Do you collect gaming guides in addition to your games?

Printable View

24 May 2002, 12:57 AM
gamevet

Do you collect gaming guides in addition to your games?

There was a time, when I would never buy a gaming guide. Then years later, I kicked myself for missing out on some great collectable gaming guides. I had passed on buying the official guide to Final Fantasy 2, in the U.S., and later regetted it. It was all about beating the game yourself, and no self respecting gamer would stoop so low, but there is quite a bit of collectability to these gaming guides. Additional game art, background stories to the characters, and hidden secrets that many gamers miss out on.

What gaming guides do you have, that you feel are very collectable?

Here are a few that I consider must have collectable gaming guides, that I own:

Dragon Force
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy 3
Official Sega Jet Grind Radio guide
Ogre Battle 64
Dark Stalkers 3
Night Warriors
Street Fighter 3
Super Mario RPG
Phantasy Star 3
Phantasy Star 2
Saga Frontier
Beyond the Beyond
Capcom VS SNK Millennium Fight 2000
Marcel VS. Capcom 2
Game Informer Special Edition: Final Fantasy Companion
Final Fantasy (NES)
MegaFan Vol.1 issue 3: Special Capcom Issue
Paper Mario

These are the best of my 50+gaming guides collection. I had seen the Official Space Channel 5 guide several months back, and did'nt have the cash on me to buy it at the time. I returned 2 weeks later, to find the guide gone. It would have been a great addition to my gaming guide collection. Does anyone else here, collect gaming guides?
24 May 2002, 01:01 AM
StriderKyo

No; enough of my money goes into gaming as it is - that's what the internet's for. It might help if fighting game guides weren't so wretched, though. Who needs to see an entire page wasted showing you what the character's normal punches and kicks look like? What cromagnon can't figure that out for themselves?
24 May 2002, 01:09 AM
Jim Justice

Re: Do you collect gaming guides in addition to your games?

Quote:

Originally posted by gamevet
Dark Stalkers 3
Night Warriors
Street Fighter 3
Saga Frontier

I have these...but I think I may have misplaced my SaGa Frontier guide. Plus:

The Street Fighter Alpha "Bible." (Versus Books first guide)
The Mis-adventures of Tron Bonne (I LOVE this game! One of the best MM spin-offs evar!)
Street Fighter Alpha 3

And several others. Lemme go looky through my collection and I'll get back to you with more.

So, to answer your question: Yes. I collect them. I love game guides.
24 May 2002, 01:11 AM
Korly

The SF Alpha guide and the Tekken 3 arcade guide were the best ever fighting game guides.

The Tekken 3 arcade guide avtually had "strategy" as opposed to just "move lists".
24 May 2002, 01:13 AM
Korly

The Metal Gear Solid guide was really good too.

And the PSO guide, while not complete, had a lot of good info on the history of Phantasy Star.
24 May 2002, 01:21 AM
Jim Justice

I have the Metal Gear Solid guide...all three of them.

Star Ocean 2
Parasite Eve
Xenogears

...and I'll be damned if'n I ain't headed to my local GameStop tomorrow to get the PSO guide. I had them hold it for me today. ;)
24 May 2002, 01:24 AM
gamevet

Quote:

Originally posted by Korly
The SF Alpha guide and the Tekken 3 arcade guide were the best ever fighting game guides.

The Tekken 3 arcade guide avtually had "strategy" as opposed to just "move lists".

Most of the Street Fighter guides have pointers to beat each individual fighter with a specific character. I have collected all the Street Fighter guides from Versus. They have exceptional character art.
24 May 2002, 01:46 AM
Johnny Undaunted

I used to buy game guides (namely for Capcom's fighting games), but not anymore. However, I am interested in collecting old issues of Nintendo Power and Japanese game books (comics, guides, art books, ect).
24 May 2002, 04:36 AM
Seven Force

Do the Gamest Mooks count? Not only were they cool strategy guides, they had loads of pictures and extra art too.....
24 May 2002, 08:24 AM
Yoshi

I a proud to say that I have never bought a strategy guide. The only ones I have owned are the ones that came free with Nintendo Power sub back in the early 1990s.
24 May 2002, 11:52 AM
Kidnemo

If it's made by Prima or Brady Games, there is a 99% chance that the guide will suck.

But, if a guide has a nice artwork section in it, or some nice extras, I'm all about picking them up.

I suppse the "best" guides I have are probably the Lunar Guides, and I have nearly all of the Versus guides (even a couple for games I don't own).
24 May 2002, 12:46 PM
Jim Justice

Quote:

Originally posted by Kidnemo
(even a couple for games I don't own).

Well then, that would make you a collector, sweet cheeks.
24 May 2002, 12:48 PM
Kidnemo

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim Justice

Well then, that would make you a collector, sweet cheeks.

Yep, I think you're pretty much correct.

It's cool though, the guides that I own which I don't have the games for, there all good games, so I'll get them eventually.
24 May 2002, 12:53 PM
Johnny Undaunted

Quote:

Originally posted by Kidnemo
If it's made by Prima or Brady Games, there is a 99% chance that the guide will suck.

Couldn't agree with you anymore.

Quote:

But, if a guide has a nice artwork section in it, or some nice extras, I'm all about picking them up.

That's the main reason why I bought guides for Capcom's fighting games.
24 May 2002, 12:54 PM
Korian

Well mostly all the WD's ones I have.

Also found a Chrono Trigger Final Fantasy 3 for the Super Nes one also a Mortal Kombat 3 guide.

Is the Chrono Trigger guide worth much?

Korian
24 May 2002, 01:01 PM
BioMechanic

I collect them, and I don't care if they're Prima or Brady or whatever. But I never buy the guide until I've finished the game, and if I enjoyed the game, I'll definitely get the guide. For the artwork if nothing else.

Most of the time I'll keep the guides even if I end up selling the game - helps me remember it.
24 May 2002, 01:03 PM
Korly

Prima guides suck unconditionally, but the Brady books aren't always rubbish.
24 May 2002, 01:05 PM
Jim Justice

Quote:

Originally posted by BioMechanic
I collect them, and I don't care if they're Prima or Brady or whatever. But I never buy the guide until I've finished the game, and if I enjoyed the game, I'll definitely get the guide. For the artwork if nothing else.

Most of the time I'll keep the guides even if I end up selling the game - helps me remember it.

Well, I get the guide when I get the game...my GameStop gives me 20% off the guide if I buy them together. No use in throwing away two perfectly good dollars. :)

Oh, and I dislike Haujobb...but I like Cleen. Go figure. :p
24 May 2002, 01:07 PM
Despair

Well, I liked to collect guides as well. Even though I dont use them for gameplay, except for when replaying the games, I like to have them for extra character and moster info, artwork and extra story bits.
24 May 2002, 01:13 PM
Jim Justice

Quote:

Originally posted by Despair
Well, I liked to collect guides as well. Even though I dont use them for gameplay, except for when replaying the games, I like to have them for extra character and moster info, artwork and extra story bits.

The absolute best guide for extra, fringe info is the Versus RE2 guide. "Super Wacky Fun Land" baby!!! I remember rifling through the guide to read them. I almost pissed my pants they were so funny.
24 May 2002, 01:22 PM
BioMechanic

"Oh, and I dislike Haujobb...but I like Cleen. Go figure"

How interesting, JJ - I've never heard anyone say that before. :) You've heard Homes & Gardens and Freeze Frame Reality...? I think cleen is....OK. You checked out Architect?

The RE3 Versus guide is a riot too - "Night Pee", among other gems...how much time do those guys have to look for this stuff?

I wish guides for MediEvil and Skies of Arcadia were released...and this thread reminds me, I need to pick up a DMC guide - Despair, which one has good artwork?

I don't care how much the Prima guides suck - I'll pick one up if there's nothing else available.
24 May 2002, 01:31 PM
Regus

I have a bunch of guides for games I do not even own, but none of these where purchased by me, for I usually take them off people's hands after they finish with that game.

And unless it's something special like the hard cover Lunar 2 strategy guide, I don't strategy guides are really worth anything.

Yeah, that Versus RE2 guide was great, and so was Zach Meston's RE1 guide.

The oldest guide I own is the offical Lunar 1 guide for Sega CD, also written by Zach Meston.
24 May 2002, 01:47 PM
Jim Justice

Quote:

Originally posted by BioMechanic
"Oh, and I dislike Haujobb...but I like Cleen. Go figure"

How interesting, JJ - I've never heard anyone say that before. :) You've heard Homes & Gardens and Freeze Frame Reality...? I think cleen is....OK. You checked out Architect?

I haven't heard of a single one of them...let alone listened to them...Wait. I was wrong. I dig Architect. My friend had me listen to them one time. Never got arround to purchasing an album though...maybe it's time. :)

Quote:

...Despair, which one has good artwork?

I don't care how much the Prima guides suck - I'll pick one up if there's nothing else available.

I'm not Despair, but I'd go with the Brady "Signiture Series" guide. There's a slew of great art in the back. But I think the Versus guide has the same art...and I'm sure you'd much rather support them. ;)
24 May 2002, 02:23 PM
BioMechanic

You figure correct, Jim. Gracias.

OT: probably the two most helpful guides I've ever used were MDK2 and Ecco DOTF (this one especially - and *gasp* it's Versus!!). Internet guides are cool when you're stuck, but having a screenshot to go with the hint - and not having to leave the DC and go online to get it - is a very nice advantage.
25 May 2002, 12:39 AM
gamevet

Quote:

Originally posted by Kidnemo
If it's made by Prima or Brady Games, there is a 99% chance that the guide will suck.

But, if a guide has a nice artwork section in it, or some nice extras, I'm all about picking them up.

I suppse the "best" guides I have are probably the Lunar Guides, and I have nearly all of the Versus guides (even a couple for games I don't own).

While would'nt exactly say that Prima, or Brady games guides suck, I will say that Versus makes a much better strategy guide, as a whole. Brady did make a nice Street Fighter Alpha 3 guide, with some decent accompanying art work. Prima's Ogre Battle 64 guide is nice also, even though it is the only one available for that game, which is a plus.

I forgot to list the Lunar 1 and 2 hardbound guids in my collection. I also have the hardbound edition Vangaurd Bandits strategy guide. I picked it up for a measly $8, and later picked up the game to accompany it. The best gaming guides indeed.