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General discussion (archive)would you buy a guide?(24 posts)(24 posts)
(24 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted November 25, 2009
http://www.gamersgate.com/DD-EGDX/deus-ex-guide?aff=twitter
http://www.gamersgate.com/DD-DX/deus-ex
that costs $.5 less than the game?
I think they should have just seen if they could have included it in the full game.
Also, I believe there is some pretty shitty ass DRM on those guides.
Posted November 25, 2009
considering the amount of free info on games on the internet, i don't really see why anyone would buy a guide
Posted November 25, 2009
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ilves: considering the amount of free info on games on the internet, i don't really see why anyone would buy a guide

I bought the physical prima guide for Empire Earth from Amazon used sellers for around 45. Well-worth it too. makes for great light reading, and it's very comprehensive.
Posted November 25, 2009
The only guides I can recall buying were for the Ultima games.
One was for Ultima IV-VI, can't remember which games were covered by the other one.
This was before the vastness of the internets was open to me though, but those books were useful and thicker than a bible (they had a novelization of the games as part of the guide).
Posted November 25, 2009
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Weclock: Also, I believe there is some pretty shitty ass DRM on those guides.

You are correct. Prima distributes their "e-guides" in a DRM-protected PDF format. Guides are distributed as standard installers (seriously) containing the PDF and a special reader (each guide has its own copy of the reader rather than sharing). Attempting to open the file directly in Adobe Reader or the like will not work because of the DRM. The special reader prevents printing, copy or otherwise disseminating the content (functionality which is also present in Adobe Reader, oddly enough). Even the free guides have this insane protection (which is how I saw this first-hand).
Posted November 25, 2009
ridiculous.
the appeal of offline cellulose based guide is completely understandable as you can read it during a daily bowel movement, the reason why would anyone buy a guide from gamersgate is not.
With sites such as gamefaqs and various dedicated forums there is no benefit to that purchase whatsoever.
Post edited November 25, 2009 by lukaszthegreat
Posted November 25, 2009
the only guide i have ever bought is the Planescape Torment strategy guide. cant say i ever needed it, i only got it cause i loved the game so much.
Posted November 25, 2009
DRM on game guides... haw haw.
Posted November 25, 2009
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Weclock: Also, I believe there is some pretty shitty ass DRM on those guides.
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Arkose: You are correct. Prima distributes their "e-guides" in a DRM-protected PDF format. Guides are distributed as standard installers (seriously) containing the PDF and a special reader (each guide has its own copy of the reader rather than sharing). Attempting to open the file directly in Adobe Reader or the like will not work because of the DRM. The special reader prevents printing, copy or otherwise disseminating the content (functionality which is also present in Adobe Reader, oddly enough). Even the free guides have this insane protection (which is how I saw this first-hand).

Can they be printed?
In that case: time to make use of that PDF printer, at least for those free-but-still-DRM'd ones.
Posted November 25, 2009
Generally, I don't buy guides, unless the game I'm playing is complicated enough that a really GOOD online guide is hard to find. Some RPGs and mon-collecting games are like this. Also, open-world games that have all kinds of hidden content are best approached with an official guide made by people who had the opportunity to talk with the developers about where all the goodies are.
That said, I own exactly two strategy guides. Two, for dozens and dozens of games.
Posted November 25, 2009
I have a huge collection of game guides. All are in dead tree format and not one is in English =).
Posted November 25, 2009
I miss the old days of 1-cm thick Prima guides.
Posted November 25, 2009
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Weclock: http://www.gamersgate.com/DD-EGDX/deus-ex-guide?aff=twitter
http://www.gamersgate.com/DD-DX/deus-ex
that costs $.5 less than the game?
I think they should have just seen if they could have included it in the full game.
Also, I believe there is some pretty shitty ass DRM on those guides.

Ironically your choice of game guide example shows DRM-free. :P
Posted November 25, 2009
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Weclock: http://www.gamersgate.com/DD-EGDX/deus-ex-guide?aff=twitter
http://www.gamersgate.com/DD-DX/deus-ex
that costs $.5 less than the game?
I think they should have just seen if they could have included it in the full game.
Also, I believe there is some pretty shitty ass DRM on those guides.
avatar
deoren: Ironically your choice of game guide example shows DRM-free. :P
Are you blind?
it says DRM: SecuROM
Boxart: Deus Ex Guide
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Deus Ex Guide
Rating pending
* File size: 14.06 MB
* Categories: Guides
* Publisher: Prima Games
* DRM: SecuROM
* Price: $9.95 (9 950 Blue Coins)
Posted November 26, 2009
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Weclock: *snip*

Not only does the guide have DRM but it's also regionally restricted!
Deus Ex Guide
Rating pending
* File size: 14.06 MB
* Categories: Guides
* Publisher: Prima Games
* DRM: SecuROM
* Price: Not priced
(The not priced comment is GG's way of indicating some regional restrictions).
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This is my favourite topic
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General discussion (archive)would you buy a guide?(24 posts)(24 posts)
(24 posts)