Are Game Guides Obselete? : The Elder Scrolls Series Discussion

» Fri May 27, 2011 2:13 pm

Ok, so i was browsing around the Bethblog and found this:

I recently received word from David Hodgson that Prima's Game Guide for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition is available as an eGuide on their site for $24.99. Highlights of the guide include:

This digital guide features easy-to-use clickable navigation on every page.
Covers all available content for Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Shivering Isles, Knights of the Nine, and downloadable content.
Detailed maps for every part of the world and every major city, plus special maps for every key section of the main quest.
Specific chapters on how to create your character and maximize your abilities and skills.
Over 450 full-color pages packed with information on everything you need to know about the massive gameworld of Oblivion.
Walkthroughs for every quest in every part of the Oblivion world, including the main quest, as well as miscellaneous and freeform quests.
Sections on various gameplay systems including stealth, combat, magic, spellmaking and enchanting, alchemy, and more.
For more details and a chance to check out parts of the guide for free, head to Prima's site.

In related news, David has a new blog post up about the Fallout 3 Game of the Year Edition Game Guide. While you can still purchase a physical copy of the guide, it's also available as an eGuide for $26.99.

Now when you compare a guide that costs you $24.99 with things like the free UESP and the Imperial Library, you find that really there is little call for a game-guide these days, so what do you guys think, has the age of buy able game-guides ended because fans make websites that house pretty much all information that the game-guide will have?

» Fri May 27, 2011 2:26 pm

Game Guides have purdy pix. Need I say more?

» Fri May 27, 2011 4:42 pm

They needn't be obsolete if they are written in-house. I, personally, enjoyed the tone and writing style of the Morrowind Prophecies independent of the information it conveyed.

» Fri May 27, 2011 6:17 am

i can see where you r comin from with UESP and all that however what sites like these don't offer are in-depth location specific walkthrough's for individual quests and information like these provide.

» Fri May 27, 2011 4:23 pm

For information about a game, wikis and forums etc have completely replaced the guides.

Guides are mainly there to be a companion and convey a personal touch.

» Fri May 27, 2011 2:53 am

They needn't be obsolete if they are written in-house. I, personally, enjoyed the tone and writing style of the Morrowind Prophecies independent of the information it conveyed.

This.

» Fri May 27, 2011 4:30 pm

Simple boring game guides are obsolete. If you're not going to do something special with your guide then you're wasting money making one. With all the wiki's nowadays there's no point.

» Fri May 27, 2011 4:16 pm

If you're out in your cabin on the mountain with nothing but an xbox, then no.

» Fri May 27, 2011 1:41 pm

Now when you compare a guide that costs you $24.99 with things like the free UESP and the Imperial Library, you find that really there is little call for a game-guide these days, so what do you guys think, has the age of buy able game-guides ended because fans make websites that house pretty much all information that the game-guide will have?

Nevermind UESP, you don't need game guides when developers assume their fanbase doesn't have 2 brain cells to rub together, remove any choice or chance of failure, and build in a complete walkthrough including GPS. Like Oblivion.

» Fri May 27, 2011 12:08 pm

i can see where you r comin from with UESP and all that however what sites like these don't offer are in-depth location specific walkthrough's for individual quests and information like these provide.

Er... UESP does. The hilarious thing is, The Prima Guide isn't even half as accurate as UESP is.

» Fri May 27, 2011 2:34 pm

Guides are here to stay. Not everyone uses the internet (or can, or knows how to) to further their gaming progress, for hints, or whatnot. Especially when the game is newly released, and there is no information out on the net yet - if you're stuck, do you want to wait three days for something to pop up on the net? I won't.

» Fri May 27, 2011 1:59 pm

Nevermind UESP, you don't need game guides when developers assume their fanbase doesn't have 2 brain cells to rub together, remove any choice or chance of failure, and build in a complete walkthrough including GPS. Like Oblivion.

This, also I'll add Fallout 3 to this list as well. My brother got me Fallout 3 and the game guide for christmas last year and I bearly used the guide, or for that matter any online hint sites. For Morrowind I'll still use UESP from time to time, looking up the location of things like a proplyon index or to get the location of the dreadic quest shrines.

» Fri May 27, 2011 6:24 am

Obsolete? Pretty much. But sometimes it's just nice to have.
It's sort of like how I'd much rather buy physical copies of games and music rather than download them. I like to have something I can hold in my hand.

Plus, what else are you gonna read when you take a break from an awesome game to go to the bathroom.

» Fri May 27, 2011 7:18 am

They needn't be obsolete if they are written in-house. I, personally, enjoyed the tone and writing style of the Morrowind Prophecies independent of the information it conveyed.

That was the last game guide I bought. I've read it a good 50-70 times out of boredom, and have become a walking guide to my friends who are playing Morrowind for the first time now.

EDIT: @ Septiego: The manual

» Fri May 27, 2011 11:25 am

The guides are definitely a better source of information at launch when everyone barely knows anything about what's in the game. That is likely the time where they are profitable. Beyond the first few weeks, UESP takes over, at least for those that know about its existence.

(On a side note, this is probably the only fanbase I've run into so far that is dedicated enough to maintain information on a site like UESP so thoroughly and efficiently. Most other fanbases would kill for a site like UESP.)

» Fri May 27, 2011 10:22 am

(On a side note, this is probably the only fanbase I've run into so far that is dedicated enough to maintain information on a site like UESP so thoroughly and efficiently. Most other fanbases would kill for a site like UESP.)

UESP is really good for in-game information. The Imperial Library is also good, but more for the lore aspect of things. Does lore interest you? If so you should check out TIL. Not trying to bash on UESP, btw. I've used it hundreds of times for Morrowind.

» Fri May 27, 2011 7:33 am

UESP is really good for in-game information. The Imperial Library is also good, but more for the lore aspect of things. Does lore interest you? If so you should check out TIL. Not trying to bash on UESP, btw. I've used it hundreds of times for Morrowind.

I've been lurking at TIL and at the lore forum (and stalking MK's profile here, but that's a whole different story) for close to around two years now. (I also know about the potential issues between those running the lore entries on UESP and TIL. Many people have been yelled at over at GameFAQs by the local loremasters over this issue.)

I just decided not to bring it up since this is about game guides.

» Fri May 27, 2011 11:48 am

Who wants to spoil their game experience with a guide right on release? If I buy a game right on release, I'm gonna figure things out on my own for a while. Besides, if I buy a guide and some of it's information is inaccurate, I"m gonna feel slightly ripped of since you can't update it like a website. I ain't buying a second printing of the guide just for an update. Plus a website only cost me my monthy ISP bill and I can use internet for many ther things. On the other side of the coin, how many games have a guide website as useful as the UESP Wiki for ES? Plus it's nice not to have to exit your game on PC, or run back and forth between your console and PC just to be able to read the guide off of the internet.

Bottom line: I'd sooner use a free online guide that can also update, instead of buying a guide.

» Fri May 27, 2011 3:56 pm

Games guides are good for lazy people who have their computer more far away froma gaming system. for PC users, its good if you don't want to minimize your screen.
But the good thing withthe internet, is that it is easier to look things up on UESP then a game guide, because I think UESP has more.

But those are my opinions... so you may not like them...

» Fri May 27, 2011 8:01 am

Ok, so i was browsing around the Bethblog and found this:

Now when you compare a guide that costs you $24.99 with things like the free UESP and the Imperial Library, you find that really there is little call for a game-guide these days, so what do you guys think, has the age of buy able game-guides ended because fans make websites that house pretty much all information that the game-guide will have?

It ended the minute sites like GameFAQs rose to prominence. The only reason companies like Prima are still going is because some people are still foolish enough buy game guides.

» Fri May 27, 2011 5:08 am

It ended the minute sites like GameFAQs rose to prominence. The only reason companies like Prima are still going is because some people are still foolish enough buy game guides.

Or the people use the guide to put up articles on wikis. Ever compared UESP to the Prima guide and notice how remarkably similar the wording to many sections is? :biglaugh:

» Fri May 27, 2011 7:25 am

I guess I'm lazy and foolish. :woot:

» Fri May 27, 2011 11:57 am

Yay, me too! God forbid that guides provide something other than raw information. Cue Morrowind Prophecies.

» Fri May 27, 2011 1:12 am

Hell no. I certainly hope not.

» Fri May 27, 2011 12:12 pm

No,because some people probally don't have access to the internet.