5 comments about The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation.

1. This nicely produced book is a must-have for animation fans.
   It is a pleasure to read and look at the wonderful illustrations. I am very glad i decided to buy it.



2. GET THIS BOOK! There is no questions ask that Frank and Ollie did an amazing job putting this together! It gives you a complete history and explanation of how today's feature animation began, with beautifully printed examples and explains the principles of animation! Great for young and old alike! This book should be the first one in your animation collection.



3. Any artist - animator or otherwise, should read this book. It's not only about the craft of animation, but about the passion of pursuit in illustrating life accurately and in an engaging way.
   
   Told from the perspective of two legends.
   
   Highly recommended.



4. The love produces animation! That book exhibition that! That amazes of book! That fantastic thing is the friendship and the production of those two geniuses of the animation! The life and the those two men's art is a thing that contemplates in all us, impassioned by animation. They are my life examples, and one day I would like cannot at least to arrive close to what did. That book, and the dvd about the life of the two, is obligatory things in any school, or shelf peculiar of any person that has feelings and sensibility to understand the beautiful things of the life. Wonderful? Spectacular? Grandiose? I don't have as defining that book. He is more than any definition that somebody can create. It is the love transformed in cartoons overflowing for the pages of that wonderful book. I will buy more a, to be in the shelf without nobody opens it, and my descendants only can you make it for they know a time and such some brilliant people and magics as these highlighted in that spectacular book.



5. Wow!..First of all, the presentation of the book is amazing. The cover, the paper, everything. And wen you open the book, is simply what you need for start to see animation as an art...no, in my case, an "excuse" for use a software (I sarting to go to 3d animation). Buy this book!

5 comments about Microsoft Flight Simulator X For Pilots Real World Training.

1. This book is what I was looking for and did not find in Bruce Williams'Flight Simulator as a Training Aid. The authors are Real Pilots who have painstakingly incorporated their vast experience into a very readable and often entertaining soup to near nuts FSX-based teaching tool. I have been using the book for the last three weeks in preparation for a ten day intensive IFR training course. The proof of the West Cummings book's success will come with my flying pudding a few more weeks hence when I get checked out. I get the feeling I'll do ok which will be in no small measure due to the comprehensive and well organized approach taken in the book.
   Hightly Recommended for real or simulated piloting.



2. I've had all the Microsoft Flight Simulators since 1985 and have always winged it when it came to flying. That works but I never really knew what I was doing. I think this book is the best I've seen so far in helping one to learn to fly with the reasons why. Links to downloadable files are an extra bonus that expand the contents. The author also ties his content in with the lessons in the Simulator Program. Very comprehensive coverage.



3. My opinion is anybody who gives this book less than five stars is REALLY hard to please or has some pet peeve they can't turn loose of.
   
   I have spent (wasted in many cases) lots of money and time on GA training books in the past and ignored this one for quite a while as "just another book on flying." When I saw the price drop below $20, I decided to take a risk. Wow! This could be the best training book I have every bought. I hate to be dramatic about that but honestly, I probably have fifteen books of this nature and this is the clearest, most well laid out of any of them. I love the way the authors bring FSX into the training as yet another tool to help you practice your technique. The online material (especially the films) are very helpful too. It is obvious these guys did not write this book because they are "professional authors" but because they really do love flight training.
   
   This book is a labor of love and you would do yourself a disservice by passing it by.



4. I got this book and was amazed! It is a huge book and has everything in it. I have only started and this book has all the details and covers pretty much everything you need.



5. I think based on the reviews below - you get the drift. Those reviews speak for themselves (and the book). I don't need to repeat every thing noted by the other reviewers. It's a great book and I learned more than I would have ever thought.
   
   Don't let the 800 pages scare you off. The diagrams and the tutorial flights are just awesome. I have been flying MSFS since way back in the early days. The interest over the years has come and gone and I would skip a version here and there... then FSX hit the market. I since have turned this interest into a full fledged hobby. Everything from a TrackIR, Matrox (3 screens), Rudder pedals, yokes,good PC and a full set of navigational charts and IAPs - I thought I had it all together and knew everything there was to learn. What I found out from this book, I had barely scratched the surface. What I was missing was real world knowledge. This book has tied it all together and has made my hobby seem almost as authentic as the real deal. Now I can go any place at anytime in any aircraft.
   
   Great great book! Do yourself a favor and invest the tiny expense (relative to the rest of this hobby) and enjoy. Remember, it's all about the journey and not the finish line. Soak up the knowledge that these authors have penned for your simming pleasure!
   
   If you would like more information or would like to discuss simming in general feel free to contact me at fly-bman2006@hotmail.com
   
   Bman.

5 comments about Grand Theft Childhood: The Surprising Truth About Violent Video Games and What Parents Can Do.

1. I've been a gamer for about 19 of my 23 years of life. As such, I've grown more and more frustrated at the misguided and misleading attempts of religious groups, politicians, and "watchdog" groups that purportedly have the best interests of children at heart. Few people seemed to truly be interested in figuring out the truth behind violent video games and violence in general. Perhaps this is why I'm so shocked that Grand Theft Childhood seems to be the first one to try a really simple idea: why not talk to the gamers themselves? It was refreshing, for a change, to hear the opinions of young people who actually play games.
   
   GTC goes more in-depth than that, though. The first chapter does an excellent job of tackling the myths from both sides of the issue. The book then goes on to make parallels between complaints about violent video games and complaints about violent media in general over the last several hundred years. It explains how little effective research has been done on the correlation, and more importantly, the causality, between violent media and violent behavior.
   
   The book freely admits that its research merely scratches the surface: this should immediately cause anyone to be skeptical of claims of a definitive link or vindication of violent media. Gamers, you will find a lot here that confirms what you already believe. Parents, you will learn more about the world of your children and practical ways you can keep up with it. Skeptics, if this book encourages you to look at the issues more critically, then that's a win.
   
   I can't recommend this book enough to anyone who plays games or is worried about games.



2. The research done for this book was obviously well-done and carefully considered. Instead of drawing premature conclusions, the authors really explored true cause-and-effect relationships of video games, social interactions, parenting, and violence.
   
   One of the most amazing parts was the research about kids that did NOT play video games at all. It showed how video games, especially in moderation, can help kids with social interactions and help them try out social and life situations in a non-threatening and low-risk environment. With today's games being simulations as much as they are games, it has really changed the impact that video games can have on people.
   
   The section on parenting and video games was one of the most impressive and thought provoking. When situations are presented that allow a child or teen to teach their parents how to play games with them, it can really improve the child's social skills and relationship with their parents.
   
   If you are looking for a source to back up either your love or hatred of video games, this may not be the right book. But if you're looking for an interesting, thought-provoking, and impartial look at video games and their real effect on children and teens, this is a great book.



3. When I first opened this book, I was very impressed by the approach they took to scrutinizing the recent media frenzy concerning the link between violent video games and extremely violent behavior (e.g. Columbine). Although the research (including the research in the book) suggests that violent games are associated with aggression, the effects are relatively small. As such, this book may do well to allay concerns that parents have generated as the result of media hype. I agree with the authors that it is not wise to scapegoat video games for everything and that other risk factors should be considered. Unfortunately, I found little of value after the initial chapters.
   
   Although it is good for parents to attend to other high risk factors, it is my opinion that the authors play down the effects of violent media too much. Even their own research suggests that children who play violent games are 1) more likely to engage in aggressive conflicts, 2) engage in delinquent behavior (e.g. property damage) for fun, and 3) receive poor grades on a report card. Seemingly games are associated with problematic behaviors. And even if the relationship is the reverse, such that children who are more likely to have these problems will turn to violent video games, then parents of children who play these games should remain concerned - as it is suggestive that their child may already be engaging in problematic and delinquent behavior.
   
   I also found that the approach to criticizing previous research was not very even handed. There was a lot of picking and choosing of individual studies to make specific points about the failure of previous research. Any study, when considered individually, will have flaws. But other studies that have been conducted more recently have done well to rule out several of the flaws identified by the authors. These studies were not mentioned. Even the study reported in this book had a great deal of flaws (many of which were also never mentioned). For example, they relied entirely on self-report. People are often reluctant to respond truthfully to self-report questions, especially when the questions pertain to socially undesirable behavior such as aggression. This flaw is most likely to affect the interviews they held with children. The responses children gave seem incredibly insightful and intelligent. One might wonder, however, whether these children put as much thought into their behavior when they aren't being observed by adults. Heck, if an adult asked me these questions when I was a kid I'd be able to report back all the rules and lessons that my parents tried to teach me. I'd probably tell them whatever I thought they wanted to hear. This did not mean, however, that I actually followed these rules in my parent's absence.
   
   Lastly, the authors suggest that violent video games may even confer some benefits to children who play them. They did find that children who played violent games were less likely to be bullied than those who didn't play violent games. Additionally they suggest that children may play violent games to relieve stress, achieve success at something, and that violent games confer social opportunities for children. Given the questionable methods of the study, however, these conclusions are speculative at best. Also, it could be argued that there are a host of other activities that children could engage in that confer the same benefits - activities that aren't associated with aggression, delinquent behavior, and school problems.
   
   Overall I thought this book was alright. I think it is important for parents to understand that violent games need not be their only concern. The way the book is written, however, may leave many of the readers completely unconcerned with the way violent media may influence their children. I don't think this was the intention that the authors had, but unfortunately it may come across that way (I've seen some gamer's responses to this book, and unfortunately some seem to have taken it as evidence that they shouldn't be concerned at all about their violent game play). In the end, in my opinion the true values of this book are the first chapter concerning the misguided media frenzy and the suggestions they make to readers in later chapters about how to monitor your child's exposure to violent content.



4. As a video game violence researcher myself, I have grown accostomed to considerable hysteria surrounding video games (as I write this GTA IV is about to come out, to much fanfare). Unfortunately, much of the hysteria and bad information comes from psychology as a discipline where poor research methods have been "given a pass" in support of outdated dogma and social engineering. Thus it is refreshing to see a book such as Grand Theft Childhood, which deftly cuts through the politics and dogma, discusses the research in a way parents can understand, and offers concrete directions for the future.
   
   Drs. Kutner and Olson do an excellent job of discussing the history of moral panics which consistently surround new media and how the recent controversy over video games fits into this historical context. Each new media, from novels, to movies, to comic books, to television, to jazz, rock and roll and rap, to Dungeons and Dragons and Harry Potter faces public hysteria, usually from "elders" unfamiliar with the new media. We look back on these past panics as just that...panics...yet somehow we never seem to learn the lesson. None of these media forms touched off a wave of violence...nor has video games. Violent crimes in the US, including among youth, have dropped to 1960s levels, even as violent video games become overwhelmingly popular. Are we worried about nothing?
   
   Drs. Kutner and Olson do an excellent job discussing the research, pointing out the significant methodological flaws, related to poor definitions of "aggression" and "violence", to the use of invalid measures of aggression, to some scholars who "cherry pick" data to support their views. This section of the book is a must-read for anyone who hears "a study found that video games cause aggression" and actually think the study had anything to do with hitting, kicking, violentce, etc. Most don't.
   
   The authors present their own research, funded through the DOJ, and largely correlational in nature. It's a nice although (as the authors admit themselves) imperfect study (I would have liked to see more measurement of family environment...in my own work controlling family violence typically negates any relationship between violent games and violent outcomes). Yet they find a complex relationship between game playing (they focus on M-rated games) and both positive and negative outcomes. Bottom line seems to be that most kids who play even M-rated games come out perfectly fine and may even see considerable benefits, whereas some kids who already have problems with violence may be best kept away from M-rated games. Their results generally question the conclusion that violent video games are setting off a wave of serious youth violence. Some kids even report using games to relax and vent aggression. This finding is likely to be controversial. Probably anti-game advocates will counter that kids don't necessarily have insight...yet as this argument is based on findings using invalid aggression measures it's simply hard to know whose right...the kids talking about themselves...or anti-game researchers who persist in using invalid measures of aggression.
   
   The book is very pleasant to read and very informative. It's also very balanced, neither taking the side of the video game industry (which is itself at fault for some of the hysteria), nor indulging in anti-game hysterics. In short this is probably the most intelligent and most balanced book I've seen written on violent video games to date and I give it my highest recommendation.
   
   Christopher J. Ferguson, Ph.D.
   Texas A&M International University



5. This book does a great disservice to families and anyone trying to make sense of the effects of violent video games. Having conducted a survey and focus groups, asking kids what they think of the effects of violent video games on themselves, the authors dismiss a wealth of scientifically valid, peer-reviewed journal articles that have shown that violent video games contribute to users' becoming more hostile, more aggressive, and, yes, at times, more violent. The argument that there's hardly any research on violent video games is false, as is the suggestion that the research is inconclusive. The book smells a lot like Jonathan Freedman's book on media violence. Freedman, a psychologist who never conducted his own research on media violence, wrote a book in which he systematically tore apart every study that had been conducted to date, without regard to the validity of the studies. Freedman gratefully acknowledged funding from the Motion Picture Association of America for his book. It's hard to figure out why someone like Kutner, who has apparently dedicated his career to helping families, would confuse his audience by throwing out valid findings, and calling the research "irrelevant" and "muddleheaded." He is simply wrong.

4 comments about CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- Signature Series Guide (Bradygames Signature Series Guides).

1. When it comes to crafting Final Fantasy guides, Bradygames has a shaky history. They have a few hits but also a few misses. Luckily, the Crisis Core guide doesn't miss. It still suffers from some of the follies of previous guides, but at least its a helpful tool in many respects.
   
   The guide begins with an introduction to the storyline and then quickly jumps into the characters section. This brings us to the first and quite possibly only major problem with the guide, there are tons of spoilers almost from the moment you open it. The characters section explains more than it should about some characters. While it's nice that it refreshes your mind on some tidbits of Final Fantasy VII, it also gives away a bit to the plot of Crisis Core. There's nothing major here, at least.
   
   After the characters section we get into the game basics. If you're confused on anything in Crisis Core, this guide does a great job of explaining and helping to understand the system of the game and it does it without wasting too much time. It's a well organized section that hits all the important points. On another note, the biggest attraction in this section is easily the coverage of DMW. If you're confused in anyway about this new unique system, the guide explains it very well.
   
   Afterwards we get into the meat and potatoes of the guide. The walkthrough. This is where the guide has that major hit coming to it. If you don't like spoilers, this guide is full of them. The walkthrough is divided into chapters, and at the beginning of each chapter the guide feels the need to explain the situation. While it avoids spoiling a few major plot twists, it takes away some of the fun. There are also spoilers throughout the main text of the walkthrough. So far, there's nothing incredibly major, but there is enough to spoil some of the fun of the game.
   
   Otherwise, the walkthrough is almost perfect. At the beginning of each chapter they give you a step by step run down of what it is you'll be doing throughout the chapter and then explain it in more detail throughout the main sections. The walkthrough is extremely organized and has maps to go along with it. The maps are too detailed. They were pulled straight from the game itself, but they do point out the location of items, save points etc. They also have some fairly good boss strategies listed here. In short, if you really need a leg up, the walkthrough helps out.
   
   When the walkthrough is finally done with, there is a huge section dedicated to the missions in the game. Each mission has stats for the enemies, a brief description, a map and a strategy. Since missions are fairly small and straightforward, there's not much to say here, hence, the mission strategies are pretty short and small, save for the strategy for Minerva. While the mission section is helpful, there's quite a bit of page flipping in navigating it
   
   Then we get into the Materia section. There's a breakdown of Materia fusing here, which can really help players out, and there's also a breakdown of each and every Materia. This is also a nice lead into all those charts that are pretty much standard in every RPG guide.
   
   The Bestiary is fairly detailed, but much like the missions, will require a huge amount of page flipping. Thankfully the basic stats you need are provided for monsters int he walkthrough because the bestiary is also not in alphabetical order like it is in most RPG guide books. Rather they're divided by their families. Chances are you won't need the bestiary at least, but it's there in case you do
   
   And after all this detail, we finally get into all the bonuses and secret goodies of the guide. The secrets chapter entitled "23 Wishes" serves to not only tell you a couple of secrets, but let you in on a bit of trivia as well. There are potential spoilers here, but once more, it's nothing too major. There's also an expansive art gallery if you're curious, as well as a doubled sided foldout.
   
   Overall, this is a great companion to Crisis Core, as long as you keep in mind that you're getting a few spoilers along the way. If you can deal with that, you've found the perfect guide. If you can't, finish the game before investing.



2. I hope you don't mind, but with Cloud Strife's latest barrage of dotty refrains, I can't resist the urge to make a few cynical comments. What follows is the story of how Cloud can be so rich in the rhetoric of democracy and yet so poor in its implementation. I insist that it can be safely said that I could do without his throat-cutting rampages. I don't just contend that he would love to see me suffer from stress, frustration, and defeat; I can back that up with facts. For instance, if his blanket statements get any more predaceous, I expect they'll grow legs and attack me in my sleep.
   
   If Cloud is victorious in his quest to brainwash the masses into submission, then his crown will be the funeral wreath of humanity. How do you think he will get his hands on all of the incriminating documents about him that I have in my possession? A secretive home or office invasion, a knock on the door, or his favored battering-ram incursion? This can be answered most easily by stating that he has stated that laws are meant to be broken. That's just pure exhibitionism. Well, in Cloud's case, it might be pure ignorance, seeing that to get even the simplest message into the consciousness of what I call heartless, foolish prima donnas it has to be repeated at least fifty times. Now, I don't want to insult your intelligence by telling you the following fifty times, but everybody is probably familiar with the cliche that lying and cheating is second nature to Cloud. Well, there's a lot of truth in that cliche.
   
   As I make no claim to be an authority on the subject, I defer to the judgments of an Oxford University professor, who has observed that Cloud is terrified that there might be an absolute reality outside himself, a reality that is what it is, regardless of his wishes, theories, hopes, daydreams, or decrees. If society were a beer bottle -- something, I believe, that Cloud holds in high regard -- he would indeed be the nauseating bit at the bottom that only the homeless like to drink. I want to take up the all-encompassing challenge of freedom, justice, equality, and the pursuit of life with full dignity. I want to do this not because I need to tack another line onto my résumé but because if we foreground the cognitive and emotional palette of his confused-to-the-core scare tactics rather than their pathology we can enter vitally into Cloud's world. Why do we want to do that? Because if Cloud truly wanted to be helpful, he wouldn't glorify the things that everyone else execrates. Lastly, the longer Cloud Strife wears the mask of adversarialism, the harder it is to remove.



3. When looking for a guide you look for a few things:
   1. Be able to find things that you may miss if you don't look everywhere closely
   2. Help you get through the game quicker
   3. Help you achieve 100% on everything
   4. Good tidbits that helps you play better and enjoy it more so you don't have to keep restarting from game overs
   
   Well this guide has all of those. The guide helps with all the missions, and gives insight to the game. Much recommended



4. I played the game all the way through 2 times before I got the guide. I was glad I did because it explained how to unlock missions that I couldn't figure how to get unlocked. I shows where all the Items are during the mission... Which is a big help not to waist time running where you don't need to go. There we're a few mix-ups in the mission parts, like where there are barriers that wern't marked and some that were marked that wasn't blocked.
   
   My first guide that was shipped from amazon was damaged but not during shipping. I contacted amazon about this and they had a replacement out in no time free of charge. Great service... Great guide... AWESOME GAME!

5 comments about Official Final Fantasy VII Strategy Guide, Playstation Version.

1. This book was a bit of a challenge. There are some times when it helps and a lot more when it doesn't. I would like to know when the Limits increase, how to learn more Enemy Skills, and about Chocobo breeding. This book doesn't cover these things. It gives you a walkthrough, the plot and some battle tips, but not much else that you can use. (As soon as I figure out how to change the stars, I'm putting it down to a 2-star rating.)



2. it is an excellent guide, but sometimes is hard to understand and it does not have any directions on how to get where you need to go.



3. really helps with the game when you get lost or if you want to find the hidden things.



4. My husband had this book with his game and used it alot. However...he forgot to put it up and our 2 yr old son got ahold of it and he had to get a new one!



5. This guide is great, it covers everything in the entire game. It even arrived 2 days earlier than expected!! Definitely worth the money.

2 comments about Mario Kart (Wii): Prima Official Game Guide.

1. Mario Kart Wii is definitely a big game. Without a doubt one of Nintendo's biggest games for its system. Mastering the game is easy without a guide as it is, but if you actually find yourself wanting to pick up a guide for any reason at all, this is actually a good one. I've been fairly critical of Prima Guides in the past. In the past I've often noted that their guides are usually incredibly disorganized leading to the guide being unreasonably thick. The Mario Kart Wii Guide gets it together. It's very well organized and detailed guide that doesn't have a ton of page flipping to be done. This is one of Prima's better guides. With their guide you'll be able to speed through all of Mario Kart Wii's courses, and you won't have to worry about slowing down either. It's the perfect companion.
   
   It wastes no time jumping into things. The first thing it talks about is all the different ways to control the game. After that it jumps into all the different modes and all the basic stuff about the game. As with most guides, it's stuff you probably don't really need to read up on, but it's there if you need it. There are some good tips here though. If you've been playing Mario Kart for a long time, none of these advanced tips will be new to you.
   
   The guide then talks about all the power ups. This section is also pretty helpful. It tells you all about the items and even gives off some great tips on how and when to use them. After all the items, the game goes into all the different racers and shows you all the stats for all the karts and giving their own commentary. Also in this section it'll show you some of the natural disaster you'll encounter throughout the courses.
   
   The Drivethrough is the best part of the guide. This is where it covers all the courses. It begins with an introduction and then gives you some speed tactics. Each course also has a map whre it shows you a route to take (which is meant to be used for Time Trial). Showing you where to drift and where to boost. The maps themselves are also very detailed, also pointing out where some of the hazards are and noting them. Each section also details the disasters on the course and even talk about ghosts times. When it comes to the Time Trial, they also make it a point to show you exactly when you need to boost and they'll tell you exactly what you need to make some of harder jumps or take some of the harder shortcuts.
   
   Just the same, on the maps are two types of call outs. The first are for the course itself. These are numbered callouts that tell you what to do when you reach that point on the track. It's stuff that's meant to be used for Time Trial but a lot of it also helps out when going through the cups too.
   
   The second is the simple "A" "B" "C" formula that worked in several of Nintendo Power's older guides. Where you see those on the map you can turn to the proper letter and read about what to do. These are for Combat Tactics in the race. The guide also shows you where some of the shortcuts and secrets of the courses are, and it'd be great to use. Using the Speed Tactics and Combat Tactics together helps you to get ahead in a lot of the races.
   
   Finally, there's a brief mention of mirror mode. For the most part almost all the same strategies apply, you just have to remember that it's mirrored.
   
   There's also a good deal dedicated to the battle courses. These are just handy tips you might want to use throughout the game.
   
   The final section of the guide is dedicated to helping you unlock all the game has to offer. It's done in a checklist fashion so that you can note what you have and keep track of it. It's great stuff.
   
   Prima's guide to Mario Kart Wii is a very good guide. While Prima has had some bumps in producing guides for Nintendo in the past, Mario Kart Wii shows they can do a good job. There's no wasted space, the screenshots are clear and the maps are detailed. This is an incredible guide for Mario Kart Wii.



2. There is no doubt about the success of the Nintendo Wii. With games that have shown the test of time like Super Mario Galaxy and The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Nintendo has really shown its strength. Sadly though, they've stopped making strategy guides last year, and chose to let third-party companies like Prima, make strategy guides of their own. While Prima has made some guides that were adequate like Super Smash Brothers Brawl and Super Mario Galaxy, they just haven't shown the best peak. For Mario Kart Wii, which just came out for the Wii, has a strategy guide of its own that Prima has made, and this one does a much better job than the other ones. This Mario Kart Wii guide takes on each and every tidbit for fans of the Wii. The guide shows you maps for each of the 32 different tracks like classics like the Bowser Castle from Super Mario 64 and new courses like the Toad Factory, and tells you how to unlock hidden gems like unlocking hidden characters like Rosalina from Super Mario Galaxy and Dry Bones from the classic Super Mario Brothers 3. Each bit of help is well shown here. If you are in the driver's seat and own Mario Kart Wii, than this would be a great buy for you. Helping you with the need for plumber speed.
   
   Price: B
   
   Maps & Displays: B 1/2+
   
   Easy To Read: B 1/2+
   
   Overall: B

5 comments about Pokemon Diamond & Pearl Pokedex: Prima Official Game Guide Vol. 2 (Prima Official Game Guides).

1. As soon as my son received the Pokedex guide, he has not stopped reading/referring to it every day. He is an avid Pokemon fan. He plays his Nintendo DS and refers to this guide at least once/day to learn new information. My son gives it a big thumbs up!



2. Our 10 year old son loved this...he was stuck in the game and this has helped him.



3. Fantastic reference for my 7-year old son. Easy to read and follow. Has really enhanced his enjoyment of the game.



4. Even as a mother I can get into Star Wars, Bionicles, dinosaurs, and other hobbies of my 7-year old son, however, I can't say that I enjoy Pokemon. But noone can deny that the over the decade-old Pokemon craze is here to stay as witnessed by the phenomenal success of Diamond and Pearl. My son refers to this book like a bible and Pokemon Diamond is the only DS game that he hasn't grown tired of even though he's had it almost a year.



5. At first when I bought this I thought it was going to just sit around, but as my son played through Pokemon Diamond he started referring to it more and more. The best description of it now is "very worn".
   
   The fact that every pokemon is listed along with where it can be obtained is its best selling point. The book is really geared for after you've completed the game portion and are working on "catching them all".
   
   You could probably find all of the information in this book online, but not in one location. Having it there to refer to while playing is easily worth the cost.

1 comments about Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides).

1. This is a Prima Guide, so one expects it to have some errors and oversights. In the past, one could always turn to Nintendo Power for higher quality guides, but now that the NP guides are no longer made, we're stuck with Prima. This guide is a good example of why I never have liked to buy Prima guides.
   
   Let's start with the good news. The Dungeon pages in this guide do list info about things such as item and level restrictions. The color coding for different sections of the Pokedex is nice. Also, this guide does have a full Pokedex complete with numerical lv. 1 stats, however, it does NOT list every place that the Pokemon can be found (it only tells one place), and the footprints (useful for the Sentry minigame) are not listed either.
   
   Now for the bad news. The data sections (from the quiz at the start of the game to the item tables) are not alphabetized, a fact that makes the tables needlessly hard to use. The item tables do not list the selling price of items. There is no list of Wonder Mails so you can get the Pokemon exclusive to each version. Don't expect to find suggested partners for each starter, either. The Dungeon overview pages will not tell you what items to expect to find in each dungeon, so you either have to guess or keep your own notes. The basic strategy info on Pokemon moves from each Dungeon is pretty useless. While the info is true, I think most Pokemon fans already know this. I would have much rather seen level ranges of Pokemon within the dungeon and a list of items found therein (as well as rarities), instead of useless info about the moves of Pokemon in the dungeon. Also, I dislike that the Recommended Path for the game was placed in front of the the Game Mechanics section. It would make more sence to place it between the Game Mechanics and Walkthrough sections, making it harder to ruin the story for yourself when you flip to the Game Mechanics section for a particular piece of info.
   
   In short, my advice is to skip this guide and print off a decent walkthrough from a free site. This game has no significant maps, and the only grapical data you might actually need (the footprints) is absent from this guide anyway. With the non-alphabetized data sections, those who own this guide will likely find themselves printing off needed info from an online walkthrough anyway.
   
   A side note for those who don't know what a game guide is (and think that perhaps it is a book about Pokemon for kids to read): A game guide (a.k.a. Strategy Guide) is a publication that is supposed to tell everything about a game. It is useful for choosing strategies and completing every aspect of a game, but it is not a story book. It is more akin to an Atlas or Encyclopedia and is typically used as reference by serious players. While it does require some reading skills, it is only useful to those who have a copy of the games (which games also require reading skills).
   
   Signed, Pamela

No comments about Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures Official Strategy Guide (Official Strategy Guides).

5 comments about Grand Theft Auto IV Signature Series Guide (Brady Games).

1. As others have stated, Game Guides have drastically declined in quality in recent years. Some seem to provide good information but appear to be printed on home computers, whereas some have excellent appearance, but lack desired information.
   
   This book applies more to the second category. I made sure to flip through the pages before leaving the store to make sure none of the pages were crimped or blurry. What I saw was a very cleanly printed book, void of unnecessary images or intrusive background images. Game content is provided with clear and explanatory side bars and sub-plots. The information is very neatly presented and is very easy to follow.
   
   However, readers will become discouraged when they begin searching for particular information regarding side-quests, extracurricular activities, non-player characters (your "friends" in the game), etcetera. The Table-of-Contents only shows the core missions of the game, along with the necessary "side missions" that grant 100% completion. There is no index, making it very difficult to find what you're looking for. This is especially frustrating when you're flipping back and forth through pages while mumbling "Well I know I saw it in here SOMEWHERE..."
   
   There are no appendices or any other breakdown for all the other content (and trust me there's a lot of it) that GTA IV provides. This book focuses on "how to beat the game and get 100%." If you want to find easter eggs, hidden content, or just that typical, cool stuff that GTA has always provided, you'll probably have to sit near a computer and employ creative search-engine strategies.
   
   Also, be advised that though the game documents the Achievements for the Xbox 360 system, it offers no advice on how to earn them.
   
   I'm glad I got it for 20% off by buying it with the game.



2. i tried it and im returning it i just dont like it. but i do like the prior gta's.



3. Just got the book today after i have completed about 20% of the game. This guide is pretty interesting as it gives you tips here and there but like other reviewers, i find it rather disorganised. Not having the list of cars is definitely disappointed.
   
   The plus points are the tips that are inside which is very informative for busy working class people who just wants to get to the game main storyline.



4. amazing guide thats all i can say... dont beleive other reviews , this will help you get to the top in the right way, at the begining at the game the magazine wasn't usefull at all but then when you get to the middle missions you will really need it because there are some mission whether (nico)'ll choose who kill and how you should be friends with, and other bunch of cool stuff so you dont have to repeate mission over and over again... this magazine help me a lot , also it gives you the flying rats ubication map.a poster with nico very nice.A+++



5. This guide is good enough to help you get 100 percent, but don't expect anything great. You frequently have to flip back to the table of contents to find what you're looking for, as info is seemingly randomly scattered throughout the book. It's as if the guide was rushed and not edited at all. Also missing is a detailed car list that I got used to in past guides, and it'd be nice to seem them all.
   
   Regardless, it's still a decent guide.