specific uses of digital storytelling such as information, education, and advertising.
   Children's projects have their own helpful chapter.
   
   As a story consultant moving more into games design work, and as a writer desiring to keep up with the latest techniques and technologies, I know I'll be reaching for DIGITAL STORYTELLING a lot. And I know I'll always find it a rich resource of information and inspiration.



5. Whether your new to writing or producing interactive programs or a seasoned pro, into fiction or non-fiction, this book is the best there is in explaining this new craft.

5 comments about Vagrant Story Official Strategy Guide (Official Guide).

1. Vagrant Story is one of the best games in gaming history as of today and this guide does nothing else but prove that point! It has everything you need to complete the game and view the entire world map! True, it does have a few bad points, but it still is very good. ............



2. The Vagrant Story guide is one of the best strategy guide efforts I've seen in a long time. Virtually every facet of the game is covered in tremendous detail. It starts off with a HUGE introductory section, and quickly dispels the inevitable confusion gained from reading through the instruction booklet in regards to the characters, game controls, battle engine, and inventory management. No mode of the game is left uncovered, and each is given an appropriate amount of attention and detail. The weapons, spells, abilities, and items sections are not just comprised of mere lists; pages are taken to describe exactly what each thing does, as well as how to most effectively manage your quantities of each given the limited carrying capacity available in the game.

   The game walkthrough is handled with the same degree of detail. Each main area starts off with a very thorough map, which shows how each room connects to the other areas, as well as the booty and bosses contained within them. Given the VS is a game that requires a decent amount of backtracking, it is a pleasure to note that these maps are repeated throughout the guide as older areas are revisited in the walkthrough; this saves the gamer the time and effort of flipping back through 20 or so pages to find out the best way to navigate to the next destination. The room descriptions are wonderful, as they point out what nasties and obstacles are found in each and how to get around each one. Accompanying screenshots are large and clear.

   The game's numerous bosses each require very different strategies, and this is just another area where this guide shines. Don't expect merely a sentence or two that give you the boss' name and a list of its abilities; you get that, plus numerous (and thoroughly tested) strategies to bring each one down based on your playing style. You'll be told what types of weapons and spells work the best, as well as how to manage your RISK factor so it works to your advantage rather than a disadvantage. Also worth mentioning is the extensiveness to which particular character abilities are most suitable to dealing with each foe-quite useful.

   The guide doesn't leave you hanging after the final boss either. The "extra" areas of the game that are only available for play after completing the mission once are presented, in no less detail than the rest of the book, in the final section

   There were only a few noticeable weaknesses to be found. Solutions are abound to all of the game's block puzzles, but the screenshot-to-screenshot approach the author took did not seem the most appropriate method. These sections of the walkthrough require multiple re-reads before you can understand the perspective they were written from. And the occasional "wrong direction" instructions may leave some gamers frustrated if they're not able to pick up on the solution after a few steps. Many of the high-end weapons and other equipment were noticeably absent from the tables in the intro section. There was also the occasional area name left off of the maps, and some sections of the walkthrough began without telling the player how they got from the last location to the current one. Plot spoilers are also present in some parts, so one must be careful not to look too far ahead. But because these are exceptions rather than consistencies, it's not enough to bring the book down to a mediocre rating.

   Overall, this is a fantastic guide for a fantastic game. Each page is packed with game-related information only, and no wasted space is to be found. If you're in the market for VS literature, you're bound to find something in this book to give you the edge.




3. This game book has a LOT of errors. Examples: saying the armor you wear effects the potions you drink (nonsense). There is a room that you are told you MUST have a spear weapon in order to move a block and proceed. Not only does the spear not work on the block, but you only need jump onto the ledge next to the block to get around it...

   There are three bosses you are told you should use the Instill chain command which will remove 10% of the bosses hit point if it works. Huh? That doesn't work, not even vaguely (no suprise, thats not the description of Instill, or any other chain command.)

   the real way to beat these bosses: For Kali and Asura, use your best Human weapon on the arm that is weak (thats the only trick: one arm will be easy to hurt, the rest will be virtually indestructable).

   For the final boss, let him zap you once with a spell, then pound on him with Raging Ache. He'll go down quick.




4. I do agree that this book is missing a few things, namely a complete armor and weapons list. Also, the publisher put the weapons combinations tables at their website instead of in the book, which Brady has a bad habit of doing. But the last review, and several others, point out things about the guide that just aren't true.

   For instance, armor DOES affect the way potions and spells affect your character. It's clearly stated in the game instruction booklet and in the in-game Quick Manual (a built-in reference guide for playing the game.) So the author is not wrong in stating this. I do agree that it's more affected by the weapon's intelligence, however. Also, there is a very complete table of Break Arts, Chain Attacks and Defense Abilities, so I don't know why some of these reviews harp on that. One review stated that the best weapon in the game is not in the guide. That's not true, it's detailed in the Clear Game section on p.165 at the bottom. Only it's called the Excaliber in the american version. I also did not find that there was any problem with the Instill ability's description or use by the author. He says when to use it when appropriate. Mostly he states to use Raging Ache, and his final boss tactic works supremely well. I would advise other reviewers to actually read the guide and play the full game before passing any judgements.

   I can see that tremendous efforts were made on the part of the author to render a very complete guide. While there are a few non-essential elements missing, the guide does give you solid strategies for beating the game in style. I don't agree that there are plot spoilers in the book, it seems that the author went out of his way not to discuss the story at all. When a cutscene happened, I wasn't expecting it because the author hadn't indicated that it would occur (like so many other authors tell you about every single cutscene), and I appreciated it very much. I would say it is worth buying this if you are new to RPGs. But for those who want every single element of the game represented, there are more complete strategy guides available for free online.




5. I play videogames for ten years now, and I have approximately 60 strategy guides (Nintendo, Prima, Versus Books, Bradygames) for various games. When it comes to strategy guides I'm very demanding about clarity of the text and organisation of different sections, the quality of maps(!), listing of items etc.

   This guide deserves 5 stars. The maps are clearly drawn, very detailed, include texts for the most important steps to clear a mission (complemented by the text, of course), and clearly indicate the most important locations (chests, save points, and -especially important - your STARTing point which some guides completely miss). The sections about items and enemies are also very clear and complete, and so is the text of the walkthrough (with reference points to the maps). Overall, this guide has one of the best maps I've seen in a strategy guide which are informative, clear, and a great orientation throughout the game(no fancy pantsy 3D-maps which lack listing of items, are confusing and not a big help). The guide is worth every cent.

2 comments about The Sims PS2.

1. The sims a Game in which you build a home for 1 or more family members where you have to keep them alive for a sertan time. This game rocks! You get to decarate there houses and even make your own charaters and ever thing. So I rate this game a 5 star game.



2. The sims a Game in which you build a home for 1 or more family members where you have to keep them alive for a sertan time. This game rocks! You get to decarate there houses and even make your own charaters and ever thing. So I rate this game a 5 star game.

3 comments about Game Design: From Blue Sky to Green Light.

1. Deb Todd has been a leading force in game design for 15 years (or so) and this book echoes her profound knowledge of it. The recent explosion in interest in game design has brought many parvenues to the field. This book is the opposite: solid advice from a proven expert. She also interviews many key people whose advice is valid and worthwhile.



2. From the initial blue-sky sessions to pitching for a green light, Deborah Todd's guide uses exercises and examples for all kinds of games to build a working knowledge of the game design process, from brainstorming and character design to content, testing, and flowcharting. Interviews with top game producers supplement the author's position as an award-winning designer and writer, with exercises and a puzzles checklist at book's end for maximum learning and reinforcement. Any college-level collection strong on games development needs this.



3. This book won't teach you how to design games, but what it will do - and what it does very well - is to give you an insight into what the Games Industry is really like. The lifestyle, terminology, how it works, how it's changing with the sudden mainstreamification (yeah, I know that's not a real word!) of Games.
   
   By various measures, the Games Industry has or will soon overtake the Film and TV Industry in terms of turnover. And yet, the infrastructure, the job descriptions, the career paths - all of these are just evolving.
   
   Issues like the increasing age of the average gamer (around 28) and the impact that's having on games design are discussed by a wide variety of experienced Industry veterans.
   
   Appendices include real-world examples of flowcharts, storyboards, case treatments, status reports and other everyday documents that will really help a newcomer to the Industry not feel completely clueless on Day One in the office. For all they teach you in a Games Development course at college, this is the kind of practical information that is often overlooked.
   
   I would highly recommend this book to anyone considering entering the Games Industry. It will give you a really good insight into what it's like to work in this crazy, rapidly growing field. And then, when you hit your first 'crunch' time and end up working 18 hour days and sleeping under your desk - you can't say no-one warned you ;)

2 comments about Super Mario Advance (Gameboy).

1. What a great book for any Super Mario Bros. lovers!
   
   This is another "choose your own adventure" type book, based on the ever-popular Super Mario Bros., Mario and Luigi. The Princess (she wasn't originally known as Princess Peach!) is also there, along with a ton of other Mario Bros. characters.
   
   A great book for anyone who loves those crazy plumbers!



2. If you open Super Mario Advanced, get ready for adventure. One day, Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Peach are going on a picnic. When there, a sudden unexpected storm appeared! A loud voice boomed in the distance saying, "Help us, Subcon, the world of dreams, is being destroyed! It is up to you four to save
   Subcon from the evil Wart!" Soon after that, the ground splits open and the four of them get sucked into Subcon. Once they regain consciousness...
   Well you just have to read it in the book. This book is so cool your brain will EXPLODE just from the prologue. If you simply love adventure, Super Mario Advanced is made just for you.

3 comments about Max Payne Official Strategy Guide for PlayStation 2 & XBox.

1. This guide is very accurately detailed. Has almost every cheat in it. Also the guide has very good info. Bottom Line: Definetely get this guide.



2. When you play Max Payne one of the first things you might notice is the way the blood splatters. It is very cool and this is where the Max Payne(TM) Official Strategy Guide comes into play. It shows you how to get the most from your weapons, whats the best way to take out the bad guys(SPLATTER), and most important when to do that MATRIX-type effect that you can only do on MAX PAYNE.
   Trust me with this guide you will get the max out of your MAX PAYNE. You just can't go wrong.



3. The book is composed of hard to see screenshots with commentary. The screenshots and descriptions are quite different form the Mac OS X version. It was somewhat helpfull but there are sites online that do a better job.